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Matt Parziale is the amateur to root for at the 2018 Masters

By Jacob Quirin

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 05: Amateur Matt Parziale of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 05: Amateur Matt Parziale of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Matt Parziale is different than most golfers playing in the Masters this weekend.

Unlike the other golfers playing the Augusta National, 30-year-old Brockton, Massachusetts native Matt Parziale spends the majority of his time fighting fires.

Every year, the Masters is filled with great headline stories and people golf fans get behind and this year is no exception. Matt Parziale has always wanted to be a golfer. Ever since he watched Tiger win his first Masters, Parziale knew that he wanted to play at Augusta.

Parziale came from humble beginnings in the blue-collar town of Brockton, Mass. He grew up playing hockey but it was Tiger winning the championship that made him make the switch to golf.

He became a good enough golfer to earn a spot on the Southeastern University golf team. In the 2007 season, he led his team to the national championship.

Parziale attempted to climb the professional ranks in his 20s through mini-tours, but never quite made it on the PGA tour. He never gave up and this year qualified for the Masters by winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.

Parziale works on his game whenever he has time and has drastically improved throughout the years. The hard work that he puts in as a firefighter has translated in his golf game and he works on it so that he can prove his ability on the course. He has been willing to do whatever it takes and that what has allowed him to make it to golf’s biggest stage.

On Wednesday morning Parziale had an opportunity to play a practice round with Tiger Woods, his lifelong golf hero. He has stayed humble through his Masters experience so far and will use his dad, who was also a firefighter, as his caddy.

Parziale rise to golf’s biggest tournament make him the player that every fan will be rooting for. He has no pressure in the Masters, no sponsors to please — he is just a man who is doing what he loves. He is a true Cinderella story and if the bounces go his way he may still be playing come Sunday.

Next: 10 best shots in The Masters history

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