Four years have passed since current challenger Brendt Snedeker and current Nationwide-Tour Guy Casey Wittenberg made the cut at Augusta National. Their reason for recognition? They are the last amateurs to make the cut at Augusta National. Wittenberg returned in 2005, this time as a pro (by virtue of his miraculous T13 finish in 2004), made the cut but drifted to T33 on the last day.

None of this would matter at the other three majors. The US and British Opens are eponymously-defined as open events while the PGA is closed to professionals. The Masters was founded by the greatest amateur golf in American history, and one would think that the annual championship would maintain its amateur ties. Not so.

It’s absolutely no coincidence that this latest downturn in amateur fortunes parallels the golf course’s turn to agricultural growth hormones. The extension of the course yardage, the planting of trees, the claustrophobia run rampant have all exposed amateur weaknesses and damaged their chances of making the cut.

Amateurs traditionally stay in The Crow’s Nest, a cupola on the top floor of the clubhouse. Billy Andrade once made a wrong turn coming down in the 1980s, entered the champions’ locker room and got reemed out by the ever-constipated Gene Sarazen. Guess Gene was just calling it then as Augusta sees it now: We don’t need the amateurs.

Three amateurs missed the cut this week. None will be recognized as low amateur, as making the cut is a requisite of the award. Guess saving on silver means more than preserving a founder’s tradition.

After all, who’d want to listen to this type of interview
each year from an amateur?

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