Other than the first Masters Tournament held in 1934, when everyone in the field was a rookie. The 18 professionals and six amateurs in the field for the 78th Masters sets a new record with 24 of the 97-man field playing in their inaugural Masters.
Some of these Masters rookies were highly touted and are expected to perform well. It is a fact, however, that only Gene Sarazen in 1935 and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 won here in their very first attempt.
Jonas Blixt and Jordan Spieth, tied for third behind Bubba Watson and John Senden, are in the best position after the first two rounds.
Blixt has two wins on the PGA Tour, his last coming at the 2013 Greenbrier Classic. He has posted 70-71 for his three-under par total.
Spieth, coming off 2013 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors, has carded 71-70.
Jimmy Walker with three wins is the hottest golfer on the PGA Tour this season and is one more shot back at two-under par.
Stephen Gallacher and Kevin Stadler are in the group tied for 10th at one-under par. Gallacher, at 39 years old, is hardly a rookie, but this is his first Masters appearance. He has won the last two consecutive Omega Dubai Desert Classics on the European Tour and is No. 38 in the world ranking.
Stadler has been a professional golfer since 2004 and collected his first career win at the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open in February to earn his invitation to his first Masters.
Steven Bowditch, who won the Valero Texas Open two weeks ago, made the cut at two-over par and at T-26 is tied with Brendon de Jonge heading into the weekend.
Chris Kirk won last fall in the new wrap-around schedule at the McGladrey Classic. He is T-38 along with first-timer Billy Horshcel at three-over par through the first two rounds.
Joost Luiten won twice last year on the European tour and made the cut on the number at four-over par with rounds of 75-73.
Professionals that failed to make the cut in their first Masters included, Victor Dubuisson, Patrick Reed, Harris English, Matt Every, Robert Castro, Derek Ernst, Graham DeLaet and Matt Jones.
Even though, English and Reed had played Augusta National while in college, neither was able to capitalize on their experience.
All gained valuable practice at Augusta National and learned that playing in the Masters is somewhat different than winning a regular tour event.
Bobby Jones remained an amateur his entire career and longed for an amateur to win his prestigious event. Only Ken Venturi came close. While still and amateur in 1956, he held the 54-hole lead and finished runner-up.
With the huge talent difference today between professional and amateur golfers, amateurs do well just to make the cut each year.
Only Oliver Goss accomplished that feat and will win low amateur honors for the 2014 Masters. The 20-year-old from Australia is the only amateur to make the cut at three-over par. Goss was runner-up to Matt Fitzpatrick in the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship and is a member of the University of Tennessee golf team.
The other five amateurs in the field, Fitzpatrick, Chang Won-Lee, Jordan Niebrugge, Garrick Porteus and Mike McCoy failed to make the cut, but had a week to remember.
With five of the first-timers inside the top-10 after 36 holes, odds are that a Masters rookie may contend for the Green Jacket on Sunday.