Curtis Luck talks turning pro, Masters prior to Australian PGA
Curtis Luck
(USGA Photo)
BENOWA, Queensland (November 29, 2016) -- Just weeks after playing in the Australian Open, amateurs
Curtis Luck and
Brett Coletta will be teeing it up once more in a high profile Australian PGA event, this time it is at the Australian PGA Championship being contested at the Royal Pines Resort.
Luck, the low amateur, at the Australian Open talked to the press following his Tuesday practice round and despite focusing on the task at hand he couldn't help talking about his fast approaching trip the Masters.
"I guess every day for the last couple of months I’ve found myself just grinning at some point and realizing I’m going to be there (Augusta National) next year," Luck told the media. "It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I started playing when I was 10, to obviously step foot on Augusta and be able to hit a tee shot in the tournament."
However, Luck has hinted that he may forgo exemptions into the U.S. Open and British Open in favor of turning professional, something the 20-year-old can take a big step towards doing this week. If the reigning U.S. Amateur and Asia-Pacific Amateur champion were to hoist the Joe Kirkwood Cup at weeks end he would earn a European Tour card and with it a two-year exemption to the tour.
But when asked if he would immediately take advantage of the card Luck quickly replied, “I would not miss out on the opportunity to play Augusta next year, not in any world.”
With that said it is beginning to look more and more like Luck will follow in the footsteps of Bryson DeChambeau and Romain Langasque who both turned professional the week after the 2016 Masters.
“I’m pretty close to deciding that I’ll turn pro, most likely after the Masters next year,” continued Luck. "The hope is to make enough money to get a Tour card if I go down that path but it’s still not 100%.”
Luck will begin his week Thursday at 6:10 a.m. local time playing alongside 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott and Greg Chalmers. At the Australian Open Luck had hoped that he would be able to pick first two rounds playing partner Jordan Spieth's brain about Augusta but was unsuccessful. Maybe this time, playing with his fellow countrymen Luck will be able to stare the conversation in the proper direction.
“Adam Scott has been kind of an Aussie idol I guess for me since I started, growing up playing golf,” Luck said. "Adam and Jason (Day) now obviously have been the guys I’ve looked up to and so, to be playing with him this week it’s extremely exciting and I’m obviously very fortunate."
Fellow amateur Brett Coletta will tee off at 11:55 a.m. with playing partners Michael Hendry and Edoardo Molinari.
Coletta has put together an impressive start to the Australian summer season. It started with a win at the Queensland Open where he became the first amateur since Stuart Appleby to win the title. The success continued last week at the New South Wales Open where after leading following the first round he finished tied for second at 20-under.
The 2016 season has also included a runner-up finish at the Asia-Pacific Amateur. Coletta led after both the second and third rounds before he was overtaken by the hard charging Luck in the final round. In 2015 Coletta earned medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur.
-Golflink and The Australian contributed to this story