New Game, New Thinking: David Lutterus profile

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Twenty three years old. Check.
Ruggedly handsome. Check.
Australian accent. Check.
Single. Check.
Play professional golf for a living. Check.

I officially hate this guy.

David Lutterus isn't the luckiest human being on the planet -- that's Tiger Woods as we all know -- but he's pretty darn close. Now if his golf game catches up, everything will be clicking.

PGATOUR.COM: Alright then, let's get this golf stuff out of the way first. Give me the Cliff's Notes version of the David Lutterus path to the PGA TOUR story.

DAVID LUTTERUS: I turned pro three years ago and immediately earned my Australian Tour card. I then played part time on the Gateway Tour and finished third in money. I finished second to Steve Marino at the Gateway Championship, so I knew I could play at this level. I then went to Q-school . . . I didn't even have a caddie for the first stage and ended up missing the number by a shot. After some time on the Nationwide (Tour), I tried Q-school again and this time I qualified for the big time.

PGATOUR.COM: How does it feel to go into Days 2 and 3 with a chance to make the Tour?

LUTTERUS: It's the only time in my life when I stressed out when playing golf. I was waking up in the middle of the night because of what I was playing for. You try to forget what's at stake, but of course that's impossible. That's the most pressure I've ever felt by a mile.

PGATOUR.COM: Well, it certainly had a happy ending.

LUTTERUS: Definitely. This is the time of my life out here. It's really unbelievable. I haven't played well at all, but I know I can make it happen.

PGATOUR.COM: You really haven't spent much time on any tour when you arrived at this level, right?

LUTTERUS: That's the weird thing. I've never played week in and week out on any sort of tour, let alone the PGA TOUR. I picked quite a way to learn the ropes. I've never gone from city to city playing professionally and it's taken some getting used to. You have to learn when to practice and when to take days off. I'm still figuring it all out. On top of everything, you're playing courses you've never seen and you're playing against amazing competition. The guys out here are great guys, but if you give them an inch, they'll blow past you every time.

PGATOUR.COM: If I doing a scouting report on David Lutterus, what would I need to include?

LUTTERUS: Solid iron player and good around the green with his lob wedge. Usually a good putter, except for this year. I'm something like 200th on TOUR in putting. That's ridiculous.

PGATOUR.COM: OK, enough golf. Let's talk about the other aspects of life on the TOUR for a young, single Australian guy.

LUTTERUS: It's pretty darn good, bud. It's probably a little too good if you know what I mean.

PGATOUR.COM: I'd like to know what you mean, but this is a family Web site so let's keep it to it's really freaking fun.

LUTTERUS: Probably smart. I'm actually spending a lot of time lately in New York City. I had a buddy who lives in New Jersey that I visit on off weeks. We spend a lot of time in the city, which is great. I'm a big fan of that city. Before I was going up there, I had been spending my off weeks in Las Vegas on the Strip. My caddie and I did everything together and we'd jump a plane for Vegas whenever we'd have some time off. That was nuts. A little too much fun. New York is a much smarter move.

PGATOUR.COM: And you also live in Florida, right? Can I have your life for a couple of weeks?

LUTTERUS: Yeah, I'm renting Jason Day's house in Orlando. It's located right on the golf course, which is great for practice. And it's also great because I can't legally drive yet.

PGATOUR.COM: Hold up there cowboy. Did you just say you don't have a driver's license?

LUTTERUS: That's right, I just haven't had time to get one here.

PGATOUR.COM: That must explain why you're hanging in cities that cab rides are more common than driving yourself.

LUTTERUS: Exactly. You don't want to drive your own car in Vegas or New York. And in Orlando, I mostly hang around the house and practice. But it's a goal to get my license this year for sure.

PGATOUR.COM: Make sure you practice parallel parking. That's usually the most challenging part of the test. What are some other favorite things about living in the States?

LUTTERUS: I've become a big college football fan. My first game was Rutgers and Fresno State. I couldn't believe how big it was. In Australia, college sports are tiny. But that game was phenomenal. I've become a big fan of the Scarlet Knights. I can't believe they're 0-3. That's ridiculous. I'm also a big Patriots fan, although I haven't been to a game yet. I am going to a Red Sox-Yankees game at Fenway this week. That should be a blast.

PGATOUR.COM: You know, in order to keep up all this fun, you're going to have to make some birdies in the next few weeks.

LUTTERUS: Absolutely. I'm playing six in a row and I'm ready to go. My game is really feeling right and I just need some putts to start falling. I need some top-5s and I think I can do it.