Comedian taking open seriously – kind of
Many at the NZ Open are aiming for a share of the $2 million prize pool. Not Australian comedian Andy Lee.
His goal is to embarrass himself as little as possible. “I know there will be some [embarrassment]. I’m aiming for low levels.”
He is being modest. Lee – who is known for his work with Hamish Blake as part of the comedy duo Hamish & Andy – holds a 6 handicap at his home course in Melbourne. He describes himself as a “golf tragic” who spends a lot of his extra time and all of his money playing golf.
That won him an invitation to join seven other “ambassadors” and 156 professionals at the 103rd NZ Open, which teed off at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown yesterday and finishes on Sunday.
He joined Australian sporting stars Ash Barty and Ricky Ponting at the course on Wednesday.
“I demonstrated what not to do and they demonstrated what to do. It’s a good balance,” he said.
Tournament chairperson John Hart said he met Lee earlier this week and had not stopped laughing since.
Lee was a great personality and had a big following in Australia – a key market for the tournament, which has grown in strength every year since starting in Queenstown as the NZPGA championships in 2012.
Many local businesses and hospitality providers benefited, but so did the tournament, he said.
“Queenstown is made for this tournament. You need world class golf courses and you need accommodation. And we have Millbrook, which underwrites this event.
The $2 million prize pool made it the second most valuable golf tournament in the Asia Pacific, only slightly behind the Australian PGA Championship, and there had been significant investment in new outlets at the 18th hole this year.
First time tournament ambassadors Lee and three-time grand slam singles champion and new mother Ash Barty are teeing up alongside former New Zealand representatives Jeff Wilson (rugby and cricket), Sean Fitzpatrick (rugby), Israel Dagg (rugby), Stephen Fleming (cricket) and Ella Gunson (hockey).