The Masters was co-created by a lifelong amateur (Bobby Jones), and it is probably the major championship that still pays the most homage to amateurs around the world. The entire amateur experience -- from staying in the Crow’s Nest to the low amateur silver medal presentation -- is a highlight of the week at Augusta National.

This year, a future star is in the field, and he has waited nearly an entire year to turn professional solely to play in this event. Curtis Luck takes the top spot in our 2017 Masters amateur power rankings, and he is joined by just four other ams in the 94-golfer field.

Here is how I rank them.

1. Curtis Luck (U.S. Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur champion): Luck is the Bryson DeChambeau of this group. The Australian rolled through two different amateur championships and qualified for this tournament in more ways than Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and a handful of other golfers. He is the real deal and is currently the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world.

Jordan Spieth played with him at the Australian Open last year and raved about his game. Luck could have turned pro at any time over the last nine months, but he wanted to wait until he played the Masters. If he had turned pro early, he would have lost his bid.

“To be honest, I felt ready last year,” Luck told the Augusta Chronicle. “I’d entered tour school and was at the point where if I qualified I was turning pro, and I didn’t have any issues with that because I felt like my game was there. I postponed things a little, but for good reason.”

If Luck doesn’t take low amateur, I’d be shocked. 

2. Brad Dalke (U.S. Amateur runner up): As much as it pains me to slot an OU golfer No. 2 here, Dalke is a stud. He lost in the U.S. Amateur finals to Luck 6 and 4, but like I mentioned above, Luck is in a different class than everyone else on this list. Dalke was once known for beating Rory McIlroy in an arm wrestling contest. This week, maybe he’ll be known for much more than that. 

3. Scott Gregory (Amateur Championship winner): Gregory is the latest in a long line of famous Amateur Championship winners, which dates back to 1885. He asked Jordan Spieth for advice on how to play the Masters.

“Jordan told me that with Augusta it’s all about playing to certain spots on the fairways and how these change depending on where the pins are,” Gregory told The Telegraph earlier this year. “He said to do the research on the different pins and I’ve done that. He’s finished second, first and second in his three Masters so far, so he’s not the worst person to have as an adviser is he?”

4. Stewart Hagestad (U.S. Mid-Am champion): Hagestad was four down with five to go at the U.S. Mid-Am last year, made four birdies and touched things off with a dagger putt to get himself into the Masters. It was a spectacular rebound for somebody whose chances looked dead for much of the 36-hole final. He called it an out-of-body experience.

Hagestad is pals with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas and played college golf at USC. He now works for a real estate firm in New York and is living the dream of every amateur in the world. 

5. Toto Gana (Latin America Amateur champion): The least-known of the bunch. His statement after the Latin America Amateur said it all. “I can’t believe it,” Gana told Golf Digest. “Two days ago, I was nobody. Now, I can’t wait to play the Masters.”