The short-sighted among Belfast’s residents can be forgiven for not noticing that, until recently, a Masters contender was staring back at their retinas.
If events had played out differently at the US Mid-Amateur Championships last September, Matt McClean would more likely still have his opthalmoscope in hand this week rather than his driver.
But the Irishman, whose golfing exploits have only been noticed by a small handful of patients, instead finds himself teeing off at Augusta.
Understandably, the dream of a Green Jacket has been parked, instead the target is to make the cut and beat the other six amateurs in the field.
The 29-year-old has lapped it all up since arriving at Augusta on Saturday with a dozen family and friends in tow for what can only be described as a dream come true, one he has had over six months to ponder.
“It’s impossible to anticipate what it’s going to be like,” he said ahead of the opening round on Thursday. “It’s so surreal and different to anything I’ve ever played in. It’s hard to say how I’ll get on. I’ll just take it as it is and try to enjoy it and play aggressive golf.”
Prior to the Masters, his biggest tournaments – both amateur ones – have been the Eisenhower Team Championship and the St Andrew’s Trophy, as he puts it, “nothing close to what’s coming up”.
Playing Augusta takes him back to being 12 years old again and glued to the television watching Tiger Woods’ iconic chip at the 16th which paved the way for a fourth Green Jacket.
Other Masters moments which resonate are Bubba Watson’s hook from the trees to win the 2012 title and Adam Scott’s 15-foot putt for victory the following year.
“Every golfer is excited about watching the Masters every year,” said McClean. “To now play it is something completely mental.”
He first graced Augusta with a practice round in January and played twice more a few weeks ago to help prepare him for a course he calls “demanding in every sort of department”.
Key to making the cut, he says, will be driving long and straight before revising that to “having no weaknesses in your game”.
His September win qualifies him for both the Masters and US Open, a feat he pulled off by beating friend and fellow Irishman Hugh Foley at Erin Hills. Knowing what was at stake made for a nervy experience he hopes will hold him in good stead this week.
“We knew what the prize was when we came over but you try your best not to make it your sole focus,” he said. “I tried not to think about it but realistically did while blocking it out as much as I could.”
The next few weeks will go a long way to deciding his golfing fortunes. He is torn on whether to turn professional or stick with the day job. He’d set himself a four-year target to decide, working all the days he could from October to January and then golfing much of the rest of the year.
There’s six amateurs in the field – those are the guys for me to beat.
Covid has edged that into a fifth year. On that decision, he said: “If this season goes well and there’s an opportunity to turn pro, it’s not out of the question. It’s not a decision that I’ve made. I’ve known really, really good players who haven’t managed to make careers. It’s such a cut-throat sport.”
When not playing golf, he is a locum for five different opticians in Belfast working as much as seven days a week to earn the money to pursue his golfing ambitions.
His close friend from home, Stephen Gracey, will caddie for him all week. And the friends and family staying with him are buzzing at all making their own Masters debuts albeit as spectators.
Assessing his hopes for the rest of the week, he said: “To win the Masters you have to have an unbelievably incredible week and that’s for any player, so I took that out of the equation. There’s six amateurs in the field – those are the guys for me to beat.
“For me, it’s a seven-man tournament. I want to enjoy it too and, if I can manage to play well, that’ll make it more enjoyable.”
