With the Masters continuing on in Augusta, Georgia, an amateur golfer has emerged into the spotlight.
Texas A&M golfer Sam Bennett held a third-place standing (8-under) going into Friday afternoon, a stunning mark for the amateur golfer making his first Masters appearance.
Bennett has an inspirational story to pair with his excellent performance on the green, and he’s gathering plenty of fans in the process. While he can’t take home any cut of the prize if he does win this year’s Masters, the green jacket and respect that comes with actually winning in Augusta is more than worth it.
As Bennett soars in his Masters debut, let’s look back on 10 of the best amateur golfers to play at the hallowed tournament.
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Ken Venturi plays an iron shot during the 1956 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
At the 1956 Masters, amateur golfer Ken Venturi made history by finishing second in the tournament.
To this day, no amateur golfer has ever finished second by himself at the Masters.
Charlie Coe makes a splash as he drives his ball from the mud at the edge of a lake bordering the 15th green, during second round of the Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta, Ga., April 6, 1961.
Golfer Charlie Coe finished tied for second as an amateur at the 1961 Masters.
He won two U.S. Amateur titles in his career (1949, 1958).
Honorary starter Jack Nicklaus tees off on the first hole before the first round of The Masters golf tournament.
While Jack Nicklaus is one of the greatest golfers of all time, he had to start somewhere.
As an amateur, he tied for seventh at the 1961 Masters as a 21-year-old. That’s the same tournament where fellow amateur Charlie Coe finished tied for second.
The Golden Bear would win a record six green jackets in his illustrious career.
William Porter Payne (L) presents a trophy to the low amateur Hideki Matsuyama of Japan during the final round of the 2011 Masters Tournament on April 10, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
When he was an amateur, golfer Hideki Matsuyama finished 27th at the 2011 Masters. He won the whole thing in 2021.
Amateur Ryan Moore speaks as the low amateur of the 2005 Masters at the awards ceremony after the final round of The Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2005 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo…
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