By Bob Harig, from Augusta National
He visited the storied golf course on two separate occasions prior to tournament week, played practice rounds during the last few days, took part in a news conference and even stayed in the Crow’s Nest, a part of Augusta National clubhouse lore. And Justin Hastings is still living the dream.
“I don’t know if everything has even hit me yet,” he said, during a press session in the stately Augusta National media centre.“It’s totally surreal, and I don’t think I’ll be able to put it into words now, and I don’t know if I ever will be.”
For the second time in four years, a golfer from the Cayman Islands has qualified for the Masters by winning the Latin America Amateur Championship.
Hastings, 21, won the title in January at the annual event that this year was played outside of Buenos Aires, winning by a stroke over Peru’s Patrick Sparks.
The victory means starts in the Masters, US Open and British Open. And a first-and-second round Masters tee time with two-time major winner and 2020 Masters champion Dustin Johnson and Canadian Nick Taylor.
He tees off at 11:11am Cayman time and you can follow the coverage on www.masters.com.
As a Masters competitor, Hastings was allowed visits to Augusta National prior to tournament week and twice took advantage of that perk.
“There’s so many things,” Hastings said about his first impressions of Augusta National. “The thing that jumps immediately to my mind is just how grand the property is and just how big and perfect and the attention to detail is just – there’s never anything out of place. There’s never anything missed.”
“I think that just goes into what makes this place so historic and so amazing to be here.”
Hastings, a senior at San Diego State with two collegiate victories, is 12th in the PGA Tour University Rankings, a statistic that tracks the progress of the best collegiate players.
A friendly face in the field
He won multiple junior titles, both local and international, before playing college golf and holds San Diego State’s all-time low-scoring average, breaking the record held previously by two-time major winner Xander Schauffele.
“Thank you. I was not aware of that,” Schauffele said in mock anger when told of Hastings’ achievement. “That’s not surprising. I would have never called myself some all-star when I was in college. But that’s good for him, and thank you for that. That’s helping my confidence, my growth process.”
Schauffele had the opportunity to meet Hastings earlier this year when he returned to San Diego State and took part in a practice session with the team.
“I was able to feel young again being on the college campus. And was able to congratulate him and everything he’s accomplished,” he said.
Hastings would not have had the opportunities Schauffele enjoyed at a younger age.
The fact that there is just one 18-hole golf course in all of the Cayman Islands is but one obstacle Hastings had to overcome to be able to compete at a high level in college and win an event that brings invitations to three major championships.
“I started when I was 7 or 8 years old,” Hastings said. “My dad brought me out. He was a casual golfer himself.
“I think I really just flew with it from there. In a month I was getting dropped off every day after school, and it was just – it wasn’t ever practice to me, it was just fun.
“[I am a] super competitive guy, I come from a competitive family. I was competing in tournaments very early, and I think that’s what drove me especially is just getting better and seeing myself compete and eventually win. I think from the competitive aspect, that contributed to the hook, as well. But no, I always had fun with the game as a kid, so I think the lack of resources just never had too big of a detrimental effect on me.”
Hastings, who holds the course record of 57 at the par-71 North Sound Golf Club on Grand Cayman, will be using an Augusta National caddie this week. He met Derrick Redd on his first visit here and learned quickly that the knowledge imparted by someone who has carried for hundreds of rounds at such a nuanced place can only help him.
Then he will seek to become just the second winner of the LAAC to make the 36-hole cut.
“Just being in the presence of the best players in the world, the guys you grow up watching on TV and idolising is – I think that’s super cool,” he said. “You turn a corner and you see the No. 1 player in the world in your face, it’s like, wow. That’s kind of when little things like that hit you.
“Super grateful to be living every amateur’s dream.”
US Masters
Date: 10-13 April 2025
Course: Augusta National Golf Course
Favourites: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa
One to watch: Justin Hastings, tee-off 11:11am Cayman time
Where to watch: Streaming at www.masters.com
