Young Australian golfer Curtis Luck is ready to enjoy the coveted major championship spin-offs after claiming the US Amateur title.
The 20-year-old West Australian produced a sensational streak, winning eight consecutive holes as he turned a close 36-hole final into a six and four rout of American Brad Dalke at Oakland Hills.
He became only the third Australian-born US Amateur champion, joining Nick Flanagan (2003) and Walter Travis won it in 1900, 1901 and 1903.
The victory will bring Luck spots in next year's US Masters, US Open and British Open, provided he is still an amateur then.
Luck said he'd been thinking about turning pro after the Asian Amateur in October but would be delaying that to enjoy the majors opportunities.
"Playing these events give you that opportunity to get into some events that aren't worth turning pro to miss," said Luck.
"I'm super happy to say that I'm going to be an amateur for another however long - eight or nine months.
"Get to play some unbelievable golf tournaments within those months, and I guess get even more experience for when I do turn pro.
The final on the South Course at Oakland Hills was all square after 18, and Dalke won the first hole after the break.
Luck, who is seventh in the world amateur rankings, answered with an eagle on the 20th to square it again, and that was start of an overwhelming eight-hole run that gave him a commanding lead.
Luck was seven up with nine holes remaining, and although Dalke won the next two, he couldn't close the gap any more and conceded after missing a putt for par on the 32nd hole.
Dalke complimented Luck's golf, particularly his short game.
"He's just solid. He makes a lot of good swings at it, doesn't get really wayward with the driver, great short game," Dalke said.
"He's never out of a hole. He could be in a trash can 20 yards from the green and still get up-and-down."
Luck showed those skills in his hard-fought 21-hole semi-final win over Nick Carlson on Saturday.
He got up and down from about 135 yards in a bunker on the second extra hole to keep that match going.
"I know he's a fighter, and I know those pressure situations are really what switches him on," said Luck's father Stuart, who caddied for him.
"If you know him - and I think you only have to look at Twitter comments tonight from all the people back home in Australia - you'll know that he's seriously dangerous in that situation."
