Special to Detroit Free Press
Fifth-year seniors typically choose that one extra year of being a college kid as a buffer before venturing into a career.
That timetable was accelerated for Michigan State senior James Piot when he won the U.S. Amateur in August at Oakmont Golf Club.
He knew he would be invited to Augusta National to compete in the Masters. He, defending champion Hideki Matsuyama and former PGA championship winner Justin Thomas will tee off at 10:45 a.m. Thursday. He'll be invited to at least five other PGA Tour events this year.