Augusta National Golf Club has never seen an amateur win the coveted green jacket. The last time an amateur even came close to winning was decades ago. However, the Silver Cup is still up for grabs this week at the Masters for a group of amateurs, which could be a life-changing achievement and a stepping stone towards a PGA Tour career. Making the cut is the first challenge these amateurs must overcome.
Although winning the Masters as an amateur is rare, history has shown that it is not impossible. Three amateurs have finished as runners-up at the prestigious tournament, with the most recent being Charles Coe in 1961. Ken Venturi infamously held a four-shot lead going into the final round in 1956, only to falter and finish second by a single stroke.
Notable golfers such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods won the Silver Cup before embarking on their successful professional careers. More recent examples include Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, and Viktor Hovland. Sam Bennett achieved the best finish in the last decade, coming in T16 in 2023. Neal Shipley was the low amateur at the Masters last April and is now striving to earn his PGA Tour card through the Korn Ferry Tour.
Here are the five amateurs competing at the Masters this year:
Hiroshi Tai
From: Singapore | Georgia Tech
Qualification: NCAA champion
Hiroshi Tai, representing Singapore, won the NCAA championship last year by a single shot, earning his spot at the Masters. He made his major debut at the U.S. Open and is looking to make a mark at Augusta.
Jose Luis Ballester
From: Spain | Arizona State
Qualification: U.S. Amateur champion
Jose Luis Ballester secured his Masters invitation by winning the U.S. Amateur last fall, becoming the first Spaniard to do so. He is the highest-ranked amateur in the field and has been performing well at the college level.
Noah Kent
From: Naples, Florida | Iowa, Florida
Qualification: U.S. Amateur runner-up
Noah Kent earned his spot at the Masters after finishing as the runner-up at the U.S. Amateur last fall. He is determined to make a mark at Augusta and has since transferred to the University of Florida.
Justin Hastings
From: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands | San Diego State
Qualification: Latin America Amateur champion
Justin Hastings punched his ticket to the Masters by winning the Latin America Amateur earlier this year. He has already made a mark with a T13 finish at the Mexico Open.
Evan Beck
From: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Qualification: U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
Evan Beck secured his spot at the Masters by winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur championship last fall. The 34-year-old will be making his Masters debut this week.
Why no Luke Clanton?
Despite being the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world, Luke Clanton did not receive an invitation to the Masters this year. Augusta National has the option to extend special invitations, but Clanton, who is expected to turn professional after the NCAA championships, did not receive one.