By Mathieu Wood
The Olympic Games might be a new arena for him, but Daniel Hillier is far from overawed.
On the back of his career-best finish in a Major Championship at The Open earlier this month, the 26-year-old is now looking to build on that momentum at Le Golf National.
Hillier will represent New Zealand at his first Olympics alongside Ryan Fox at Paris 2024, with eight of the top ten players in the world competing in the men’s four-day 72-hole competition.
“Finishing the Open Championship with a decent result was a confidence booster,” said Hillier, who recovered from just making the cut to finish tied 19th at Royal Troon.
“I come out here feeling pretty comfortable about it all and hopefully I can continue some of the good form I showed a couple weeks ago.
“There's a lot of good players here this week. Obviously, it's a limited field so it's got a slightly different feel to it.
“But being a part of this tournament is pretty special and we are very grateful that we get to represent our country outside of our weekly schedule.”
As Hillier alludes to, this is no normal week in the life of a professional golfer. While it may still be individual strokeplay, individual performance contributes to a broader cause – the overall success of your nation.
His team-mate Fox is a relative veteran of competing in these summer games, with the 37-year-old one of only four players set to make it a hat-trick of Olympics since the sport’s return to the programme in 2016.
While he is self-confident, the know-how that Fox possesses is something that Hillier is all ears to.
“We've both got our own ways of preparing I guess, but obviously with their being a team aspect we're trying to support each other,” he said. “We both want each other to do really well.
“We’re bouncing ideas with each other, and it's been great having his support. So, it has sort of made that preparation a little bit less overwhelming for me.”
Hillier celebrated his birthday on Friday, the day of the opening ceremony, and he freely admits the experience of being involved in the open-air boat parade is one that will live with him forever.
After being welcomed in by other members of the New Zealand team, Hillier and Fox both took their place in the procession along euphoric crowds that lined the River Seine despite inclement weather.
“From the get-go, it has been pretty chaotic,” he reflected. “Spending a bit of time around other athletes from a wide range of sports from both New Zealand and around the world is certainly different to what we are used to at a normal event.
“Being surrounded by all the best athletes in New Zealand and around the world has been pretty awesome.
“You quickly realised we are all part of something much bigger.”
Like many others teeing it up on the Albatros course, Hillier is inspired what he has seen from other athletes so far at these Games.
“Seeing them go about their business and how much pride they take in their work and the joy that they get from competing has helped build the excitement levels,” he said.
Having already watched swimming twice, Hillier and his family – who have been with him since making the trip out from New Zealand for the Genesis Scottish Open – are intending on taking in the intensity of BMX following Thursday’s opening round.
“Being Kiwis we’re pretty light-hearted and we're just trying to enjoy the experience and it's just been nice to be able to mix up with the other athletes, make a few more mates and have a few more people to cheer on during the Olympics,” he said.
But before then, a challenge of his own awaits – one of European golf’s most respected layouts.
Last season, in his rookie campaign on the DP World Tour – one highlighted by his maiden title at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, Hillier missed the cut on his debut at the FedEx Open de France.
Almost a year and despite tapering his practice over the past couple of days, Hillier feels better equipped to challenge around the 2018 Ryder Cup venue.
“The golf course is looking great, the best I've seen it,” he said. “Hopefully the weather is not too hot. It's been pretty scorching the last couple of days, so the preperation has been slightly limited.
“You don't want to overdo it too early so. We’ve been trying to conserve the energy levels and to make sure we're ready to go for Thursday.”
