The Masters

Jeremy and Brittany came to visit and to go to a practice round at the Masters.  The place is unbelievable.  They make sure that the azaleas bloom at the right time and every blade of grass is in its proper place.  We went to the practice round on Tuesday which was lucky since it was rained out on Monday.  We arrived at 7:00 AM and did some shopping and then hit the course at 8:00.


The practice facility (much more than a driving range) is a work of art in itself.  This is Webb Simpson practicing bunker shots.

 

Sergio Garcia putting.

 

Jeremy and Brittany by the big scoreboard.

 

We followed Phil Mickelsen, Dustin Johnson, Ricky Fowler and Jason Dufner for awhile.

 

 

Jeremy on #15.

 

Mom and Brittany on #15 also.

 

Here I am on # 13.

 

Here are the four of us on #12 (Amen Corner).

 

Also on #12.

 

Phil chipping on #11.

 

 

Dustin Johnson hitting his tee shot on #12.

 

Phil hitting his tee shot on #12.

 

 

 

Vijay Singh hitting his 2nd shot on #13.

 

 

Bernhard Langer hitting his 2nd shot on #13.

 

 

 

 

Vijay chipping from the back side of #15.

 

During practice rounds and after the players hit their tee shots on #16 (a par three), they then go to the edge of the pond and try to skip a ball on the pond and onto the green.  About half of them do get it across the pond and it really gets the crowd going when they succeed.  Above is Vijay hitting his skip ball.

 

Sergio chipping from behind #15.

 

Sergio and Luke Donald hitting their skip shots.

 

This is #16 green across the pond.  Notice the three turtles on the edge of the pond.  While we were watching, two of them got knocked into the water.

 

 

Another shot of the pond showing the edge of the tee and green on the other side.

 

 

Jim Furyk.

 

Ben Crenshaw on #6 tee.

 

Tom Watson on # 6 tee.

 

 

Matt Kuchar hitting his tee shot on #10.

 

Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland walking down # 10.

 

 

Looking back down #13 to #12 green.

 

Another shot at #12.

 

The little white flag in front of the gray box is where Phil hit his famous 2nd shot on #13 (a par five).

 

Jeremy and I in front of #11 green.

 

#11 and #12 in the background.

 

Ernie Els teeing off on #17.

 

Mowers moving up #14.

 

#6 green.

 

A tall Georgia pine.  The tallest trees in a group have lightning rods installed on them so that lightning doesn't ruin them.  If you look on the back side of the tree, you can see the wire running down it.

 

What a day!! It was everything we expected.  One thing that doesn't show on television is much up and down there is on the course.  Almost every hole has a lot of elevation change.  It was a once in a lifetime day and it sure was fun.