The Masters: Meet the 5 amateurs in the field

The field is set for the Masters and that means this year’s amateurs are ready to go.

There will be five amateurs in the field for the 89th edition of the tournament, each vying for their own piece of history at Augusta National.

Of course, none of them might slip into a green jacket on Masters Sunday, but each member of the amateur quintet has their eyes on the prestigious Silver Cup.

It’s one of several trophies up for grabs throughout Masters week and is awarded to the leading non-professional who makes the cut.

And while they won’t receive their share of the big bucks on offer, the low amateur could well kickstart their career on the biggest stage of them all.

Two amateurs, Wenyi Ding and Jacob Skov Olesen, forfeited their Masters exemptions by turning pro, leaving a five-strong charge contesting the first major of the year.

It’s time to meet them…

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Jose Luis Ballester

The 23-year-old has mentors in Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, so will hope to follow in their footsteps one day.

He punched his ticket to Augusta by winning the US Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Ballester was the first Spaniard to win the title and is currently the sixth ranked amateur in the world.

Evan Beck

The oldest of the five amateurs residing in Butler’s Cabin this week, Beck is a 34-year-old Masters debutant after winning the final of the US Mid-Amateur 9&8.

A former Wake Forest student, he had twice previously been defeated in championship USGA matches.

Justin Hastings

Hastings will represent the Caymen Islands at this year’s Masters before teeing it up in the US Open at Oakmont and the Open at Royal Portrush.

It’s courtesy of his triumph in the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship, an event he first played in at 14-years-old (won by Joaquin Niemann).

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Noah Kent

Perhaps the unlikeliest of the five amateurs to feature, if going off world rankings. Kent, who lost to Ballester in the US Am final, was ranked just inside the top 200.

The University of Iowa student defied the odds and will take his first trip down Magnolia Lane.

Hiroshi Tai

Singapore will also be represented at this year’s Masters in the form of Hiroshi Tai. He’s one of the first beneficiaries of a new exemption created in 2023.

Tai won the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Golf Championship by one stroke after fighting back from a three-stroke deficit.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.