My Masters

The Masters.

On a Saturday afternoon in April, 1994, 3 great friends of mine and I set out at 2:30 in the afternoon in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to drive to Augusta National for the final round of the Masters.  John Mesich, Tim Marks, and Chuck Dammier.

We were so excited -- we knew we could drive all night and get there by 5 or 6 am.  We took turns driving, and no one drove more than 3 hours straight.

Of course, I got the 1 to 3 am shift, and of course in Tennessee it was raining cats and dogs.  That was a blessing though, as it kept me awake!

We arrived in Augusta around 6 am and promptly found a good breakfast diner.  Hadn't had good grits in a while, and they were good!

At 8:00 we got in line at a special gate, and with our PGA cards we were ushered in around 9:00.  At Augusta when you entered there was a line-up of merchandise vendors and they all stood to watch as the patrons came out.  It is against the rules to run on the grounds, so everyone was walking fast.

We chose to set up our camp stools on # 15 green where we could see the players tee off on 16 and watch them putt on 16 green.  Your seats and locations are pretty much sacred, as everyone respects everyone else and no one will move your seats if you are gone.

Then we marveled as we walked around the course.  About the only holes I didn't see much of were 5 and 6, but as excited as we were it was like walking on cloud 9!

You've probably heard that the TV doesn't do the greens justice in terms of their elevation changes, and boy is that true.  Cut them short and firm them up and you had better know your curvature and landing zones into those greens!

Controlling the ball around Augusta is tough.  It's not so difficult off the tee, but it sure is approaching the greens.  On 15 it seemed like if you were going for the green in 2 you had about 10 yards of landing zone or you were either in the water in front, or over the green.  We saw Tom Watson knock it over the green in 2 and almost in the water on 16, then chip it to the edge and 2 putt for 5.

The 2nd shot into 13 is pretty tough also.  Standing on a severe right-to-left slope your shot will naturally pull or hook, which creates a lower and 'hotter' trajectory -- but the last thing you need into that green is lower and hotter!  The green is a bit crowned, and if you don't get the trajectory and landing zone right, it is over the green shooting back at the creek!

The par 3  #6, par 5  #8 and par 4  #9 were fun to watch with interesting approaches to each.  John Daly hit it about 20 feet from the pin at 6, then it rolled down a tier and off the green.  He pitched it to about the same spot and it rolled back to his feet.  After staring at it for about 5 seconds, he shrugged and then pitched it to a foot for a bogey.

They moved the tee back farther on # 18 and now the chute between the trees is particularly narrow.  It was tough then, and it's a lot tougher now!

That was the year Tom Lehman made a run at a green jacket, but came up short.  We were directly in line with the putt when Jose Maria Olazabal rolled it in on #15 for a 3 and the fans erupted!  We were pulling for Tom on 16 and 17, but Jose closed it out for the green jacket.

Then we made the return trip home.  I got the 1 to 3 am shift through Tennessee again and guess what -- it was raining again!  We made it back to Racine, Wisconsin by about noon, and Tim just made it to his tee time for a tournament -- he literally jumped out of the van and ran to the first tee to tee it up!

It truly is a tradition like no other.  I'm hoping to get the chance to go back with John, Tim, and Chuck in the next couple of years to relive our own tradition...!  This time I'm thinking we'll all fly though...