Baddeley gets Masters chance

Australian Open golf champion Aaron Baddeley has been invited to play in the US Masters at Augusta next April.

Australian Open golf champion Aaron Baddeley has been invited to play in the US Masters at Augusta next April.

The 18-year-old amateur from Melbourne received the official letter from the Masters Committee today.

Baddeley revealed that South African great Gary Player had told him the Augusta National Course in Georgia suited his game and he gives himself a winning chance.

The Australian teenager will play two US tour events - the Honda Classic and Bay Hill Invitational in Florida in March - in his build-up to the Masters and is also hoping for invitations to The Open and the US Open next year.

Baddeley became the first amateur in 39 years and the youngest in history to win the Australian Open at Royal Sydney last month.

Rated one of Australia's greatest golfing talents, Baddeley played fearless golf to win by two strokes from Greg Norman and Nick O'Hern.

He has created enormous interest from golfing agents and management companies but turned his back on the winner's cheque at Royal Sydney to remain an amateur.