[PHOTO: AAC Golf]
Quinnton Croker plans on turning professional immediately after the Asia-Pacific Amateur but welcomes the “good headache” winning would present, given he’d need to remain an amateur to take up the Masters and Open Championship berth.
Croker, the reigning Australian Amateur champion, spearheads a seven-strong contingent at the renowned Taiheiyo Club in Japan, 90 minutes outside Tokyo and at the foot of Mount Fuji. Croker is the best-ranked Australian in the field at amateur world No.97. The winner each year of the Asia Pacific Amateur, which is jointly run by Augusta National and the R&A, is afforded a spot at the Masters and the Open the following year.
The 22-year-old Croker, though, is preparing to fly to the US next week to turn professional and contest the first stage of Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School. Then he’ll return to Australia and tee up at the Webex Players Series in South Australia in late October.
Winning at the Taiheiyo Club this week would likely change his schedule.
“You [probably] can’t pass up the opportunity to compete in two majors if you win this week,” Croker said. “There’s so much to gain, and the experience alone [at majors] is invaluable. If I’m lucky enough to win this week, the plan might look totally different. But that’s a good problem to have – it’s a good headache.”
It is Croker’s first time to Japan and he’d love to sign off on his amateur career by winning an event at the course where Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman won Taiheiyo Masters titles in their pomp.
It is also the course where Tiger Woods famously chipped in for eagle to ensure he and David Duval joined a playoff at the WGC–World Cup in 2001. Croker tried the shot behind the 18th green during a Tuesday practice round and at first was confused why Woods chipped such a difficult shot.
“I didn’t have a wedge with me, so I tried putting it instead, and I immediately understood why Tiger didn’t putt it – it got stuck in the fringe,” Croker said. “I wasn’t alive when he hit it, in 2001. I’m only 22. It was pretty funny trying it and realising how tricky it is.
“Japan is awesome. Once you land, you realise how unique it is. This golf course is narrow and tough, so it’s going to test your golf. But if my game is good enough, hopefully I can give it a run. We had a bus driver take [players] through Tokyo, past Shibuya Crossing with all the billboards. Golf is everywhere here, like the plaque for Tiger on the last hole. Japan loves golf, and it shows.”
Joining Croker in the 120-player field is Phoenix Campbell, defending Asia-Pacific champion Jasper Stubbs, US college golfer Tony Chen (Victoria), 18-year-old Queenslander Billy Dowling, Lukas Michel and West Australian left-hander Connor Fewkes.
