DALLAS – Tournaments aren’t won on the 18th green. They’re won on the range, which is exactly where you’ll find one of the best amateur golfers in the world: Ollie Osborne.
What You Need To Know
- Ollie Osborne is a collegiate golfer for the SMU Mustangs and is ranked No. 240 in the world as an amateur
- He was the runner-up in the 2020 U.S. Amateur Tournament, which landed him an invitation to the 2021 Masters
- Osborne’s caddie is his father, who put a club in his hand when he started walking
“I’m a ball striker for sure. That’s the best part of my game,” said Osborne.
Another notorious ball striker is fellow SMU alumnus and PGA champion Byrson DeChambeau. It’s no secret DeChambeau is known for hitting 400-yard bombs down the fairway. Osborne’s range, however, doesn’t quite compare.
“I don’t hit that hard. I definitely try to get some speed. But no,” he said, “I’ll probably never get to that point."
The relationship between the two Mustangs is tight-knit. DeChambeau’s been a mentor for Osborne during his collegiate career.
“We got to play a round with him right before COVID hit last year,” said Osborne. “He also sent me a couple messages during the U.S. Amateurs. He gave me some motivation and advice during the finals match."
That motivation was to clinch runner-up in the 2020 U.S. Amateur Tournament, a feat few can achieve. And because of the remarkable finish, Osborne received an invitation to the most prestigious golf tournament in the world: The Masters. Playing at Augusta is something he’s dreamed of since he first stepped foot on a golf course.
“I have two other siblings and [my dad] put a club in our hands since we could walk. He’d always say if we could keep up, we could play,” said Osborne. “He got us into the game and he taught us all how to play for a long time by himself."
The most wholesome part of his golf upbringing is that his dad will be by his side for the Masters. Not as a patron, but as his caddie.
“I’ve always been really close with my dad,” Osborne said. “He’s always been there to drive me to tournaments. He’s just a person who knows me best and is there to calm me down."
It’s exceptionally hard to stay relaxed when you’re competing against the biggest names in golf. But it’s pretty easy to be star-struck.
“It’s kind of like you’re in a movie,” he said. “So of course I’ll be giddy. It’s going to be really cool walking through the range seeing all these names I admire on TV."
One day he hopes to take his first swing on tour.
“I definitely want to turn pro, be on the tour and be one of the top guys,” said Osborne.
