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Originally Posted by Yoda
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Originally Posted by giantsuckingsound
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I'm there! Munching on many chicken samiches!
[Bold by Yoda.]
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Naah, Rich. Ya gotta go for the Pimento Cheese. And save the green wrappers. They're worth cash to the TV-couch potatoes back home! They need'em for the True Masters Experience.
Or maybe it's just me.
You know...
A green thing!
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Because of an April Fools Day snow storm in 1997 (Tiger's first major victory), which delayed the opening of the course where I am the head PGA Professional, I was able to attend my first Masters Tournament. It was an experience I will never forget. The course was much more hilly than one can imagine. The clubhouse is at the top of the hill and everthing else slopes down to #12 and Rae's Creek. Everything is so meticulous and well manicured, not a hair out of place. Although being there all week, I did find one weed (the place is a dump

) and one rock sticking out of the ground (now part of my collectibles).
I stayed late after one of the practice rounds and followed around former US Open and PGA Champion David Graham, who was with the pin placement committee. They would place a ball at the top of a mound on a green and just touch the ball to get it rolling. When the ball finally came to rest they would mark the position. The cup would never be set below that mark. Augusta won't tell you what the greens are stimped at, but I would guess during practice rounds 10-11, and during the tournament proper about 13. The greeen undulation is mind boggling. How Crenshaw in 96' and Tiger in 97' didn't three putt once is beyond me.
As I looked out at the empty golf course (99% of the spectators had left), a procession of fairway mowers (about a dozen) in formation (similar to THe Blue Angels) cut most of the fairways in a few passes.
I wandered back toward the clubhouse and out on the second floor back veranda the Champions Dinner was about to begin. Crenshaw, Zoeller and Sam Snead were telling jokes while eight to ten others (all with drink in hand) were listening and laughing. I could here it all, like I was part of the dinner (of course I wasn't.....yet anyway).
Tiger went on to break the 72 hole scoring record, but the thing I will always treasure is the Pimento Cheese Sandwiches in the green wrapper and a beer in a collectible plastic mug cost about $3.00 (they don't make their money on food).
Even though I don't get to Augusta in April anymore, to this day when I get home from the course during Master's week, my wife has Pimento Cheese Sandwiches, beer in my Master's Mug and my Master's Journals waiting for me to bring back some of the best memories I have ever had on a golf course. BTW, She (my wife) will even dress in green, LOL.

(I am sure I will have to reciprocate somewhere down the line).