Masters 2020: Who are this year’s amateurs competing for the Silver Cup?
The rescheduled November Masters is just around the corner, and the Augusta National-based major is going to have a very different feel about it this year. The conditions are going to be cooler, and damper, whilst there will be no roaring crowds on the beautiful Georgia grounds.
One thing that hasn’t changed since April, is the star-studded field, and, as always, amongst the household names, there will be a handful of hopeful amateurs vying to get their prestigious Silver Cup, which has been won by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Sergio García, and this year’s favourite in the latest US Masters odds, Bryson DeChambeau.
This year, six amateurs will be teeing off on November 12th, hoping to make the cut come the end of play on Friday, and they are; Andy Ogletree, John Augenstein, James Sugrue, Abel Gallegos, Lin Yuxin, and Lukas Michel. That said, let’s take a look at how they qualified for the Masters.
Andy Ogletree – World Amateur Ranking: 9th
How did he qualify? 2019 US Amateur Champion
This will be Andy Ogletree’s second major outing of the year, after he missed the cut at the recent US Open at Winged Foot in New York. The 22-year-old from Mississippi has also featured in three PGA Tour events this year. Had the coronavirus pandemic not put an end to the 149th edition of The Open, Ogletree would have also featured at Royal St. George’s. However, he will still be exempt for next year’s Open, should he not turn pro by then.
James Sugrue – World Amateur Ranking: 8th
How did he qualify? 2019 Amateur Champion
Ireland’s James Sugrue is quite an experienced amateur. After winning the 2019 Amateur Championship in his own backyard at Portmarnock, Sugrue, who is the highest amateur in the field, has featured in four professional tournaments – starting with the 2019 Open, which was held just north of the border at Royal Portrush, before also taking part in the 2020 US Open, the 2020 Oman Open, and the 2020 Irish Open, where he made the cut at Northern Ireland’s Galgorm resort.
John Augenstein – World Amateur Ranking: 18th
How did he qualify? 2019 US Amateur Championship runner-up
John Augenstein earned his place at this year’s Masters after losing the thrilling 36-hole finale of the US Amateur Championship to Ogletree. Augenstein lead for much of the championship, but his fellow American surged past him on the second-last hole to scoop the title. The Kentucky native also took part in this year’s US Open, as well as the RBC Heritage, but missed the cut in both.
Abel Gallegos – World Amateur Ranking: 178th
How did he qualify? 2020 Latin America Amateur Champion
At just 17, Abel Gallegos is the youngster golfer in the 96-man field. From the little-known town of Veinticinco De Mayo in Argentina, which doesn’t even boast an 18-hole golf course, Gallegos won the Latin America Amateur Championship by a cushty four shots. Before his victory at Lima Golf Cup, Gallegos carded an impressive T54th at the 2019 Argentina Open, which is part of the PGA Tour of Latin America.
Lin Yuxin – World Amateur Ranking: 29th
How did he qualify? 2019 Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion
20-year-old Lin Yuxin is a very experienced amateur, in fact, so much so that this isn’t even his first outing at the Masters. After winning the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the Chinese golfer earned a place in the 2018 Masters and 2018 Open, and after winning another Asia-Pacific Amateur crown last year, he will feature at Augusta again next week. Yuxin also carded an impressive T30th at the 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and a T7th at the 2017 Hainan Open.
Lukas Michel – World Amateur Ranking: 84th
How did he qualify? 2019 US Mid-Amateur Champion
Australian Amateur Lukas Michel secured his place at the Masters by winning the US Mid-Amateur championship (for players over the age of 25) at Colorado Golf Club last year. After finishing T21st in last year’s Australian Open, Michel missed the cut at the 2020 US Open – which was his first outing at one of the four majors.