An Australian golfer, who went viral this year after hitting an unbelievable trick shot from outside a pub onto the 18th green at St Andrews, has qualified for next year’s US Masters and British Open.
Harrison Crowe, 21, won the Asia-Pacific Amateur on Sunday with an even-par final round of 72 at the Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand on Sunday.
It means the precocious Australian amateur has qualified for the Masters at Augusta National in April, as well as the British Open in July.
“It means so much,” Crowe said. “I came out here this week with something to prove and I’m just really proud of myself the way I handled myself on and off the course.”
Keen observers may remember Crowe from a YouTube video posted this year that has been viewed more than 250,000 times.
It has to be seen to be believed.
The creator of the video had heard a story that South African golfer Ernie Els once hit a shot at 4am from the Dunvegan Hotel, about a three-minute walk from the course, over buildings on the street and onto the 18th green at the Old Course.
Crowe happened to be in the pub with mates when he was dared to try and replicate the audacious shot.
In front of a handful of onlookers – about the time of the 150th British Open, which was won by fellow Australian Cameron Smith – Crowe hit a near-perfect blind shot onto the green of the hole named “Tom Morris”.
The first shot he attempted was off a tee and went a little right. On the next attempt, Crowe hit the ball off the concrete and onto the green.
Crowe and his mates walked straight back into the pub before the youngster then inspected the green to check where the shot landed.
He almost drained the putt for an up and down.
Crowe, who plays his golf at St Michael’s in Sydney’s Little Bay, is the third Australian to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. In March this year, he became the sixth amateur player to win the NSW Open.
He started his final round in Thailand top of the leaderboard but dropped four shots on the front nine.
However, Crowe fought back for victory with a par on the last.
Crowe sits 43rd on the world amateur rankings and has hinted he may turn pro next month.
He’ll be hoping for more jaw-dropping shots at the Masters next year when he competes against the best in the world.
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