By John Steinbreder /
Monday, April 05, 2021
The reigning U.S. Amateur champion comes into the Masters with the burden of having to compete for the very first time on golf’s biggest stage against the very best players in the world. But for Tyler Strafaci, the emotional load would appear to be a little heavier given all the connections he has to the Tournament and Augusta National.
Start with his having studied and played golf at Georgia Tech, which is the alma mater of Bobby Jones, co-Founder of Augusta National and the Masters, as well as Matt Kuchar and Andy Ogletree (both of whom also won U.S. Amateur titles and went on to earn Low Amateur honors at the Masters in 1998 and 2020, respectively).
Then consider that Strafaci’s grandfather Frank, an amateur stalwart with 27 wins on his playing résumé, also competed in a pair of Masters, in 1938 and 1950. This year will mark only the second time that a grandfather-grandson pair have played in the Tournament (Tommy Armour and Tommy Armour III).
That’s a lot to be taking to the first tee on Thursday morning. But Strafaci the Younger does not seemed to be the least bit phased.
“Sure, I’ll be a little nervous,” said the 22-year-old, who per tradition will be paired for the first two rounds with the current Masters champion, Dustin Johnson. “But I am not putting pressure on myself. I just think it’s cool to be here. I think it’s cool that all these years later, there’s another Strafaci in the Masters. I am going to be a kid, make some fist pumps, make some birdies and have some fun.”
Strafaci seems genuinely comfortable as he gets ready for the Masters, and that comes in part from his having played Augusta National a few times during his college years at Georgia Tech and from several trips he has made to the Club this year.
It also helps that Ogletree, who was his college roommate for three years, has filled him in on the experience and advised him on what to expect.
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