We secured a fantastic place to stand at eighteen, just behind only seven rows of green Masters chairs. Seven of the 24 groups had already finished, including such big names as Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Chad Campbell, Steve Stricker, Mike Weir, Retief Goosen, Zach Johnson, and Ben Crane. Still, over half of the hundreds of green chairs were vacant.
After Tom Watson hit his approach to 18, playing partner Bill Haas effectively dissed the former champion, by walking to the green ahead of Watson. Still, it was obvious to all that the huge ovation was for the former champion. Away, Watson putted first, narrowly missing the birdie attempt. He tapped in to another huge, extended ovation. Watson let it soak in, acknowledging the crowd. All Haas could do way wait.
To me, torture is thinking up a joke while surrounded by hundreds of hushed patrons, but not being able to tell it because Tom Watson is setting up to putt. During the hush I heard a lady behind me stage whisper “He’s the 60 year old?” I so wanted to reply “He heard that!”
Tied for second place, Anthony Kim hit his tee shot on 18 into the fairway bunker, then into right greenside bunker. It took an incredible pitch to save par. As Yang putted Kim exchanged an extended “handshake” with his caddie…Kim was obviously pumped with his strong finish. Both he and Yang took time to quite personably acknowledge the crowd.
In the next group, fashion plate Oklahoma boy Ricky Barnes hit his tee shot right, into the woods. After pitching out, his approach shot landed short of the hole and rolled back off the green. After a Poulter pitch, Barnes’ chip rolled up and in, to great cheers. He doffed his “engineers” hat and took a dramatic bow.
The patrons soon cheered loudly again, with crowd favorite Fred Couples in the next group. Another fine round left him just four back, which was amazing, considering his obvious back discomfort. It must’ve been the shoes, black Ecco walking shoes with seemingly smooth blue bottoms. Every time he bent over Fred’s pants rode up, his bare ankles were exposed…no socks. I know from personal experience that when your back hurts, putting on socks is a real pain. After putting out, Couples tossed his ball into the crowd, not too far from me.
As Tiger Woods made his final walk up the hill at 18, he had hardly any chance to win. After struggling most of the day, he was able to lower his score on the back nine. Woods removed his sunglasses and cap, smiled broadly, and made a point to look each section of the crowd for an extended period, as if to thank them for their support. In the past Woods would hardly remove his game face until finishing the round, and he would hardly ever remove his cap, exposing his receeding hairline. I’m not sure how CBS captured the moment, but it looked quite sincere to me. After Choi barely missed his birdie putt, tapped in, and shook Tiger’s hand, Choi initiated a big hug. Another unforgettable Masters moment.
Then the patrons turned their attention to their favorite, Micholson. Phil hit his approach close. It was quite evident as he took his victory march to the green that he was on cloud nine. He beamed widely as the crowd roared it’s approval, forgetting he had left his playing partner Lee Westwood behind. Finally the crowd quieted, and Westwood finished his round. Phil set up and stroked his putt…it went in, for yet another birdie.
Over 14 hours earlier Will and I arrived at Augusta National, and admired the new, pristine driving range. We passed the crowded pro shop, and walked up past the 150 year-old Live Oak next to the clubhouse. No one was on the putting green, so we looked to the 18th green. I counted 40 rows of green Masters chairs ringing the green, most empty.
It was a pleasure to meet Augusta National’s Director of Wildlife Planning. Who knew? The club identifies certain species of birds, and sets up the proper nesting environment, be it high or low, in the proper tree, bush, or hole. Birds are mostly selected for their distinctive songs. Roger, the director, said these bird issues are continually a problem, largely due to migration and predators. Smaller European swallows are preferred to their larger African cousins. I had read a short profile about Roger in the April 1st issue of Sports Illustrated, if you catch my drift. Even at the tournament’s penultimate moments, birds could be clearly heard whenever a golfer prepared to putt.
Will had a great idea, positioning us on the third green, where we could watch the player’s short approach and putts on the tough hole. Play on Flowering Crab Apple, the adjacent par three fourth hole, can be seen as well. We could also watch players tee of on five, just behind the fourth green.
We watched all 48 golfers complete hole three. Chad Campbell and Nathan Green, the first pair, both bogeyed the hole. Only three of four golfers all day posted birdies, including a long putt by Couples. Yuta Ikeda had the longest drive, but Tiger’s blast came close. Wood’s drive down the right side landed closest to us. When his approach rolled past the green he showed just slight flustration, then took several recuperative practice swings.
At one point we heard a huge ovation, quit louder than average. Could it be a hole in one on sixteen? It was…Nathan Green. First hole in one I’ve ever heard. Later nattily attired Ryan Moore repeated the feat, outfitted in a kelly green tie and black carnigan.
As the sun rose higher and the temperature rose, the grass dried. Balls that previously stuck at the top of the bank now rolled back down to the fairway.
After the final group finished the fourth hole, we made our way back to eighteen. On the way we saw the 5th to last group tee off on eight, Anthony Kim and Yong-Eun Yang. Kim had a huge belt buckle, and his caddy/buddy rocked old style Air Max’s. Tiger’s mother Kultida followed Yang, and with a small group of her Korean lady friends.
At the concession stand we qued next to a college baseball coach, decked out on San Francisco Giant cap and tee…so we had a nice baseball conversation with him. I lamented that I was going to wear my 74 Braves cap to the Masters, but had forgotten it. On the way back I discovered the cap in the back seat, along with my St. Louis Browns cap, another distinct option.
We both munched on pimento cheese sandwiches. Earlier I had one of my favorites, an egg salad sandwich.
Standing together in tight quarters for several hours developed comradery in our group, as we were continuously pushed and jostled. I started off standing next to one lady, then later found her to be eight people away. We made way for a man in a little 3-wheel cart, who was delighted to get such a great view. Later I discovered he had dropped his paper. I asked a guy to help, but the elderly man was intent on reaching down and recover it himself. As he did, the cart started to topple. Luckily, we were in such tight quarters that I was able to quickly catch him.
We all let little Colton, a tiny Clemson fan from Spartanburg, stand in front. He entertained us all with his exclamations of what was going on. I showed Colton Will’s orange shorts wit the tiger paw on them. Another lad next to me attended St. Anne’s, the Catholic church at the end of our street. While I dealt with one particularly obnoxious family, will was happy to chat with a teen softball player from Houston, and her mother. You could say I got my “Masters degree” in golf etiquette.
As more and more people ringed the green as the tournament crescendoed, it became increasingly difficult for the “patrons” to even find their seats. Several front row chairs were still vacant when the third to last group was finishing. Those seated in front of us couldn’t even see the hole, which was above their line of vision. Whenever a putt was struck, the entire section would stand. Several behind me took great joy in then shouting “sit down!” Several in front then took joy in remaining standing. Throughout the afternoon I thankfully remembered there are few better places to spend a majestic Sunday afternoon in April.
Exhuasted as we were, we still took the scenic route back to our car…back across the course to the rear entrance. As we walked through the nicely maintained wooded area, I hoped Allison Howell also went that way, since she usually doesn’t spell AZALEA Allenby, Zach (Johnson), Adam (Scott), Lee (Westwood), Ernie (Els), and Arnold (Palmer).
After Tom Watson hit his approach to 18, playing partner Bill Haas effectively dissed the former champion, by walking to the green ahead of Watson. Still, it was obvious to all that the huge ovation was for the former champion. Away, Watson putted first, narrowly missing the birdie attempt. He tapped in to another huge, extended ovation. Watson let it soak in, acknowledging the crowd. All Haas could do way wait.
To me, torture is thinking up a joke while surrounded by hundreds of hushed patrons, but not being able to tell it because Tom Watson is setting up to putt. During the hush I heard a lady behind me stage whisper “He’s the 60 year old?” I so wanted to reply “He heard that!”
Tied for second place, Anthony Kim hit his tee shot on 18 into the fairway bunker, then into right greenside bunker. It took an incredible pitch to save par. As Yang putted Kim exchanged an extended “handshake” with his caddie…Kim was obviously pumped with his strong finish. Both he and Yang took time to quite personably acknowledge the crowd.
In the next group, fashion plate Oklahoma boy Ricky Barnes hit his tee shot right, into the woods. After pitching out, his approach shot landed short of the hole and rolled back off the green. After a Poulter pitch, Barnes’ chip rolled up and in, to great cheers. He doffed his “engineers” hat and took a dramatic bow.
The patrons soon cheered loudly again, with crowd favorite Fred Couples in the next group. Another fine round left him just four back, which was amazing, considering his obvious back discomfort. It must’ve been the shoes, black Ecco walking shoes with seemingly smooth blue bottoms. Every time he bent over Fred’s pants rode up, his bare ankles were exposed…no socks. I know from personal experience that when your back hurts, putting on socks is a real pain. After putting out, Couples tossed his ball into the crowd, not too far from me.
As Tiger Woods made his final walk up the hill at 18, he had hardly any chance to win. After struggling most of the day, he was able to lower his score on the back nine. Woods removed his sunglasses and cap, smiled broadly, and made a point to look each section of the crowd for an extended period, as if to thank them for their support. In the past Woods would hardly remove his game face until finishing the round, and he would hardly ever remove his cap, exposing his receeding hairline. I’m not sure how CBS captured the moment, but it looked quite sincere to me. After Choi barely missed his birdie putt, tapped in, and shook Tiger’s hand, Choi initiated a big hug. Another unforgettable Masters moment.
Then the patrons turned their attention to their favorite, Micholson. Phil hit his approach close. It was quite evident as he took his victory march to the green that he was on cloud nine. He beamed widely as the crowd roared it’s approval, forgetting he had left his playing partner Lee Westwood behind. Finally the crowd quieted, and Westwood finished his round. Phil set up and stroked his putt…it went in, for yet another birdie.
Over 14 hours earlier Will and I arrived at Augusta National, and admired the new, pristine driving range. We passed the crowded pro shop, and walked up past the 150 year-old Live Oak next to the clubhouse. No one was on the putting green, so we looked to the 18th green. I counted 40 rows of green Masters chairs ringing the green, most empty.
It was a pleasure to meet Augusta National’s Director of Wildlife Planning. Who knew? The club identifies certain species of birds, and sets up the proper nesting environment, be it high or low, in the proper tree, bush, or hole. Birds are mostly selected for their distinctive songs. Roger, the director, said these bird issues are continually a problem, largely due to migration and predators. Smaller European swallows are preferred to their larger African cousins. I had read a short profile about Roger in the April 1st issue of Sports Illustrated, if you catch my drift. Even at the tournament’s penultimate moments, birds could be clearly heard whenever a golfer prepared to putt.
Will had a great idea, positioning us on the third green, where we could watch the player’s short approach and putts on the tough hole. Play on Flowering Crab Apple, the adjacent par three fourth hole, can be seen as well. We could also watch players tee of on five, just behind the fourth green.
We watched all 48 golfers complete hole three. Chad Campbell and Nathan Green, the first pair, both bogeyed the hole. Only three of four golfers all day posted birdies, including a long putt by Couples. Yuta Ikeda had the longest drive, but Tiger’s blast came close. Wood’s drive down the right side landed closest to us. When his approach rolled past the green he showed just slight flustration, then took several recuperative practice swings.
At one point we heard a huge ovation, quit louder than average. Could it be a hole in one on sixteen? It was…Nathan Green. First hole in one I’ve ever heard. Later nattily attired Ryan Moore repeated the feat, outfitted in a kelly green tie and black carnigan.
As the sun rose higher and the temperature rose, the grass dried. Balls that previously stuck at the top of the bank now rolled back down to the fairway.
After the final group finished the fourth hole, we made our way back to eighteen. On the way we saw the 5th to last group tee off on eight, Anthony Kim and Yong-Eun Yang. Kim had a huge belt buckle, and his caddy/buddy rocked old style Air Max’s. Tiger’s mother Kultida followed Yang, and with a small group of her Korean lady friends.
At the concession stand we qued next to a college baseball coach, decked out on San Francisco Giant cap and tee…so we had a nice baseball conversation with him. I lamented that I was going to wear my 74 Braves cap to the Masters, but had forgotten it. On the way back I discovered the cap in the back seat, along with my St. Louis Browns cap, another distinct option.
We both munched on pimento cheese sandwiches. Earlier I had one of my favorites, an egg salad sandwich.
Standing together in tight quarters for several hours developed comradery in our group, as we were continuously pushed and jostled. I started off standing next to one lady, then later found her to be eight people away. We made way for a man in a little 3-wheel cart, who was delighted to get such a great view. Later I discovered he had dropped his paper. I asked a guy to help, but the elderly man was intent on reaching down and recover it himself. As he did, the cart started to topple. Luckily, we were in such tight quarters that I was able to quickly catch him.
We all let little Colton, a tiny Clemson fan from Spartanburg, stand in front. He entertained us all with his exclamations of what was going on. I showed Colton Will’s orange shorts wit the tiger paw on them. Another lad next to me attended St. Anne’s, the Catholic church at the end of our street. While I dealt with one particularly obnoxious family, will was happy to chat with a teen softball player from Houston, and her mother. You could say I got my “Masters degree” in golf etiquette.
As more and more people ringed the green as the tournament crescendoed, it became increasingly difficult for the “patrons” to even find their seats. Several front row chairs were still vacant when the third to last group was finishing. Those seated in front of us couldn’t even see the hole, which was above their line of vision. Whenever a putt was struck, the entire section would stand. Several behind me took great joy in then shouting “sit down!” Several in front then took joy in remaining standing. Throughout the afternoon I thankfully remembered there are few better places to spend a majestic Sunday afternoon in April.
Exhuasted as we were, we still took the scenic route back to our car…back across the course to the rear entrance. As we walked through the nicely maintained wooded area, I hoped Allison Howell also went that way, since she usually doesn’t spell AZALEA Allenby, Zach (Johnson), Adam (Scott), Lee (Westwood), Ernie (Els), and Arnold (Palmer).
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