AFRICA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

February 3, 2025

Astin Wade Arthur

Quick Quotes

Q. Astin, this is your debut in the African Amateur Championship. How much are you looking forward to this week?

ASTIN WADE ARTHUR: I'm really excited. It's always special to come back to Leopard Creek and such an iconic venue. I think the excitement runs throughout the whole field, and I'm looking forward to it.

Q. Coming off a win last week in the International Amateur, how much momentum does that give you coming into the championship?

ASTIN WADE ARTHUR: Look, mentally you feel a lot better. You're comfortable with your game. But we all start on the same score. You start on the same score, but mentally and physically I think I've got an edge. But I'll just take it one step at a time and keep going.

Q. Leopard Creek is a venue you've played regularly?

ASTIN WADE ARTHUR: No, actually my first time playing was the Dunhill, so I got thrown in the deep end, and I just took it and I was kind of like a sponge, just absorbed what I could throughout the week, and I'm just go apply what I learned from that week to this week and just carry on going.

Q. How did you get on in the Dunhill?

ASTIN WADE ARTHUR: I played terrible. There's no two ways about it, I played terrible, but hopefully we'll change that this week.

Q. Were you paired with any of the professionals?

ASTIN WADE ARTHUR: I was. I was with a couple of professionals, a couple of local boys, so I was quite comfortable out there. I just didn't have my best stuff. Simple as that.

Q. I mentioned to Jordan about the South African group. Obviously you know each other so well, a bit of camaraderie but also a bit of competitiveness. What's it like playing with these guys and how much do you enjoy their company?

ASTIN WADE ARTHUR: Look, we enjoy each other's company, but at the same time we want to beat each other really badly. We want to dominate, as well. Yeah, it's your mate but you want to beat him because he's got bragging rights over you and you want bragging rights over him, so it's going to be an interesting week to say the least.

Q. How important are events like the African Amateur to the continent? There are some exemptions into the majors for the winner here. How important is that for Africa and African golf in general?

ASTIN WADE ARTHUR: It's huge. It creates a lot of depth. The guys get exposed to different levels of golf, to great golf courses, as well. The the R&A host such a great event with Mr. Rupert, as well, so it creates a lot of exposure. The guys see the level of golf that the South Africans play, as well, so it's good for them and it's good for us, as well. It's a win as a whole.

Q. Not getting too far ahead of ourselves, but if you were to be that name on the trophy at the end of the week and get an exemption into The Open, how would that feel for you?

ASTIN WADE ARTHUR: Words can't describe it. You'd tee it up amongst the best. We'll take it one step at a time, not get ahead of ourselves, and hopefully be the one standing at the end.