Even after he won the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship and became the world’s top-ranked amateur a year later, Curtis Luck knew the transition to professional golf would have its bumps.
He was right. He earned his PGA Tour card but lost it last year. This year, the Australian has only one top-25 finish and four made cuts in 11 Korn Ferry Tour events. He missed the cut in his last three tournaments.
Perhaps the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship on Ohio State’s Scarlet course will be a breakthrough for the 24-year-old. He shot a 3-under-par 68 on Saturday and has a 1-shot lead on Cameron Young entering Sunday’s final round.
“The strategy for me was to limit the bogeys, and I went bogey-free so I’m pretty stoked about that,” Luck said. “I just tried to play really smart.”
Luck has played well in this tournament in the past. He finished tied for fifth two years ago and tied for seventh last year. He tied for 19th in 2017 shortly after turning pro.
“I’ve played all these pins,” he said, “so I know where to miss and where not to hit it, which is crucial the way the greens are. They’re so firm.
“No doubt in my mind it’s a huge advantage being here the fourth year and putting in good results each and every year being back.”
Success elsewhere has been elusive, though.
“I think I knew it was going to be hard,” Luck said of the adjustment to pro golf. “Golf is incredibly hard regardless, so I think in my mind I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and it’s definitely been an up-and-down run since 2016. I’ve had a couple years where I definitely haven’t played the way I want.”
At the end of last year, Luck said, he took time off to make changes in his game, particularly with the plane of his swing.
“The last couple years, I got a little lazy,” he said.
Though he’s encouraged by his play this week, Luck said he is still trying to become comfortable with those adjustments.
Because of changes forced by the pandemic, this year’s top Korn Ferry Tour performers won’t be promoted to the PGA Tour for 2021. Luck views that as a blessing in disguise, a way for him to focus on his long-term future instead of pressing to earn a tour card.
“I’m just trying to progress and get to a position where I’m not searching to make cuts (but) actually trying to win golf tournaments,” he said.
He has that chance now. As he was Saturday, he’ll be paired with Cameron Young, who’s one shot behind. Luck defeated Young during his run to the 2016 U.S. Amateur title.
“He’s got some phenomenal hands around the greens, and he’s very artistic with his shot-making,” Young said. “Today I noticed that he goes about his golf in a really good way.
“He’s very professional about how he manages his game and how he thinks about each shot and how he works his way around the golf course. That really impressed me.”
Young’s round of 68 included four birdies and only one bogey.
“It was a solid day, but nothing really outstanding,” the native New Yorker said.
Erik Barnes is in third place at 9-under, a shot better than Jimmy Stanger and Will Zalatoris, who’s the top player on the Korn Ferry Tour this season.
Ryan McCormick is tied for sixth after shooting a 65 for the top round of the day.
Dublin native Kyle Reifers shot a 70 and is tied for 43rd.
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