By Tony Webeck
A Master’s T-shirt they received in their welcome pack has reminded Kayun Mudadana and Jye Halls of what’s at stake as Declan O’Donovan aims to extend his amateur career by earning an invite to Augusta National Golf Club.
The Golf NSW trio are part of a seven-strong Australian contingent in Dubai this week for the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Emirates Golf Club’s famed Majlis Course.
A Queensland quartet of Harry Takis, Billy Dowling, Chase Oberle and Graham Hourn round out those donning the green and gold, all seeking to become the fifth Australian and third in the past four years to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur.
Second at the Eisenhower Trophy two weeks ago in Singapore and winner of the Canadian Men’s Amateur champion in July, O’Donovan arrives in Dubai at a career high of 229th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
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He played a practice round with Dowling and Oberle on Tuesday and will tee off on Thursday with a professional career ahead of him if he doesn’t win an event that will open the door to playing the 2026 Masters and Open Championship.
“It would kind of change everything,” O’Donovan said of a potential victory this week.
“I’ve already got a good plan ahead of me of what I’m going to be doing as a pro for the next year, especially with the Canadian Open, me being allowed to play that as a professional.
“But yeah, it’d be a nice change of plans.”
A regular contender on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia last summer, O’Donovan’s win in Canada and performance in Singapore have given him a dangerous edge.
He no longer turns up to tournaments thinking he can win; he knows he can.
“When you do something again and again, you definitely get a feel for what works well for you and what works well in the moment, especially under pressure,” said O’Donovan.
“Golf under pressure is completely different to golf not under pressure. Your breathing changes, your feels change, the shots you hit sometimes change. I’ve found a really good routine and a formula for me that works when I’m under pressure.
“All that practice I got in the summer in the beginning of the year has given me a good chance to win overseas and hopefully this week.”
Mudadana got a taste of the spotlight when he was paired with Cameron Smith for the first two rounds of last year’s Queensland PGA Championship, while Halls, who hails from Mollymook on the New South Wales South Coast, is the reigning Australian Amateur champion.
The pair both play out of the New South Wales Golf Club and are now getting a sense for the opportunity ahead of them this week.
“I’ve represented Australia a couple times now, but nothing like this big,” said Mudadana.
“As an event, everything’s been really good so far. Hospitality and registration gifts and stuff that we’ve got has been really good.
“We got a Master’s T-shirt, which is a nice design and fits pretty well.
“(Winning) is definitely possible. One of us, especially for one of the older guys we have in the team as well, I think one of us definitely could get it done, and we have got it done before.”
Halls finished second to fellow New South Welshman Coby Carruthers at the Emirates Golf Federation’s UAE Cup last October and also has eyes on a life-changing win.
“Definitely really exciting,” said Halls.
“Probably one of the biggest tournaments of the year, most opportunities on offer if you win.”
“It’s hard not to think about it.”
The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship tees off on Thursday with all four rounds broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo. Round 1 coverage is from 8pm-11pm Thursday, Round 2 is 9pm-12am Friday, Round 3 is 7pm-10pm Saturday and 8pm-11pm Sunday for the final round.
