AUGUSTA, Ga. — At 6-foot-8, Christo Lamprecht could soon become the tallest player on the PGA Tour, but there's no denying that he towers over the field at Augusta National this week.
The 23-year-old native of South Africa is a senior at Georgia Tech and one of the most promising young prospects in golf.
He follows a strong lineage of South African golfers that includes the likes of legends Gary Player and Ernie Els and current standouts in golf such as Erik van Rooyen and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who are both playing in this year's tournament in Augusta.
If you heard that Lamprecht was an athlete at Georgia Tech, from a simple glance, you might first assume that he was grabbing rebounds for the Yellow Jackets' basketball team, not striping golf balls at 200 mph -- roughly 30 mph more than the average PGA Tour player's ball speed.
When it comes to this week at the Masters, Lamprecht isn't putting too much pressure on himself. He simply hopes to get better and take in the experience of playing at the most storied course in professional golf.
"I think I'm really confident in my mindset in saying that I'm just going to go out here and enjoy it," Lamprecht said. "I've got no one betting on me, hopefully, but for me, it's just about the biggest learning curve I can get."
Lamprecht took a major leap in his career when he won the 2023 British Amateur title at Hillside Golf Club in England to automatically qualify for the Masters. Although it's just his first time, Lamprecht has his sights set on coming back to Augusta more often and is keeping his expectations realistic, going up against a loaded field.
"Let's say, hopefully, a couple years down the line, I'm not world amateur number one, I'm world number one, and I've got a chance to win out here," Lamprecht said. "That's kind of the more I can learn now, the better that situation will be coming down the line."
The opportunity to play at the Masters as an amateur is extremely rare. Only five golfers get to do so every year, although it has been just four in the past. An invite only gets extended to for the best players from the top amateur tournaments in the United States, the United Kingdom, Asia and Latin America. For the first time this year, an invite was given to the reigning NCAA men's individual champion.
Lamprecht made it a point that he didn't want his first trip to the Masters to come until he got the invite to play at Augusta National alongside all the game's best golfers.
"It's my first time coming to the Masters," he said. "I kind of promised myself a little bit that the first time I come here is when I play and not when I come watch. So, this is all cool and so fun. I've got a bunch of friends from home that flew over. So, it's fun to have some family and friends around, so it's pretty special."
With that comes special traditions, such as each amateur being paired with a past champion and getting to enjoy a special opening amateur dinner.
"I really am just privileged to be here and taking it all in," Lamprecht said.
There's also one other classic Masters tradition that Lamprecht enjoys as an amateur, although it may not be perfectly suited for his height -- a stay in the Crow's Nest.
PHOTOS | Crow's Nest atop clubhouse at Augusta National
Rooted deeply in Masters tradition, a stay inside the top of Augusta National's clubhouse, in an area known as the Crow's Nest, is about as special as it gets. Players to have stayed in the Crow’s Nest as amateurs who later went on to win the Masters include Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Tiger Woods, Tommy Aaron, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Craig Stadler, Mark O'Meara and Phil Mickelson.
Anyone over 5-foot-5 may have to duck while getting into the stand-up shower, meaning the 6-foot-8 Lamprecht had a nearly impossible time stepping it, as can be seen below in a video posted by the Masters, which also showed Lamprecht's feet hanging off the bed.
"No, there's very few places in America with a bed big enough for me," Lamprecht said when asked if the Crow's Nest bed would fit him. "I've kind of gotten used to that. But, I mean, it's probably the best uncomfortable sleep I'll ever have in my life. Yeah, I'm just fortunate to be here."
Outside of the traditions Lamprecht has soaked in during his first trip to the Masters, he has enjoyed his experiences with the patrons at Augusta National. Whether it be Georgia Bulldog fans poking fun at him, or Georgia Tech fans excited to see one of their own, Lamprecht said he has enjoyed the interactions.
"I've heard a lot of 'go Yellow Jackets' and good stuff, but I've heard people trying to get attention out of me by saying 'go Dawgs,' but I'm not going to give them any recognition," Lamprecht said with a smile. "If they want to say Yellow Jackets, then all good."
