The 2009 Masters

It all started Spring Break 1997.

Though I don't recall what I did the beginning of that week, I vividly remember Thursday – Sunday. I was glued to the television as a young Tiger Woods mesmerized the world with his record breaking performance at the Masters.

I was captivated. Tiger electrified the crowds and made this seemingly slow game fun and exciting. After that weekend of cheering Tiger to victory, I was hooked.

I was hooked as a Tiger Woods fan. Even now I am embarrassed to admit all the things I collected with Tiger's face on it. I also became hooked on the game. I started playing and my parents gave me my first set of clubs for High School graduation. I played in church scrambles and even won one. Granted that was because I was on a team with David Allen Sciortino, but still a win is a win! During my last year at Lipscomb, Wesley and I even took a golf course for PE credit.

Sadly, the final exam for that course was the last time I picked up a club. I devoted my time to other things and left the golf playing to the professionals. Though I haven’t been found on a course recently, one thing is certain. Since 1997, I can always be found watching the Masters each April. Never did I think I would actually get to see the tournament in person.

Fast forward to March 2009. I am in the office catching up on some work when Wesley casually says, “I think I am going to get some tickets for the Masters this year. Wanna go?”

YES!

Three weeks later, my dream day started as my dad, Wesley and I headed over to Augusta. We arrived early Sunday morning and decided on our game plan. We were going to walk the entire course. The first grouping had already started so we walked the course backwards beginning at the 18th Hole. This allowed us time to see some of the holes before we met up with the players.

Augusta is gorgeous! The day was beautiful and the colors of the course were brilliant. I was most excited about seeing Amen Corner. I have always loved these three holes and they did not disappoint. It truly is a spectacular sight.

Though I enjoyed looking at the beauty of the course, I was getting anxious about seeing Tiger. I finally convinced my dad and Wesley to stop at the 7th green. We found a front row spot and waited patiently until Tiger's red shirt was visible in the fairway. His body language showed that he wasn’t too happy with his approach shot, but I didn’t really care. I was watching Tiger! WOW! It was so much fun to yell "Go Tiger!" as he headed by us on the way to putt.

As the crowds followed Tiger to the 8th tee, we kept walking. We caught up with the leaders, Perry and Cabrera, and followed them for a few holes. We finally decided to settle in one spot. We found a place on the 17th Green and watched as the players made one of their final attempts at the Green Jacket.

What an exciting day it turned out to be! Tiger turned it around and he and Phil Mickelson were in the running for the title. Though we couldn’t see what was developing on the course, we could hear the crowds erupt every time something exciting happened. By the time Woods got to us, he and Mickelson had almost caught the leaders. Unfortunately, at the 17th, they both lost their momentum and quickly fell out of contention.

When Kenny Perry emerged in the fairway, we thought we were seeing the eventual winner. Instead the 17th Green was too much for him as well, and he stumbled.

Oh well!

Though the day didn’t end as we had hoped, I loved every minute of it. I got to see Tiger play; see Augusta in person; and witness an intense afternoon of golf. It was a day filled with excitement that was made even better because I got to share it with with my dad and Wesley.

In front of the Sunday Leader Board at Augusta National

Members Only Entrance

We entered at Gate Six