Daniel Hillier wins BMW after hole-in-one at Spanish Open
Friday 9 October 2026 · 4 outlets · 5 reports · updated In this story Daniel Hillier
New Zealand golfer Daniel Hillier recorded his fifth career hole-in-one on the 17th hole during the opening round in Madrid. The ace earned him an electric BMW iX5 SUV and helped him finish the round tied for fourth place.
Key facts
4 facts
- Daniel Hillier shot a 67 (4-under) in the first round at the Open de Espana
- Hillier won a BMW iX5 SUV by being the first player to hit a hole-in-one on the 17th hole this week
- The hole-in-one occurred on the 17th hole at the Real Club de Campo Villa Madrid
- Hillier is 28 years old and won the New Zealand Open in March
The full story
1 min read · 4 outlets
New Zealander Daniel Hillier secured a BMW iX5 SUV after hitting a hole-in-one on the 17th hole during the opening round of the Open de Espana. The 28-year-old used an eight-iron on the par-three hole to achieve the ace, which he believes is the fifth of his career.
Hillier finished his first round with a four-under-par 67, leaving him tied for fourth place at the Real Club de Campo Villa Madrid. He sits one shot behind the leaders, Eugenio Chacarra, Grant Forrest, and Connor Syme, who all shared a five-under 66.
The golfer noted that the shot was not a perfect strike, stating, "To be honest, I toed it quite a bit". He added that he did not realise a car was available and that it would be a "long drive" back to New Zealand.
Hillier's round included five birdies and three bogeys, with three consecutive birdies on holes 12, 13, and 14. He is currently 13th on the DP World Tour leaderboard, aiming to secure one of ten available PGA Tour cards for 2027.
How it developed
- Fri 9 Oct, 9:02amThe fifth report detailed Hillier's specific birdie and bogey count and his current standing regarding PGA Tour card qualification.
Where reports differ
- Reports differ on the value of the BMW, with one citing NZD $125,000 and others citing NZD $280,000.
- The distance of the 17th hole is reported as 165 metres in one account and 187 yards in others.
- The leaders' scores are reported as 5-under 66 in some versions and simply as sharing the lead in others.
Compiled from reports by RNZ, 1News, Stuff and NZ Herald.
