Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on April 7, 2023. It has since been updated
Augusta National can test and break even the best professional golfers on the planet. Yet every once in awhile it seems like an amateur who gets into the field at The Masters starts sneaking their way up the leaderboard and into contention.
Masters Leaderboard: Live leaderboard, Schedule, Tee times
In 2023, it was Sam Bennett who found himself eight under par on Friday and in third place. As the gates of Augusta open to the public yet again this week, here are the 10 best performances by amateurs at the famed course.
Ken Venturi
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
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).
Jack Nicklaus
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.
Sam Bennett
Bennett was the story at Augusta for the first three days of the tournament in 2023 after surging near the top of the leaderboard after Friday.
He finished tied for 16th and cemented himself as one of the rising names in the sport.
Ryan Moore
As an amateur, golfer Ryan Moore finished tied for 13th at the 2005 Masters.
His best Masters finish was in 2017, when he tied for ninth place.
Guan Tianlang
In 2013, a 14-year-old amateur golfer named Guan Tianlang finished 58th at The Masters.
He’s both the youngest player to ever tee off at The Masters and the youngest to ever make the cut at a men’s Major or PGA Tour event, per Golf Monthly.
Bryson DeChambeau
In 2016, amateur golfer Bryson DeChambeau finished 21st at The Masters.
Frank Stranahan
In 1947, amateur golfer Frank Stranahan tied Byron Nelson for a second-place finish at The Masters.
He would go on to win six tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Billy Joe Patton
In 1954, amateur golfer Billy Joe Patton finished third at The Masters.
He’d continue to compete in Augusta until 1966.
Harvie Ward
Amateur golfer Harvie Ward finished fourth at The Masters in 1957.
His biggest professional win was at the North Carolina Open in 1977.
