ENGLISH schoolboy Josh Hill got the thrill of a lifetime when he played a practice round with world No1 Brooks Koepka and beat him in a money match!
The 15-year-old came out on top in an eight-hole duel ahead of tomorrows Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, his first European Tour event.
Dubai-born Hill pocketed 100 dirhams around 20 for the win. And he could not keep the smile from his face after hitting the four-time Major champ in the pocket.
Hill said: I asked him for a little match on the last eight holes and, yeah, I beat him.
Obviously we werent going full out but its always nice to say youve beaten the world No1. It doesnt get much better than that, does it?
We played for 100 dirhams. I havent had it yet and I dont know if I can take it when he offers it. Im still an amateur!
At first I was obviously nervous. I was a bit scared as hes such an imposing athlete.
When you see him you think hes going to knock you out. But he was so friendly and really helped to calm me down.
I asked him for advice and he told me that in most tournaments he will probably only aim at five flags per round and then play to the middle of the green on every other hole. That was pretty fascinating.
Hill splits his time between Devon and Dubai where his dad works as an osteopath and he is already in the record books as the youngest ever winner of a World Golf Ranking event.
He closed out his victory in the Al Ain Open in October with a brilliant final-round 62.
That success on the Emirates-based Mena Tour earned him a spot in two big European Tour events the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and next weeks Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Hill will tee it up in Abu Dhabi alongside another Major winner, 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and Austrian sensation Matthias Schwab.
The world No1,194 commented: I practise at the Butch Harmon golf academy in Dubai and Brooks is coached by Butchs son, Claude that is how my coach was able to fix up the practice round.
It was a great experience playing with him.
Watching him hit the ball was great and hopefully I can take some of that into this week.
Hill is currently studying online as he prepares for his GCSEs later this year. But he is taking a short break from schoolwork to concentrate on these next two events.
He added: My mum is letting me take time off from my studies because these next two weeks are so big. But Ill have the books out again straight after Dubai.
Ive got no plans to turn pro just yet. My handicap is plus-5.4 but my game has got a lot of developing to do…but hopefully one day.
And as for this week, a top ten would be nice.
Koepka, 29, is making his first appearance since October, when he withdrew from the CJ Cup having aggravated the knee injury which required surgery in August.
He said: I was impressed with Josh his attitude, the way he goes about things, the questions he asked.
Hes a good player. I can tell you what I was doing at 15 causing trouble!
Im sure he enjoyed getting the better of me in our match. It will be cool to see in the next five, ten years how much he progresses.
