New Zealand Open Full Prize Money Payout 2026
Daniel Hillier led the way with a round to play, with some eye-catching prize money and a Major place on the line in the tournament
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
The New Zealand Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia, comes from Millbrook Resort, where some notable names have been competing for an eye-catching purse and the chance to grab at spot at The Open.
A year ago, Ryan Peake claimed his maiden professional title at the event, winning by one, and he was one of the 156 players in the field for the 2026 tournament.
Back then, Peake claimed NZ$360,000 (around $215,000 USD) for his victory, from an overall purse of NZ$2m ($1.2m USD), and there's an identical sum on offer this year.
Unlike many other tournaments, there are even payments for those who missed the cut, with a total of NZ$65,000 set aside for those who failed to make it beyond 36 holes.
Unfortunately for Peake, he was one of those players, meaning there'll be no repeat of his success this year.
Ryan Peake won the New Zealand Open title in 2025, but he missed the cut defending his title
Among the notable names who made the cut were former LIV Golfer Kevin Na, who is making his first appearance since leaving the big-money League.
With a round to play, he was still somewhat in contention, placed T13, seven behind overnight leader Daniel Hillier.
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Hillier, who is playing in his homeland, led by one over Curtis Luck and Kerry Mountcastle after three rounds, as he closed in on his first win on the Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australia and first worldwide since the 2023 Betfred British Masters.
Current LIV Golfer Lucas Herbert is another big name in contention. He was fourth after three rounds, two shots back of the leader.
Lucas Herbert stood fourth after three rounds of the tournament
Aside from the prize money, there is another huge incentive for many players in the field, namely a place in The Open.
That's because the New Zealand Open is part of the Open Qualifying Series, with the leading player not already exempt, earning his spot at Royal Birkdale.
Hillier is already confirmed for the event meaning that, if he goes on to win, that attractive consolation will go to the next player on the leaderboard who hadn't already booked his place at the Major.
Below is the maximum prize money payout for each position at the New Zealand Open before ties are taken into account.
New Zealand Open Prize Money Payout 2026
Position | Prize Money (New Zealand Dollar) |
1st | $360,000 |
2nd | $220,000 |
3rd | $126,000 |
4th | $100,000 |
5th | $82,000 |
6th | $66,600 |
7th | $57,000 |
8th | $49,000 |
9th | $42,800 |
10th | $38,200 |
11th | $34,900 |
12th | $32,500 |
13th | $30,300 |
14th | $28,900 |
15th | $27,700 |
16th | $26,500 |
17th | $25,300 |
18th | $24,100 |
19th | $23,100 |
20th | $22,300 |
21st | $21,800 |
22nd | $21,200 |
23rd | $20,600 |
24th | $20,000 |
25th | $19,400 |
26th | $18,800 |
27th | $18,200 |
28th | $17,600 |
29th | $17,000 |
30th | $16,400 |
31st | $16,200 |
32nd | $15,600 |
33rd | $15,200 |
34th | $14,800 |
35th | $14,400 |
36th | $14,000 |
37th | $13,600 |
38th | $13,200 |
39th | $12,800 |
40th | $12,400 |
41st | $12,100 |
42nd | $11,700 |
43rd | $11,300 |
44th | $10,900 |
45th | $10,700 |
46th | $10,600 |
47th | $10,200 |
48th | $9,800 |
49th | $9,400 |
50th | $9,000 |
51st | $8,600 |
52nd | $8,200 |
53rd | $7,800 |
54th | $7,600 |
55th | $7,400 |
56th | $7,200 |
57th | $7,000 |
58th | $6,800 |
59th | $6,600 |
60th | $6,400 |
61st | $6,200 |
62nd | $6,000 |
63rd | $5,800 |
64th | $5,600 |
65th | $5,400 |

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.