Koepka Being Koepka: Amateur Bennett 4 Off Lead

After rounds of 65 and 67, Brooks Koepka (-12) leads the field by 3 shots entering weekend play at the 2023 Masters Tournament. Thru two rounds, Koepka is a combined 7 under par on Augusta National’s four par 5’s (2, 8, 13, 15), including zero pars on all 8 of such holes.

Not unlike Tiger Woods in his heyday, Koepka sits atop the Masters leaderboard thanks to his efforts crushing the par 5’s. Koepka’s bogey-free round of 5 under 67 in Friday’s second round included 14 pars on the 14 non-par 5’s and 3 birdies to go along with an eagle on the four par 5’s. Impressively, Brooks managed an opening round score of 7 under despite bogeying the par 5 13th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In a post-round 1 presser, he seemed very comfortable with the state of his game while even alluding to his bogey on 13 with a smirk on his face.

Both Koepka’s fine form and leading position are reminiscent of similar circumstances thru 36 holes at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black. Then, similar to now, Brooks posted opening rounds of 65 and 67 (12 under) while also affording himself a larger 7-shot cushion over the entire field in advance of weekend play.

Following Thursday and Friday, Bethpage Black was engulfed in miserable, wet playing conditions on the weekend. When all was said and done, Brooks hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy for the second time and as part of his fourth major championship victory in just three years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Now, like then, Brooks pounced on the field in Tiger-esque fashion prior to a Masters weekend whose weather forecast is ominous at best. Well, ominous for everyone besides Brooks.

At the conclusion of Friday’s action at Augusta National, a number of players failed to finish their second round, including Brooks’s nearest chaser, Jon Rahm (9 under total thru 9 holes of his second round). Among the others chasing Koepka (12 under) includes 23-year-old amateur Sam Bennett.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Playing in his first major championship, the reigning 2022 US amateur champion and Texas A&M standout currently finds himself at 8 under par thru 36 holes and four off the pace set by Koepka.

Sporting a motivational tattoo in memory of his late father with the words, “Don’t wait to do something,” the Aggie continues to do right by the man who first introduced the game to his son. To this day, Sam credits his father for being the person in his life he plays golf for.

If Bennett were to somehow slip on the green jacket at the tournament’s conclusion, it would be the single greatest achievement in the history of the game since amateur Francis Ouimet won the 1913 US Open at the Country Club.

Regardless of the tournament’s result, Sam Bennett is a winner. A winner who both plays the game and lives his life in the name of the angel on his shoulder. Those are the kind(s) of people who impact sports. The world needs more Sam Bennetts.

Cover Image Via Golf Digest