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Augusta welcomes players, most bring their clubs
Players and fans arrived in Augusta, Ga., Monday, to prepare for a week full of tradition that is capped off with golf's romantic tournament, the Masters.
By DAMON HACK
The New York Times
AUGUSTA, Ga., April 4 - They drove to the golf course in the dark, past an old barbershop offering a haircut for $10, past a group of children offering a parking space for $15, and past a Hooters restaurant offering John Daly.
Gary Player, of South Africa, passes the empty leaderboard as he runs on the 12th fairway during practice at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Monday, April 4, 2005. First round play of the 2005 Masters begins Thursday. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)Players and fans alike sat in their cars on Washington Road on Monday morning, waiting for the traffic to move and for the green gates of Augusta National Golf Club to open on the first official day of practice rounds at the Masters.
"I woke up at 5 and drove two hours," said Dave Martin of Sumter, S.C., standing along the first fairway, safely inside the gates. "I've been coming here since 1972. I'm meeting a fraternity brother who's coming in from Brockton, Mass."
Even the golfer Rod Pampling of Australia inched along Washington Road at 7:30 a.m., eager for his first moments of the Masters. He finally reached the course after a five-mile backup. He did not seem to mind.
"It's Monday, and there are massive roars when someone hits it close," Pampling said of the cheers that echoed through the trees. "It's not even Thursday yet."
On the golf calendar, no week is more anticipated than the seven days of the Masters Tournament. It is a week when some patrons wear badges on their hats, players carry badges in their pockets, and everyone tries to follow the rules. No running, no cellphones, and please, dispose of all litter. Though the course did not open until 8 a.m., several hundred patrons arrived early to stake out good spots on the grounds. Metal detectors and security guards greeted their arrival.
The players arrived in large numbers, too, thankful for one of the few days of sunshine this year and for the beginning of the major championship season. Kenny Perry spied Fred Funk near the players' parking lot and gave him a hug, congratulating him for his victory in The Players Championship. The Augusta members, in their green jackets, walked the course looking for hands to shake.
Carl Jackson, the longtime Masters caddie for Ben Crenshaw, stood in the shade near the clubhouse, taking in the scene. Fred Couples stretched his back. Crenshaw observed the clubs in his bag.
"The Masters has a spirit all its own," Jackson said. "It's the official beginning of the golf season and everybody is glad to see everybody."
Everybody seemed to have a story, too. There was Jesper Parnevik, who was so excited to play in the Masters for the first time since 2002 that he forgot to pack his clubs when he left his home in Jupiter, Fla., on Sunday.
Parnevik, who is known for his distinct golf attire, explained. "With four kids, nannies, a caddie, guests, and we flew on two planes, we didn't see what luggage was there," he said.
"I will make history this week no matter what. I am the first player in history to leave his golf clubs in the garage."
By Monday, though, Parnevik said his clubs had arrived, via special delivery of sorts.
"Tiger was nice enough to pick them up," Parnevik said of Tiger Woods, who lives in Windermere, Fla., and who married Parnevik's former nanny. "He put them on his G4 and they got here first class."
Other players had no such worries. John Daly, for example, commutes via a large mobile home. By Sunday night, he was in Augusta, staked out in a trailer in front of the Hooters restaurant just down Washington Road from the golf course.
For nearly three hours until 9 p.m. (and with a break in between), Daly signed autographs and sold T-shirts, hats and golf clubs that carry his lion logo. He was kind to every customer who approached.
"Hey, John," someone said. "You playing in Memphis this year?"
"Oh yeah," Daly said.
"Hey, John," someone else said. "I played Crooked Stick," where Daly won the 1991 P.G.A. Championship.
"How'd you do?" Daly said.
"I shot a 115," the fan said, and everyone cracked up.
On and on the banter went, with Daly holding a cigarette in his left hand and a red pen in his right.
"We sell good quality stuff and Hooters did a good deal with me," Daly said later. "Plus the food's good, and it's not just the wings. They have nice fresh cold beer, too."
Daly's autograph session did not stop him from waking up early to arrive at the course Monday. He was the second player off the first tee at 8:07 a.m. during the practice rounds (behind K. J. Choi) and he hammered his driver with comfort.
On No. 16, a 170-yard par 3 over water, Daly put down three golf balls and gripped his 9-iron. The first two balls found the green. The third one found the hole for an ace.
After finishing his round and stopping for a chat beneath the oak tree that guards the first fairway, Daly ducked into the clubhouse and disappeared. But it would only be temporary, at least according to Hooters.
A restaurant sign out front said Daly would be available for more autographs Tuesday between 6 and 8 p.m.
Masters week had begun.
Story Produced by: Dan Jimmerson
