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Former world tennis primary Ash Barty is confirmed to headline the Ambassador line up for the 103rd New Zealand Open, set to happen between February 29 and March 3, 2024 at Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort.
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Barty, who attended the New Zealand Open in 2023 as a spectator, is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion with a powerful aggressive streak. She performed on the world’s stage throughout her 12-year skilled tennis profession by which she was ranked world singles primary for 121 weeks total.
Barty can also be a really completed golfer who performs off a 4 handicap. In 2022 she performed within the Icons Golf Sequence in New Jersey alongside different worldwide sporting icons like American swimming legend Michael Phelps, English footballer Harry Kane and former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting.
“The New Zealand Open is a improbable occasion and I actually loved my time there this 12 months supporting our pal Louis Dobbelaar,” stated Barty. “New Zealand is a wonderful nation and someplace I all the time love to go to.
“Having the chance to play within the pro-am occasion in 2024 is one thing I’m enthusiastic about, although I undoubtedly want to start out practising! Golf has all the time been a ardour of mine, I really feel lucky to have the ability to play in occasions just like the New Zealand Open and expertise an unbelievable course like Millbrook.
“I think about that first tee shot in entrance of everybody can be fairly nerve-wracking, however as soon as the primary ball hits the golf green, hopefully issues ought to cool down. My goal is to go on the market and luxuriate in each minute of it and hopefully make the weekend pro-am lower.”
Becoming a member of Barty within the Ambassador line up for 2024 is Australian media persona Andy Lee. He’s one half of the Hamish & Andy duo, Australia’s highest-rating and hottest radio presenters.
Lee is a well known comic, tv and radio host, musician and youngsters’s author and can also be fairly useful along with his golf golf equipment holding a 6 handicap at his house course of Peninsula Kingswood in Melbourne. A self-confessed golf tragic, Lee can also be an envoy for Social Golf Australia the place he helps host occasions for newbie gamers throughout the nation.
“Yeah, I might say I’m fairly hooked on golf. I began enjoying after I was at College and simply by no means stopped. I even put a simulator into my home, so possibly the appropriate phrase is obsessed. However I simply love the sport for what it provides you, and takes from you, bodily and mentally,” stated Lee.
“I’m actually wanting ahead to the New Zealand Open. It’s my first time enjoying in a nationwide Open like this, so it’s going to be fairly an expertise.
“Enjoying alongside the professional’s in such an vital match for them and their careers and isn’t one thing many individuals get to do, so I really feel very privileged to have this chance.”
Event Chairman John Hart is happy to welcome Barty and Lee to the New Zealand Open and is wanting ahead to seeing them tee it up alongside the professional’s.
“We’re delighted to have Ash and Andy be part of us this 12 months as a part of our Ambassador line up. Each will carry plenty of pleasure and enthusiasm to the match and I’ve little question they are going to add to the standard on and off the course,” stated Hart.
“Our improbable group of returning ambassadors do such an excellent job serving to with all our occasions and features that run alongside the match. With out their assist we wouldn’t be capable to present the excessive stage of spectator and visitor expertise we’re well-known for.”
Barty and Lee will tee it up alongside former New Zealand representatives Jeff Wilson (rugby and cricket), Sean Fitzpatrick (rugby), Israel Dagg (rugby), Stephen Fleming (cricket), Ella Gunson (hockey) in addition to worldwide rally driver Hayden Paddon, former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, and former England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham.
For extra details about the New Zealand Open please go to nzopen.com
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