Yet here he was Friday, using Europe’s white-yellow-and-blue consistent as he went the brand new fairways of one’s Marco Simone Golf & Nation Bar outside Rome, Italy, alongside Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry.
S. as he was 14, never truly felt to experience for anyone more however, Europe. In which he possess their family’s blessing.
Getting Straka, there’ve been zero mixed feelings recently even after an enthusiastic upbringing that renders your – in the words – “particular split up.”
He has got never represented the newest U.S. on tennis, deciding to play beneath the Austrian banner from the moment he travelled back into European countries to the Western european Boys Group Championship during the 2011, within go out he was preparing for college during the Georgia.
Under Global Federation off Tennis rules, a person which have twin citizenship would have to wait no less than several years to play a unique all over the world competition lower than another flag. That doesn’t seem to be anything that interests Straka.
“We have constantly experienced really near to my Austrian customs,” Straka told you. “My dad is actually Austrian (and) usually made sure I invested long for the past.
“Actually my personal mother, who grew up in the latest Claims which is 100% American — she invested 24 many years inside the Austria. ”
Actually, it was Mary Straka’s choice to go to Austria with her then-boyfriend you to been this entire strings of occurrences.
16 age surviving in Georgia — as well as time from the College or university out of Georgia — enjoys Americanized Sepp, rendering it month possibly uncomfortable in the Western european group room. Although not, European countries chief Luke Donald said Straka have encountered “zero ribbing” up to now.
“He may has a western highlight and lives in Georgia, but there’s several of us one live-in The usa and several of united states that are erican girls,” told you Donald, who’s one of those some one. “It’s just your situation. Many of us are Cluster Europe recently.”
Straka’s dedication to the fresh European trigger was underscored of the their decision for the January to visit round the dessa uppgifter fourteen time areas to relax and play in the the latest Character Mug when you look at the Abu Dhabi, a rival ranging from golfers of The uk & Ireland and Continental European countries that offered them a taste of one’s match-gamble tension the them could well be facing about Ryder Glass.
He gelled well having other users additionally the Eu team’s leadership, eg Donald and you can Western european Vice Head Francesco Molinari, but nonetheless had to backup one knowledge of performance this year if the he had been to become the next player to portray Austria on Ryder Cup, once Bernd Wiesberger.
Profitable brand new John Deere Classic during the pionship have been brand new options that come with 2023 who’s watched Straka set seventh during the PGA Championship, 6th from the Journey Tournament and you can rise so you can No. twenty-two in the world positions.
By the point Donald established his half dozen captain’s selections at the beginning of ong them which heading to Italy, a country in which his family members regularly pick summer holidays — as much Austrians manage — in which he tend to went to own ps.
She stayed in the world when one to dating ended, wound up operating within a pro shop in Salzberg and marketed a golf glove to help you a buyers, Peter, whom she sooner hitched
Straka will never be the quintessential vocal pro throughout the people room. He loves to keep to themselves, and you may is yes this new quietest certainly his crowd-fun habit grouping that starred 18 gaps Saturday.
A partnership having Lowry was a strong opportunity if, otherwise when, Straka is known as upon by Donald towards Monday otherwise Tuesday.
She is fallen in love with the country, and that i thought she actually is most likely exactly as Austrian because much off Austrians was
Whenever that time comes, Straka will be marked by one more link to the United States. His caddie, Duane Bock, grew up in New York on Long Island but has also been transformed into Cluster Europe — he has already replaced the U.S. cover on his yardage book.