The world number one women's golfer Lydia Ko says she's excited to showcase the LPGA Tour's latest tournament in her hometown.
The New Zealand Women's Open will now be co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, the world's biggest women's golf tour, and the Australian Women's Tour.
Prize money has increased to $1.8 million dollars from the $300,000.
The event's title sponsor will be McKayson, a South Korean sports apparel and accessory brand.
The tournament will also move from Christchurch to Auckland's new Windross Farm Golf Course which was designed by former New Zealand professional Phil Tataurangi.
Lydia Ko at the 2016 New Zealand Women's Open in Christchurch Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ko, who's won three of the last four New Zealand Women's Opens, said the news is a dream come true.
"To know that the world's best female golfers are going to play in my hometown it's exciting.
"I think more girls and more kids are going to take up the sport (in New Zealand) and say 'hey I want to play on this tour (LPGA) in a few years and this event too," Ko said.
Today's announcement is the biggest to come out of New Zealand Golf since former men's world number oneTiger Woods played in the New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu Golf Club in 2002.
For the past seven years the tournament struggled to attract big name players other than Ko while it was a Ladies European Tour event but New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy expects that to change.
While no names other than Ko's have been added to the start list, Murphy said the world's best players will be in Auckland.
He said tournament is at the business end of the LPGA Tour season when vital championship points will be on offer.
"I think we'll get a good representation of the top players here, Lydia is going to do her best, she's going to bribe all of her mates to come and play.
"We're not going to put it all on her, we've got our people working on it up in America but we expect a great number of players to come down," Murphy said.
The tournament will run from September 28 to October 1.
-RNZ
