New Zealand PGA Championship: Tyler Hodge could end his pro career
Fresh off claiming the New Zealand PGA Championship on Sunday, Tyler Hodge has revealed there’s a possibility he could call time on his professional career during the winter. See what he said.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tyler Hodge should have felt on top of the world on Sunday, and he did.
But even in that magical hour after everything you’ve ever worked for finally happens, he calmly spoke about the need to talk with his fiancé, who also doubles as his caddie, about whether it’s all worth it.
“She’s a tough old slog, pro golf,” Hodge said after his nerve-shredding win at the New Zealand PGA Championship on Sunday.
“My fiancé and I have been having some chats about possibly giving the pro playing stuff away. We’ll have to have a bit more of a chat about that over winter.”
It would be a heck of a mic drop if, over winter, Hodge reckons he’s had enough. And could you blame him?
He reckons his story is becoming more commonplace these days: once an amateur who turns pro with no money, doesn’t play overly well, stresses the finances, which stresses the mind, and then is just burnt out and walks away.
But maybe unlike others, Hodge returned.
He spent a couple of years away from the game, started caddying up on New Zealand’s north island to make ends meet, and then picked up the clubs again, to find the love of the sport. He had a second stint as an amateur, a second time he turned professional … and then this week.
It was the first time the 30-year-old had ever finished inside the top 10 of a world rankings event. It also happened to be a win, which gives him a two-year exemption on the Australasian circuit.
“Burnout and no finances don’t mix well,” he said of his first stint as a professional. “I suppose I’m almost a journeyman now. Pro golf is very different and there’s a lot of learnings you have to go through yourself. People can tell you about it, but you have to experience it yourself. There’s a lot of adversity.”
So it was no surprise when the tournament appeared at his mercy, it really wasn’t.
Leading by three on the back nine at Hastings Golf Club, Hodge dropped a shot on the 11th and then again on the 16th, meaning he needed pars on the closing two holes, a par-five 17th and testing 18th. He did it on both – with a bit of help from countryman Denzel Ieremia.
“The best shot of the day would be the approach into 18,” Hodge said. “Denzel Ieremia hit before me and it actually changed my mind on club selection. I have to credit ‘Denz’ a little bit for my approach.”
Hodge (-16) ended up beating Kerry Mountcastle and Tim Hart by a stroke after signing for a closing two-under 70.
He’s the third left-hander to win on the PGA Tour of Australasia this year after Elvis Smylie, and Ryan Peake third New Zealander this year alone behind Josh Geary (Victorian Open) and Nick Voke (Webex Players Series Sydney).
Day three review
A rising New Zealand star who graduated from an American college last year will face the biggest moment of his young professional career after storming to the lead in the New Zealand PGA Championship.
Cameron Harlock tops a leaderboard dominated by homegrown stars after firing a five-under 67 during the third round at Hastings Golf Club on Saturday.
Harlock is one of four Kiwis in the top five spots on the leaderboard – including 16-year-old schoolboy Cooper Moore – in the latest stop on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
The final round will mean more than most to Harlock, who is without full-time status on the Australasian circuit and was forced to Monday qualify for the Victorian Open earlier this year.
If he can hold onto his lead in the New Zealand PGA Championship, Harlock will earn an exemption and full-time playing rights on the tour.
“I was back to normality the next week (after the Victorian Open),” he said.
“(Playing opportunities are) quite slim. I’m planning on going to Q-school in April, which will be good.
“I’m finding out about life as a young professional and (figuring out), ‘how can you play well and how to get invites to events?’ It’s pretty tricky to be honest and you feel like you’re living week to week.”
Harlock (-13) has a slender lead from countryman Tyler Hodge (70) and Queensland’s Shae Wools-Cobb (67), who are both at 12-under. Harlock was granted an invite just to be in the field this week.
New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia (66) flirted with the low round of the day to be in a share of fourth at 12-under, joined by teenage sensation Moore (71) who stayed in the fight after being in a share of the overnight lead.
But perhaps the biggest shadow looming over the leaders is Jake McLeod, who checked on family in Brisbane as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached between rounds.
McLeod, Jye Pickin and Anthony Quayle were within striking distance of Harlock at 11-under.
McLeod has easily been the most consistent player on the Australasian tour this year, but is trying to break a seven-year drought without a professional win in a world rankings event.
His seven-under 65 during the third round came less than 24 hours after he was forced to scramble in a bid to make the cut on Friday.
“If you just make the cut, you can’t really go backwards,” he said.
“You can only go forwards. You need to try your luck.
“I hit it really nicely the first couple of days but couldn’t hole a putt.
“Today I holed a few putts and that’s why the score looks a bit better.”
Day two review
A 16-year-old schoolboy who has already shattered junior records is threatening to write the latest remarkable chapter on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Cooper Moore, a high school student who won’t turn 17 until June, soared to a share of the lead after the second round of the New Zealand PGA Championship at Hastings Golf Club.
His rise comes only a week after former Rebels bikie Ryan Peake won the New Zealand Open after spending five years in prison.
While he’s not legally allowed to drive by himself or drink alcohol yet, Moore is doing a good job of upstaging his more seasoned rivals – just months after he was crowned New Zealand’s champion amateur despite being three down with seven holes to play of the 36-hole final.
But this would undoubtedly be the biggest moment of his young career.
“I just feel very comfortable,” Moore said. “I don’t feel too much pressure. Just have a bit of fun and keep it simple. A result is a result. Most of the time, my head is in the right direction.”
Moore (-11) has been joined on the road by his dad and carded a six-under 66 as part of the morning wave on Friday.
He was joined at the top of the leaderboard by countrymen Chang Gi Lee and Tyler Hodge as well as Queensland’s Anthony Quayle, who is pushing his case for a top three finish on the order of merit and DP World Tour card.
Asked about Moore, Lee said: “He’s obviously a really good golfer and he’s improved a lot since (last year). You could see he was really, really good and he’s just doing his thing.”
And on potentially his main challenger this weekend being just 16?
“Is that how old he is? Oh, wow,” Lee said. “That’s obviously really impressive.”
Moore spent last week’s New Zealand Open picking the brains of Daniel Hillier as the shaky isles enjoys a golden golfing generation with Ryan Fox a PGA Tour regular and Kazuma Kobori winning last year’s PGA Tour of Australasia order of merit.
“I kind of asked (Hillier) questions (last week) about what’s his advice for my upcoming years,” Moore said. “I’ve got a decision to make about if I want to go to college or try to make it as a pro on the Aussie tour.
“It’s pretty cool what Kazuma has done and I’ve played with him for the last three years. I’ve looked up to him.”
Overnight leader Austin Bautista (-10) is a shot behind the leading quartet after a steady three-under 69 with Cameron Harlock (-9) a stroke further behind thanks to a 67.
Peake (-1) couldn’t reproduce the magic of Queenstown and missed the cut after a 72-71, while New Zealand’s recent PGA Tour of Australasia winners, Nick Voke and Josh Geary, are lurking ominously at six-under.
Originally published as New Zealand PGA Championship: Tyler Hodge could end his pro career
AFL halted as star suffers horror injury
Fans were left holding their breath after a Giants star remained down on the turf for several minutes as trainers rushed to his side.
Blunt admission after historic beat down
Parramatta Eels coach Jason Ryles did not mince his words after his team suffered a historic loss to kick start the 2025 NRL season.