Australian golfer Jasper Stubbs hopes the “1000’s of rounds” he has spent taking part in at Augusta on his PlayStation will maintain him in good stead when he takes to the fabled course for the Masters.
Stubbs, a 21-year-old beginner from Victoria ranked 335th on the earth, booked his ticket on the Masters after profitable the Asia Pacific Newbie Championship at Royal Melbourne final October.
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Not solely did he earn a spot in golf’s most famous occasion, he additionally certified for The Open at Royal Troon.
It was an exceptional achievement given it was Stubbs’ first time getting into the occasion as he grew to become the third-highest ranked participant within the competitors’s historical past to emerge because the final man standing.
Nevertheless, Stubbs’ “dream” has at all times been to play within the Masters, a match he has watched since he was a younger boy.
Regardless of being warned in regards to the risks of getting the Masters consistently on his thoughts, Stubbs merely couldn’t shake it from his consciousness, such is his pleasure.
“I’d be mendacity if I mentioned that I wasn’t enthusiastic about it nearly each single day for the final six months now,” Stubbs mentioned.
“It’s been one thing I have been working in direction of for that lengthy.
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“But it surely’s been exhausting to maintain it out of the thoughts, for certain.”
Fortunately, Stubbs has already paid a go to to Augusta having performed on the fabled fairways in February.
Strolling between the enduring pine bushes of the course was “some of the surreal emotions” Stubbs has ever skilled in his life, particularly having come to know all of the intricacies of the course from watching it on TV.
Not solely that, he’d spent numerous hours taking part in the course by way of video video games on his PlayStation.
“Going there and figuring out each single shot I used to be imagined to play for 18 holes was fairly bizarre for the primary time taking part in it,” Stubbs mentioned.
“But it surely was wonderful. It lived as much as all of the expectations I had set in my thoughts.”
After all, Stubbs won’t be the only Australian consultant competing in Augusta, with Cameron Davis, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Cameron Smith and Adam Scott all flying the flag.
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The group of 5 have all obtained loads of experiences on the Masters Stubbs doesn’t have, and the Victorian is eager to faucet into all of their information and nous.
“It’ll be superior to play with the likes of Scotty, Cam, Min Woo, all these guys who’ve been on the Masters earlier than and choose their brains whereas I’m there,” Stubbs mentioned.
“Clearly I’ve seen it (the course) a few instances already, however I believe their info shall be invaluable.”
Stubbs conceded he doesn’t have any observe rounds lined up with any of his fellow Australians, however “they appear like they wish to present the ropes a bit” in a lovely signal for the beginner.