A Tour Professional for 17 years, Matthew Millar had a dream
season in 2015 highlighted by his first victory.

For the first time in his career Millar failed to keep his card after the 2014 season, but he resurrected his status via Qualifying School and returned to the PGA Tour of Australasia at the start of last year
with a renewed vigour for the game.

It seemed to have sparked something in Millar and he transformed into Mr Consistent, winning the 2015 PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year award thanks to his 11 top-10 finishes including four runner-up results.

However the highlight of his season came at the Holden NZ PGA Championship when he broke through to record his first Tour victory .

"I had some good tournaments leading into this the NZ PGA last year," said Millar.

"My form didn’t start here but it certainly kicked off and confirmed it, coming off some good results and then continuing to play strong all year."

This week Millar returns to Remuera Golf Club full of good memories as he prepares to defend a title for the first time.

"When you feel like you played well and all the shots you hit were good it’s nice to reminisce about them," added Millar.  

"Being back here certainly reminds me of that, the feelings are great and I have some great memories."

This year,Millar picked up where he left off, finishing runner-up, in the first event of the season, to Kiwi Michael Long after a playoff at the Oates Vic Open.

But all good things must come to an end and his streak of 16 tournaments without missing a cut finished at the ISPS HANDA Perth International.

Missing the cut in the European Tour and Asian Tour tri-sanctioned tournament wasn’t the best preparation for this week however Millar isn’t paying it too much heed.

"I guess it was going to happen at some stage. You can’t be that good every week and I missed the cut by two shots," added Millar.

"I didn’t play badly. I was in play most of the time, I only hit two bad tee shots in two days, and I paid the price heavily."

"When you look at it, it wasn’t that bad but it’s still a missed cut, you don’t like to not play weekends."

"It makes me a little cranky but if I use that correctly it can maybe provide some fuel for this week."

Now refocused, Millar is committed to defending his Holden NZ PGA Championship title.

"I came here thinking, regardless of whether I win or not, it’s a great thing to have won it and have the opportunity to be the defending champion. I’m not feeling any pressure but I’m certainly not going out there to run second or worst, I will be trying to win it," said Millar. 

"The golf course is still the same holes, a few small changes, but I like the fact that there are a lot of short irons and wedge shots to be hit. Whilst that’s the case I am always going to be a chance I think."

"But I’ll have to play well; it’s a good field this week."

Hoping to deny Millar his title defence are 13 time Japan Tour winner Brendan Jones, New Zealand’s second highest ranked player Ryan Fox and in form South African Dylan Frittelli.

Millar will tee off tomorrow at Remuera Golf Club at 8.30am playing alongside Japan Tour winners Brad Kennedy and Michael Hendry.

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