Matt Millar didn't hit a golf ball for three weeks then won the New Zealand Masters

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This was published 6 years ago

Matt Millar didn't hit a golf ball for three weeks then won the New Zealand Masters

By Eamonn Tiernan

Matt Millar didn't hit a golf ball for three weeks before winning the inaugural New Zealand Masters on Sunday.

The Canberran began his season in the best possible fashion with a sensational four-stroke triumph, which Millar hopes will launch his strongest year on tour.

Canberran Matt Millar didn't hit a golf ball for three weeks before winning the New Zealand Masters on Sunday.

Canberran Matt Millar didn't hit a golf ball for three weeks before winning the New Zealand Masters on Sunday.Credit: Golf NSW

Millar enjoyed the comprehensive victory after firing a trifecta of four-under 67s on the final three days of competition to finish 11-under 273 at the Wainui Golf Club.

The 41-year-old didn't pick up a club for three weeks over Christmas to mentally refresh following a gruelling six months, and the move paid dividends - $15,000 to be precise.

Millar collected another $6000 after winning the pro-am tournament played in conjunction with rounds three and four and the former school teacher said the victories have restored his confidence.

"Coming off the finish I had last year, I was pretty tired and wasn't playing well and disappointed with my game, so I really wanted to have three weeks off to refresh," Millar said.

"I felt myself sliding backwards mentally a bit so this win is huge, it just restores that confidence and shows it's there but I just have to bring it out more often.

"Winning the tournament and winning it well by sticking to my exact plan and the way I wanted to get around the course - particularly under the gun - is something I was really proud of."

Millar will spend the next two weeks in the capital as he prepares for a tough five-tournament stretch played in as many weeks, which starts at the Vic Open on February 1.

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"We start the first of five at the Vic Open then head to Perth, Queensland and back to New Zealand for their PGA and Open," Millar said.

"Five weeks in a row will just about see me to my limit, after I'll take a short break then play some pro-ams around Canberra through April and then go to Europe in May.

"I'm expecting to get a start in May and June and then I'll bookend those with the Challenge Tour and if I start well there I'll follow it through the year to give myself a chance of getting on the main European Tour next year."

Millar admits he was guilty of playing too often last season and wants to be smarter about when he plays, but conceded it wasn't always possible to pick and choose.

"People say maybe you shouldn't have played nine of last 11 weeks last year but I didn't have a choice, you can't ring them and say 'do you mind if qualify next week', I had to play," Millar said.

"Then you come back and can't exactly knock back the chance to play your home Open and PGA because they're the ones you want to win and they have a lot of attachments.

"But the biggest thing I want to change from last year is not to over play because it took its toll, it will be a busy six months coming up but it's just about trying to get the right structure and calendar."

The former world No. 265 said he doesn't mind spending months of the year on the road but added he couldn't do it without his support base in Canberra.

"The travel it is quite intense at times, things go your way and against you, generally I don't mind it but you need to make sure you have a week off here and there to get away from it," Millar said.

"I just need to get into a mould where I'm making sure I don't commit to more than I can handle, especially at 41."

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