A Masters stroke! American amateur Sam Bennett, 23, is just four shots off the lead as he cards 68 to move behind Brooks Koepka – with eight-under par the second-lowest 36-hole score by an amateur in Augusta history
America’s Sam Bennett is hot on the heels of Masters leader Brooks Koepka after finishing eight-under par on day two at Augusta National.
The amateur from Madisonville, Texas, impressed on day one with a first round 68 on Thursday and he maintained his consistency Friday.
He hit five birdies in his second round including two back-to-back on holes eight and nine and then again at the 13th and 14th.
Just one bogey in 36 holes saw him move just four shots off the lead and his score across the two days was the second-lowest by an amateur in Masters Tournament history.
The 23-year-old flirted with the Masters’ 36-hole amateur record of nine-under set by Ken Venturi in 1956.
American amateur Sam Bennett is hot on the heels of Masters leader Brooks Koepka
Bennett, 23, has his father’s words of advice tattooed onto his left wrist for inspiration
‘That was incredible,’ Bennett told Sky Sports after his round.
‘I think a lot of people didn’t think I was going to back it up. But I went out with the same game plan and hit a lot of solid shots. I hit a bad one on four but other than that I put myself in the right position.
‘This is right where I want to be. I love pressure, I love nerves. I try to use them to my advantage.
‘I know it’s a Masters and a bigger stage but I’ve played in front of a lot of people and love playing when there’s a lot on the line. I’m ready for the weekend and have got myself in a good spot. Anything can happen.
‘I think I can [win]. We will see, I am playing really well and I think I have what it takes to win. I love making putts when it matters.’
Bennett carded a bogey-free round on day one before revealing how his late father inspired him at one of the greatest events on the sporting calendar.
Mark Bennett died in 2021 at the age of 53 due to early onset Alzheimer’s. The last thing he wrote down was advice to his son in June 2020 during a tender moment at their family home in Texas: ‘Don’t wait to do something’.
And the younger Bennett lived those words to the full when he lined up alongside the defending champions at The Masters in Scottie Scheffler and matched him the whole way round the course with a four-under 68.
The 23-year-old Bennett has those words tattooed above his left wrist, exactly as his father wrote them.
The US Amateur champion may celebrate his brilliant performance with girlfriend Harper Walding.
Walding, a principle administrative specialist at Halliburton, is believed to have met Bennett while the couple were studying at Texas A&M University from 2017-2021.
They keep their relationship under wraps but Walding shared a photo of herself with Bennett and his caddie at a tournament last year.
Bennett may celebrate his brilliant performance with girlfriend Harper Walding (right)
Bennett draws inspiration from his late father, who died in 2021 at 53 from Alzheimer’s
The amateur from Madisonville, Texas, has impressed in his opening 36 holes at Augusta
