Harrison Crowe takes the plunge and turns professional

He became famous for a viral golf shot out the front of a St Andrews pub and now Harrison Crowe will chase his golf dream full time.

As he plotted his way around Augusta National in April, rising Australian star Harrison Crowe felt more and more ready to take the ultimate career plunge.

The 22-year-old from Sydney, who went viral when video surfaced of him taking a shot from outside a pub at St Andrews and landing it on the 18th green at one of the world’s most famous courses, is officially turning pro.

It’s decision that was delayed by his crowning achievement as an amateur, winning the 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship that came with a spot at the US Masters and the British Open.

But having tested his skills at both events in 2023, Crowe said it just reaffirmed his readiness to make the next step now.

“The Masters and the Open were a big eye-opener for me. The golf wasn’t the greatest (he missed the cut at both) but I think the fact that I felt comfortable out there on such a big stage was important,” he said.

“I didn’t feel out of place, I didn’t feel too overwhelmed, I felt quite at ease and that I deserved to be there. That was the biggest tell for sure.

Harrison Crowe played with Cameron Smith and Adam Scott at Augusta. Picture: Andrew Redington / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

“Then speaking to a lot of the Aussie guys and guys I got to meet I got to learn a few things. It was a big confidence booster.

“I am always going to keep learning but now is the time and I’m ready to rip in.”

Crowe has found himself playing with Australia’s best in 2023 too, including Cam Smith and Adam Scott at Augusta, taking notes from every conversation and every shot to aid his professional cause.

He’s also found it hard to escape questions about that shot at St Andrews, when he sent a ball, hit off the footpath, over houses and onto the green.

The kid who hit this insane trick shot in @erikanderslang’s St. Andrew’s YouTube video last summer is literally playing in the Masters next week😂😂

Harrison Crowe is 21, from Australia, and he won the Asia-Pacific Am in October to punch his ticket to Augusta pic.twitter.com/zba8QHTS9I

— Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) March 29, 2023

It’s a shot people often ask him about, one he said showed the sort of attitude that could help him as a pro.

“It shows the character I am not scared to try things,” he said.

“If you’re going to put something in front of me, I’m going to take on the challenge. I’m going to keep having that personality

“People still mention it. It’s quite funny.”

Courtesy of a victory in the 2022 NSW Open, as an amateur, Crowe has playing status on the Australian PGA tour and will make his professional debut at the WA Open in October.

Crowe, who hasn’t quit his job at Drummond Golf in the Sydney suburb of Starmore just yet, wants to follow the path blazed by Victorian David Micheluzzi, who last summer won the Order of Merit that came with a DP World Tour playing card.

Both the Australian Open and PGA come with the same reward for the winner and that’s not beyond Crowe’s grasp.

“With all the great pathways the Australian tour has and with the status I’ve still got, I thought we would just got things going now and rip in,” Crowe said.

“We just kind of decided playing out a full season, hopefully playing some good golf and let the rest take care of itself. It’s time to get things going.”