Ward will combine his golf endeavours while he studies international law and economics when he starts the scholarship next August.

He will be part of his university’s golf team which will compete in tournaments for 40 weeks of the year, similar to the PGA tour.

His continued scholarship is on the premise Ward gains high passes with his studies. The university can cut a scholarshp holder if grades are not to the standard required.

He told The Express he is delighted to start the next phase of his golf career.

“Gaining a golf scholarship in the US has been on my mind for three of four years now and I’m really happy I’ve got the chance now to head over,” he said.

“It’s become a big thing over in the States for players to go through the College system before or if they turn professional, so I’ll just see how it goes.” Ward said the news is still sinking in.

“I have been in contact with the university golf coach, Trey Schroder, and signed the agreement around two weeks ago,” he said.

“I’m really happy.”

Ward, who started to play golf when he was four, received his first club handicap at just 11-years-old. He now plays off one.

Ward said his ambition is make it as a professional golfer.

“I’m really determined to do well in this next stage of my career and I’ll be working hard when I get over there.”

Choosing a university career while pursuing a golf career is well trodden path for Australian golfers who look to make it big in the United States and around the world.

Australia’s Adam Scott also progressed his golf through the US college system and is now one of the world’s top professionals.

After Christmas Ward’s attention will shift to preparing for two tournaments. He will compete in the international amateur event in Belmont at the end of January and a smiliar event in Longreef, Sydney a month later.

Ward said he will enter both tournaments with an ‘open mind’.