Masters 2023: Follow the latest news from the Australian contingent at Augusta National
Australian amateur Harrison Crowe became a viral sensation after some St Andrews antics, now he’s walking the Augusta fairways preparing to play in the Masters.
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Harrison Crowe and his support staff have an agreement in place heading into the Masters. Every time the highly-touted amateur sinks a birdie, his father Tony and the other Crowe supporters sharing a house in Augusta have to skol a beer.
At the weekend, Crowe quipped that his plan this week was to send his father home in an ambulance – the implication that for his father to drink that much beer, Crowe would have had to record plenty of birdies.
Having played a practice round with Adam Scott and Cameron Smith on Wednesday morning (AEDT), Crowe scaled back his comments.
Tony and the other Crowe supporters will continue to down a beer for every birdie, but the youngster just wants the family to have a good time.
No ambulances are necessary.
“It’s a birdie beer rule for most people in the house this week, yes,” said Crowe, who secured his place in the field after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur.
“I think they’re doing it for themselves. The idea is to get these guys having as good a time as I am without getting themselves in trouble as well.
“I think having the guys there this week and all my family there, it kind of makes things a little more normal.
“I think having those guys around, it makes it a lot more cool.”
Crowe has been blessed in the leadup to the opening round at Augusta. He played on Tuesday morning (AEDT) with Jason Day and Mini Woo Lee, and backed that up by playing 18 holes with Smith and Scott.
"The plan is to send him home in an ambulance!" 🤣
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) April 2, 2023
Harrison Crowe's 'beer for birdie' challenge at the Masters sounds dangerous! 😳
ðŸ–¥ï¸ Sports Sunday | Catch up 9Now.#9WWOS#Masterspic.twitter.com/LuerHIyJgX
Crowe, who will play alongside Lee and Greg Norman-conqueror Larry Mize in the opening round, used the time wisely.
“It’s awesome,” he said.
“They both have pretty good track records around here. It’s nice to pick their brains a little bit. For the most part, we had fun out there.
“It was awesome – the camaraderie around here this week. Got to play with J Day and Min yesterday.
“It’s been an awesome week so far, and it’s only the start of it.”
Asked for his favourite pearl of wisdom from the pair, Crowe said: “Scottie said today you don’t have to do too much.
“If you put the ball in the fairway off the tee you don’t have to really shape it too much. Just drive the ball solid.
“You’re going to have many opportunities coming in and there’s going to be pins you have to stay away from. But if you’re in the fairway, you really can’t go too wrong.”
Do that, and the birdies are likely to flow. Beers too.
REBUILDING JASON DAY: A MASTERS SNUB AND TOM BRADY
Jason Day is the forgotten man of Australian golf but he is taking inspiration from American football legend Tom Brady in his quest to return to the top.
Day, the former world No. 1, has put injury and personal heartache behind him to become a factor again on the PGA Tour.
It bodes well as he prepares to resume his love affair with Augusta National – he has finished in the top five at the US Masters on three occasions, including runner-up to Chart Schwartzel in 2011.
Last year, Day wasn’t even in the field for the Masters, such had been his fall from grace.
However, new coach Chris Como has presided over some swing changes that have eased pressure on Day’s fragile back and have him believing again as he prepares to launch his latest pursuit of the green jacket.
Brady, the evergreen quarterback who only just retired at the age of 45 after a Hall of Fame career, has also given Day confidence that his best years may be in front of him.
“Obviously I got a little inspiration from Tom Brady, a guy that was an inspiration to a lot of people,” the 35-year-old Day said.
“For him to be at that young age of 45 and be competitive in the NFL – it’s remarkable, to be honest, a true testament to his ability, and then obviously the mental ability that he has.
“I think in golf, it’s even better if you keep yourself healthy and you can still hit it a decent length. You can be competitive for a long, long time.
“That said, for the longest time I said I’ll get to 40 and think about retiring. I feel like I can play to 50 now, which is great, and it would be nice to get another 15 years out of my career and see what this second half of my career could unfold.”
Hopefully, that also means Day can get back to Australia some time soon. The Queenslander has been an infrequent visitor to his homeland over the years despite the best efforts of Australian golf officials.
For the moment, Day’s focus is on this week and winning a tournament that he has threatened to conquer on a handful of occasions over the course of his career.
As well as his second placing in 2011, he finished third a decade ago when compatriot Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters.
“It would have been nice if I won,” Day said with a laugh.
“But no, it was nice to be able to see Scotty win. He was my favourite player growing up, outside of Tiger Woods.
“I can’t believe it’s gone that quick, for it to be 10 years. I remember sitting in the clubhouse watching the playoff and it just seems like yesterday ….
“I remember saying to myself, man, I’m so disappointed that I wasn’t able to either finish it or get in that playoff.
“It was bittersweet because you’re seeing Scotty play, and then you watch him hit that putt in, and then the emotions that came out of him were so raw and fantastic, and to be able to watch live on TV, it just makes you want to feel that as well.”
This might be the year. Day has put together a string of impressive results in recent weeks, shoring up his spot in the top 50 and booking another trip to Augusta.
“It’s definitely very special to be back here playing,” Day said.
“It’s my favourite tournament to play in for the year.”
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