The PGA Tour’s newest winner and Masters invitee Steve Bowditch revealed he has only ever played Augusta National on Play Station.
Bowditch became the sixth Australian to qualify for the season’s first Major Championship capturing the Valero Texas Open despite a final round 76 and win by a shot on the Greg Norman designed TPC San Antonio course.
It was the highest winning final round score on the PGA Tour since Fiji’s Vijay Singh posted the same score to capture the 2004 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
Steven Bowditch with the Valero Texas Open trophy. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Victory not only earned the 30-year old Dallas-based Bowditch a first prize cheque for $US 1,116m but also one of the two remaining invitations into the April 10th commencing Masters.
But when asked what he thought about competing in what will be only his second Major Championship in 11 years (First being 2003 Open Championship at Royal St. Georges) Bowditch calmly revealed: “I haven’t even had time to think about Augusta because all I know what I am doing is heading to Houston this week for the Shell Houston Open.
“But then the only time I have played Augusta has been on Play Station.
“So I sort of know a few of the holes but yeah, I’m excited but then I haven’t really thought about it or what my preparations will be. I don’t even know how to get to Augusta. I don’t know.
“I’m just going to enjoy this for the next couple of days and then kept my mind back on track and get ready for Houston.”
Bowditch will now join five fellow Australians teeing up on Augusta National including defending Masters champion Adam Scott along with Jason Day, John Senden, Marc Leischman and amateur Oliver Goss.
The Newcastle-born Bowditch but who grew up near Noosa Heads in Queensland, created a number of career firsts on route to his first PGA Tour success.
Bowditch had held the lead on Friday for a first time on the PGA Tour and then retained the lead heading into Sunday’s final round.
His previous best finish on the PGA Tour was a share of second place in last year’s Greenbrier Classic.
