Ok so  Russell Henley isn't a house hold name.

"I do know who Russell Henley is," said patron Tim Maine from St. Louis. "He's the British amateur champion?"

No not exactly. He's not even British. He's Maconish.

Let's ask a Bulldog.

"He's all-around good,"  said Georgia fan Todd Richardson from Social Circle. " Good golfer."

Yes he is and many golf experts say the 23-year-old from middle Georgia is about ready for a breakthrough  as he begins his first Masters.

"It's an unreal feeling," said Henley during his introductory press conference on Monday.

He's getting the entire Masters experience. Like playing practice rounds with legends like Tom Watson.

"I went to the pro shop and they asked me who would be two guys I would love to play with and I said 'Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw,'" Hennley said. "They gave me his number...called me right back two hours later and he was friendly as can be, and I'll always remember that, tell my grand kids hopefully."

Tom Watson is playing in his 40th Masters. Henley his first. But Russell says he took some money off of Tom during their practice round Monday. He also beat him during the Par 3 Contest Wednesday. But none of that matters.

"You've got a legend of the game standing right next to me and I kept, like, whoa, like he's right there, " said Henley. "What a classy guy.  I'll always remember today and being in his group."

Henley qualified for this tournament by shooting a record-breaking 24 under par to win the Sony open in Hawaii. It was his third PGA Tour event and first as a professional. The only other player to do that was Seve Ballesteros.

He's not going to sneak up on anybody.

In 2011 Henley won the Web.com event in at the UGA course in Athens, becoming only the second amateur to win an event on the PGA's minor league circuit.

"He's the real deal," said Craig Humphreys, whose covered the Masters for more than 25 years. "I love Russell Henley. I think he's one of the bright young stars on the PGA Tour. I think he's going to be a star 20 years from now."

His former coach at Georgia Chris Haack says there is one big reason why Russell can be a star.

"He's a great putter," said Haack. "Most great putters can have long careers."

Those bulldogs fans think that's good enough to win here some day.

"He's good, real good," said Richardson. "He may win."

And they've given him a lot of encouragement.

"I've heard a lot of go Dawgs," said Henley. "That was cool."

But winning this week is unrealistic, because only have have won their first time at Augusta.

"I don't expect him to win," said Humphreys. "But would I be stunned if he won, no I wouldn't because I think he can make the cut and I think he can be in contention."

And do not think Henley has not thought about winning here once. Or a thousand times.

"I dream about it every day, winning here," said Henley. "It would be very special."