The Masters
Jasper Stubbs Living The Dream At The Masters
Australia’s Jasper Stubbs is painting his own fairytale on the greens. At just 22 years old, the amateur golfer from Melbourne will make his Masters debut on Thursday with a shot to create history as the first amateur to don the Green Jacket. Hailing from Peninsula Kingswood Golf Club, Stubbs' journey to the grandest stage in golf began with a triumph at the coveted Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, a feat that earned him an invitation to Augusta National.
The echoes of his victory at the revered Royal Melbourne Golf Club in October last year at the Asia-Pacific still resonate, showcasing his prowess in navigating challenging terrains and unforgiving greens. Stubbs finds himself on familiar ground in Georgia, with the undulating landscapes of both Augusta National and Royal Melbourne credited to the brilliance of legendary course-architect Alister MacKenzie.
Stubbs’ preparation has been meticulous, honed through endless hours at the Australian Golf Centre in Sandringham, where he's fine-tuned his skills on uneven lies. “We have a driving range (Golf Australia High Performance Program), and it's got lots of slopes that you can just hit range balls off, which was awesome for this week,” Stubbs said speaking with masters.com.
A pilgrimage to Augusta in February served as a preview, where Stubbs faced the course's challenges head-on, emerging with confidence-boosting rounds of 73 and 69. “Part of the reason to go (in February) was to get a little bit of that awe and aura out of the way. It was one of those drop-the-jaw experiences”, Stubbs said speaking with the media.
But Stubbs isn't merely content with participation; he's set his sights on the summit. With goals to not only make the cut but also to surge up the leaderboard, Stubbs exudes determination and ambition “The first goal is to make the cut and then push my way back up the leaderboard. The next goal would be to finish inside the top 12 and get an invite back for next year.”
His strengths lie in his iron play and putting, skills that proved pivotal in his Asia-Pacific triumph and are poised to shine on Augusta's revered greens.
Reflecting on his journey, Stubbs draws inspiration from past Masters moments, such as Charl Schwartzel's birdie spree en route to victory in 2011 and Adam Scott's historic win in 2013.
Will Stubbs inscribe his name into the annals of golfing legend, to etch his own chapter in the storied history of The Masters? Time will provide the answer to that question.
One things is for sure, Australia’s golfing community is behind Stubbs producing his very own ‘Cinderella’ story! Best of luck and great golfing, young man.
Image credit: David Cannon/Getty Images
