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A Look Into The History of Amateurs at Augusta
By Paul Rogers

mastersamateurs- With local amateur Austin Greaser playing in this year's Masters, here is a look into the history of amateurs at Augusta.

If one of the six amateurs in this year’s Masters field were to contend for a Green Jacket on Sunday, win or lose it would be an extraordinary achievement.

Yet in the middle decades of the 20th century, the last illustrious era of amateur golf in America, nonprofessionals repeatedly made stirring runs for victory. An amateur has come in second place on three occasions: Frank Stranahan in 1947, Ken Venturi in ’56 and Charles Coe in ’61. Two amateurs, Coe and Billy Joe Patton, who daringly dashed his hopes of victory in 1954, finished in the top 10 three times.  

The tradition of amateurs competing at the Masters began with Bobby Jones. The co-Founder of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament played in the first 12 editions of the event. Jones earned his highest finish, 13th place, in the inaugural Masters (then known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament) in 1934, four years after retiring following his historic Grand Slam. He competed for the final time in 1948.

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