Low amateur is a term that refers to the amateur golfer who has the lowest score in a professional golf tournament.
Golfers can either be professionals or amateurs.
An amateur golfer is prohibited from accepting money or any type of financial award in relation to golf.
Because of this, many tournaments that allow amateur golfers, whether on a sponsor exemption or through some type of qualifying process or criteria, also give out a non-monetary award for the top-finishing amateur.
Low amateur is just a different way of saying first place out of all amateurs in a professional tournament.
Three of the four majors give out an award to the low amateur in the field: the Open Championship, the US Open, and The Masters.
The Masters is the most coveted of all low amateur awards.
Many amateurs that play in professional tournaments are college students or aspiring professionals.
Occasionally you will see players like Stuart Hagestad, who are very, very good golfers, and likely could have made a living playing professionally but chose to maintain their amateur status and make a living elsewhere.
Related: The Amateur Dinner At The Masters
Low Amateur At The Masters
The low am at the Masters receives the Silver Cup trophy.
To win the award, the player must make the cut.
Winning low amateur honors at the Masters is a big deal for several reasons:
- The Masters is the most prestigious and famous golf tournament in the world.
- The low am gets some TV time alongside the Masters Champion in Butler Cabin.
- They receive their award during the Green Jacket ceremony.
Has An Amateur Ever Won The Masters?
No, an amateur has never won the Masters.
In fact, no amateur has even been close to winning the Masters in almost 70 years:
- 1947: Frank Stranahan, possibly the most interesting amateur golfer in history, finished 2nd
- 1954: Billy Joe Patton finished 3rd
- 1956: Ken Venturi, who led after rounds 1, 2 and 3, finished 2nd
Although no amateur has ever won, seven players have earned low amateur honors and later won the Masters:
- Ben Crenshaw
- Cary Middlecoff
- Sergio Garcia
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Phil Mickelson
- Jack Nicklaus
- Tiger Woods