I first made it to Augusta National Golf Club in 2014.
You know as a kid that special feeling you had when you walked up the ramp at your favorite big-league park and caught that first glimpse of pristine-perfect green grass, rolled out especially for you?
Now imagine all of those feelings of first arriving to the ballpark all rolled into one.
Our first sight of Augusta National was the 15th (Firethorn). We stood there in the grandstand by the green and the majesty of it all hits you — from that spot right over there is where Gene Sarazen hit the “shot heard around the world” — a 4-wood hit from 235 yards out that found the hole to make double eagle to tie and eventually win the 1935 Masters.
There was the spot on 16 where Tiger chipped it in. On 17 there was the spot where the famous Eisenhower tree was, an ice storm had claimed it that very winter, an event more than half a century too late for Eisenhower to celebrate, but I am sure he had a stiff brandy in heaven that night.
It is cliche about Augusta National, but all together now it is much hillier in person than it is on television. You walk up 10 and you feel like you are walking up a ski slope (in fact the elevation change from 10 tee box to green is about the height of the Statue of Liberty).
And then there, between the 10 tee box and the famous clubhouse that was once home to Prosper Berckmans, who owned Fruitland Nurseries on that very site, almost hard to see amongst all the other landmarks, is the 18th green.
It was empty that morning.
There weren’t many golfers in the vicinity. Most patrons were elsewhere, following the golfers that weren’t in the vicinity or spending two months salary at the pro shop.
Thus, I just stood there, and took it all in.
And cried.
I must have looked insane, sitting there bawling in the middle of the most famous golf course in the world, on one of the most happiest days of my life.
But I stood there and found the traditional Sunday pin placement and imagined Ben Crenshaw putting out an improbable win in 1995 at the age of 43 — just days after the death of his mentor Harvey Penick.
Crenshaw putt his hands on his knees as the putt went in and just cried.
I imagined Phil Mickelson draining an improbable putt and leaping the shortest leap in the history of mankind.
And then I went towards the back of the green. The path that Tiger Woods took in 1997 after his historic win. Back there Tiger found Earl Woods, his father. Earl took Tiger into his arms and they both shed a tear, knowing that a lot of days cumulated into that moment.
I watched that tournament with my dad, like I did just about every Masters tournament.
My dad loved Tiger Woods — to him there was little better but to sit and watch Tiger dominate a golf course, and for most of those victories, we watched them together, rooting on the kid in the red shirt all along the way.
My father would have been absolutely tickled that I made it to Augusta.
He had passed away 11 months earlier.
That is why the tears came.
The rest of the day thankfully proceeded without tears. As the army of mowers took to the fairways and the shadows from the pines reached across the greens, we made our way towards the parking lots.
On our way was the famous Amen Corner, and again, there was hardly anyone out there.
I can safely say you have not lived until you have seen Amen Corner in the late afternoon when you have the whole place to yourself.
The azaleas on 13 were afire. Rae’s Creek was still and absolutely terrifying.
There is a point right at the front of the grandstands on 12 that might be the best vantage spot in sports, because you can see 11 green, the entirety of 12 and the tee shot at 13 (which, if I have my golf technicalities correct, is technically Amen Corner).
Many careers have been made and many careers have been lost on that patch of land that is the 12 tee box. You stand there and look at a green that you can hardly see because all you see is the creek and the bunker and the bushes and the towering pines. You look up at the trees and wonder how a tree can blow in two different directions, and for the first time all day you are happy you are not the one playing the golf course.
We made ourselves up 13, stopping once more between the two trees that Phil Mickelson surgically separated, feeling grateful that we were coming back the following day for the Par 3 contest (that is an entirely separate post).
Each year I tell the people that are lucky enough to be going to Augusta that it is everything you can imagine but much, much more and to cherish each moment that you walk that course.
It is fathers and sons (and yes, now mothers and daughters) sharing the dream of walking those hallowed grounds, preferably in the company of each other.
And if not, remembering and appreciating those that came before.
It is a place that miracles are allowed to happen.
And tomorrow morning at 9:34 Central time:
“Fore please….now driving. Tiger…Woods.”
By the way, if I had to pick odds:
Jordan Spieth (+1900) - The guy owns Augusta. How has he only won once?
Collin Morikawa (+2200) - Perhaps the best iron in the game, can he putt well enough?
Shane Lowry (+4400) -- Playing really well, has a good track record at Augusta
Tiger Woods, Corey Connors (+5000) - Tiger isn't going to win, but if he does...
Talor Gooch (+13000) -- Long shot pick. First time players never win, but he is playing well.