Sunday before Masters is peaceful, perfect
The tires rumble down the gravelly path that leads to the media parking lot, spitting mud in every direction before finally settling down for the afternoon in a swampy stall. A five-minute walk through the front gates of Augusta National Golf Club produces pantlegs spotted with genuine Georgia earth, shoes shlish-shloshing with each step toward the hallowed grounds
And then … it stops. As if the heavens issued a reprieve from the outside world, the course’s velvety green framework is dotted by familiar azaleas and swaying dogwoods, but there is nary a misplaced raindrop. And despite recent weather reports, it might stay that way, too. As one Augusta native confided, “The weather here changes all the time. Yesterday, the forecast looked like rain all week. Now it looks like we might be good.”
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Sunday may not have been the literal calm before the storm, but the metaphor fits. On a day closed to patrons, with only a handful of competitors in the upcoming Masters Tournament exploring the course, one can easily come to the following conclusion: If this venue is the prettiest site in golf, then it may never be prettier than seven days prior to the green jacket ceremony.
Like the Roman Coliseum before the lions emerge, or the Bolshoi Ballet awaiting its dancers, Augusta National oozes impending excitement even when there is none to be seen. Spotless, serene, peaceful and empty, it’s everything you’d want it to be and nothing you wouldn’t.
Among the things you’ll notice on this day that won’t take place when tournament week officially begins on Monday morning? Player caddies without their man’s name on the back of their white jumpsuit, a beverage cart parked near the 10th tee and members playing the course alongside the professionals.
That’s right — even those competing in the year’s first major must wait in line or pair up with a member in order to get in some work on the course. In fact, the best shot of the day may have been an approach on No. 18 that landed pin-high and spun to within 5 feet of the hole. A contender, perhaps? Maybe an under-the-radar sleeper pick getting into a groove? Not exactly. The shot wasn’t produced by anyone in this week’s field; rather, it came from a member, just getting in one final round before the pros have their way with his course.
Then again, it’s difficult to glean much from the few soon-to-be Masters competitors who took to the course on Sunday. Gary Player, taking part in his record 51st tournament here this week, striped his tee shot on the opening hole right down the pipe. Some 30 minutes later, four-time champion Tiger Woods pushed his own drive off the same tee box, landing it in an awaiting fairway bunker.
“Every year,” he said in mild frustration.
Not that there were too many folks around to hear. The gallery within 50 yards of Woods totaled 14 people, including fellow playing partners and caddies.
Such is life at Augusta National on the Sunday before the Masters.
Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/masters08/columns/story?columnist=sobel_jason&id=3332826
