World surfing champion Kelly Slater tees off on the 18th hole at St Andrews during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last year. Photo: Getty ImagesInternational surfing great Kelly Slater almost ruled himself out of the 105th New Zealand Open on Monday night. Slater, 54, is one of the ambassadors playing in this year’s golf tournament at Millbrook, which officially tees off tomorrow. Despite some back pain, Slater tested out Millbrook’s greens for the first time yesterday, although he went through two-thirds of his round on borrowed clubs. In the South Island for the first time, he planned to play a couple of holes at neighbouring The Hills course today.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 24, 2026 15:35 UTC