It will be such a relief to get golf back to its roots based on integrity and sportsmanship which were the foundation and core beliefs of the co-founders of Augusta National, Bobby Jones & Cliff Roberts.
I hope we can all flush the obnoxious and toxic behaviour witnessed at Bethpage down the toilet and never see it again in our game.
The Masters in Augusta stands apart as one of global sports recognisable ‘Major’ sporting events. It is unique that it has evolved in such a short time starting as an invitational tournament called Augusta National Invitational Tournament in 1933 when ‘masters’ of the game hand-picked by the owners were invited to play. The now famous Green Jacket was first worn by the invitees in 1937 as a green sports jacket so that fans would know they were the invitees. In 1949 Sam Snead received the first official Green Blazer for winning the Masters as it had then become officially known.
Little did we know as kids growing up in our house in Sutton the significance of that famous Green Blazer, as it was a permanent feature. My father, as the first European amateur to be invited to be a member of Augusta, wore it frequently to golf dinners at Sutton Golf Club. It now remains as a fitting memory to him in the Joe Carr room at the golf club alongside his Hall of Fame and R&A Captains jacket. I was lucky enough as a 19-year-old to meet Mr. Jones when my father played his final masters in 1969 with none other than Sam Snead.
Over the years the Masters evolved through folklore and amazing feats by the great pioneers of the modern game. From when Gene Sarazen hit “the shot that was heard around the world” a 4 wood, 235 yards on the 15th hole for an Albatross in 1937 to the “Roar that was heard around the World’ with Tiger’s epic and final Major win in 2019.
It made me think back to all those Masters I have been lucky enough to attend since 1969 when working for Mark McCormack’s IMG and then managing Seve. Mark was the visionary that created the concept of golf’s Big Three; Arnie, Gary and Jack back in the early sixties. The Big Three were dominating golf and particularly the Masters. Between them in the decade 1958 to 1968 they won 8 Masters, led by golf’s most charismatic player of his time, the King, Arnold Palmer, whom Mark managed. The Big Three catapulted the fame of the Masters at that time, right up to 1986 with Jack’s historic and final kiss goodbye from Augusta. Tiger, with supporting actor Phil Mickelson, continued the trend in the from 1997 when they won 7 Masters between them in a 12 year stretch with Tiger also getting his memorable kiss goodbye in 2019.
It is no accident that these great players and the majority of Masters winners like Seve, Bubba, Lyle, Watson, Woosnam, Crenshaw, Faldo, Ollie and Scheffler are all great shot makers and had the imagination, heart and courage to tackle the high risk high reward menacing strategy laid out by Jones.
Augusta takes no prisoners, she is ruthless to those that do not respect or mock her. I chuckled to myself back in 2020 when a bulked up Bryson bragged before coming that he would overpower her and bring her to her knees in submission! He left Augusta that year on Friday night with his tail between his legs a more humble young man. I have no doubt as he has matured and grown over the years and with his play last year and recent winning form that the Green Jacket sits at the top of his lifetime goals. I expect him to be in contention, but winning at Augusta is another matter!
I remember Jack telling me back in 2011 when a youthful Rory was leading the Masters that he thought his game so suited Augusta that he could win six Green Jackets! Little did anyone think at the time he would have to wait 14 years to win his first, with those memorable scenes of last year. I still believe Jack was right about Rory’s natural draw game for Augusta, and now with the ‘monkey’ off his back I expect him win again, maybe this year maybe not, but for sure in the future.
The two outsiders I like are Ludvig Aberg and left hander Robert MacIntyre. Ludvig’s power game suits Augusta and he has been in contention before. He has taken his hard knocks well and could be rewarded this time around. The ‘horses for courses’ idiom has proven that the course at Augusta suits left handers, with 5 wins from Mickelson(2) , Bubba(2) and Mike Weir. MacIntyre has shown he has the ‘cojones’ the way he won his own Scottish Open and at the Canadian Open and he has the soft links hands short game that works at Augusta.
One way or the other what we do know is that there will be no booing, shouting ‘get in the hole’ or bad manners at Augusta as the penalty is eviction forever!
Thank you Mr. Jones for setting the standards and keeping them in tact with the team you have chosen to honour your legacy. Can’t wait!
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