4/10/2014 The Masters, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA


 7 years ago today...

April 10, 2014 - Augusta, GA

It was Wednesday at The Masters, the first of four days at the tournament, played in perfect weather at Augusta National Golf Club.
"A tradition unlike any other," as Jim Nantz would say, was a bucket list event for me. My dad went to The Masters in a motorhome on an annual guys' road trip for several years in a row in the mid 70s & 80s, as one friend had some tournament badges. The badges have stayed in the friend's family, and I was honored and thankful for an invitation to use them in 2014. To walk the grounds of Augusta for four days as a patron, following in the footsteps of my dad, was an amazing experience and I'm forever grateful to the family friend for this special opportunity.
We arrived early and stayed til the last ball dropped each day, walking every inch of the golf course, the practice area and any accessible common area. We bought the famous Masters armless folding chair that you set up at a favorite spot on the back 9 and then go walk and watch the front side. No one moves your chair, it's right where you left it, in another tradition unlike any other.
My favorite viewing post was left of #14 tee, facing #13 green "Azalea" in the nearest spot to the green. We also liked the left side of Par 3 #16 "Redbud."
The famously good and uber-inexpensive concessions were offset by the huge tab wrung up in the full retail merchandise center with the conveniently-adjacent UPS store ready to pack it all up and ship it back home.
Bubba Watson won his second green jacket by 3 shots over Jordan Spieth who was vying to be the youngest to win, bettering Tiger. We were hoping to see that slice of history but Bubba won without any back 9 suspense.
Bubba plays Ping equipment, and visited the factory in Phoenix after his win to thank and recognize the employees, buying them BBQ and signing hundreds of pieces of Masters memorabilia. Our pal Pete at Ping had our pin flag included for a great autographed souvenir.
Cell phones and cameras are prohibited on competition days. The tournament offers a photo op in front of the Clubhouse at Magnolia Lane with the images made available free online.
I hope we can return to The Masters, but it is one of the toughest tickets in sports. My annual lottery request has never been picked. Regardless, it would be tough to top the four unforgettable days we had there.




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