MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE 90 TH MASTERS

By Mike May

MASTERS MEMORIES – DAY TWO: This year, on Sunday, April 5 — Easter Sunday morning – 80 children from 34 U.S. states and one Canadian province gathered on the grounds of the Augusta National GC to compete in this year’s Drive, Chip and Putt (DCP) National Finals. The event kicked off festivities associated with the start of the 90th Masters Tournament. This year’s DCP National Finals were broadcast live on Golf Channel from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The DCP is conducted in partnership with the Masters Tournament, USGA and PGA of America. It featured boys and girls, age 7 to 15, across four different age divisions. This annual skills competition measures accuracy in driving, chipping and putting.

MASTERS MEMORIES – DAY THREE: Each year at the Masters, amateur golfers competing in the tournament are invited to spend Masters week staying in The Crow’s Nest. This ‘penthouse-like’ facility is roughly a 30-by-40-foot room which is located on the second floor of the Augusta National Clubhouse. The Crow’s Nest is positioned above the library and the champions’ locker room. This year at the Masters, six amateurs stayed in the Crow’s Nest. The Crow’s Nest is actually one room, divided by partitions into three single-bed cubicles and one with a double bunk. The Crow’s Nest has a full bathroom and an extra sink. The sitting area has a game table, sofa, chairs, phone, and a television. The walls are decorated
with photos, artwork and memorable scenes from past Masters.

MASTERS MEMORIES – DAY FOUR: At the Masters Tournament on Wednesday, April 8, both players, caddies and patrons gathered for the annual Par 3 Contest, which was first held in 1960, won then by Sam Snead. This year, England’s Aaron Rai won with a six-under-par round of 21. The oldest contestant this year was 90-year-old Gary Player. And the four aces/holes-in-one were recorded by Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Wyndham Clark, and Keegan Bradley. Since the Par 3 Contest was first held in 1960, 15 golfers have won both the Par 3 Contest and the Masters Tournament, but it’s never been done in the same year. That trend continued this year. The record score in the Par 3 Contest is an 8-under 19 by Jimmy Walker in 2016.

MASTERS MEMORIES – DAY FIVE: On the morning of Thursday, April 9, six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus, three-time Masters winner Gary Player, and two-time Masters champ Tom Watson hit their ceremonial tee shots to kick-off the 90th Masters Tournament. The tradition of honorary starters at the Masters began in 1963 when Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod agreed to be the honorary starters, at the urging of the late Bobby Jones. While Hutchison and McLeod never won the Masters, those two did win the first two editions of the current PGA Seniors Championship when it was held in 1937 and 1938 at the Augusta National
Golf Club. Hutchison won in ’37 and McLeod prevailed in ’38. Over the years, other honorary starters at the Masters have included Gene Sarazen (1981-99), Byron Nelson (1981-82 and 1984-2001), Ken Venturi (1983), Sam Snead (1984-2002), Arnold Palmer (2007-2016), and Lee Elder (2021). Nicklaus started his stint as an honorary starter in 2010, Player in 2012, and Watson in 2022.

MASTERS MEMORIES – DAY SIX: When you follow the action at the Masters Tournament, please use the correct terminology. At the Masters, the front nine is called the first nine; the back nine is called the second nine; fans and spectators are patrons; the white sand-filled hazards are called bunkers and not sand traps; fans walking across fairways use cross ways not cross walks; patrons get access to the tournament with badges and not tickets; the Masters souvenir store is called the Golf Shop; and parking is free. BTW: Two of the top-selling sandwiches this year at the Masters were pimento cheese and egg salad, both listed at $1.50 apiece.

MASTERS MEMORIES – DAY SEVEN: There are many unique elements of the Masters Tournament, which make it one of the world’s greatest sports events. When you think about the Masters, you expect TV coverage by CBS, loud roars emanating from Amen Corner, and patrons enjoying pimento cheese sandwiches. One of Augusta’s premier hotels is the famous Partridge Inn, widely regarded as the grand dame of Augusta’s hotels. Each year, The Partridge Inn hosts social gatherings during Masters week, where pimento cheese sandwiches are served every year to the guests. Here’s the Partridge Inn’s pimento cheese recipe: Combine: one pound of cream cheese, softened; two cups of shredded sharp Cheddar cheese; eight ounces of pimentos, well drained; six green onions, chopped; four tablespoons of finely chopped seeded jalapeño peppers; and add salt & pepper, to taste. Provides 16 servings.

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As they say, this week in eastern Georgia is “a tradition unlike any other.” That was definitely true this year.

The 2027 edition of the Masters Tournament will be held from Thursday, April 8 – Sunday, April 11. Until then, check out Masters.com.

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