AUGUSTA, GA. When Bob Jones co-founded Augusta National with Clifford Robert it was the hope of the famed amateur that a golfer from his ranks would win the event.
Jones was the most accomplished golfer on the planet when Augusta National first staged what was originally called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament in 1934. In fact, Jones played in the event several times with his best finish being T13 in the inaugural event. He would go on to play 12 total times.
Amateurs have always been seen as pivotal in the event. Jones made it a point to personally welcome many of those competing.
The club even permitted participating amateur to stay at the club via the “crow’s nest” — a small area at the top of the clubhouse containing several single beds.
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*** Top Amateur Finishes in Masters History• 2nd Place (Solo): Ken Venturi (1956) — Led for 54 holes before a final-round 80. *** |
In the early time frame of the Masters the gap between elite level professionals and amateurs was not particularly wide apart.
Many accomplished amateurs remained as such given the paucity of money in the pro ranks.
The elite level amateur ranks were generally players with upper income status. That allowed them to participate in events wherever held. Those in the pro ranks often came from lower levels of income and playing professionally was borne out of necessity.
The heyday for amateurs in the Masters came during a time frame after the conclusion of World War II.
Professional golf still had lower purse totals and the amateurs of that era were accomplished players.
Frank Stranahan nearly accomplished the feat in 1947. Stranahan played the final 36 holes with a 138 score and was just two shots behind winner Jimmy Demaret in tying for the runner-up slot.
In 1954, Billy Joe Patton led after the first 36 holes. A third round 75 pushed him down the leaderboard but the North Carolinian made a bold charge on the final round by acing the par-3 6th.
Patton opted for a bold play at the two par-5s on the inward half and doused his approaches at both. Even with that stumble he was able to finish just one shot out of the two-way playoff between Sam Snead and Ben Hogan which Snead would win the next day.
Two years later Ken Venturi led after each of the first three rounds and heading into the final 18 commanded a four-shot lead. Unfortunately, the final day featured continual heavy wind gusts and the stroke average of the main players ballooned.
Venturi consistently three-putted and finished the day with a round of 80. Only two people broke par that day and Texan Jackie Burke overcame a seven shot deficit with a score of 71 and won by a single shot.
Five years later, Charlie Coe finished one shot behind Gary Player in 1961. Coe played in the most Masters as an amateur — 19 times — and finished as the low amateur six times. He was also a member of Augusta National.
The rapid spike in money in professional golf in recent times has seen a nonstop trend in which talented players will not remain in the amateur ranks.
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*** Notable Amateur Records & Performances• Best 72-Hole Score: Charles Coe, 281 (-7) in 1961. The 1961 tournament is often cited as the best for amateurs, featuring three finishing in the top 15 (Coe, Nicklaus, and Robert Gardner). *** |
Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods each competed in the Masters as an amateur and each earned low amateur honors. Jack doing so in 1960 (T13) and Woods (T41) in 1995.
Remarkably, both men would win the Masters after turning professional and doing so quickly. Nicklaus capturing the title in 1963 and Woods with a record setting performance in 1997 in which he became the youngest champion ever and also set the then 72-hole scoring record of 270 and largest winning margin by 12 shots.
The spirit of Jones remains ever present at Augusta National. In this year’s field will be a total of six players all looking to add their name as the best of the group at the 90th Masters.
Related: Augusta’s ultimate hideaway? Head to the Crow’s Nest!
