Sam Bennett ready to seize opportunity of a lifetime at 2023 Masters

Magnolia Lane. Butler Cabin. Amen Corner.

Those are all sights Texas A&M’s Sam Bennett will be taking in this week.

Bennett, a fifth-year senior, has fought his way to every golfer's dream: competing at The Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

On April 6, Bennett will tee off as an amateur at the acclaimed Augusta National Golf Club, proving just how far you can go.

Bennett attributes most of his passion and drive to his late father, who passed away from early-onset Alzheimer’s. His father’s last note to him was “Don’t wait to do something” scribbled on a piece of paper, and that note now lives with him forever as a tattoo on his forearm. 

That wait is something Bennett has taken to heart.

It’s also what drives him. 

“For the longest time, I’ve lived my life in fear just seeing what my dad went through,” Bennett told the Golf Channel. “So, to me, it means just don’t be scared of anything you do.”

Bennett was named first-team All-American in 2021 and 2022. He is currently a college golf Player of the Year finalist and compiled a 70.50 scoring average in nine tournaments this season.

Turning down full status on the Korn Ferry Tour, Bennett elected to return to A&M for a fifth season. In an interview with the Golf Channel, Bennett said publicly that he needed more time to improve physically and recover mentally.

He was also preparing and putting in the work for the U.S. Amateur.

Bennett went on to win the 122nd US Amateur in 2022, which earned him a start in The Masters. As is tradition at The Masters, he’ll be playing alongside defending tournament champion (and fellow Texan) Scottie Scheffler on Thursday and Friday. Max Homa will round out the featured group.

This is a ‘tip of the cap’ to the late Bobby Jones — the designer of Augusta National Golf Club and co-founder of The Masters Tournament — who was one of the most prolific amateur golfers of all time.

“I am here to compete,” Bennett said after a Tuesday practice round. ”We are trying to have fun, but I think all of us know it’s more than having fun at the level that we are playing at.”

Bennett said he knows his dad would be proud of him and would think it’s “the coolest thing ever” that his son is playing in such an esteemed event.

He also knows his father will be watching from above.

Of course, Bennett won’t be the only Aggie walking around the legendary course this week. In addition to PGA Tour veteran Cameron Champ ‘18 also playing Augusta this week, Bennett will have Texas A&M head coach Brian Kortan (pronounced “court-on”, or, if you’re Bennett, “cor-ten”) serving as his caddie.

For Bennett, Kortan has been like a second father to him. The Aggie golf coach is now doing all he can to get Bennett geared up to tee off on Thursday.

“He's learned a lot over the years,” Kortan said last week. “He’s the first Aggie to play as an amateur, and all you can do now is rest, eat, rinse, repeat and don’t lose your clubs.”

Oh, and as fate would have it, Kortan will be sporting #12 on the customary all-white overalls with Bennett across the back.

So grab some pimento cheese sandwiches and get ready to root for Slammin’ Sammy Bennett, Ags!

How to Watch:

• The first two rounds of the 2023 Masters Tournament will be contested on Thursday and Friday, with coverage on ESPN as well as ESPN+. Bennett tees off at 12:36 p.m. CT on Thursday and 9:30 a.m. CT on Friday.
• The final two rounds will shift to CBS for coverage on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information and updated leaderboards, visit Masters.com