Aussie amateur Crowe taking flight at Augusta National

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Harrison Crowe was having a few pints final summer time at The Dunvegan, a pub simply across the nook from the Outdated Course at St. Andrews, when a golf podcaster challenged somebody to hit a ball off the pavement and onto the 18th inexperienced.

That may be over the buildings, throughout the road and onto the 18th inexperienced.

Crowe doesn’t keep in mind what number of drinks he had in him. He does keep in mind the shot. Together with his left foot on the nook of the sidewalk, his proper on the road, Crowe took a mighty swing and despatched the ball hovering over the buildings.

The video of the profitable shot went viral, turning the newbie into one thing of a celeb at his first Masters.

“I feel hitting that shot simply sort of exhibits the person who I’m, that I’m probably not afraid to present all the things a shot,” Crowe mentioned after a follow spherical at Augusta Nationwide on Monday. “And it sort of exhibits a bit bit extra of the Aussie tradition a bit bit, that we’re fairly laid again and we’re able to do issues.”

Crowe’s victory on the Asia-Pacific Novice Championship final yr put him in choose Aussie firm: Adam Scott is again on the tenth anniversary of his Masters triumph, British Open champ Cameron Smith is among the many favorites, Jason Day is rising via the world rankings now that he’s wholesome, and Min Woo Lee is a stylish decide to do nicely.

“The course is certainly longer than I anticipated,” Crowe mentioned, “however extra so the aura across the gamers is so mesmerizing. You go down Magnolia Lane, it’s so particular. Driving the automobile down there, it’s a life-changing expertise. After which being right here at this time, particularly seeing how many individuals are on the market, it’s nerve-wracking. But it surely’s extra so thrilling.”

DECHAMBEAU AND AUGUSTA

Bryson DeChambeau was a beefed-up, big-hitting U.S. Open champ when he got here to the Masters in November 2020 and referred to as Augusta Nationwide a par 67 due to his size. He solely broke par two days, and solely as soon as did he break 70 — a 69.

“Due to that assertion (some individuals) suppose I don’t have respect for the course,” DeChambeau mentioned. “Are you kidding me? This is likely one of the biggest golf programs in the whole world, and if anyone thinks I don’t have respect for the course, they’d higher go try who I really am as a result of it’s not correct one bit.”

DeChambeau mentioned he regrets not clarifying that he wanted to be on the peak of his recreation, and that wasn’t the case. And whereas he mentioned a 67 on daily basis is unlikely to occur, with the space he was hitting the ball in 2020 it was doable.

“However that’s solely along with your ‘A’ recreation, and I ought to have rephrased that,” he mentioned.

YOUNG SARGENT

Gordon Sargent obtained a particular invitation to play the Masters because the NCAA champion. He’s a sophomore at Vanderbilt however seems even youthful, and that made it troublesome to get across the grounds when he arrived Sunday.

In reality, just a few staff figured he was one of many children within the Drive, Chip and Putt competitors.

“I’m strolling round and nobody is with me. I don’t even know if I had my badge with me; I feel I in all probability nonetheless had it within the automobile or one thing,” Sargent mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘Can I’ve participant eating?’ They’re like, ‘I don’t know. Participant?’ I used to be like, ‘Yeah, I do know, I’m an newbie or no matter.’ Then fortunately a pair guys from once I got here final month from inside remembered me, and so they sort of guided me alongside. However yeah, it was fairly humorous.”

“They’re like, ‘The place are your mother and father? Like, did they ship you by your self?’” Sargent added with a smile. “I used to be like, ‘No, they’re coming in. I can journey on my own typically.’”

HOLE IN ONE

Sepp Straka already has a memorable Masters second: He aced the par-3 twelfth throughout his follow spherical Monday.

The winner of the Honda Basic a yr in the past, Straka was enjoying with Abraham Ancer, J.T. Poston and Chris Kirk and had 155 yards to the opening when he hit an 8-iron over the bunker fronting the inexperienced and watched his ball disappear.

Straka gained’t get one of many crystal bowls that Augusta Nationwide awards gamers who’ve a hole-in-one through the Masters; there hasn’t been a type of at No. 12 since Curtis Unusual in 1988. However that didn’t appear to trouble Straka one bit.

“Each time you come it’s a particular occasion, after which clearly this yr, the one factor that’s going to face out — I don’t suppose you possibly can prime that hole-in-one,” Straka mentioned. “That’ll be a reminiscence I’ll preserve without end.”

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AP Golf Author Doug Ferguson contributed.

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