I was there, stories of the Masters.

[wally888]

Forgive my dates! I had to look up the below pro's name, memory ain't too good.
Sometime in the 60's I was following Phil Rogers. He hit his tee shot in the bunker on 18. Another place that is now entirely different.
Spectators could often get close enough to overhear player and caddy exchanges.
Phil looked at the lie, looked at the back pin placement, then asked his caddy, "What club will hit those people behind the green?" The caddy replied, "A five iron.' Phil said, "Give me a five iron."
Gotta know how to get a member bounce!

[Yoda]

Forgive my dates! I had to look up the below pro's name, memory ain't too good.

Sometime in the 60's I was following Phil Rodgers. He hit his tee shot in the bunker on 18. Another place that is now entirely different. Spectators could often get close enough to overhear player and caddy exchanges. Phil looked at the lie, looked at the back pin placement, then asked his caddy, "What club will hit those people behind the green?" The caddy replied, "A five iron.' Phil said, "Give me a five iron."

Gotta know how to get a member bounce!

This story is quintessential Phil Rodgers, a worthy addition to the Fairway Folklore surrounding this colorful pretender to the throne that ultimately would go to Jack Nicklaus.

Another LBG Classic Masters Moment from wally888, aka, The Silver Fox.

Thanks Wally!

[EdZ]

In 1996, in the final round, I was standing at the tee of the 17th. Phil Mickelson came up from 16 and you could see that 'look' in his eyes. He was in the zone, and if I recall, at that point still 'in it', since Norman was starting to slide.

He had a short wait, took a cup of water from the cooler, and after taking a sip, tossed it towards the trash can, which he missed.

Not only did he miss, but he caught the lip of the can and the water left in the cup, a fair amount, flew all over me. Unfortunately for Phil, this 'clicked' him right out of the 'zone'. He came over and appologized, but afterwards I could see he had lost his intense focus. He went on to miss his drive (and if I recall bogey the hole). He finished 3rd, one shot behind a choking Norman in second.

Staying in the zone, hitting that simple underhand toss into the trash, might have gotten him a second rather than a third.

Of course Faldo went on to shoot a great round, but at the time, things were much closer.

Glad to see phil take it last year, in such an exciting fashion.

The moral of the story - master the underhanded toss, it just might keep you in the 'zone'

[wally888]

One year, I think the first for Chi Chi, I was given a handout/brochure written by him. It described his swing methods, etc. Everyone, especially some competing pros, were saying his swing would never last.

Not sure my dates are correct but the first time I saw J.N. he was hitting his 3 wood on the fly, in the road at the end of driving range, from back between the spectator bleachers. The next year they moved the bleachers back.

Once saw Tonny Lema, at address w/driver, give a little forward press and knock the ball from the wooden tee. He said, very loud, "Oh sxxt!"

Ray Floyd had hit the water on #12 that day. Later I watched him, maybe 2 hours, hit several hundred range balls, all w/ his 7 iron.

Can't remember if it was A.P. or G. Player but on # 9 they dead shanked their second shot. They then took a minute or more studying the divot and making guestures to make the crowd think something on the ground caused the shank. Ha!

I followed Hogan once for several holes. From what I gathered, I was amazed at his ball striking, his plan for playing the course was to hit every flag stick. Every shot from behind him appeared as if would go in the hole.

Once upon a time, once each year, all Ga. members of the Golf Course Supt. Assn. were invited to play Augusta shortly after the Masters and could bring a guest (maybe 2 or 3?). Only once did I , after offering most any kind of physical contact for several years, get an invite from the local Super. Can you believe, flu, temp 105*, just could not make it.

[Yoda]

Another LBG Classic Post from Wally888, a.k.a., The Silver Fox!

[Yoda]

One year, I think the first for Chi Chi, I was given a handout/brochure written by him. It described his swing methods, etc. Everyone, especially some competing pros, were saying his swing would never last.

Not sure my dates are correct but the first time I saw J.N. he was hitting his 3 wood on the fly, in the road at the end of driving range, from back between the spectator bleachers. The next year they moved the bleachers back.

[Bold by Yoda.]

Homer Kelley, in my 1982 Masters Class, had little time for the Players of the Day. In his opinion, most were achieving their success in spite of their Golf Strokes, rather than because of them. Usually, his passing glance at the swing sequence of yet another 'rising star' earned the comment, "Another one into the bin."

Mine was an era where Blond and Beautiful ruled the day. Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller were respectively King and Heir Apparent. Interestingly, Homer was enamored with their opposites, two Men of Color, Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriquez:

"Their alignments are perfect."

In the years since, Mr. Nicklaus has named Lee Trevino the greatest Ball Striker he has ever seen.

Mr. Miller has named Chi Chi Rodriquez.

And the world turns.

[GLFNVEG]

I was not there but this was related to me by Bobby Cole while I was taking a lesson from him at Doral, where he is teaching with Jim Mclean.

It was at the Masters, unfortunatley I do not remember the hole or exact year but it had to be early 70s, Bobby was playing a practice round with Sam Snead , of course a little side wager was going on. They were on the tee and Bobby was about to hit. Snead says to him, 'Ya know when I was your age, I would just hit it right over those trees at the bend". Bobby wanting to show Sam that he could do the same aimed at the trees, swung and hit them right into the middle of the trunk and watched the ball kick into no man's land. Snead hit his shot down the fairway. As they walked of the tee Bobby had to say to Sam that had to be some shot to clear those trees. Sam replied 'It wasn't that hard they were alot shorter 30 years ago'....Bobby stills cracks up 30 years later telling his story.