NORMAN, Okla. – Unheralded amateur Brad Benjamin punched his ticket into the 2010 Masters Tournament field with a victory in the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links July 18 at the Jimmie Austin Golf Course on the University of Oklahoma campus.
Benjamin, 22, a recent graduate of the University of Memphis and career resident of Rockford, Ill., will put his professional golfing career on hold for a chance to achieve his dream of playing in the Masters.
“I was thinking about turning pro, but you can’t pass up an opportunity like this,” Benjamin said after thrashing heavily favored, top seed Nick Taylor, 7 & 6 in the 36-hole final.
It will be the second visit to Augusta National Golf Club for Benjamin, who plays left handed, but putts from the right.
He, along with his caddie and good friend Jeff Hurd and two other Memphis teammates went to the 2006 Masters Monday practice round.
“I stood around the practice green and watched all those pros putt. I dreamed about playing there, but never knew I would do it,” Benjamin said.
He took all the drama of achieving his dream in the final with Taylor, the low amateur in the 2009 U.S. Open, by racing to a 4-up lead after 18 holes. In the afternoon, he kept the pressure on by winning the first hole, taking a five-hole lead and never trailed by anything less. On the par 4 10th hole, he flubbed a chip, then chipped in for par. The match ended two holes later when he hit his tee shot to inches of the cup and was conceded another birdie.
“This is the way I always thought I could play. I can’t wait to get to the Masters.”
He will be joined in next April’s Masters Tournament by Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, who will become the youngest-ever Masters competitor when he tees it up at Augusta National Golf Club after winning the 2009 British Amateur Championship.
Manassero, from Verona, Italy, won the British Amateur title at 16 years, 62 days on June 20 at Formby Golf Club. He will surpass the Masters record set by Tommy Jacobs who played in the 1952 Masters Tournament at age 17.
“I’m over the moon with what has happened,” he told reporters after his 4 & 3 victory over England’s Sam Hutsby. “I think everyone in Italy knows about this. I’m shocked with what I have accomplished.”
He was the first Italian winner of the British Amateur, but will be the second Italian amateur golfer to play in the Masters in the last four years. Edoardo Molinari played in the 2006 Masters after winning the U.S. Amateur
Manassero was also the low amateur in the 2009 British Open Championship at Turnberry. He said he will retain his amateur status to play in the Masters Tournament ever, his first-ever trip to Augusta National Golf Club.
