Tour News
Murdaca wins Asia-Pacific Amateur, punches ticket to the Masters
There’s a few ways to get invited to the Masters. One of them is to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Remember Guan Tianlang, the 14-year old Chinese phenom who made the cut at the 2012 Masters? He received his Masters invitation by winning the event.
This year, Antonio Murdaca won the Asia-Pacific Amateur at the famed Royal Melbourne Golf Club’s Composite Course, earning him a coveted spot in the 2015 Masters Tournament.
“It’s a dream come true. I can’t wait,” Murdaca said. “I was standing on that second shot today sort of thinking ‘wow, imagine if I get to the Masters. Imagine how many people there are going to be’.”
Murdaca, who qualified ninth out of host nation Australia’s 10 available spots, had an eight-stroke lead after three rounds and secured the victory with a 71 on Sunday.
He was able to cruise to a seemingly stress-free victory thanks to building a lead early in the week. Despite getting the worst of Thursday’s weather, he was the only player to shoot sub-70s on both Thursday and Friday. The shot of the tournament was his approach to the No. 17, a par-5, in the third round. From 220 meters, his second shot lipped out for what would have been an albatross. He was left with a tap-in eagle that stretched his lead to eight strokes.
Second place went to Japan’s Horikawa Mikuma, who was the only player to break 70 on both days of the weekend. Mikuma finished seven behind Murdaca at 6-under par.
First round leader Todd Sinnott followed his opening 67 with rounds of (71-74-71) to finish third at 6-under. Previous winner Guan Tianlang finished T5 with compatriot Dou Zecheng at 2-under, one behind Australian Ryan Ruffles.
Murdaca, a two-time Australian Boys’ Amateur Champion, looks to follow in the footsteps of his countrymen, and he’s off to a promising start. The Aussie boys’ championship roll of honor gives some indication of Murdaca’s talent and potential — previous winners include 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, who was the first Australian to ever win at Augusta, and PGA Tour winners Jason Day, Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Brett Ogle and New Zealander Grant Waite. Of those, only Scott and Waite won twice – both back to back. Murdaca won his first in 2010 (at a record 14-years of age) and his second in 2013 (shooting a four-round record 272).
As many GolfWRXers know, renowned golf course architect Dr. Alistair McKenzie had a hand in designing Augusta National and the RMGC West course, which provides 12 holes to the Composite. Victory at RM suggests Murdaca can play McKenzie courses – whether he can cope with Masters aura remains to be seen.
2014 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship leaderboard (top-ten finishers):
1 Antonio Murdaca AUS 13-under
2 Horikawa Mikumu JPN 6-under
3 Todd Sinnott AUS 5-under
4 Ryan Ruffels AUS 3-under
T5 Dou Zecheng CHN 2-under
T5 Guan Tianlang CHN 2-under
T8 Lucas Herbert AUS 1-under
T8 Jerome Ng SIN 1-under
T8 Geoffrey Drakeford AUS 1-under
Previous winners of the Asia-Pacific Amateur (and how they fared at the Masters the following year):
2013 Lee Chang-woo (MC)
2012 Guan Tianlang (58 – low amateur)
2011 Hideki Matsuyama (T54)
2010 Hideki Matsuyama (T27 – low amateur)
2009 Han Chang-won (MC)
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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NaBUru38
Oct 31, 2014 at 1:18 pm
The Latin American Amateur winner will also play the Augusta Masters. The 2015 will be held on January 15-18 at Pilar (Buenos Aires, Argerntina).
kylie
Oct 28, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Great article. Love hearing about up and coming talent!