The Masters: Sam Bennett honors his late father’s motto in superb Augusta round

Sam Bennett stepped up to make history at Augusta on Thursday, where he racked up a bogey-free round of 68 at The Masters before revealing how his late father inspired him during one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar.

Mark Bennett died in 2021 at the age of 53 due to the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The last thing he wrote down was the advice given to his son in June 2020 during a tender moment at their family home in Texas: “Don’t wait to do something.”

And the younger Bennett lived up to those words as he lined up next to the defending champions at the Masters in Scottie Scheffler, matching him with a four-under 68 all round.

Bennett, 23, the American amateur champion, has those words tattooed above his left wrist, exactly as his father wrote them.

Bennett made a birdie on the first hole and chipped eagle on the second. When he made the turn at -4, he tied the tournament record for the lowest first nine by an amateur.

Bennett draws inspiration from his late father, who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2021 at age 53

Bennett, 23, has his father’s words tattooed on his left wrist for inspiration

“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better start,” said Bennett after his lap. “I came out of the gate hot.

“There are few things I enjoy more than bogey-free golf. That was by far the most locked in, focused I’ve been at a golf tournament.

‘I wasn’t thinking about a record. I was just trying to stack golf shots and give myself some looks and keep it under the hole, which I did.”

Bennett kept his cool in the aftermath of a round of golf that caught the attention of the world watching, but his mother Stacy spoke about how much his success means.

“Oh God, Sam would give anything to have him (Mark) here right now,” she told The New York Post.

‘He’s so young. He’s just a gentle giant. He just exudes a lot of confidence.

“He’s always been that way, but not stubborn. Calm and confident. His father was like that. He has his father’s mannerisms.’

Bennett Snr, a dentist, was diagnosed with the disease in 2017 and his young son wrote on Instagram on Father’s Day in June 2018, “If you didn’t know, my dad has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It’s been going on for about 1 year now, it’s really said he had to retire and leave dentistry.

“He has been very happy lately and is fighting hard. Happy Father’s Day Dad!! Love you. Please keep our family and him in our prayers!’.

Bennett’s tattoo can be seen on his left wrist on Thursday during his opening round in Augusta

Defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler (right) praised Bennett after their round

Scheffler praised Bennett after their time together on the track, saying, “It was kind of fun to watch him start his lap today.”

Bennet is three shots behind joint leaders Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland and John Rahm after a stellar first round.

He will go out again at 10 a.m. on Friday, with heavy rain forecast in Georgia that could upset the standings.