After narrowly missing a bronze medal at the Latin American Amateur Championship in January, Caymanian golfer Justin Hastings is back at it, this time in his first PGA Tour event in Puerto Rico.
Hastings will tee off at the Grand Reserve Country Club, in Rio Grande for the 2024 Puerto Rico Open, being held from 7-10 March.
Despite his impressive showing, he remains humble and focused on the competition, saying that he’ll be taking it one swing at a time once the tournament begins.
“I’m doing my best to put expectations aside,” Hastings told the Compass. “I think if I can play my game, and focus on hitting quality shot after quality shot, the results will follow that way.”
The winner of the tournament will win a purse of US$4 million, although Hastings, currently ranked 85th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, won’t be eligible for that prize since he has not yet declared as a professional.
Nonetheless, the experience is sure to whet his appetite for future professional events and he has been enjoying the atmosphere in Puerto Rico prior to hitting the green.
“It’s been a great experience so far, seeing and playing with tour winners,” he said. “So, I am doing my best to balance soaking in the experience and also being ready to play my best golf starting Thursday.”
Hastings, whose appearance is sponsored, thanked those who made the opportunity possible.
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to Grant Thornton, Greg O’Driscoll and his team in particular, for giving me this chance – I am extremely grateful,” Hastings said. “This is an opportunity that doesn’t come around often, and I recognize and appreciate all the work that has been done around me to give me this chance.”
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