Bennett Continues Historic Run at The Masters – Texas A&M Athletics

Sam Bennett Round 2 Quotes
April 7, 2023 – Augusta, Georgia

courtesy ASAP Sports and The Masters

THE MODERATOR: Please welcome Sam Bennett to the interview room. Competing for the first time as an amateur at the Masters Tournament, you’ve had a terrific start with rounds of 68, 68 to reach 8-under par. How have you been able to calm the nerves and perform at this level?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, I love being able to hit shots, and the crowd of the people, I used that to my advantage. I felt comfortable out there. Obviously the first tee shot on Thursday was pretty tough, having to wait around all morning. I got off to a dream start and then was able to keep going and gain some ground.

Q. Coming into this week, what were your expectations and how have the expectations changed at all?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, everybody coming into the week was, yeah, hope you get Low Am. That’s pretty much all they were saying. I just wanted to put two good rounds up. I knew my golf was good enough to compete out here. I found myself in a situation that now I’ve got a golf tournament that I can go out and win.

Q. You seemed a little miffed that there was a lot of talk about the other amateurs. Is there a similar thing this week?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, I don’t hit it far like Sargent. I don’t have 190 ball speed. I don’t have a pretty swing like some of the other amateurs. It’s called golf, not golf swing. I’ve done the right things this week. I was prepared. I was more experienced than the other guys, and yeah, here I sit here with a chance to go on the weekend and do something special.

Q. Can you tell the story about the tattoo, and can you confirm which arm and how that process happened and about your dad’s comments?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, it was before he passed, I got tattooed on my left arm. So I see it every time I’m gripping the club, it’s right there, “Don’t wait to do something.”

You know, I thrive on it. I use it for some motivation. I know how happy he would be seeing me out here at Augusta National doing what I’m doing. You know, this week, I’ve used it to just stay focused and really be locked in to that one shot.

I haven’t played great this college season, which is kind of expected after being U.S. Am Champion, if you look back at the records. But this week, I felt like I was really locked in on what I was able to accomplish.

Q. A couple things, your caddie, coach, the correct pronunciation of his last name? And is it true that you’ve never had a lesson? And if you haven’t, has…