Standing 5ft 10ins, Sam Bennett is only about average height. But the Texas A&M senior is clearly a big man on campus these days.
After a magical week at the 2023 Masters that included staying in Butler Cabin, being the low amateur (by far), and even contending on the weekend against the best players on the planet, Bennett returned to College Station late Sunday night. And he received a well-deserved hero’s welcome. Have a look:
.@sammy_golf24243 is back in Aggieland. pic.twitter.com/WckWRjYmiJ
— Morgan Weaver (@morganweaver_) April 10, 2023
What a scene. Very cool.
That was a pretty speedy return from Augusta National to central Texas so we’re assuming Bennett flew private, another sign of a new era in amateur athletics. Bennett may not have been able to pocket the quarter-of-a-million dollars he would have earned for his T-16 finish if he were a pro, but as he hinted on Friday, he’s doing pretty well with all those logos on his shirts due to NIL deals.
And as you can see in the video, he was wearing a Masters logo — he also had to buy warm clothes for the weekend at Dick’s — coming upon being greeted by a gaggle of people. About the only thing that could have made it better if he was wearing a green jacket instead.