[Editors note: I had my turn. Jigger had his turn. So it's only fair after all. ]
There have been two previous perspectives on The Masters on this blog. However, they both missed the beauty of The Masters, and why it is the most important tournament to A Golfer.
It is the only major that is played at the same place every year. And that place is amazing. The layout is incredible, the dogwoods are beautiful, and every player in the field is truly playing to win.
Why do they want to win here, more than any place else? Because Arnie won it. And Jack won it. And Sam won it, and Hogan won it, and Sarazen, and Nelson, and Watson, and Player, and Faldo, and of course Tiger. The only people missing from any Golfer's top 10 list of the greatest golfers of all time are Harry Vardon ( who was retired long before Augusta ), and Bobby Jones ( who created the tournament ).
In other words, if you want to be considered among the true greats, you have to win The Masters.
Before The Masters it is still winter. After the winner is given the Green Jacket it is Spring. The grass is impossibly green, and the thousands of flowers are all blooming at the exact same time. Every year. Some people look for crocuses and robins, others look to Opening Day.
A Golfer looks to The Masters.
The first time I watched the tournament I was 9. My grandparents had gotten me a junior set of clubs and I had just started playing with my parents. I saw Jack win his 4th Green Jacket in 1972. I haven't missed it since. Every summer when I visited my grandparents, Granddad and I would talk about that year's tournament. They were patrons for 20 years.
I watched Jack leave Bear Tracks in 1975 on the 16th hole. I hated Watson when he beat Jack in 1977. I watched Seve bring the course to it's knees. I have never yelled as loud as when Jack rolled in that putt on 15 in 1986. I cried with Crenshaw when he won in 1995 for his mentor and friend Harvey Pennick. I never felt more sympathy for a person than when Faldo put his arms around Norman after his collapse in 1996. And the next year Tiger won his first. And hit that amazing chip in on 16 to seal the deal for his last.
When you have all that history and emotion, coupled with the greatest players in the world, on the most beautiful course in the world, you have the greatest event in all of sports.
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