Amateurs have a long history of playing at the Masters.
The tournament, which was founded by Bobby Jones, an amateur champion, has always invited amateur tournament winners to the Masters to play a few rounds with the most talented golfers in the world at arguably the most prestigious event in the world. Usually, those golfers don't stick around long.
But in 2023, one amateur golfer is not just making an early push to make the cut, but possibly to be in the mix at the end of the whole thing. Sam Bennett, who won the 2022 U.S. Amateur to earn invites to the 2023 Masters and 2023 Open Championship, came away from his first round at Augusta National 4-under, tying him for sixth in the field. For his encore on Friday, Bennett went 4-under again, jumping him up to a standalone third place at 8 under.
Bennett's round is one of the best by an amateur golfer at the Masters. But where does it rank all time? Here's what you need to know.
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Lowest round by amateur at Masters
At 4-under twice, Bennett finished shooting 68 on the par 72 course. While that is an impressive feat, it is not quite the best ever by an amateur.
Back in the first round of the 1956 Masters, Ken Venturi, shot 66 in the first round. That performance remains the lowest not just for any amateur's first round, but any amateur round at the Masters overall.
On the front nine of that round, Venturi shot 32, which is also tied for the best performance by an amateur over the course of their first nine holes.
Bennett did tie the record for the lowest performance in the second round of the Masters by an amateur, however. Back in 1940, Marvin Ward shot 68 in the second round. In 1947, Frank Stranahan shot 68 in the fourth round, a mark that would later be tied by Romain Langasque in 2016.
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Has an amateur ever won the Masters?
While there have been some close calls, no golfer has ever won the Masters.
In 1956, Venturi led the field after the first round with his 6-under performance, and a 3-under in the second round kept him in the lead. He maintained that advantage heading into the third round despite going 3 over. But in the fourth round, Venturi went 8-over to fall behind Jack Burke Jr., who finished the tournament at just 1-over. Venturi would finish second.
Venturi is the only amateur golfer to finish standing alone in second, but Stranahan (1947) and Charlie Coe (1961) each finished tied for second at 5-under and 7-under, respectively. The only other amateurs to finish within the top five are Billy Joe Patton, who was third in 1954, and Harvie Ward, who placed fourth in 1957.
Jack Nicklaus, as an amateur in 1961, finished in a tie for seventh.
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Best 72 by an amateur at the Masters
Given Bennett's hot start, he certainly seems likely to make the cut and become the latest amateur to play a full 72 holes at the Masters.
In 1961, Coe finished his appearance at the Masters 7-under, which, to date, remains the best performance by an amateur through 72 holes. He shot par on his first day, 1 under in the second round, and 3-under in both the third and fourth rounds.
Bennett just missed out on the record for the best performance by an amateur over their first 36 holes. He was chasing Venturi's 9-under through the first 36 in 1956. Bennett finished the two rounds at 8-under.