Aaron Baddeley is urging Australia's superstar amateurs to block out Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott at this week's Australian Open, the same way he ignored Greg Norman's presence during his historic victory at Royal Sydney in 1999.
Baddeley's two-shot win from two-time major champion Norman and veteran Nick O'Hern shocked the sporting world and the Victorian defended his Open title at Kingston Heath a year later.
On Wednesday, the 35-year-old reflected on his Australian Open victory at this venue 17 years ago and said a small mantra he focused on helped him become the first amateur since Bruce Devlin in 1960 to lift the Stonehaven Cup.
"I didn't really think about Greg at all that day because I was so focused on what I was doing," said Baddeley.
"I remember I had a little motto. I said to myself that week: 'one shot, one hole, one round' to keep me in the present.
"That's the biggest key (for amateurs); to focus on your own game and controlling what you can control."
Baddeley said US Amateur and Asia Pacific champion Curtis Luck, Queensland Open winner Brett Coletta and Harrison Endycott had proved they could win the Australian Open before they arrived in Sydney.
"I didn't feel like I did anything special (in 1999); I just played the golf I felt like I could play," said Baddeley.
"With some of the years they've had, if they (play well) yeah, then that's good enough (to win). No one would've bet on me 17 years ago."
The four-time US PGA Tour winner played nine holes during a practice round at Royal Sydney on Tuesday with Sydneysider Endycott, 20, who shared in Australia's 19-shot win at the world amateur teams championship in Mexico in September.
"Harrison is a great player; (he's) got all the game," he said.
"If Harrison plays the way he did yesterday, there's no reason he won't be around there come Sunday."
Baddeley arrives at Royal Sydney buoyed by his first US PGA Tour victory since 2011 at the Barbasol Championship in July, in addition to five top-10 finishes and seven top-25s.
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