Georgia Tech #ProJackets Golf Report - Masters Edition

THE FLATS – Hiroshi Tai, the reigning NCAA men’s golf champion, becomes the fifth Georgia Tech amateur, and the fourth active member of the Yellow Jacket golf team since 2020, to compete in the Masters this week at Augusta National Golf Club … More details below in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Report.

 

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TECH CONNECTIONS TO THE MASTERS STARTED WITH JONES, CONTINUE WITH TAI

When Hiroshi Tai takes his place in the field at the Masters, he’ll be the latest in the long line of Georgia Tech amateurs to follow the path to Augusta National. It is a road that began with Bobby Jones, a proud Tech graduate and co-founder of the club and the tournament.

And it’s a fact that isn’t lost on Tai, who understands and respects the lineage that dates to the game’s greatest amateur.

“There’s a lot of history behind it,” Tai said. “I think a lot of the amateur players that play here have gone on to have good careers. Like Hideki Matsuyama was low amateur. and then he ended up winning the Masters a couple years later. I think it will be a cool experience and will definitely be very special being an amateur and playing in the tournament.”

The trail of amateurs from Tech have included Matt Kuchar, Andy Ogletree, Tyler Strafaci and Christo Lamprecht.

Kuchar won the U.S. Amateur in 1997 and finished as low amateur at the 1998 Masters. Kuchar, 19, shot 68 on Saturday and tied for 21st. Ogletree (2019 U.S. Amateur champion), Strafaci (2020 U.S. Amateur champion) and Christo Lamprecht (2023 U.S. Amateur champion) did not make the cut in their lone Masters appearances.

Georgia Tech’s Hiroshi Tai takes the Masters stage this week. @StanAwtrey caught up with the national champion ahead of this week’s tournament.https://t.co/Av2r681XHn

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) April 7, 2025

WHO IS HIROSHI TAI – 16 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE SINGAPOREAN GOLFER

Hiroshi Tai is an amateur golfer from Singapore who will play at The Masters in 2025 after securing one of the biggest amateur titles in the game during 2024. Find out more about his life and journey through the sport via these facts.

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MEET THE FIVE AMATEURS COMPETING AT THE MASTERS

Georgia Tech’s Hiroshi Tai is a young golfer from Singapore who will be at The Masters in 2025 as a result of his comeback victory at the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Golf Championship.

Tai began the final round three strokes off the pace but carded a one-under 71 to end the tournament on three-under and triumph by a single stroke at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.

It should have been a far more comfortable success for the Singaporean, only for a triple-bogey on his penultimate hole giving several of the remaining groups a chance of catching him. But, after Gordon Sargent’s final putt lipped out for birdie, Tai could breathe a sigh of relief and start planning for his trip to Augusta National.

The Masters only created the NCAA exemption category in 2023 after giving 2022 champion, Sargent a special invitation for the opening Major that same season. But, following his surprise success, Tai will be one of its first beneficiaries.

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Hiroshi Tai is an Individual Champion!🏆

He speaks on what the accomplishment means to him.@GTGolf | #NCAAGolf pic.twitter.com/mcsSvrGnhW

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 28, 2024

TOUR PLAYERS RECALL THEIR WORST SHOTS AT THE MASTERS

Augusta National is the type of course where we’ve seen players experience some of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The train wrecks are almost as memorable as the moments of glory. We asked Masters participants of past and present to name their worst shot at Augusta National, and almost to a man they had no trouble remembering the time it all went horribly wrong. [Adam Scott was a lone exception who had some selective amnesia for this question.] From hero to zero at Augusta? It happens, but at least most of the players were able to laugh about it now.

Matt Kuchar – I put one down in the Delta checkout counter (hooked tee shot at No. 2). That’s one stands out.

Stewart Cink – 18th tee I hit a pull and hit trees. I was hitting my second shot still from the downslope.

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COMPETITION ROUND-UP

PGA TOUR

Matt Kuchar was the lone weekend warrior among three Yellow Jackets last weekend at the Valero Texas Open. Kuchar (-1) tied for 18^th place and improved to No. 122 in the FedEx Cup standings (top 100 keep full exempt status for the following year). Meanwhile, Vince Whaley and Anders Albertson missed the cut.

PGA Tour Leaderboard

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KORN FERRY TOUR

Four Yellow Jackets returned to action on the Korn Ferry Tour for its first 2025 event in the United States at the Club Car Championship in Savannah, Ga., last weekend but all missed the cut. Christo Lamprecht, No. 10 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list fell short along with Seth Reeves, Ross Steelman (No. 32) and Richy Werenski.

After a week off, the tour resumes next week in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., with the LECOM Suncoast Classic.

Korn Ferry Tour leaderboard

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PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

David Duval (+7) tied for 55^th at last weekend’s James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Classic in Boca Raton, Fla., and now sits No. 44 in Schwab Cup points.

The tour is off the next two weeks before resuming at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Ga., former home course of Stewart Cink, with the Mitsubishi Electric Classic.

PGA Tour Champions leaderboard

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LIV GOLF LEAGUE

Andy Ogletree and Cameron Tringale returned to action for the LIV Golf league’s first 2025 U.S. event in Miami at Trump National Doral Golf Club last weekend, with Tringale (+3) tying for 14^th place and Ogletree (+16) overcoming a poor opening round to tie for 47th. Tringale currently is ranked No. 20 in the LIV standings through five events, within the “Lock Zone” which assures a return for 2026, while Ogletree is No. 45 with a high finish of T-20 in Hong Kong.

LIV Leaderboard  |  LIV standings

UPCOMING EVENTS

• PGA Tour: The Masters • April 10-13, 2025 • Augusta National Golf Club • Augusta, Ga. • Purse: n/a • FedEx Cup points: 750
• Korn Ferry Tour:  LECOM Suncoast Classic • April 16-19, 2025 • Lakewood Ranch Golf Club • Bradenton, Fla. • Purse: $1M • KFT points: 500
• PGA Tour Champions: Mitsubishi Electric Classic • April 25-27, 2024 • TPC Sugarloaf • Duluth, Ga. • Purse: $2M
• PGA Tour Americas: KIA Open • April 24-27, 2025 • Quito Tenis & Golf Club • Quito, Ecuador • Purse: $225K
• Asian Tour/International Series: International Series Japan • May 9-11, 2025 • Caledonian Golf Club • Japan • Purse: $2M
• LIV Golf League: Mexico City, Mexico • April 25-27, 2025 • Club de Golf Chapultepec • Naucalpan, Mexico
• GPro Tour: Sanctuary Championship • April 9-11, 2025 • Sanctuary Golf Club • Waverly, Ga.

#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Kuchar in San Antonio📍

Team Troon’s Matt Kuchar visited @GolfLaCantera for a “Sip and Tips” event which gave junior golfers and La Cantera members an opportunity to chat with Matt.

Thank you Matt for coming out and go #TeamTroon! pic.twitter.com/CPr3flJd7y

— Troon (@Troon) April 2, 2025

New Course Record Show Episode out. We talk caddy housing with Dormy House CEO Matt Welter. pic.twitter.com/wk5tsQDF5z

— Roberto Castro (@cicioCASTRO) April 4, 2025

 

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