Amateur Andrew Ogletree calms nerves alongside his idol in Masters debut

Tiger Woods joked that as the Masters field gets younger and players seek former champions and experienced players for course knowledge, the pros always keep a few tricks to themselves.

Woods probably didn’t give too much away in Thursday’s opening round, but Andy Ogletree absorbed as much as he could, watching the defending and five-time champion swing his way to a 4-under 68 in the first round.

Ogletree joined his idol, Woods, and reigning British Open champion Shane Lowry in a trio that teed off at the 10th, and shot 73 in his Masters debut. As daunting as the course may be, and exciting it is to play the Masters as an amateur, he’ll remember most playing alongside Woods.

“I grew up idolizing Tiger and watching a lot of pretty much every time he was in position, I was watching growing up,” said Ogletree, who finished his college career at Georgia Tech earlier this year. “So just to be playing with him is awesome.”

During Thursday’s round, he also got a chance to chat with Woods about staying in the Crow’s Nest on Wednesday night.

Round 1 Photos

As a group, amateurs generally stay in the Crow’s Nest atop the clubhouse, but in an effort to social distance and take precautions against the coronavirus, only one amateur is being allowed in each day. Ogletree’s night was Wednesday.

“Tiger and I were actually talking about it today walking down one of the fairways. And he was asking me, ‘How was the Crow's Nest? I wish I could stay up there,’” Ogletree recalled. “He was telling me cool stories about his experience back in the day. It's pretty neat.”

Ogletree is one of six amateurs in this year’s 92-player field. He said going into Thursday’s opening round, he was nervous and that led to his rough start.

“Yeah, I just didn't really have control. Been waiting for this moment for a month now. I just think I'm putting too much pressure on myself. I three putted the first hole from just off the fringe, and that kind of got to me,” Ogletree said.

He opened his morning with a bogey on 10, par on 11, double bogey on 12, bogey on 13 and par on 14 to go 4-over through his first five holes. He then recovered, finishing the round with five birdies and two bogeys the rest of the way.

“I hit a really good shot on 15, made a birdie,” Ogletree said. “Everything kind of went away, and I started playing golf and focusing on the next shot and trying to execute.”

John Augenstein led all amateurs, standing at 1 under through 12 holes after play was halted for darkness. James Sugrue is 4 over through nine holes, Lukas Michel shot 76, and Yuxin Lin and Abel Gallegos each finished with 79.

Augenstein and Sugrue will resume their first rounds Friday morning.