Golf: From 18th hole to NPC semi

Phil Tataurangi might be the New Zealand golfer of the moment with his $1.9 million victory in Las Vegas on Monday, but he had rugby on his mind when he flew to Auckland yesterday.

Priority No 1 was to secure a ticket for Saturday night's NPC first division semifinal between Waikato and Otago at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

A staunch Waikato rugby fan, Tataurangi, 30, intended to be at the match and hopefully the final at the same venue a week later.

"I'm there at both, hopefully, if they do the job properly," Tataurangi said after landing at Auckland Airport with wife Melanie and two-year-old son Kahu.

"I've been following Waikato very closely."

It will be his first visit to the new Waikato Stadium, having not been in New Zealand since January.

Tataurangi and his family also move into a new house in Taupo tomorrow and after a long year, which included health problems, he could not wait to get home.

Tataurangi had arthroscopic surgery in July to cure a heart condition known as superventricular tachycardia, which brought on attacks of rapid heart beat.

He plans to take a month's holiday and then play a couple of tournaments in Australia. He will not return to the US until January.

Tataurangi has shot up the world rankings to 74th, one ahead of former American great John Daly and 10 ahead of compatriot Craig Perks who, like Tataurangi, won for the first time on the PGA Tour this year.

In taking his year's PGA Tour earnings to US$1.64 million, Tataurangi moved up to 33rd place (from 77th) on the money list, pushing Perks (US$1.63 million) to 34th.

Michael Campbell, at 19th, remains the highest-ranked New Zealander on the world list. He is followed by Tataurangi and Perks.

David Smail, at 186, is the only other New Zealander in the top 200.

Campbell is the eighth seed for the world matchplay championship which starts at Wentworth, England, tomorrow. He plays unseeded Nick Faldo in the first round, with the winner to meet defending champion Ian Woosnam.

- STAFF REPORTER, NZPA