U.S. Amateur Champion Curtis Luck to play in 2016 Australian Open
Curtis Luck hits his opening tee shot in the U.S. Amateur title match
(USGA Photo)
SOUTH MELBOURNE, Australia (August 29, 2016) --
Newly crowned U.S. Amateur champion Curtis Luck will
play in this year’s Emirates Australian Open.
Luck, 20, whose win secured him entry to the 2017
Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship, will join
the likes of world No.1 Jason Day and past champions
Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott in the field at Royal
Sydney from November 17-20.
Luck’s victory in Michigan postponed the world No.3
amateur’s plans to turn professional so that he can take
up these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities next year.
And now with just 80 days until his first appearance
in his national championship, the Cottesloe Golf Club
ace is pumped to get a chance to mix it with the world’s
best before repeating it on the major stage.
“It’s my first Aussie Open and I’m obviously really
excited because there are some big names coming
down,” Luck beamed.
“I might make friends with a couple hopefully – I
think Spieth has got the greens around Augusta down
pat, so I might chat to him and get on his good side for
a couple of tips, maybe.
“It will be a real thrill to be at Royal Sydney and
hopefully I’ll stand up to the test.
“I definitely don’t doubt that I’m capable of
contending; it obviously requires (me to have) a good
week, but I’ll definitely give it a good crack.”
Australian Open tournament director Trevor Herden
was thrilled to invite Luck into the field.
“We delight in having winners of the major
championships in our national Open, so to have the
champion of arguably the world’s greatest amateur
tournament is a real highlight for us,” Herden said.
“We’ve watched Curtis come through the ranks and
play five Interstate Series for Western Australia and also
finish runner-up at the 2014 Australian Amateur to
reach this level, so we know he’s a player of exceptional
talent.
“He obviously took it to the next level in winning
the U.S. Amateur and we see no reason, if he continues
that form, that he shouldn’t be in the mix at Royal
Sydney.”