Hendry’s mindset key to title defence
Michael Hendry doesn’t need to be told he’s hardly in the kind of form to prompt punters to slap a few bucks on him to defend his New Zealand Open title.
The 38-year-old has missed the cut in three of the five tournaments he’s played this year, and goes into the 99th edition of the event ranked 161st in the world.
However, former US Open champion Michael Campbell, who spent time with Hendry during yesterday’s practice round, believes mindset is the most important thing before he tees off at the The Hills this morning.
‘‘I think the most important thing for him is to go out there with a different mindset, not to defend the title but to go out there and win,’’ said Campbell.
‘‘For me, the word ‘defend’ is too negative . . . it’s very hard to go win back-to-back tournaments. I think I did it only once before in my career.’’
Hendry became the first Kiwi to have his name etched on the Brodie Breeze Trophy in 14 years last year, when he beat fellow Kiwi Ben Campbell and Aussie Brad Kennedy in a three-way playoff.
He hasn’t won since and finished 17th on the Japan Tour Order of Merit in 2017.
Last weekend, he grabbed a share of 17th at the NZPGA Championship in Palmerston North, but the improvement from his previous three tournaments wasn’t enough to stop his ranking from sliding to the lowest point in a year, when he entered the 2017 NZ Open ranked 172nd.
‘‘My form hasn’t been great but I feel I have played better than my results,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘I have been working particularly hard and was happy with how I played [during my practice round].
‘‘Confidence levels and expectations are always changing, but it takes a certain amount of pressure off. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone that I can win it because I’ve done it.’’
Hendry is one of 144 professionals to contest the $1.2 million tournament. The field will alternate between The Hills and Millbrook over the first two days before the cut (top-60 plus ties). Millbrook will then host the final two rounds at the weekend.
Millbrook was also the scene of Hendry’s memorable win last year, when he held his nerve on the par three 18th hole.
‘‘It’s amazing, even when you haven’t been playing your best, what good memories and confident thoughts can do when you come to venues you have played well at before. If you know deep down that you are good enough on your day, that counts for a huge amount.’’