As reigning champion of the Latin America Amateur, Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira has had a busy year. After setting records in January at the Latin America Amateur in Puerto Rico, burgeoning Argentine star earned spots in three of the four 2023 men’s professional golf majors: the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open and The Open.
Including this year’s Open at Royal Liverpool, Fernandez de Oliveira had competed in the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Arnold Palmer Cup and the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship within a span of four months.
And while he was unable to make the 36-hole cut at The Open, the University of Arkansas alum did make some memories while in England. Fernandez de Oliveira birdied the par-4 10th hole on Thursday – which ranked as the toughest hole on the course that day at 504 yards – and got up and down for birdie at the par-5 18th to cap his debut round. A day later, he impressed with a one-over 72, almost a stroke and a half better than the second-round field average and two strokes clear of the next-best amateur score.
“The experience was amazing,” said Fernandez de Oliveira after his second round. “I think I keep learning a lot…I think I did a great job doing that. I missed a couple putts that were probably good today at the start just to give myself a little push so I could give myself a better chance. But it was a great experience. I keep learning what's good for me, what's not good for me, and hope to be back. I hope to learn a lot from this week and just hope to be back in the next couple years.”
Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira - The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira - The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira - The 151st Open - Day Two
Fifty-six years after Argentine Roberto De Vicenzo won The 1967 Open at Royal Liverpool, Fernandez de Oliveira was one of two players representing Argentina at the same venue in 2023. Emiliano Grillo enjoyed a run near the top of the leaderboard this year before ultimately finishing T-6.
“Playing in all these majors was a valuable experience for my career and also moving forward,” said Fernandez de Oliveira. “I know better what I need to be better. I mean, just to tee it up against the best is where I want to be the next -- probably in the next two years. The LAAC for us in Latin America is huge, just being able to be here and be at the Masters and being at the U.S. Open was amazing, and I really took advantage of these opportunities.”
