Canberra teenager Josh Armstrong wants to prove he is ready to take on the big boys of world golf and hopes to tap into two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley's knowledge to fast-track his development.
Armstrong dipped his toe in the professional water this week when he took on men more than twice his age as he launched his first bid to qualify for the Australian Open and share a change room with world No. 1 Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott.
The big-hitting 16-year-old fell short in the qualifying event at Carnarvon Golf Club on Monday, leaving Matt Millar and Ryan Ruffels as the only Canberrans in the Australian Open field, which starts on Thursday.
Armstrong will instead fly to the United States for the Aaron Baddeley International where he will take on some of the best juniors in the world.
The Burgmann College student says he's ready to test himself against men after winning junior titles in Australia and Europe, unfazed at taking on older rivals as he pursues his professional ambitions.
"I've wanted to turn pro for four years. I keep telling my mum that I want to turn pro next week," Armstrong said.
"I don't think I'd be intimidated [against the big names], I'd probably just be a bit nervous if I was playing in the Australian Open.
"Going into qualifying was a huge step for me, comparing against some of the pros, and I looked at it and thought I'm not too far off. It's just the one percenters that need to click and if they do I think my game will go 'bang'."
Armstrong has been hitting golf balls since he was one and put dents in the wall of his family home because he hit the ball so hard.
He got his first handicap when he was six and won the junior European Championship when he was 12, as well as winning the Australian under-19s schoolboys event in the same year.
In the past year he's turned to strength work to improve his distance and now smashes his drive 275 metres off the tee – an almost 50-metre improvement from last year.
Armstrong is ranked at No. 11 in the Australian juniors and wants to rise into the top three to join former Royal Canberra star Ruffels.
But first he has a chance to learn from Baddeley at the La Costa Golf Club in San Diego. The winner will get an invitation to the Australian Open next year.
Armstrong will be part of a six-strong Australian team which will get a tutelage session from the three-time PGA winner.
"You've got to play well to get that chance in an Australian Open and things like that. Every year I'd aim for the Australian Open from now on – one of my other goals is to get into the Golf Australia squad," Armstrong said.
"You've got to build yourself so that coaches are interested in you. I feel like I'm building more experience and knowledge of my game."
Armstrong has been working with coach Gary Barter in Sydney as well as getting tips from Millar at Gold Creek.
Millar led the Australian Masters in the last round last week, but struggled to find his groove on the last day and finished in a tie for sixth.
