Oh, So Close

Photo Credit Kyle Terada USA Today sports

James Piot’s Friday round at the Masters was better than 69 percent of the field

By Tom Lang

At the risk of this story’s headline sounding way out of bounds and 10 yards past the red stakes, it’s meant to reflect how close MSU senior and Canton native James Piot came to being the low amateur at the 2022 Masters – particularly in comparison to the opening round 81 he needed to overcome.

After the first round, Piot found himself in almost dead last place. He of course didn’t make the cut of the top 40 players and ties – none of the amateurs in the field did – but his second-round Friday score of 74 in really bad weather conditions proved he belongs out there. In reality, that was something he wanted to prove to himself the most.

Piot’s Friday round tied the scores of: Tour pros Cam Smith, Danny Willett, Webb Simpson and Tiger Woods, among others. 

Piot beat the second-round scores of: Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Champ, Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Fred Couples, Justin Rose, Gary Woodland and Bryson DeChambeau (his Tuesday morning practice partner).

Piot’s comeback from a very unsettling opening round that forced most people to think he was toast, got him back to within 4 strokes of creating a 3-way tie for top amateur in the field. Pretty close over two rounds.

Here are closing remarks for the tournament from James Piot, supplied by MSU:

“This was the experience of a lifetime, and I can’t thank the people at Augusta National enough, and all of the fans for making this a week I will never forget,” Piot said by phone Friday evening. “It was an honor to represent Michigan State at the cathedral of golf.  

“I didn’t play the way I hoped I would, but getting the chance to play in a group with Hideki and Justin was just incredible and such a learning experience for me.  

“More than anything, I want to thank (MSU asst. coach) Dan Ellis for being on the bag with me this week,” Piot added. “He was with me during the U.S. Amateur and he’s someone I know and I trust and it was just fantastic to have him here.  The support I’ve had from (head coach) Casey (Lubahn), my family and my friends made this an experience unlike anything else.  

“I’m a college kid who got to play The Masters and stay at Augusta National.  It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Photo Credit Kyle Terada USA Today sports