This was my first trip to the Masters and I had always assumed that the hype surrounding the battle for the Green Jacket was well overrated. Boy was I wrong. Words could never do justice but here is a quick list of my observations.
Accessible- Although this is one of the hardest tickets to obtain, access to the site and from parking to walking in the gates is a breeze.
Smells- As you enter the sacred grounds, the aroma of fresh cut grass is overwhelming. Scents of fertilizer, pine needles and spring blooms enter the nose and almost take your breath away.
Expensive and Cheap- The merchandise is where the money is made and nothing to take home is cheap however, the expense is almost justified by the ability to check your purchased items for free instead of returning to the car or carrying your purchases all day. Food and drink are cheap. While all other sporting events take full advantage of the ability to serve bad food and average drinks at extremely high prices, the Masters has made an effort to offer quality and unique foods at unbelievably low prices. BBQ sandwich for $2.50, egg salad, pimento cheese and turkey sandwiches at $1.50 and chips and crackers at $1.00. The featured item in the chicken sandwich, a cold, fried chicken breast on a bun and very good also priced at $2.50. A person can spend less for 2 onsite meals than for 1 cheap meal while traveling to or from the venue.
Bunkers of Brutality and rolling Fairways- The television simply do not do the bunkers justice. The bunkers are large enough to hide an elephant in and the fairways are full of contours that can hinder the best struck fairway drive.
Earth shaking Roars- Tiger was on the march and when he made an eagle on number 8, a roar came through the course and seemed to shake the very ground that we stood on. I've always heard of the roars and I assumed that there was no way that these cheers could be different than others but pleasantly, I experienced firsthand the difference and I will never be the same because of it.
The Players- Tiger was on his game and appears to be close to winning form but I have to say that I was uninspired because of his stride and intentional mind games that he seems to try and impose upon other players. The outfits once meant to intimidate foes have become much staler in relation to the younger players and the more aggressive gear that they sport. Also, Tiger takes a very slow and deliberate pace that lags behind the others in his group. Phil was upbeat and gave off an air of friendly and personable. He had an old school stride and appeared to be much thinner than on television. We yelled for him and seemed to appreciate the support. Phil has become more modern in his golf attire than Tiger at this point. Dustin Johnson- This was the most imposing figure in my mind. He is big and lanky and appears to reach down and sling the golf ball down the fairway. Ricky Fowler- By far the best dressed with his Puma gear and he had some family or friends walking among us and I was really impressed when he took time to walk over and greet and hug them in front of everyone. Sergio Garcia- The most disappointing player based on his poor play and his hanging his head in response. He does not seem to be having fun or enjoying his time on the course at this point. Luke Donald- Small and deliberate and very preppy in his attire. The approach shot he hit into the 18th green might be the greatest shot I've ever witnessed. His drive was very close to the fairway bunker and he had a funky stance that was half in the bunker. He backed off the shot 3 times because of the stance and 1 time because of a roar from a birdie at Amen Corner. He proceeded to hit a pure mid iron that barely cleared the bunker at the green and then beamed the flag before reversing off the front of the green. Fittingly, he went on to chip that one in. Angel Cabrera- A large and jolly player and eager to play his shot. He stepped up on 18 and hit the approach shot during a crowd roar. All the Asian Players- Respectful of the game, disciplined in their swings and surprisingly long for their size. The crowd appreciated their love of the game and their determination. Bubba Watson- Wild Thing would describe his approach to the game. Hell-bent on flying every bunker possible and destroying par 5's. He flew a drive an estimated 340 yards on the 18th and found the lip of the bunker. Another 6 inches and he would have carried the bunker. A non standard swing but power to burn. Non Competitive Spotter- The first player was paired with what I assume is a member of the course and the member played alongside this golfer. The pressure seemed to be pretty great as the spotter found himself gripping the club an inordinate amount of times. Judge Smails would be proud. Charl Schwartzel- An excellent player, proving once again that Augusta is a South African friendly retreat. He seems to be a solid player and a gentlemen and anyone that can birdie the last 4 holes on that stage under that pressure, deserves to win. Adam Scott- We assumed that he had the tournament won until we figured out who the roars were for. He is another tall and lanky player and seems very confident at times. I know I'm leaving some big names out but these are the players that made an impression on me.
Mental Game- They say golf is a mental game and never was this proven to be truer than on Sunday at the Masters. I was so involved in the game and so caught up in the unfolding drama that I felt like I had spent the day playing golf and not just watching it.
The Golf Gods- As the unseen forces up in the great fairway in the sky look down, they must find pleasure in knowing that such a simple yet plush venue can inspire such fierce competition and emotions among the players and fans.
A Comparison- I have been blessed to play in a National Golf Tournament at Pinehurst and although that was a memorable experience, the two courses could not be more different. Both are dear to me and both are special in their own way. Pinehurst has many courses but No. 2 is a monument to a past time of tabletop greens and strategy and Augusta is a traditional yet changed course that only a chosen few ever get to play. I heard an interview with a writer for a Golf magazine and he stated that he decided to sit out his chance to play Augusta on the Monday after the Masters. He said he had played it a few times and just took a pass this year. This is a man who has lost an appreciation of what this Great Game.
Baffled- I don't care what anyone says, the equipment that the players use is not the same as what we, amateurs have access to. The biggest example I can give is the Drivers used. We watched several tee shots and without exception, they all had the same sound. All of the big sticks had a low thud or dull click sound. Taylormade, Adams, Titleist and Cleveland all sounded the same.
No Clue- One weird aspect was the amount of fans onsite that have no clue about the game. We found ourselves doing commentary and calling the game for the players coming down the 18th hole. We had to add so much commentary that we got briefly scolded by a caddy.
In all, we left the grounds being awestruck by the experience and feeling more than ever a new dedication to the Game and a renewed commitment to practice and improve our own skill levels. Surviving for 8 hours without a cell phone was hard to conceive but proved to add to the experience and provided a time machine effect of remembering life without constant and instant contact.
