A gleaming Masters Sterling Silver Cup now awaits Australian amateur with a round to play in the 2o14 Masters.
Of course, Goss assured himself of the ‘Low Amateur’ prize after making the four-over par halfway cut with his amateur rivals Korean Chang-woo Lee, the Americans Michael McCoy and Jordan Niebrugge along with England duo of Matthew Fitzpatrick and Garrick Porteous sitting out the weekend rounds.
However it had been incorrectly reported in Australian newspapers and news agency after Friday’s round that Goss became the second Australian in Masters history to win the coveted award.
Those sources reported Jim Ferrier won the award in 1940 however Masters records clearly show Ferrier is listed as finishing the leading ‘International’ amateur when it was the American amateurs Charlie Yates and Marvin Ward who played fewer shots than Ferrier in the 1940 Masters.
Thereby Goss creates history and a year after Adam Scott became the first Australian to be fitted with a green jacket.
“It was not until late yesterday afternoon that I found out I was Low Amateur and the only amateur to make the cut, and it is really hard to describe how much that means to me,” he said.
“I am really proud of that accomplishment, especially in my first Masters, and it is a real thrill knowing I will be in Butler Cabin Sunday night.
“As for my round today, I ended up shooting another 76. I tried to play exactly as I had earlier in the week, and I actually hit the ball very well. But I made a couple of serious mental mistakes on a couple of holes, and I really paid for them, because they led to doubles. I did have a couple of birdies, at the 2nd and 13th, and two bogeys, on 10 and 11. Otherwise, it was all pars.
“I found the greens a lot firmer today than I expected. On the first hole, I hit a chip from the front of the green, and it ended up rolling off the back, which was completely dead with the back left pin. So, I took a 6 there. And on No. 7, I went over the back of the green, and after chipping back on, I needed three putts to complete the hole, which led to another double.
“I have to say that I am really tired right now. I have been here since last Friday, and it has been exhausting mentally and physically. I have been getting a lot of attention from the media, too, and that is something I am not used to at all. But it has been a lot of fun.
“It is my 20th birthday today, and I must have heard a couple hundred Happy Birthdays out on the course today. Then, a bunch of patrons sang Happy Birthday to me as I came onto the 18th green. It was really nice, and I appreciate all the support.
“Yes, we will be doing something for my birthday tonight, but what, I am not exactly sure. I have nothing planned, but I think my family probably does.”.
