1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,507 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from news Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,867 --> 00:00:17,107 Speaker 2: Was the professionals playing, there are a number of amateurs 4 00:00:17,107 --> 00:00:19,507 Speaker 2: as well. The pro am is part of this whole 5 00:00:19,787 --> 00:00:22,747 Speaker 2: New Zealand Golf Open and included amongst the amateurs are 6 00:00:22,787 --> 00:00:26,907 Speaker 2: a number of New Zealand Golf Open Ambassadors, one of 7 00:00:26,947 --> 00:00:30,147 Speaker 2: who is former Australian Cricket camp and one of the 8 00:00:30,187 --> 00:00:34,147 Speaker 2: greats of the game globally, Ricky Ponting, who's come back 9 00:00:34,227 --> 00:00:37,627 Speaker 2: many times to play this event. He joins us now 10 00:00:37,627 --> 00:00:39,667 Speaker 2: on Weekend Sport. Ha you gun, Ricky, Have you enjoyed 11 00:00:39,747 --> 00:00:40,107 Speaker 2: your day? 12 00:00:40,987 --> 00:00:43,707 Speaker 3: I had a great day, mate, The weather is spectacular, 13 00:00:44,307 --> 00:00:46,147 Speaker 3: had a great group on paired with the young Iusie 14 00:00:46,147 --> 00:00:48,267 Speaker 3: boy Louis Dobbler, who had a good day. 15 00:00:49,227 --> 00:00:51,267 Speaker 4: Body's last hole for two under. 16 00:00:51,307 --> 00:00:53,147 Speaker 3: I think our team scores ended up being some like 17 00:00:53,187 --> 00:00:56,267 Speaker 3: seven under for the day. So we've had a great 18 00:00:56,307 --> 00:00:58,547 Speaker 3: dume and this is the best week of the year. 19 00:00:58,947 --> 00:01:00,627 Speaker 3: I say it every as soon as I get the 20 00:01:00,667 --> 00:01:03,107 Speaker 3: invited to block out that week and make sure that 21 00:01:03,107 --> 00:01:05,227 Speaker 3: I'm right to come over here because it's an incredible 22 00:01:05,187 --> 00:01:08,947 Speaker 3: Tournament's a magnificent place and I just feel very lucky 23 00:01:08,947 --> 00:01:09,667 Speaker 3: to get the invite. 24 00:01:10,707 --> 00:01:12,787 Speaker 4: Well, I think for the last eight or nineties anyway, Yeah, we're. 25 00:01:12,787 --> 00:01:15,787 Speaker 2: Sort of premed. At my neck's question, it doesn't sound 26 00:01:15,827 --> 00:01:18,387 Speaker 2: ricky as though they need to twist your arm very 27 00:01:18,427 --> 00:01:20,267 Speaker 2: much to get your back every year. 28 00:01:20,787 --> 00:01:22,747 Speaker 3: No, So as soon as I hold my last part 29 00:01:22,787 --> 00:01:25,467 Speaker 3: on the Saturday or the Sunday here, I just hope, 30 00:01:25,627 --> 00:01:27,547 Speaker 3: hold my breath and hope that the invite comes for 31 00:01:27,587 --> 00:01:28,107 Speaker 3: the next year. 32 00:01:28,227 --> 00:01:29,387 Speaker 4: It's yeah. 33 00:01:29,627 --> 00:01:32,267 Speaker 3: I mean, I'm a golf tragic anyway, So I love 34 00:01:32,707 --> 00:01:34,827 Speaker 3: I love playing, but when you get an event like 35 00:01:34,867 --> 00:01:37,107 Speaker 3: this that is extra special when you talk to all 36 00:01:37,147 --> 00:01:40,107 Speaker 3: the players, and the players talk about just how good 37 00:01:40,107 --> 00:01:42,387 Speaker 3: a week this is, and then us as ambassadors and 38 00:01:42,387 --> 00:01:44,587 Speaker 3: amateurs to be able to come and hang out with 39 00:01:44,627 --> 00:01:46,747 Speaker 3: them and play with them and just you know, sort 40 00:01:46,747 --> 00:01:49,027 Speaker 3: of see how good they are and sample some of 41 00:01:49,027 --> 00:01:52,987 Speaker 3: the great hospitality that Coinstown and the New Zealand put 42 00:01:53,027 --> 00:01:54,827 Speaker 3: on for us, it's an incredible week. 43 00:01:55,027 --> 00:01:58,347 Speaker 2: Golf, of course, is pretty popular with a variety of 44 00:01:58,387 --> 00:02:00,907 Speaker 2: sports people you know, from rugby to rugby league, but 45 00:02:00,987 --> 00:02:05,187 Speaker 2: in particular cricket. Cricketers seem to really love their golf, 46 00:02:05,227 --> 00:02:07,467 Speaker 2: and I I don't know this to be true, but 47 00:02:07,507 --> 00:02:10,547 Speaker 2: it seems like more cricketers play golf then then they 48 00:02:10,587 --> 00:02:13,267 Speaker 2: play anything else apart from their own sport. What do 49 00:02:13,307 --> 00:02:16,427 Speaker 2: you think cricketers love their golf look, I. 50 00:02:16,347 --> 00:02:18,027 Speaker 4: Think that I think the skills are quite similar. 51 00:02:18,187 --> 00:02:20,547 Speaker 3: Obviously, the hand eye coordination Souf's probably a big part 52 00:02:20,547 --> 00:02:23,467 Speaker 3: of it. I mean, you don't normally enjoy doing things 53 00:02:23,467 --> 00:02:25,027 Speaker 3: if you're not very good at them, So I think 54 00:02:25,747 --> 00:02:28,307 Speaker 3: I think cricketers are generally reasonably good at. 55 00:02:28,187 --> 00:02:29,547 Speaker 4: Golf as they are at tennis. 56 00:02:29,547 --> 00:02:32,107 Speaker 3: There's a lot of good cricket players that are very 57 00:02:32,147 --> 00:02:34,067 Speaker 3: good tennis players as well, so, and I think the 58 00:02:34,107 --> 00:02:37,227 Speaker 3: thing for you know, with cricketers, you're touring all the time. 59 00:02:37,347 --> 00:02:39,347 Speaker 3: You know, you go to places like well here, you 60 00:02:39,347 --> 00:02:40,707 Speaker 3: come to the come to New Zealand, and you go 61 00:02:40,787 --> 00:02:42,067 Speaker 3: to the UK, you go to South Africa, you go 62 00:02:42,147 --> 00:02:45,387 Speaker 3: to some places where you actually can play a lot 63 00:02:45,387 --> 00:02:46,907 Speaker 3: of golf and play some really good golf. 64 00:02:46,947 --> 00:02:48,547 Speaker 4: And you know, I know. 65 00:02:48,507 --> 00:02:50,747 Speaker 3: Most cricket tours that I went on, the golf clubs 66 00:02:50,787 --> 00:02:52,467 Speaker 3: normally found their way onto the plane with. 67 00:02:52,547 --> 00:02:52,987 Speaker 4: Me as well. 68 00:02:53,067 --> 00:02:55,427 Speaker 3: So and the more and more, the more and more 69 00:02:55,427 --> 00:02:57,427 Speaker 3: of this tweet t twenty stuff that the boys are playing, 70 00:02:57,467 --> 00:02:59,787 Speaker 3: gives them more of a chance to play more golf. 71 00:02:59,827 --> 00:03:02,427 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think that the games go hand in hand. 72 00:03:03,027 --> 00:03:05,947 Speaker 2: During your career, Ricky, you faced the fastest bowlers in 73 00:03:05,987 --> 00:03:08,267 Speaker 2: the world, and I'd presume that there was a bit 74 00:03:08,307 --> 00:03:11,347 Speaker 2: of trepidation around that, a bit of adrenaline pumping through 75 00:03:11,387 --> 00:03:15,627 Speaker 2: the veins. What about standing on the first tea an 76 00:03:15,667 --> 00:03:17,947 Speaker 2: event like this, Is there is there any trepidation that 77 00:03:17,947 --> 00:03:18,467 Speaker 2: comes with that? 78 00:03:19,507 --> 00:03:20,547 Speaker 4: Oh more, mate, more. 79 00:03:20,587 --> 00:03:23,587 Speaker 3: I'm not sure what my heart rate got to as 80 00:03:23,587 --> 00:03:26,867 Speaker 3: a batsman facing schal backtar, but I'll guarantee you on 81 00:03:26,987 --> 00:03:29,547 Speaker 3: the first tee here, when you've got a few hundred 82 00:03:29,587 --> 00:03:31,627 Speaker 3: people standing around you and you're out of your comfort. 83 00:03:31,427 --> 00:03:32,987 Speaker 4: Sat, I reckon my heart rate. It's a bit high 84 00:03:33,027 --> 00:03:35,227 Speaker 4: now then it did back when I was playing cricket. 85 00:03:35,267 --> 00:03:37,307 Speaker 3: But I mean that's the beauty of it, right, Like 86 00:03:37,347 --> 00:03:40,907 Speaker 3: I think, as ex professional sportsman, you like to be 87 00:03:40,987 --> 00:03:41,587 Speaker 3: challenged like that. 88 00:03:41,827 --> 00:03:44,067 Speaker 4: You want to get the art rate going again. 89 00:03:44,107 --> 00:03:46,187 Speaker 3: You want to be in a sort of a competitive 90 00:03:46,467 --> 00:03:48,667 Speaker 3: environment because once you've you know, once you've played as 91 00:03:48,667 --> 00:03:50,587 Speaker 3: long as I did, you know, seven and eighteen years 92 00:03:50,627 --> 00:03:53,267 Speaker 3: or whatever, and then you finally retire, the competition in 93 00:03:53,307 --> 00:03:55,027 Speaker 3: your life just stops, so to be able to replace 94 00:03:55,067 --> 00:03:57,667 Speaker 3: it with something like this on a slightly different level. 95 00:03:57,667 --> 00:03:58,947 Speaker 4: And we're not playing for any money. 96 00:03:58,787 --> 00:04:00,707 Speaker 3: But you're playing for a bit of pride, and as 97 00:04:00,707 --> 00:04:02,307 Speaker 3: if you are the crickets here that I played against, 98 00:04:02,307 --> 00:04:04,147 Speaker 3: you know, Steve Flaming, I'm pretty keen. 99 00:04:04,107 --> 00:04:06,907 Speaker 4: To make sure I beat Steven Flaming this week. With 100 00:04:07,027 --> 00:04:09,827 Speaker 4: that on. With that said, the heart rate definitely stays up. 101 00:04:09,907 --> 00:04:12,267 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're just on the other ambassadors there, and you 102 00:04:12,307 --> 00:04:14,867 Speaker 2: mentioned Fleam. Jeff Wilson's there of course, as Ralph Dagg, 103 00:04:14,907 --> 00:04:17,667 Speaker 2: the former All Black a Hayden padd and Tom eber Crombie, 104 00:04:17,707 --> 00:04:19,827 Speaker 2: Richie McCaw who we hope to catch up with at 105 00:04:19,867 --> 00:04:22,827 Speaker 2: some staates this afternoon as well. Is there a mini 106 00:04:22,907 --> 00:04:26,947 Speaker 2: competition going on among the ambassador ambassadors, even a bit 107 00:04:26,987 --> 00:04:27,987 Speaker 2: of a friendly competition. 108 00:04:28,947 --> 00:04:30,787 Speaker 3: We haven't we I mean, we don't sit around and 109 00:04:30,787 --> 00:04:33,707 Speaker 3: say that we'll actually have a bed on it or whatever, 110 00:04:33,787 --> 00:04:35,987 Speaker 3: but I think deep down there's a bit of competition 111 00:04:36,067 --> 00:04:38,627 Speaker 3: going on. Yeah, you know, poor old Jeff Wilson were 112 00:04:38,627 --> 00:04:40,267 Speaker 3: talking about it last night. I think I think he's 113 00:04:40,307 --> 00:04:42,147 Speaker 3: been here for sort of eleven or twelve years straight 114 00:04:42,147 --> 00:04:44,147 Speaker 3: and he hasn't made the cut once yet. So I 115 00:04:44,147 --> 00:04:46,627 Speaker 3: think we as ambassadors, we've all got his fingers crossed 116 00:04:46,627 --> 00:04:48,507 Speaker 3: and hope that he can pull his finger out and 117 00:04:48,507 --> 00:04:51,427 Speaker 3: make the cut at least once. But no, I mean 118 00:04:51,547 --> 00:04:53,947 Speaker 3: they're pride of it. Yeah, I mean you want to. 119 00:04:54,147 --> 00:04:54,667 Speaker 4: You just want to. 120 00:04:54,707 --> 00:04:56,747 Speaker 3: I mean not even so much that you want to, 121 00:04:56,987 --> 00:04:58,747 Speaker 3: you just actually want to be involved in the tournament 122 00:04:58,827 --> 00:05:01,627 Speaker 3: as long as you can, so you know, qualify going 123 00:05:01,627 --> 00:05:03,027 Speaker 3: into sad Day and then if you're good enough to 124 00:05:03,027 --> 00:05:05,267 Speaker 3: get into the last ten groups on Sunday, then you 125 00:05:05,267 --> 00:05:07,227 Speaker 3: know that's what it's all And. 126 00:05:07,267 --> 00:05:09,307 Speaker 2: Just to finish, Ricky, you're in one of the most 127 00:05:09,307 --> 00:05:13,347 Speaker 2: beautiful parts of New Zealand, and you've obviously told us 128 00:05:13,387 --> 00:05:14,667 Speaker 2: how much you love it down there, But do you 129 00:05:14,747 --> 00:05:17,867 Speaker 2: still look around at the scenery sometimes around Millbrook, the 130 00:05:17,907 --> 00:05:21,187 Speaker 2: remarkables around Queenstown and just marvel at it and think, Man, 131 00:05:21,507 --> 00:05:24,187 Speaker 2: this looks like it's just been painted by somebody. 132 00:05:25,547 --> 00:05:26,227 Speaker 4: It's exactly that. 133 00:05:26,347 --> 00:05:28,667 Speaker 3: I mean, As I said, I've been lucky enough to 134 00:05:28,707 --> 00:05:30,867 Speaker 3: come here for eight or nine New Zealand opens, but 135 00:05:31,347 --> 00:05:34,067 Speaker 3: I actually bring my family here every year, skiing in 136 00:05:34,107 --> 00:05:35,787 Speaker 3: the winter time as well, so I checked into the 137 00:05:35,867 --> 00:05:38,627 Speaker 3: resort here on Tuesday. 138 00:05:38,267 --> 00:05:40,907 Speaker 4: Afternoon at Millbrook, and the lady said, would you like 139 00:05:40,947 --> 00:05:41,907 Speaker 4: a map for the resort? 140 00:05:41,947 --> 00:05:43,507 Speaker 3: And then she looked at my check and think against 141 00:05:43,547 --> 00:05:45,387 Speaker 3: you said, oh no, you might be okay. I can 142 00:05:45,427 --> 00:05:48,307 Speaker 3: see that this is your seventeenth time staying at Millbrook, 143 00:05:48,427 --> 00:05:50,267 Speaker 3: So I didn't I didn't need the map to get 144 00:05:50,307 --> 00:05:53,147 Speaker 3: around this is This is undoubtedly my favorite place in 145 00:05:53,187 --> 00:05:53,467 Speaker 3: the world. 146 00:05:53,507 --> 00:05:55,427 Speaker 4: I say, I say it to everyone. I've been lucky 147 00:05:55,427 --> 00:05:56,707 Speaker 4: to travel. 148 00:05:56,267 --> 00:05:58,187 Speaker 3: You know, all over the world, through the States, through 149 00:05:58,227 --> 00:06:01,067 Speaker 3: you Europe, you know, through the Caribbean, wherever it might be. 150 00:06:02,227 --> 00:06:04,027 Speaker 3: Queenstown is my favorite place in the world. And I 151 00:06:04,107 --> 00:06:05,827 Speaker 3: tell that to everybody. And that's not just. 152 00:06:05,747 --> 00:06:06,307 Speaker 4: Because of the goal. 153 00:06:06,547 --> 00:06:08,787 Speaker 3: It's the skiing. He can do everything else you can 154 00:06:08,827 --> 00:06:12,867 Speaker 3: do here with your family. It's amazing. So look, if 155 00:06:12,867 --> 00:06:15,267 Speaker 3: the invite keeps coming on one hundred percent, keep coming back, 156 00:06:15,987 --> 00:06:18,467 Speaker 3: or keep coming back with the skiing stuff during the winter. 157 00:06:18,547 --> 00:06:19,787 Speaker 4: In fact, I'm going to. 158 00:06:19,787 --> 00:06:22,107 Speaker 3: Catch up with the head at Millbook here and make 159 00:06:22,147 --> 00:06:24,467 Speaker 3: sure I've got my trip booked in for later this year, 160 00:06:24,547 --> 00:06:27,547 Speaker 3: probably in September this year, and yeah, I'll be back again. 161 00:06:27,547 --> 00:06:29,667 Speaker 2: Doha, rad Yeah, brilliant stuff. Rickie, Hey, thanks so much 162 00:06:29,667 --> 00:06:31,787 Speaker 2: for taking the time out of your weekend to chat 163 00:06:31,787 --> 00:06:33,267 Speaker 2: to us. All the best for the rest of it. 164 00:06:33,307 --> 00:06:34,787 Speaker 2: Great to have you in town and thanks for chatting 165 00:06:34,867 --> 00:06:35,787 Speaker 2: to us this afternoon. 166 00:06:35,907 --> 00:06:36,347 Speaker 4: Thanks mate. 167 00:06:36,347 --> 00:06:38,067 Speaker 2: Good on you, No, good on you, Ricky. Thanks indeed. 168 00:06:38,107 --> 00:06:41,187 Speaker 2: Ricky Ponting there from Milbrook where he's part of the 169 00:06:41,747 --> 00:06:44,267 Speaker 2: pro am and one of the New Zealand Golf Opens 170 00:06:44,267 --> 00:06:47,587 Speaker 2: Ambassadors for twenty twenty five dozen Sanders. I say so. 171 00:06:47,707 --> 00:06:50,187 Speaker 2: They needed to twist his arm very much to come 172 00:06:50,227 --> 00:06:54,267 Speaker 2: back his favorite place in the world. Outstanding stuff. Great 173 00:06:54,307 --> 00:06:56,107 Speaker 2: to have Ricky Ponting in town. As always. 174 00:06:56,787 --> 00:06:59,987 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 175 00:07:00,107 --> 00:07:03,387 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 176 00:07:03,427 --> 00:07:05,027 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.