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 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
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!