Australian Jack Buchanan aiming high at NZ Open
Rising Australian star Jack Buchanan need look no further than his New Zealand Open practice partner David Micheluzzi for inspiration as he stares down the prospect of a full DP World Tour card in 2026.
Heading into this week's $A1.8 million Open at Millbrook Resort, Buchanan sits in fourth spot on the Australasian Tour order of merit (OOM).
The three players above him - big-name Australians Elvis Smylie, Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert - already have full cards on either the LIV or DP World Tours.
If the 22-year-old Buchanan can hold onto fourth spot or move even higher, he'll gain a full European card - just as Micheluzzi did two years ago.
Micheluzzi made the best of the opportunity, finishing 72nd on the money list on debut to easily retain his card and gain access to the biggest events on the European Tour in 2026.
"I spoke to David about a few things during the practice round on Tuesday," said Buchanan, who only turned pro 15 months ago after a celebrated amateur career which included playing a key role in Australia's silver-medal finish at the 2023 Eisenhower Cup.
"Its good to learn from guys like David, to see how he's progressed in his career and that you can do it too.
"Obviously the focus is to play well here this week, but you can afford to think about the big picture as well with the order of merit.
"In golf you've got to accept being under pressure.
"It's definitely the ultimate goal and it would be great to get out onto the European Tour next year."
The Scottish-born Buchanan got off to a flying start on the 2024-25 Australasian Tour with wins at the WA PGA and the Webex Players Series South Australia.
He than finished high enough in a LIV qualifier in Saudi Arabia to gain automatic entry into the 10 International Series events on the Asian Tour in 2025.
The winner of the Australasian OOM is guaranteed a start in the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush and will almost certainly get invited to the US PGA as well.
There's another British Open spot on offer to the winner of the NZ Open which has helped attract such a strong field including the likes of Smylie, Herbert, Micheluzzi and Australian Open runner-up Curtis Luck, Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and New Zealanders Daniel Hillier, Ben Campbell and Steve Alker.
"I was playing here no matter what, but when I saw that (a guaranteed British Open start for the winner) it was like 'alright, let's get into it'," said Micheluzzi.
"That will fit nicely in the schedule when we get to Europe.
"But I'm just looking forward to the week.
"The course is always immaculate, I've got a few of my mates staying with me this week and I've got my girlfriend here as well."
Smylie will effectively lock away the OOM title if he finishes fourth or better this week.
But in the unlikely event that the Australian PGA champion misses the cut, any of the top six could overtake him, with LIV Golf star Herbert the main danger.
Australasian Tour OOM (with four events remaining)
1. Elvis Smylie, 1247.56 points
2. Cameron Smith, 735.68
3. Lucas Herbert, 717.06
4. Jack Buchanan, 626.21
5. Curtis Luck, 523.44
6. Anthony Quayle, 496.54
* The winner of the NZ Open receives 760 points. The remaining three events offer 190 points each to the victor.
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