Among a field of fewer than 100 players competing at Augusta National Golf Club to become The Masters champion, five amateurs will take their place for the first time.
While they are unlikely to slip on the coveted Green Jacket at the end of the week, each member of the amateur quintet will sleep in the Crows Nest with their sights firmly fixed on making the cut and landing the prestigious Silver Cup – won for finishing as the leading non-professional.
Should they manage it, said player will stand a chance of recording one of the best amateur performances ever seen at The Masters – a tournament which holds the unpaid golfer in such high regard due to the influence of its founder, Bobby Jones, who was the greatest amateur of all time.
But, just as was the case in 2024, a couple of players who earned the right to tee it up at The Masters through amateur success forfeited their chance courtesy of turning professional.
Wenyi Ding claimed the Asia-Pacific Amateur title towards the end of last year but opted to turn pro shortly after, adamant that he would make it back to the exclusive Major one day anyway.
The Masters founder, Bobby Jones with the trophies that made up the Grand Slam
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Jacob Skov Olesen was in a similar position after triumphing at The Amateur Championship in Ireland last June. The former University of Arkansas golfer played in The Open at Royal Troon in July as an amateur and ended T60th but later made the switch to the paid ranks and gave up his Masters opportunity.
With those two out of the equation, there remain five amateurs ready and eager to make their debut at The Masters in 2025. Here is who they are and how they qualified.
Amateurs Qualified For 2025 Masters
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER (US Amateur Champion)
Jose Luis Ballester holds the US Amateur Championship trophy
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jose Luis Ballester booked his ticket to Augusta National by winning the US Amateur 2up against Noah Kent at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
He was the first Spanish amateur to lift the prestigious US title, adding to his already-impressive C.V. which contains victories at the 2020 Spanish Amateur and the 2023 European Amateur.
Ballester – who attends Arizona State University – has reached No.4 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and,…
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