When he disposed of American Brad Dalke 6 & 4 in the final of the US Amateur last August, Curtis Luck’s place in three of 2017’s four Majors was assured.

Among the spoils of victory for the 20-year-old from Cottesloe were invitations to The Open, US Open and this week’s Masters. All Luck needs to do to cash in on those opportunities is remain an amateur.

But it seems likely the West Australian will follow in the footsteps of Bryson DeChambeau in 2016 and forego his place at both Birkdale and Erin Hills by turning Professional as soon as his week at Augusta National comes to an end.

It’s a decision some might question but in the bigger picture of what is shaping as a very promising Professional career, it makes perfect sense.

“The Open is the Major you dream of winning,” noted a PGA staffer at the Sandhurst office last week, “but The Masters is the Major you dream of playing,”

The lure of the year’s first major is unique. The only Grand Slam event played at the same course every year, fans and players alike feel they know the layout long before they ever set foot on the grounds of Augusta National.

To forego the chance to play the Masters is almost unthinkable, especially when there’s no guarantee you’ll get the chance to play there again.

The Open and US Open are prestigious but the Masters is different.

“The Masters is strictly an invitation Tournament,” the tournament website says.

“The qualification regulations are the principal means of determining the player invitation list. The player field being small, many Tournament formalities and regulations are eliminated.

“The first consideration is to provide a first class golf course in as beautiful and nearly perfect condition as effort can make it; and, secondly, to show our player guests every possible courtesy.”

It’s that approach that makes Augusta National revered as a magical place in golf, once described by Lee Westwood as ‘Disneyland for grown-ups’.

From the Wednesday par-3 contest to Pimento cheese sandwiches and skipping balls across the pond at 16 in the practice rounds, there is a revered tradition around every corner at Augusta.

The final piece of the puzzle in Luck’s decision will be a longer term view and is as much about the timing of the event as anything.

As a non-member of the PGA TOUR, Luck has limited opportunities to play on invitation and if he waits till after The Open in July he reduces his chances of gaining starts.

While he would no doubt love nothing more than to play in all three Majors he’s eligible for this year pragmatism dictates Luck should join the pay for play ranks as soon as his final putt falls at Augusta.

But before that moment comes, he’ll be part of something truly special that very few ever get the chance to enjoy.

A week well worth the wait.