The End to a Great Golf Weekend

I have no idea where to begin regarding my experience of physically being at The Masters. I am still left in complete awe of the event.

It has been said that the crowd reached the 50,000 number mark. Having said that, that's a whole lotta people gathered in a 4 mile radius area. The morning started out being brisk with a rushing crowd hitting the Pro Shop where dozens of dollars were spent without even blinking an eye.

I joined in on the buying power of the people getting myself a Golf Polo that cost more then my Nike running shoes worn that day plus a visor that was decently priced. The folks in the store kept commenting on how they were sold out of this and that article of merchandise. At the end of the day, the store was nothing but skeleton remains of empty shelving so if you didn't get your purchase earlier in the day you got...a big...nothing to show off back home.

The gates opened to the crowd at 9AM due to frost. Let me tell you when that gate opened it was like opening the flood gate to the Hoover Dam - WHOOSH - people everywhere breaking the no running rule - taking off like there was no tomorrow to stake their claim on the course.

I however, stood back watching the humanity of it all as stones and dust got kicked up from the rushing herd of people. As the crowd died down we entered thur the course gates taking our time walking the greens.

Around 1230 we headed to the practice range to watch Tiger Woods warm up his swing. We got to stand right behind him as we waited our turn for seats until folks left the stands. The power behind his swing is amazing. He crushes that ball with a force that is unexplainable. All the while telling his caddy and swing coach, "This is going to be a long day."

We then decided to watch him tee off on hole number one, he pulls out his driver and KABOOM it was an explosion like no other - the shot was hit on mark and down the middle of the fairway.

At hole number 5 we stood about 250 yards from the tee, the shot was hit to the right of the fairway into the rough. Yep, right where we were standing. The crowd zipped over to the ball, security rushes over telling everyone to back away. Williams (Tiger's caddy) comes along telling the crowd, "take another two steps back, please."

As Tiger approaches the mark while sighing he clears off the rough from around his dimpled golf ball, looks at Williams and says, "what do you think?" Williams proceeds to tell him, "wedge it hard, you got it, there's no wind today, mate." Hysterical, he called him mate and I heard it...

I stood literally 3 feet from Tiger when he took this shot. All you saw was a perfect back swing and then heard the intensity of the iron hitting the golf ball - while the debris flew. You never saw Tiger's downswing.

We followed Tiger the remainder of the day hoping that he would be able to pull out of his slump. On the other hand we are thrilled for Zach Johnson and his win. This is truly a golf course like no other.

Being able to see all of the world's greatest golfers up close and personal was beyond incredible. It was definitely a trip worth taking and I am thankful for the chance provided to me.

If I learned anything on this trip it is Golf needs to be a more respected sport, it's not easy by any means. I learned these players all have nerves of steal. Lastly, no amount of money can buy you class.