Who is Sam Bennett? The recently turned pro is playing like one (again) at the US Open

The young man from Texas is playing like a pro, because he is one now. We saw him playing with Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa at the Masters with poise and maturity as well as an impressive golf swing. He managed his way around Augusta National like a veteran tour player and he’s doing it again at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Overcoming personal tragedy and sadness at home

While in high school Bennett’s dad was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. “I was just mad seeing my perfectly healthy dad get diagnosed with a deadly disease,” he said in an interview with the Golf Channel. Sam played better while his dad’s condition got worse in an attempt to make him proud while he still could. But the sadness and tragedy took over. “I wasn’t in a good spot mentally. I couldn’t take it any more. There was times when I would call coach at 5 a.m.,” he said. He met a psychologist, who he still works with today.

“Don’t wait to do something”

After 8 years of illness, his father died in June of 2021, but it was almost a relief for the family. Before Mark passed away, he gave his son Sam one more piece of advice, “Don’t wait to do something.” Sam thought it would be cool if he could have his dad write it down. Despite his lack of motor skills, Mark Bennett wrote the message down for his son who went to a local tattoo shop to have the words inked on his left forearm.

Sam’s head golf coach at Texas A&M, Brian Kortan, explained what he thinks his father’s words mean to the young golfer in the Golf Channel interview: “The maturation process really came down to him understanding that he could do this without his dad. That he still had more to give, more that he wanted to do for himself. The message on his forearm talks about get to doing it and to chase something that’s right in front of you. It relates perfectly to being intentional and not shying away from what you’re really trying to do.”

Kortan summarizes that fighting spirit in his 5th-year golfer, “He was never the biggest guy in the room or the fastest guy in the room, but I don’t think anybody in that room could compete with that guy.”

After Sam won the 2022 US Amateur Championship, he could only think of his dad. “My dad i know he was watching up there. He would think this is the coolest thing ever. The golfing gods and him were working in my favor.” Golf is a tough sport, but so is Sam, so expect great things from the young golfer.