NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A full-time real estate agent just got done playing at the 90th Masters Tournament.
Brandon Holtz, a 39-year-old father from Bloomington, Illinois, found his way to Augusta National this week in “super unlikely” fashion.
Holtz got his Masters invite by winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur in September at Troon Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Winners of the event began getting invited to Augusta in 2018.
According to the United States Golf Association’s Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN) system, Holtz is no slouch, playing to a +4.1 handicap, which is better than scratch.
To qualify for the tournament, one must record a 2.4 handicap or better and be at least 25 years old when the championship begins, so Holtz was surely better than most on the links.
However, the Mid-Am was actually his first USGA-sanctioned event, he told The Athletic.
“I’m one for one,” he said.
That’s why he’s actually ranked No. 3,267 in the amateur rankings, because he is hardly getting any points.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU NOT PLEASED WITH 3D-PRINTED CLUB QUESTION AFTER EVENTFUL DAY AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL
Holtz won his local qualifier in Illinois by shooting a 63 at Crestwicke County Club on Aug. 11. He then traveled to Arizona the following month and ran through the four-day competition that included both stroke and match play. His quarterfinal match actually took 19 holes to finish.
Holtz then won the final match, 3&2, to be invited to both the Masters and this year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Holtz’s father won lifetime badges to the Masters in 2004, so he was at least a little familiar with the course. But playing on it was a different story.
“I’m pretty sure I could see my heart beating through my chest on the first tee,” Holtz, who was paired up with two-time winner Bubba Watson, told The Athletic.
Holtz’s father was his caddie for his two rounds, but he missed the cut at 15 over.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
But he will have a nice story and a fairly good excuse when he goes back to selling houses.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Read the full article here
