AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 04: Amateur Sam Bennett of the United States laughs with his caddie on the fourth hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 04, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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US Amateur champion Sam Bennett started The Masters strong, which had golf fans wondering if an amateur has ever won The Masters.
From his win at the 2022 US Amateur and career at Texas A&M in the NCAA ranks, we know that Sam Bennett has game. But when he teed it up at Augusta National for his first appearance at The Masters on Thursday, we may not have realized just how much game.
Bennett birdied the 1st hole but followed that up with an eagle on the par-five 2nd hole to put him at 3-under through two holes. He then registered another birdie along with nothing but pars to have him at 4-under for the tournament nearing the end of his first round, just three strokes off the lead with four holes left on Thursday.
That had golf fans wondering if an amateur had ever won The Masters before.
Has an amateur ever won The Masters?
No, an amateur has never won The Masters. However, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been close calls. The closest came back in 1956 when 24-year-old Ken Venturi held the 54-hole lead at Augusta National and was four strokes clear of the field. However, Venturi’s win wasn’t meant to be as grueling conditions for the final round on Sunday saw him shoot 80 over the final 18 holes, which allowed Jack Burke Jr. to come from behind and win the Green Jacket.
Best finish by an amateur at The Masters
Venturi’s finish in outright second place is the best by an amateur at Augusta, but he’s not alone as a handful of others have finished tied for second at The Masters as well. So let’s take a look at the best finishes by an amateur at Augusta National.
- Ken Venturi, 2nd (1956)
- Charlie Coe, T2 (1961)
- Frank Stranahan, T2 (1947)
- Billy Joe Patton, 3rd (1954)
- Harvie Ward, 4th (1957)
- Jack Nicklaus, T7 (1961)
Those six players, one of which is probably quite familiar, are the only amateurs to ever finish inside the Top 10. Meanwhile, Venturi set the record with his first round of the lowest Masters round by an amateur, shooting a 66. And overall, Coe’s T2 in 1961 saw him shoot 7-under for the week, the 281 total score being the lowest 72-hole total for an amateur.
