[Photo: Getty images]

There’s only one way the next month can get better for boom Australian amateur Phoenix Campbell and that’s if he can get a tee time with superstar Cameron Smith at the upcoming Queensland PGA Championship.

Campbell won last year’s event at Nudgee Golf Club outside Brisbane, as an amateur, and he will be a professional by the time the 2024 edition kicks off on October 31. When it does, 2022 Open champion Smith will headline the event during an extended summer trip to Australia as part of his LIV Golf off season. Smith will also play a state event in the NSW Open and the Australian PGA/

“I was pretty stoked when I saw [Smith announcement] news come through; I’m hoping that we can get a pairing sometime in the week,” Campbell said. “I haven’t really played with many high profile players, so it’d be awesome to just just walk fairways and pick his brains a little bit. I think that’d be really cool experience. Obviously, we’ll see how we go, and hopefully come Sunday [at Nudgee GC], we’ll be playing together.”

First up in this dream month of golf for the 23-year-old is this week’s Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Japan’s iconic Taiheiyo Club at the foot of Mount Fuji. The home of the Japan Tour’s Taiheiyo Masters, the Gotemba course is located 90 minutes from Tokyo and has had Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman win titles on its fairways. Tiger Woods also hit a famous chip-in for eagle during the 2001 World Cup when paired with David Duval.

Campbell, who won the Master of the Amateurs this year, is among the seven-strong Australian contingent at the Asia Pacific Amateur. The tournament is run by Augusta National and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Each year, the tournament winner is invited to the Masters and the Open Championship (Royal Portrush in 2025).

But Campbell will tee up in next week’s Japan Open at Tokyo Golf Club and then turn professional in time for the Australian summer of golf. He has two years of status on the PGA Tour of Australasia from winning the Queensland PGA. Asia Pacific winners must remain amateurs to take up their Masters and Open spots.

“I plan on turning pro regardless of the outcome [at the Asia Pacific]; I’ve come here so I can represent Australia for the first time,” Campbell said. “I’m pretty excited to be here and get experience representing my country.”

Campbell said he would relish the tournament setting, where 120 amateurs from around the Asia Pacific and Middle East are treated like tour pros for a week while they chase the prize of playing in two majors.

“It’s always a good experience, playing in front of crowds, meeting [industry officials] it’s all experience, getting comfortable so that when I do make the step to professional I’m ready,” Campbell said.

Joining Campbell in the field is Australian Amateur champion, Quinnton Croker, defending Asia Pacific champion Jasper Stubbs, US college golfer Tony Chen (Victoria), 18-year-old Queenslander Billy Dowling, Lukas Michel and Western Australian left-hander Connor Fewkes.