Daniel Hillier
{{short description|New Zealand professional golfer}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox golfer
|name = Daniel Hillier
|image =
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|fullname =
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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|7|26|df=y}}
|birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand
|death_date =
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|height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
|weight =
|nationality = {{NZL}}
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|children =
|college =
|yearpro = 2019
|retired =
|tour = European Tour
PGA Tour of Australasia
|extour = Challenge Tour
Charles Tour
|prowins = 7
|pgawins =
|eurowins = 1
|japwins =
|asiawins =
|sunwins =
|auswins =
|nwidewins =
|chalwins = 2
|champwins =
|seneurowins =
|otherwins = 4
|majorwins =
|masters = DNP
|usopen = CUT: 2019
|open = T19: 2024
|pga = DNP
|wghofid =
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| award1 = Charles Tour
Order of Merit winner
| year1 = 2020
| award2 = European Tour
Graduate of the Year
| year2 = 2023
|awardssection =
}}
Daniel Hillier (born 26 July 1998) is a New Zealand professional golfer. He won the 2021 Challenge Costa Brava on the Challenge Tour.
Amateur career
Hillier had a successful amateur career, winning the New Zealand Amateur twice, in 2015 and 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.golf.co.nz/NewsMedia/Article.aspx?id=2639 |title=Daniel Hillier win the Cobra Puma New Zealand Men's Amateur |publisher=New Zealand Golf |date=19 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223195243/https://www.golf.co.nz/NewsMedia/Article.aspx?id=2639 |archive-date=23 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.golf.co.nz/NewsMedia/Article.aspx?id=3473 |title=Hillier make more history |publisher=New Zealand Golf |date=5 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218000842/https://www.golf.co.nz/NewsMedia/Article.aspx?id=3473 |archive-date=18 February 2020 |url-status=dead}} He won the Australian Boys' Amateur in 2016 and was twice winner of the New Zealand under-19 championship, in 2015 and 2016.{{cite web |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/3urhge2ecl20/2tsSggGCXHdLOu5vs9I3Hq/f92ec80158874a6d5891c8aa79d722dc/Boys_Amateur_New.pdf |title=History & Honour Roll – Australian Boys’ Amateur Championship |accessdate=16 November 2020}} Hillier was also twice winner of the Bledisloe Cup, in 2016 and 2018, as the leading amateur in the New Zealand Open, and was a co-medalist, with Cole Hammer, at the 2018 U.S. Amateur.{{cite web |url=https://nzopen.com/history/bledisloe-cup/ |title=Bledisloe Cup |work=New Zealand Open |access-date=30 June 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2018/u-s--amateur/articles/2018-us-amateur-spyglass-hill-pebble-beach-round-2-recap.html |title=Hammer, Hillier Earn Co-Medalist Honors; Match Play Begins Wednesday |work=USGA |date=14 August 2018}}
As a 17-year-old amateur, Hillier won the 2015 John Jones Steel Harewood Open on the Charles Tour. He beat Jim Cusdin by a stroke after finishing on 277, 11-under-par, with three birdies in his last five holes.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/73365690/chantelle-cassidy-triumphs-again-jim-cusdin-runner-up-at-harewood-open |title=Chantelle Cassidy triumphs again, Jim Cusdin runner-up at Harewood Open |first=Ian |last=Anderson |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=25 October 2015}} He qualified for the 2019 U.S. Open through final qualifying at Walton Heath in England.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/113209941/top-new-zealand-amateur-daniel-hillier-qualifies-for-us-open-for-the-first-time |title=Top Kiwi amateur Daniel Hillier reaches his first major after qualifying for the US Open |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=4 June 2019}}
Hillier was part of the three-man New Zealand team in the 2018 Eisenhower Trophy in Ireland. The team led by three strokes after three rounds but faded on the final day and finished in fourth place behind Denmark, the United States and Spain. Hillier was tied for third place in the final individual standings with a score of 273, 17 under par.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/106938834/new-zealand-fade-to-fourth-at-eisenhower-trophy |title=New Zealand fade to fourth at Eisenhower Trophy |first=Ian |last=Anderson |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=9 September 2018}}
Professional career
Hillier turned professional in September 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/115685918/top-kiwi-amateur-turns-pro-joins-michael-campbell-for-first-tournament |title=Top Kiwi amateur turns pro, joins Michael Campbell for first tournament |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=10 September 2019}} In January 2020 he qualified for the PGA Tour of Australasia but after a few starts in early 2020, his year was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and his appearances were largely limited to the Charles Tour.{{cite web |url=https://pga.org.au/report/?tourn=1096&report=tmresult~season=2020~result=PF~&class=aus |title=2020 Final Stage Qualifying School |work=PGA of Australia |access-date=30 June 2021}} He had some success on that tour, winning two of the six events, the Brian Green Property Group NZ Super 6 Manawatu in March and the DVS Pegasus Open in October, and ending the year as the winner of the Order of Merit.{{cite web |url=https://www.golf.co.nz/NewsMedia/Article.aspx?id=4175 |title=Hillier wins inaugural Brian Green Property Group NZ Super 6s |publisher=New Zealand Golf |date=8 March 2020 |access-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023102932/https://www.golf.co.nz/NewsMedia/Article.aspx?id=4175 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.golf.co.nz/news-detail?newsarticleid=21002 |title=Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Super6 Manawatu - Live Scoring |publisher=New Zealand Golf |accessdate=30 June 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.golf.co.nz/tournament-detail?competitionid=770539 |title=The Charles Tour - DVS Pegasus Open |publisher=Golf New Zealand |access-date=12 November 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.golf.co.nz/news-detail?newsarticleid=21618 |title=Hillier wins race for Jennian Homes Trophy |publisher=Golf New Zealand |date=14 December 2020 |access-date=5 April 2021}}
In 2021, Hillier qualified for the Open Championship after winning the final qualifying section at Notts Golf Club after rounds of 64 and 69, although he missed the cut in the championship itself.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/300345729/daniel-hillier-drains-clutch-putt-to-qualify-for-next-months-open-championship |title=Daniel Hillier drains clutch putt to qualify for next month's Open Championship |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=30 June 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/125783928/louis-oosthuizen-sets-36hole-british-open-record-ryan-fox-improves-one-spot |title=Louis Oosthuizen sets 36-hole British Open record, Ryan Fox improves one spot |first=Steve |last=Douglas |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=17 July 2021}} He played most of 2021 on the Challenge Tour, winning the Challenge Costa Brava in October, with a birdie at the final hole.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/126771063/golfer-daniel-hillier-secures-maiden-challenge-tour-title-after-dramatic-ending |title=Golfer Daniel Hillier secures maiden Challenge Tour title after dramatic ending |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=23 October 2021}}
In July 2023, Hillier claimed his first European Tour win at the Betfred British Masters in England. He shot a final round 66 to win by two shots.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/66082485 |title=British Masters: New Zealand's Daniel Hillier wins first DP World Tour title |work=BBC Sport |date=2 July 2023 |access-date=2 July 2023}}
Amateur wins
- 2015 New Zealand Amateur, New Zealand U19
- 2016 Australian Boys' Amateur, New Zealand U19
- 2017 Grant Clements Memorial Tournament, Wellington Stroke Play, New Zealand Amateur
Professional wins (7)
=European Tour wins (1)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No. !Date !Tournament !Winning score !Margin of !Runners-up |
| align=center|1
|align=right|2 Jul 2023 |−10 (72-71-69-66=278) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Gunner Wiebe, {{flagicon|ENG}} Oliver Wilson |
=Challenge Tour wins (2)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No. !Date !Tournament !Winning score !Margin of !Runner-up |
| align=center|1
|align=right|22 Oct 2021 |−19 (71-67-62-65=265) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|DNK}} Marcus Helligkilde |
| align=center|2
|align=right|25 Sep 2022 |−14 (68-70-72-64=274) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|FRA}} Jeong-Weon Ko |
=Charles Tour wins (3)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| align=center|1
|align=right|25 Oct 2015 |John Jones Steel Harewood Open |−11 (71-66-72-68=277) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|NZL}} Jim Cusdin |
| align=center|2
|align=right|7 Mar 2020 |Brian Green Property Group NZ Super 6 Manawatu | +1 (25) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|NZL}} Jang Hyun Lee (a) |
| align=center|3
|align=right|4 Oct 2020 |DVS Pegasus Open |−13 (66-70-72-67=275) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|NZL}} Mako Thompson (a) |
=Other wins (1)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| align=center|1
|align=right|2 Apr 2023 |Fruehauf Trailers Omaha Beach Pro-Am |−8 (68-62=130) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|KOR}} Kang Dong-woo |
Results in major championships
Results not in chronological order in 2020.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !2019!!2020!!2021!!2022!!2023!!2024 |
| align=left|Masters Tournament
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|PGA Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|U.S. Open
|CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|The Open Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |T19 |
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
Team appearances
Amateur
- Sloan Morpeth Trophy (representing New Zealand): 2016
- Nomura Cup (representing Australia): 2017
- Bonallack Trophy (representing Asia/Pacific): 2018 (winners)
- Eisenhower Trophy (representing New Zealand): 2018
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{EuroTour player|43333}}
- {{AustralasiaTour player|015435}}
- {{OWGR|21362}}
- {{Official website|danhilliergolf.com}}
{{2024 New Zealand Olympic team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hillier, Daniel}}
Category:New Zealand male golfers
Category:European Tour golfers
Category:PGA Tour of Australasia golfers
Category:Olympic golfers for New Zealand