Aussie amateur Stubbs all set for dream Masters debut

Australian amateur Jasper Stubbs warms up for his Masters debut at the NZ Open in Milbrook. (Evan Barnes/AAP PHOTOS)

Wide-eyed rookie Jasper Stubbs admits he dropped way too much money on merch at the pro shop on his long-awaited first trip to Augusta National Golf Club.

The 22-year-old also confesses to maybe spending too much time star-gazing after his maiden practice round on the fabled layout.

"They let me in from 8.30 (am) and I was there at 8.31 I reckon. I probably left about five o'clock and I played my round in 3.5 hours, zipped around in a one ball," Stubbs said of his reconnaissance mission in February.

Most importantly, though, Stubbs walked away from his three-round trip feeling he gained invaluable experience ahead of his Masters debut in a fortnight.

"People talk about how slopey the fairways are but the greens are a lot more slopey than what you think as well," he said.

"The greens are so fast and you don't expect it in the middle of winter when I was over there - they were still lightning so I can only imagine what they're going to be like in a couple weeks' time.

"Then I just a took away a lot of key shots as well, a few shots into the green that sort of separate the winners from the losers at the Masters a bit."

Most of all, Stubbs' biggest takeaway was to keep things simple.

"You don't have to go super crazy all the time," he said, as opposed to being overly creative.

Jasper Stubbs
Stubbs booked his ticket with victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne.

Stubbs, who booked his golden ticket to Augusta with victory at last year's Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne, also plans to lean on countrymen Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott, Australia's only ever Masters champion, during pre-tournament practice rounds.

"I've got Min's number," he said.

"I didn't get Scotty's number. I played with him up at a tournament at the end of last year but never got his number, but he said he'd be more than happy to take me out when we get to Augusta.

"So he'll be someone I'm looking for on the range to see when he's going out for sure."

Stubbs has dreamed of playing the Masters ever since his mother went to his primary school in Victoria to ask if a teacher could play over the PA that Scott had won the green jacket in 2013.

"I got all embarrassed, of course," he said.

"But I wasn't able to watch it live, so that was pretty cool for me sitting in a classroom at 11 years old."

Eleven years on and Stubbs will enjoy all the perks of his Masters invite, including staying in the Crow's Nest as one of the top amateurs in the field.

Ultimately, though, he's there to perform on his major championship debut.

"I've set myself gradual goals," he said.

"Obviously the first one is to get there and enjoy the week. Then the next one is to make the cut.

"And then once we've made the cut, the goal is to push towards the top 12 to get an invite back for next year. That's ultimately the goal.

"But then obviously the biggest goal above all else to walk away with a green jacket."

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store