Conor Purcell to make pro debut in Australia this week

Conor Purcell in action at the 2019 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. Picture © USGA/Chris Keane

Portmarnock's Conor Purcell will make his professional debut in this week's $400,000 AVJennings New South Wales Open in Australia.

Winner of the Australian Amateur Championship in January, the former South of Ireland champion (22) will have the opportunity to use the event to hone his game for next week's $1.5 million Emirates Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club before making plans for 2020.

Purcell made his debut in a professional event when he played in the ISPS Handa Vic Open in February and shot rounds of 72 and 76 to miss the cut.

He did not have to remain professional to take advantage of his invitations for the next two weeks but having played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool this year and risen as high as 10th in this week's World Amateur Golf Ranking, he's decided to take the plunge into the paid ranks

This week's AVJennings NSW Open at Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club, situated 50 km west of Sydney, will be an excellent test for next week's high profile event at The Australian.

Mexico's Abraham Ancer will defend his Emirates Australian Open title with Adam Scott, Paul Casey, Louis Oosthuizen, Marc Leishman, Jason Day and Sergio Garcia also set to play.