Zach Murray is only four months into his professional career, but he has already shown a quality that cannot be undervalued. He has the ability to win.
Murray, the 21-year-old Victorian went wire-to-wire in the New Zealand Open at The Hills over the weekend to secure his playing rights at home and in Asia.
The tall man from Wodonga on the Murray was one of Australia’s top amateurs – a winner of a Victorian amateur and a Master of the Amateurs title, and captain of the winning Victorian team at the interstate series – but he has quickly proven to be an excellent pro as well.
“I don’t know. I think just growing up in the country I have a bit of go in me somewhere,’’ he told RSN’s breakfast program today. “It sort of kicks in unbeknowns to me at the right time. It’s a nice thing to have.’’
Murray won the WA Open as an amateur last October, immediately before turning professional, also leading from start to finish. It gives him two wins in pro events in what he admits has been “a whirlwind few months”.
This time he pocketed $211,000 in prizemoney and he is exempt from qualifying on both the Asian and Australasian Tours for the next two years. He also picked up a Maori animal skin jacket that comes up a treat in the photographs of his celebrations, an item of clothing that he is threatening to bring out in Wodonga soon. “I’ll be rolling down High Street in that I reckon!’’
Murray said the luxury of having playing rights was huge. “It’s always a difficult one as a pro who’s starting out,’’ he said. “You just want somewhere to play. I was fortunate enough to snag a win as an amateur and get my status in Australia. It happened really quickly. I got my card up in Asia and then my goal was just to keep my card in Australia and Asia and the win yesterday gives me an exemption for two years on both tours. It’s pretty cool.’’
Murray, who is a member of Golf Australia’s rookie squad of young professionals, praised GA’s help in setting him off on his career. “It (GA) has been helping me out since I was 14 years old. I can still remember the call that I got to say I was in the national squad. I think I only 15, I was on the 11th tee at Wodonga. I thought I was King Tut. They’ve been fantastic, and they still support me today. A massive thanks goes to Golf Australia for sure.’’
Hear the full interview here: