Lipsky’s virtual world comes alive at The Open

Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States will step out of his virtual world of St Andrews into the real one when he makes his Major debut at The Open which begins on Thursday.

Lipsky, who sealed his place at the world’s oldest Major by winning the prestigious merit title last season, was ecstatic his childhood plaything has now turned into reality with his maiden appearance at The Open.

“I grew up playing St Andrews on my Play station and to make my Open debut here is going to be really special. I couldn’t have picked a better place than the Home of Golf to do it.

“This course is everything I could have ever imagine. The holes out there are so memorable. I’ve played them over a hundred times on the Playstation and to be out here hitting those shots in person is a feeling I can never forget,” said Lipsky.

Accompanied by his girlfriend and a group of friends who have specially flown in from the United States to support him, Lipsky is hoping to make it a week to remember for everyone.

“It’s going to be a pretty fun week with everyone out here. This is my first Major and it’s going to be awesome competing with the world’s best players. I want to put up a good showing and have a respectable finish,” said Lipsky.

After practising with close friend and former world number one Luke Donald of England, Lipsky is looking forward to adopting a similar approach to his rounds.

“Luke’s 10 years my senior from college and we share the same golf coach. We play practice rounds together whenever we can.

“And for me this week, I’m just trying to learn the shots he makes off the tee, how he plays the ball around the greens and basically just to get a better sense of what a player of his calibre is doing and how he approaches his game here,” said the 27-year-old, who celebrated his birthday two days ago.

Lipsky announced his arrival on the region’s premier Tour when he won the 2012 Qualifying School in Thailand followed by his maiden breakthrough in Cambodia that same year.

But it was his career defining victory in Switzerland last year that really changed the course of his career.

“It has been a wild ride and this is something I’ve always dreamt of since I was a little kid. I try to get better every year and I really believe it’s my hard work that has brought me here,” said Lipsky.

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