Golf Australia – April 2018

nolia Lane and seeing the golf

t is going away, obviously, once

rse a few times and you’ve

ace. I loved going every year.

ounds before the tournament

ecause I liked to prepare for

t, and in part mostly because I

Augusta.

ou go to Augusta, you’re a bit of

u, a little bit. You get that out of

r your first year or so.”

AR

ut: 1998

first trip to Augusta was as a

Georgia Tech. The team came

hosted by a couple members,

ted. As a college kid, you

n clothes or prepare the night

but when you come to Augusta

al, you iron clothes and you

rything out the night before.

You just can’t wait for that morning to come and

make that drive down I 20 over to Augusta and sit

outside across the street from the entrance and

wait for the member to arrive so you can get in.

“It’s just one of those magical memories. I

remember playing and I remember every hole

seeming to go by so fast and all of a sudden being

in the clubhouse having a cheeseburger and

couldn’t believe that the round was already over.

“It still kind of goes by that way to me. It’s

just one of those places where you have such

anticipation for each upcoming hole, and then

before you know it, you finish with a round and

you just can’t believe that you’re already done

with a round at Augusta National. It feels like you

never want it to end.

“For my first Masters, I had so many really cool

experiences. Staying in the Crow’s Nest is one of

those things that you never forget. I mean, college

is such a fun experience, and it’s kind of like a

glorified college dormitory experience up in the

Crow’s Nest. It’s tight quarters, but it’s with guys

that have qualified as amateurs.

“I remember going to the amateur dinner that

Matt Kuchar’s

fondest

memories are

of having his

dad caddy for

him to share

the experience.

An endearing
memory for
Ben Crenshaw
was watching
the Honourary
Starters in
1972.

golf australia | APRIL 2018 59