WA golfer Curtis Luck takes number one world amateur golf ranking
Posted
West Australian golfer Curtis Luck is now ranked the best amateur golfer in the world.
The 20-year-old has joined elite company in Spieth and McIlroy, driving and putting his way to the top of the amateur ranks of golf.
Luck stole the top amateur spot from American Maverick McNealy on Wednesday night, making a five-year dream a reality.
"Since I started playing seriously when I was 14 or 15, it has been my goal from there. So for five years I have been trying to reach that number one spot."
He has become the third WA golfer in four years to claim a number one spot.
Golf WA chief executive Gary Thomas said Luck's ranking was a fitting reward for his efforts.
"Claiming the number-one ranking is a tremendous achievement from Curtis and a fitting reward for all the hard work he has put in to reach the top of the amateur game," Mr Thomas said.
"His success is also reflective of the hours spent behind the scenes by his coaches and support team, including the Cottesloe Golf Club."
Luck has showed that he is the best player in amateur golf by winning several major tournaments in the past 12 months.
In 2016, he was on the winning Eisenhower Trophy team while representing Australia. He also won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the Western Australian Open and the US Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club.
Luck's victory at the US Amateur booked his spot for the upcoming US Masters tournament in April at Augusta.
Luck said he was on track to competing well at the Masters after claiming the number one amateur ranking.
"It was pretty exciting for me and it was one goal for 2017 checked off the list, so I can now move on to the next one, which is obviously playing and doing well at the Masters, so we'll see how it goes."
Coach Craig Bishop made a 'huge difference'
Luck is caddied by his father Stuart, and coached by Craig Bishop. Stuart Luck said Bishop had inspired Curtis to be confident in himself.
"Craig Bishop has made a huge difference to Curtis's game — more than just as a coach but as a mentor, he has inspired Curtis to have confidence in his own abilities," he said.
Bishop was named the Coach of the Year at the 2016 WA Sports Star awards after his pupil's success on the amateur circuit.
He has been coaching for 15 years and says Luck is one of the most talented golfers he has worked with.
Bishop said Curtis was the number one because of "six years of hard work".
Only three Australian men have ever reached the number one amateur ranking before. Bishop has coached two of them, Luck and Brady Watt.
Curtis Luck has yet to make his career plans to turn professional, but will be in action at the Arnold Palmer Invitational from Thursday, as he begins his preparation for the US Masters in April.
Topics: golf, perth-6000
