AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sam Bennett wants to be known for more than the tattoo he carries on his left forearm, the poignant story of his late father that led to it,...
, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion matched his opening-round 68 with another one, sending him shooting up those old-timey leaderboards scattered around the property. For a long stretch, about the time play was first delayed by a passing storm, Bennett was alone in second place behind four-time major winner Brooks Koepka.
Asked if Venturi’s name resonated with Bennett, he replied: “I don’t even know if he’s won any majors, or what majors.”After his bogey-free opening round, his only slip-up Friday came at the long par-3 fourth, when his tee shot wound up against the grandstand. Bennett got a free drop and ran his chip by the hole, then missed the par putt coming back.
The first came after Bennett’s tee shot found the pine needles to the right of No. 13, he wisely laid up short and zipped his approach close for a short birdie putt. At the next hole, with the ball awkwardly below his feet, Bennett used the contours of the green for a backstop on his approach, setting up another birdie putt that he drained with confidence., who played the first two rounds with him."I know how nervous he must have felt out there on first tee being an amateur.
It resonated with Sam. He wanted to remember it. So he asked his father to write the words on a scrap of paper. It took a while because his mom, Stacy, had to remind Mark how to craft each letter, but he shakily finished and signed it, “Pops.”
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