What it was prefer to play Augusta Nationwide after Rory McIlroy received

It started as a coping mechanism.

A approach to remind your self that, certain, whereas the end result wasn’t what you had been after, it might have been worse.

And similar to that, standing on the again of the inexperienced at gap primary at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership, considering a 3 putt proper out of the gates, is how I got here to be going head-to-head with the latest member of the Profession Grand Slam Society.

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It’s 9am Monday, the day after probably the most exhausting, draining, fascinating and finally exultant Masters remaining spherical we’re more likely to see for a protracted, very long time.

quarter-hour earlier I stood on the primary tee on probably the most image excellent morning you would ever think about, scarcely in a position to consider that I’d been invited to play the golf course matched solely in fame by a bit structure you’ll have heard of by the title of the Outdated Course at St Andrews.

It was a possibility that was utterly surprising, tremendously humbling and completely fantastic to obtain.

Now, anyone can play the Outdated Course. It’s utterly open to the general public and requires no secret handshakes or connections to titans of trade.

Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership, alternatively, is barely completely different, to the purpose that you simply’re more likely to be invited to play level guard for the Golden State Warriors within the NBA Finals than tee it up on the venue the place every April any person provides a inexperienced jacket to their walk-in wardrobe.

So, once you’re handed a clean envelope that measures 15 x 11 centimetres containing an invite to play Augusta Nationwide, firing on the similar pins the world’s finest had been capturing on the day earlier than, your thoughts is swimming prefer it hardly ever ever has.

Your goals have been made actual and for a second you’re rendered with out speech, however when the power to speak returns and also you’ve stated thanks a number of hundred instances, your feelings settle with the thought that maybe solely different golfers can relate to – ‘what if I stink it up?’.

It may be like that with individuals who have chosen this superb however infuriating recreation as their pastime, and I’m certain it’s there within the unconscious of main winners and weekend hackers alike – the thought that when you love this recreation, you simply don’t wish to embarrass your self whether or not you’re taking part in in entrance of three mates who couldn’t care much less in the event you shoot a thousand, or 50 million tv viewers watching across the globe.

We’re fast to seek for a justification as to why you simply made bogey when it appeared like for all of the world you couldn’t make any worse than par.

With that in thoughts, put me down for a 5 on the opener. Not the worst end result, nevertheless it definitely didn’t assist my authentic purpose of breaking 80.

Then it got here to me as I contemplated how tight the collar of my shirt abruptly felt – ‘properly, if nothing else, I went one higher than Rory did when he made a 6 on the identical gap yesterday’.

That’s how delusional golfers could be if it means feeling a tiny bit higher about themselves after stuffing up.

W. Smith, three handicapper from Bonnie Doon Golf Membership, Sydney, abruptly evaluating himself to R. McIlroy, five-time main winner from Holywood Golf Membership, Belfast, and now Masters Champion.

Let’s rumble, Rory.

As we stroll to the second tee our paths diverge. Rory turns proper to the Masters event tee field, 585 yards from the inexperienced, whereas I head left to the Members tee, 70 yards in entrance of him.

This can be a sample that may proceed all through the spherical, with the overall course yardage for the Members coming in at a pleasant 6365 yards, whereas these vying for a inexperienced jacket play from the guidelines at a jaw-dropping 7555 yards. That’s what expertise, and sure, athletic enhancements in elite golfers, has completed over the a long time.

We each make par at No. 2, not what we had been hoping for, however one thing of a nerve-settler all the identical. Smith nonetheless forward by 1.

That might change in a heartbeat, nonetheless, when Rory nearly drives the inexperienced on the third and will get up and down for birdie, whereas the battler from Bonnie Doon comes up brief together with his method, knocks a bump-and-run third shot over the again of the finger-like peninsula the place the outlet is positioned, earlier than finally making a 12-footer for bogey.

When McIlroy goes back-to again with one other birdie on the par 3 fourth gap to beat my par, the margin is now two pictures in favour of the 35 12 months previous crowd favorite, and after matching pars on the fifth, a sloppy bogey on the par 3 sixth – which has a back-right pin place solely barely bigger than your common espresso desk – has me reeling at 3-over, and three behind the present finest participant on the planet.

Strolling to the seventh tee, I resolve that maybe I ought to neglect about making an attempt to hold on to the coat-tails of greatness and simply play some golf.

The course is every little thing you’ve ever imagined, its magnificence is breathtaking, the greens are fabulously enjoyable to putt on and the corporate is fantastic.

Let Rory do his factor and take in what’s in entrance of you.

A sound concept, however then it occurs.

Birdie at Seven after hitting a sand wedge to 2 ft. Birdie at Eight after two far and certain lengthy pictures. Birdie at 9 after a 9-iron to six ft.

For these of you scoring at house, that’s three birdies in a row heading to the flip.

What on earth is occurring?!?

The three dropped pictures early within the spherical have been erased within the area of three holes and also you’re abruptly at Even par by means of the primary 9.

Proper! The place’s that McIlroy child?

Seems that Rory additionally birdied the par 4 ninth, however off the again of being rendered unconscious for 45 minutes, I’m now only one shot behind.

McIlroy 35, Smith 36.

As we properly know, the Dream Masters doesn’t start till the again 9 on Sunday, even when it’s now 11am on Monday.

When individuals ask me what the structure at Augusta Nationwide is absolutely like, it’s actually laborious to know the place to start.

The property that was as soon as Berckman’s Fruitland Nursery is at the least double the scale it was in 1931 when Augusta Nationwide co-founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts gave famed golden age of structure genius Alister MacKenzie the transient of designing a championship course.

Whereas the course footprint itself hasn’t modified aside from new tees being constructed to accommodate the space gamers now hit the ball, surrounding properties have been acquired over time to permit for extra patron parking, company hospitality and facilities for Masters rivals just like the unique follow vary that not even the members get to make use of.

That’s proper. The vary you see gamers warming up on is used just one week in fifty two.

The good cliche about Augusta Nationwide is that ‘you wouldn’t consider how hilly the course is’. Besides it’s not a cliche in any respect.

I’m not exaggerating once I say that if it ever snows throughout Masters Week they’ll cancel the golf and maintain the Olympic Downhill snowboarding competitors on the Tenth Gap. It’s that steep.

This turns into very obvious when, similar to your second shot into the Second Gap, it feels such as you would possibly topple over in making an attempt to get your hips and shoulders stage with the golf green beneath you.

I don’t know what membership Rory simply pulled out of the bag, however I’ve bought a 5-iron in hand for my second at 10, and getting it within the air off this downslope to the extent that I can maintain the inexperienced may be problematic.

The method simply falls off the placing floor to the left, however two putts later I write a 4 on the cardboard.

Rory, who can hit it over the moon with any membership within the bag, knocks it to 10 ft and jars a putt for birdie to increase his result in two.

And now, Women and Gents, would you welcome the star of the present, Amen Nook!

We’ve all salivated on the considered taking part in on the house of the Masters, nevertheless it’s the second shot into Quantity 11, the par 3 Twelfth after which par 5 Thirteenth which have had us greener that Augusta’s fairways with envy.

We all know these holes so properly after watching the greats of the sport do battle with them 12 months after 12 months. The successes and plenty of Masters-deciding failures at Amen Nook are burned into our reminiscence.

Standing over the ball in the midst of the eleventh fairway, 165 yards from the flag that’s tucked within the again left nook of the inexperienced and guarded by the pond that emanates from Rae’s Creek, I’m conscious that Ben Hogan has sidled up beside me and would love a phrase.

The best ball-striker there ever was as soon as stated, “In case you ever see me on the inexperienced in two pictures on the Eleventh, you’ll know I’ve made a mistake”.

He’d somewhat carry bogey into play by purposely lacking the inexperienced than making an attempt to nestle one in shut and danger discovering a watery grave, nearly definitely guaranteeing a six, or worse.

I admire the recommendation, Mr Hogan, however I’m two behind Rory McIlroy and it’s no time to be timid.

I actually needed to hit that inexperienced in two, to indicate some intestinal fortitude and have a narrative to inform for the remainder of my days, however because the ball leaves the clubface it’s instantly apparent that whereas I’ve managed to keep away from splashing it down within the pond, I’ve additionally missed the inexperienced to the suitable hand aspect, someplace within the neighborhood from the place Larry Mize gave Greg Norman considered one of many kicks within the nuts over his ill-fated Masters profession.

Because the membership goes again within the bag, I discover a 9-time main winner in a white cap heading within the route of the clubhouse with a wry grin on his face.

Good chatting to you, Ben.

Not like Fortunate Larry, my chip doesn’t slay a Shark, however two putts for bogey imply the outlet is halved.

McIlroy two pictures clear with seven to play.

If Augusta Nationwide’s eleventh gap is anxiety-inducing, Golden Bell, the world’s most well-known Par 3, has the cortisol operating by means of you at ranges that may make alarms go off at Johns Hopkins.

The Twelfth performs methods on you from the second you step on the tee, as a result of whereas it’s magnificence is unmatched anyplace in golf, there’s the urgent want of getting to work out the way to keep away from making double bogey or worse.

Water in entrance, backyard beds in again, flag far proper and a round-wrecker only one swing away.

There’s a good breeze in your face, so after a number of Hail Mary’s you pull the set off on a 7-iron.

Lord hear my prayers, the flight is true and the ball comes down 18 ft left of the flag. A extra satisfying golf shot I’ve by no means hit.

Two putts for par matches Rory, and the margin stays the identical. Two.

Which brings us to 13.

Is it the perfect golf gap on the planet? Many would argue it’s, with a very good drive leaving you with what Bobby Jones described as a ‘momentous resolution’ to go for the inexperienced in two, or lay-up and depart your self a doubtlessly awkward third shot.

McIlroy and Smith are each left with no resolution to make after pushed tee pictures come up in need of the pine bushes however are too removed from the inexperienced to be duelling with Rae’s Creek, so a lay-up it’s.

I play to the suitable, out in the direction of the large scoreboard behind the 14th tee, whereas Rory takes a extra direct route down the left half of the golf green.

Contrasting angles of assault, however no one, not even Smith’s common taking part in companions who’ve lengthy recognized that he’d somewhat look into the eyes of Medusa than play a three-quarter sand wedge, might foresee what was about to happen.

Having flipped one to twenty ft, it was all you would do to cease your chin from hitting the turf when a person who appeared to be on a coronation parade destined for the Butler Cabin, put his third shot in with the guppies.

What the hell was that???

I imply, that’s that the shot I hit, not the good Rory F. McIlroy.

Having burnt the sting with my birdie try for an final par, Rory’s Double Bogey from Nowhere has us all locked up with 5 holes to play.

Smith one over the cardboard by means of 13, McIlroy the identical.

I couldn’t, might I?

The brief reply is not any. After all I couldn’t. I’m taking part in Rory McIlroy keep in mind who, sure, could properly have been on full tilt after the gag-job on the world’s finest par 5, and who then proceeded to make a hash of Fourteen as properly, however at all times has an additional gear when he wants it.

Three putts at No.14 has me additionally dropping to 2 over par on the spherical – and whereas bogey it was, belief me, you can’t wipe the ridiculous smile from my face at not solely taking part in Augusta Nationwide but in addition taking part in it properly – as we ponder the 4 holes remaining.

In the true world of Sunday afternoon, having stood behind the 14th inexperienced and watched Rory make bogey to now be one shot behind Justin Rose, he had the look of a person who was resigned to his destiny of by no means profitable a inexperienced jacket and by no means finishing the profession Grand Slam.

How might he? Of all the injuries suffered in current majors, there can be no getting back from this.

McIlroy, like Greg Norman, can be left trapped in an hour glass, staring on the inexperienced jacket, whereas the sand beneath his ft disappeared at an ever-quickening fee.

However then he remembered who he was.

The child from Holywood who might play pictures that no one else might.

Photographs like sending a boomerang of a 7-iron across the bushes on the Fifteenth that drew a football-like chant from the 1000’s crowded round that preposterous inexperienced web site.

“RORY! RORY! RORY!”.

At a venue constructed on moments of genius, this was up there with any of them.

Whereas McIlroy conspired to not make eagle from simply 6 ft away, his birdie jolted him again to life, whereas I flew the inexperienced after one other pressured lay-up and did not stand up and down for par.

McIlroy again to 1 over, Smith 3 over par.

It was 185 yards for the Masters gamers to the back-right pin on No.16, 160 yards for the mere mortals taking part in on Monday morning.

The par three over the water can be pivotal in Jack Nicklaus profitable his fifth inexperienced jacket in 1975, taking down Tom Weiskopf and Johnny Miller in a showdown for the ages.

Jack made birdie at 16, and what have you learnt, so did W. Smith.

A shot that by no means left the flag and completed two ft from the outlet.

With the identical 7-iron that was so good to me at Golden Bell, I’d managed to match the Golden Bear.

How about that.

I’d closed the hole to at least one shot behind Rory within the Dream Masters after his birdie putt from 9 ft did not drop, however when he hit an audacious brief iron to a troublesome pin to 2 ft for birdie at No.17, my bogey from off the again fringe of the inexperienced meant our fantasy duel was all however over.

One gap to play – McIlroy Even par, Smith 3 over.

We each hit good drives by means of the chute up the final, and whereas I used to be hopeful of ending with one final magic second, my second shot was half a membership too lengthy and it settled on the highest shelf from the place two putts had me signal for a 75.

On a day that started with fears about not having the ability to stay as much as the chance I’d been offered with, to shoot that quantity round that golf course actually was a dream come true.

As we walked to the clubhouse for one thing to rejoice the event with, my imaginary opponent headed again to the 18th tee for a 73rd gap in his Masters week.

Rory’s goals got here true, too.