That’s top young golfer Cooper Moore’s response to being invited to play in his first New Zealand Open at Millbrook, Arrowtown, next month.
At 16, he will be the youngest player in the tournament.
But as an amateur, he isn’t eligible for a share of the tournament’s $2m prize money.
He will be one of 156 golfers playing – including LIV Golf’s Ben Campbell and Steven Alker, who plays on the PGA Tour Champions.
Moore has so far won the New Zealand amateur championship, tied for second at the Junior Open in Scotland and finished eighth at the Asia-Pacific amateur championships.
He said he couldn’t wait to play in the NZ Open, which starts on February 27.
“It’s been a goal of mine for a couple of years now and to get the opportunity feels amazing,” he said.
“At the same time I don’t just want to be there to make up the numbers, I want to prepare well and give myself every opportunity to play as well as I can and compete against some great players.”
Moore’s passion for the game and drive to improve himself is clear.
His interest in golf was sparked when he was four and joined dad Jayden, himself a keen player, at the driving range.
“I just fell in love with it,” he said.
He will start year 12 at St Bede’s College later this month, but estimates he took more than 60 days off last year for golf.
“(The school) is really helpful and they’re good with that, they help me catch up whenever I get back.
“Teachers enjoy me travelling, they don’t get irritated if I’m behind on schoolwork, because I’ll do it as soon as I get back.”
It’s a heavy commitment, but one he is happy to bear.
“I used to spend more time with friends, like on weekends I don’t really have time for like sleepovers and stuff, I always get up and practise or play golf. Most Sundays I’ve got golf going on, especially in the summer,” he said.
He isn’t sure what his future holds, with one option taking up a scholarship to a US college. Plenty have reached out, but can’t make formal offers until he turns 17 in June.
Another possibility is moving to Australia and trying to gain a tour card, with an eye to turning professional in his early 20s – still more than four years away.
With options in front of him, Moore isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“Whatever’s going to suit me best. At the moment, if I had to make a decision on the spot, I’d probably try and go with Aussie. I don’t have much interest in the schooling side of college, I’d much rather just play golf and see how good I can get.
“But also the facilities at college and all that makes me want to go there, it’s a tough decision.”
But whichever pathway he chooses, he will have a hefty amount of support around him.
“He’s got Kazuma (Kobori) that he can talk to, or other mates, like Zack Swanwick or Zach May, who’ve gone the college route,” said Jayden.
“From our perspective, it’s really good to know that whatever decision he makes, he’s got our support, but he’s also got New Zealand Golf’s support. Their goal is to provide him with the opportunities to live that dream of being a pro golfer.”
