Seven Glorious Days at The Masters

Being on-site for each of the seven days of the 2009 Masters was a life-altering inspirational experience.

I would put it right up there in the same grouping as marriage, the birth of children, getting that big promotion at work, or simply realizing what the heck it is that your suppose to be doing with your time of this earth.

Here are the inspirations I felt each of those seven glorious days at The Masters.

On Monday, the inspiration was simply being there and seeing the unbelievably beautiful golf course. The vivid memory for me is the openness, the park-like setting you see when you first enter the property.

The green vastness immediately embraces you and says "come, let me show you the essence of the game of golf and the grounds upon which it is played."

The 61 large magnolia trees that line both sides of Magnolia Lane that extends from the entrance gate to the Clubhouse. Right in front of the Clubhouse is Founders Circle and the familiar Masters logo: a yellow silhouette of the continental United Sates with a flag atop a flagstick planted in Augusta, Ga, all in living color in the marigold flower beds on the raised knoll.

The plaque memorializing Bobby Jones reads “a gentleman in every sense of the word, whose legendary feats as a golfer will inspire those who play the game in all the years to come.”

The walk down the 10th fairway in search of Amen Corner. The difficulty of the start of the corner at the 11th with the green so closely guarded by the pond on the left. The openness of the corner in regards to the short par-3 12th hole.

The nearness of the 13th tee and then the colorful splendor of over 1,600 azaleas down the left hand side of the dogleg left hole. The beauty continues over Rae’s creek and encompasses the green.

The stark whiteness of the sand in the bunker contrasts the rainbow of colors. The simple logoed yellow flag and flagstick locating the targeted hole for the golfers. The corner of the property at 11 green, the secluded 12th green and the 13th tee has etched the cornerstone of Augusta National in our minds for ever.

Monday is simply welcome back home to all the not so familiar sights and the intense beauty of the Augusta National Golf Club. With everything in blossom and the grass as green as Ireland, we are inspired by the heartbeat we feel in our chests.

It is springtime, we are alive, the moment is here once again to renew ourselves in the splendor of the Masters. Masters Sunday often coincides with Easter Sunday as it did this year. What a beautiful time for renewal of our spirit.

The inspiration I found on Tuesday was in the reflection of the life and deeds of Gary Player. The man who announced this would be his last Masters first competed here at the age of 21 in 1967. He was the first international Champion when he won in 1961.

Golf is played in one world there is nothing foreign about Gary Player, we are all world citizens.  He won again in 1974 and 1978. His last will be his 52nd Masters.

He inspired me with his humor. “I'm hitting the ball so short now, I can hear it land." We all go that way sooner or later, why not do so in a positive manner and have some fun in life?

He inspired me with his stories. Particularly the one about being around with President Eisenhower and relaying something he said that is very significant today. "America is a very global society." We embrace the world and it embraces us for leadership and inspiration.

I get it when I listen to his words about his accomplishments. “Quite honestly, my nine majors on the Senior Tour were a greater effort than the nine majors on the regular tour. It may be strange for people to hear that, but you only have got eight years to do it.” Time is of the essence. What will you do with “the rest of your life?”

He is a physical fitness role model that is getting old. He can’t compete with the length of the Augusta National course and is very honest in his assessment of why.

“I'm exercising profusely, but it's very difficult at 73 (years of age) to build strength.” Hopefully we will all be 73 years old one day if we are not already and have Player’s inspiring attitude.

He is always looking to the future. “We are in our infancy when it comes to the mind and the body. The next technology is coming along now, and of course they will all say, well, it's crazy, but it's food.

"My grandchildren's children will never eat any of the foods that we eat today. It will be a complete different system of eating.” 

Knowing what we eat and drink and how it impacts how we feel and perform what he says makes sense.

Gary Player is a world citizen and a champion of champions.

“I never pray to win. I pray for courage. I pray for patience, and I pray for hard work. When you finish second, only your wife and your dog remember it. That's if you've got a good wife and a good dog.”

We remember you finishing first in every aspect of your life. Thanks for the memories and the inspiration.

On Wednesday, I was inspired by the golf club of Augusta National itself. What Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts started many including current Chairman Billy Payne have carried on.

In his Wednesday address to the media Chairman Payne spoke about how his club is giving back what they have been blessed to receive.

“Last year we announced a continuing effort to utilize the Masters representation and resources to help grow the game worldwide to supplement the significant monetary contributions we have been making to domestic efforts for many, many years.”

“We recently joined with the R&A and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation in announcing the creation of the Asian Amateur Championship to be conducted annually throughout Asia, commencing next fall in China, 2010 in Japan and rotating throughout Asia thereafter.

"We do believe that the ultimate prize of a Masters invitation will inspire kids to take up this game, and through time, dramatically increase interest and participation in golf in the region.”

I believe what he said and the evidence will surely be present at the 2010 Masters Tournament.  Along with this year’s special invitee the Tiger Woods of Japan Ryo Ishikawa the invitation next year of the Asian Amateur Champion is convincing proof that there are deeds behind the words.

One can look forward to that day and feel good about the joint stewardship of the game of golf that is the combined focus of the Augusta National, the R&A, the USGA, the PGA of America and the PGA TOUR. The result is clearly greater than the sum of the parts.

On Thursday the competition began and what can be more inspiring than to see the best golfers in the world compete on the Dr. Allister Mackenzie designed Augusta National golf course.

Chad Campbell, the 34-year old Texan who recently became a father, was the first round leader shooting a 7-under 65. He did it in a spectacular fashion birdieing the first five holes and then four more in a row on the back nine.

His humbleness is inspiring. He joined Shady Oaks, the home course of legend Ben Hogan in Fort Worth, Texas. Why? The practice area appealed to him.

“To go out there, that's kind of the way I grew up, hitting my own range balls and then picking them up. It's kind of get out by yourself and work on it with nobody else around.”

Kids today with modern driving ranges that automatically tee the ball for the golfer probably don’t even realize at one time golfers routinely “hit ‘em and then shagged them.” That’s why they call it a shag bag...if they even have seen a shag bag in an antique store.

Campbell knows how to extract inspiration from the history of the game of golf and use it to compete in the modern era. Corporate leaders could do the same with past corporate giants like George F. Johnson who was factory foreman before building the E.J. Shoe Co. and giving back to the community in the author’s hometown of Binghamton, N.Y.

On Thursday at the end of the second round of competition Chad Campbell was joined on the top of the leader board by fellow American Ryder Cup Champion Kenny Perry. Perry who will turn 49 in August is trying to win his first Major Championship and there by be the oldest golfer to ever do so.

Perry like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods has the benefit of having a great father in his life as a role model. Most do but not all realize it. He won the Ryder Cup in his home state of Kentucky for his father a man he respects with all his heart and mind.

“You know, he was a smart man. He taught me a lot. At Ryder Cup when he came up and gave me that hug, you know, I told him that was the greatest gift I could ever have given him. That was pretty special for us as a father and a son. “

The Kentuckian, a self made man inspires himself which is the magical key to a happy and worthwhile life. “I think the public looks at you and says you need to win a Major. But for me, to where I came from, the roots I had and my upbringing, to come from a nine-hole golf course in the middle of nowhere; I didn't have swing coaches.

"I didn't have this entourage. I didn't have the money. I didn't have anything. I was borrowing money, begging, doing whatever I could, scratching and clawing to get out here.

"It means a lot more to me, I think, because of where I've come from and where I've been able to go and how much success I've been able to have. To me, that's very satisfying and very gratifying.

Yes it would be great to win the Masters. More importantly the measuring stick is have you improved? Are you a better parent than your parent was? Are you a better golfer than you where a couple of years ago? Once that foundation is set the chips will fall where they may and the rest is gravy.

At the end of Saturday not much moving was done on moving day at the 73^rd Masters. Perry swapped out Campbell his co-leader who double bogeyed the 16^thhole after bunkering his tee shot where you cannot bunker it. In his place was the 39-year old Argentinean and 2007 US Open Champion Angel Cabrera who tied Perry at 11-under par after shooting three rounds in the 60s.

Cabrera, like Perry a self made man made it clear who he was playing for in this tournament.  When asked of his country man Roberto De Vicenzo’s unfortunate loss in 1968 after signing an incorrect scorecard he replied: “I was not there and I was able not able to live that bad moment that Roberto had at that time, but now I am playing for myself. Now I have this position, and I have to try to make the most of it.” Knowing history and making history in the present moment are two entirely different concepts.

The Argentinean was asked when he won the 2007 US Open if he had a sports psychologist. He responded at the time that some people use a sports psychologist and I smoke. He revealed today that “now I don't have a sports psychologist and I don't smoke. I try to just enjoy my golf during the round and that's it.” That fine line between enjoyment and performance.

Cabrera, seasoned enough by life’s experiences utilized an opportunity to compliment Perry on his play so far this week. “These tournaments are very special and are for the best, so whoever is there on top on the leader board, I'm sure he deserves to be there and he's a very good competitor.” In complimenting Perry he complimented himself- that is inspiring. It’s all good, it’s all positive.

Masters Sunday was as dramatic as ever with the much wanted Sunday match up between Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Although they teed off an hour and six twosomes before the final pairing of Perry and Cabrera they charged and made a day of it.

First it was Mickelson with a six birdie no bogey 30 on the front nine to surge within two strokes of leader Cabrera at the time. Then he double bogeyed the difficult 12^th hole to fall back a little. But the leaders were standing still. Even after Woods and especially Mickelson from within five feet missed eagle putts on the 15^th hole they were in the hunt for the 73^rd Masters title.

When Tiger deuced the 16^th hole he was tied with Mickelson and they were one stroked behind Perry who was leading at that moment. It was the crescendo of the charge and a feeding frenzy for the patrons gathered at Augusta National for such an occasion. The charges were halted though by a bogey-bogey T6 finish for Tiger and a par-bogey 5^th place finish for Mickelson.

That was when the tournament began to get real interesting. In the end of regulation Perry after birdying No. 16 after hitting the best shot of his life finished bogey-bogey to fall back into a tie with Campbell and Cabrera at 12-under par.

The three way playoff was even more dramatic. No one hit the green in regulation on the first playoff hole- the 18^th. Perry got it up-and-down for par after almost chipping in to set the mark at par to continue on. Cabrera was able to sink a 12-footer for par after being deep in the woods with his tee shot. Campbell missed a little four-footer for par and exited stage left after his best Masters.

It was mano-a-mano Perry versus Cabrera in a sudden death playoff on the 10^th hole at Augusta National. Both hit good drives. Perry hitting first pulled his approach iron to the left of the green. Cabrera was a text book shot to inside 20 feet. When Perry failed to get it up-and-down for par Cabrera calmly two putted for his second Major victory- the 2009 Masters.

Perry though he would not vocalize it wanted to win this one for his dad and very ill mother. He wanted to wear the green jacket in the parade for the Kentucky Derby where he and his dad are grand marshals. “I hope they are not too sad. You know, Dad, he will try to pump me up if I know my dad. You know what, he just feels sorry for me. He just wanted me to win. I know it with all his heart, he wants the best for me just like I want the best for my kids. We'll have a good conversation tonight.”

Perry the gracious competitor not loser gave all the credit to Cabrera for his victory. “He's in the trees, he hits it out and he hits a beautiful sand wedge in there for a 6-, 8-footer. You have to hand it to him. He was fighting just as hard as I was out there. If this is the worst thing that happens to me, I can live with it. I really can. Great players get it done, and Angel got it done.”

“The golf course was perfect, but the weather helped. The weather was great also. We had a combination. This was a beautiful Easter Sunday. There was not a cloud out there, just a gentle breeze. It was warm. It was a great week of golf.”

Cabrera is the ultimate competitor and deserving Masters Champion. “I felt good during the playoff. Obviously one bad shot, it costs you the tournament, but overall, I felt relaxed.”

He knows what it takes to be a champion. “With a lot of work and confidence and dedication, you're going to get results.”

As far as Roberto De Vicenzo… “He gave me a frame where he has in his hand a green jacket, and he says, "I hope this gives you luck so someday you can bring back a green jacket for yourself." Now Angel Cabrera, 2009 Masters Champion can go back home to Argentina and show Roberto what a real green jacket from the Masters looks like.

A glorious seven days of inspiration at the 2009 Masters that will be with me for a lifetime. As my dad would say “thanks for reading.” Have a wonderful tomorrow today. Cheers!
         

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel. He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]