Curtis Luck back to where it all began

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Curtis Luck has returned to defend the title that launched his career and incredible run of success in 2016.

As an amateur Luck teed it up in the Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open alongside the Professionals on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, on Sunday afternoon he stood holding the trophy aloft.

That win kick started an incredible year for Luck who took the world by storm, catapulting himself into the spotlight with wins at both the U.S. Amateur Championship and Asia Pacific Championship.

Now a Pro, Luck has returned home from competing on the PGA TOUR which was highlighted by his rounds on golf’s most hallowed turf; Augusta National.

Luck made his Major debut at The Masters, where he played alongside defending champion Danny Willett and World Number 12 Matt Kuchar.

“Last year was a really big year and it all started here at the WA Open. To go onto bigger things at the U.S. Amateur later in the year, it really kick started my career,” said Luck.

“I got to play some big events but then I got to The Masters and it was a whole different scale.

“It was very confronting; I was there the week before when the course was dead empty and you don’t see a single soul. Then you rock up on Monday morning and all of sudden you can barely see the grass.

“It was quite an incredible feeling to play in front of that and then alongside players like Danny Willett, last year’s winner, and Matt Kuchar who is a constant top-10 out on the PGA TOUR. It was very interesting for me to go out and watch how they do it.”

Still with his feet firmly on the ground and living at home for the free food, Luck has taken the year in stride.

“It was a massive learning curve playing with those guys and travelling week-to-week out in the U.S. It’s been a crazy year and it’s flown by,” added Luck.

“I am pretty happy with how it went for me. It was so busy and so different to any other year of golf I had played, with the way my schedule was. It was tough at first to get used to because it was evolving one week to the next but I think I did well with the invites that I did get.

“Now it’s nice to be home spending time with family and friends. I am still living at home with my parents, I utilise them for the free feeds.

“I was at the beach on Sunday, it was 24 degrees, not a cloud in the sky and I realised how lucky I am to call Perth home.”

Now back at the Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open, Luck is feeling quietly confident of defending his title on the Royal Perth Golf Course where he holds the course record.

“There is a little bit of added pressure but I am just happy to be home and playing this event once again,” added Luck who made his debut at the tournament back in 2011 as a 15-year-old with braces.   

“This is my sixth year playing the WA Open. I am just excited to back home in Perth and playing in front of a home crowd.

“I put the course record up in 2014. I was a member at Royal Perth for a while as well as at Cottesloe so I have played here plenty and I know the course well.

“Hopefully I can put a couple more scores like that on the board this week.”

Joining Curtis Luck in the field this week is ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth champion Brett Rumford, 2012 WA Open champion Oliver Goss and LPGA graduate Hannah Green.

The Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open Championship tees off on Thursday 19 October with the winner decided on Sunday 22 October.

In addition to the winner’s share of the $100,000 prize purse, the champion will receive Official World Golf Ranking Points and be fully exempt onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of the 2018 season.

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Photo: Golf Australia

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