With the party and practice done, tomorrow at 12.12 am AEST, it is game on for Harrison Crowe in his US Masters’ debut.
The 21-year-old amateur star from St. Michael’s has spent the past two days fine-tuning his game, on Tuesday with a practice round alongside Open Champion Cameron Smith and 2013 Master Champion Adam Scott and Wednesday in the traditional par-three contest.
In his media conference on Monday, Crowe talked a bit about the influence his idol, Adam Scott, had on his path to this year’s Masters through a piece of advice at last year’s Japan Open, just a couple of weeks before his memorable victory in the Asia Pacific Amateur, which led to him driving down magnolia lane for the first time.
“I spoke to him after the second round there, and he gave me a piece of advice; it was just to go and reset and go after it. Just like that, in the span of two weeks, it was awesome.
“It just kind of kicked me forward a little bit, and especially into that weekend in Thailand.”
It was all party today with the par-three contest, a traditional prelude to the tournament in earnest.
Crowe might not have worried the contest leaders, and he wasn’t one of the lucky five players who had a hole-in-one. Still, the occasion was especially memorable, having his dad, Tony, on the bag for the event.
Most of his 30-strong supporter contingent from St. Michael’s and Bardwell Valley were also there to make some noise.
The day ended with a putting session under the watchful eye of his coach, John Serhan and Physio Matt Green, while caddie for the week, Andrew Tschuddin, did some last-minute reconnaissance of the course.
Game time tomorrow is 9.12 am Georgia time, playing alongside fellow Aussie Min Woo Lee and the 1987 Champion Larry Mize (who we all know defeated Greg Norman in a playoff with that sudden death hole out on 11). who is making his 45th and final Masters appearance.
