Americans Kevin Na and Nick Watney, both five-time winners on the PGA Tour, plus Kyle Stanley will add further star power to next week’s 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort.

Na will be making his debut in the tournament, which will be played at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown from 26 February – 1 March, while it will mark Stanley’s return to New Zealand for the first time in 15 years.

For all three players it will be their first experience of the highly acclaimed Queenstown course, something which they are all eagerly awaiting.

“I’ve heard so many great things about Queenstown and the New Zealand Open,” said Na, who played on the LIV Golf League for the past four years. “To finally have the chance to come down, see the place for myself and play such a historic tournament is something I’m really looking forward to. Millbrook looks incredible, and I can’t wait to get there.”

Watney echoed those sentiments, excited by the setting and the chance to test his game in New Zealand.

Nick Watney enroute to winning The Barclays at Bethpage in 2012. Pictures by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

“This will be my first trip to Queenstown, and everything I’ve seen and heard about it looks amazing,” said Watney. “The New Zealand Open has a great reputation, and I’m excited to be part of it.”

Stanley added his enthusiasm, saying: “This event has been on my radar for some time, and I am extremely grateful that the tournament has invited me along. New Zealand is a country I have been looking forward to returning to, having played in the NZ PGA Championship at Clearwater back in 2010.

Tournament Director Michael Glading said securing Na, Stanley and Watney further strengthened an already strong international field.

“To have three proven PGA Tour winners of this calibre commit to the New Zealand Open is fantastic for the tournament,” said Glading.

“Kevin, Kyle and Nick bring immense experience, competitiveness and global profile, and they add real depth and quality to the field.”

“Kevin’s exploits on both the LIV and PGA tours are well known to many, Kyle is a two-time PGA Tour winner, and of course Nick is a former top ten player in the world; we’re thrilled to welcome them all to Queenstown.”

Kyle Stanley. Picture by Patrick Smith/Getty Images.

All three players will maximise their visit by playing in one of the other New Zealand events this month, with Kyle Stanley teeing it up in the Quinovic NZPGA Championship at Paraparaumu this week, and both Watney and Na moving to Auckland in March.

The event is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.