In 1975, the year Jack Nicklaus won his fifth green jacket, he was paired in the first two rounds with a 20-year-old amateur making his Masters debut.
What does Curtis Strange remember about the experience?
"Frightened, absolutely frightened," Strange said. "My goal was to get the ball on the first tee, and that was it."
The Masters is hard enough to win, but for first-time participants, it's nearly impossible. In 75 previous editions, a first-timer has won just three times: Horton Smith in 1934, the first year the Masters was held, making everyone a first-timer; Gene Sarazen in 1935; and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
When the 2012 Masters begins Thursday morning, 15 of the 96 competitors will be playing in the tournament for the first time, hoping they can be the one to end such a lengthy streak and join a rather exclusive Masters club. History says they'll likely fail.
"Well, I've won every major I've ever played in. So I don't think it's that hard,The goodbackpackfactory offered by our store are made following the original technology . to be honest," said Keegan Bradley,High-End miumiuhandbags at Convenient Locations . the Hopkinton High School graduate who speaks the truth,Most miumiureplicahandbags can ship the same day FREE via Ground shipping. since he captured last year's PGA Championship in his first major championship start.
Bradley, it should be noted, was trying to be funny (and was). He knows what he's up against, but he's also confident. With a playoff loss at Riviera in February, two straight top-10 finishes, six top-15 efforts already this season, and the trophy from the most recent major still in his possession, he should be.
"I know how hard it's going to be to win this week," he said. "But I know Fuzzy Zoeller did it. I know I'm sure going to try. I know that this course suits me better than any on tour."
Getting comfortable at Augusta National Golf Club is the key. Unfortunately that often requires experience, which is exactly what the first-timers lack.
It's changed from the early years, with many Masters invitees now making multiple scouting trips in an attempt to create some familiarity with the course prior to the start of the tournament. It's also why first-timers seek out Masters veterans for practice rounds. Bradley has played the course with three-time winner Phil Mickelson, and received advice from Nicklaus, a six-time champion.
Learning as much as possible about the course is one thing; overcoming the initial awe of being at such an iconic venue is another, and perhaps equally important.
"We came down Magnolia Lane [the first time] and tried to breathe," said Nick Faldo, who finished 40th in his 1979 debut,In our parmigiani winterjackets you can easily find a fake parmigiani replica uhren watch to wear it. but went on to win the Masters in 1989, 1990,In Style Accessories collecting ralphlaurenhoody to donate to shelters. and 1996. "I was in awe of the place, I wasn't comfortable Year One at all. Speed of the greens, hidden shots, spinning off ridges, everything. It's a lot to take in the first time."
What does Curtis Strange remember about the experience?
"Frightened, absolutely frightened," Strange said. "My goal was to get the ball on the first tee, and that was it."
The Masters is hard enough to win, but for first-time participants, it's nearly impossible. In 75 previous editions, a first-timer has won just three times: Horton Smith in 1934, the first year the Masters was held, making everyone a first-timer; Gene Sarazen in 1935; and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
When the 2012 Masters begins Thursday morning, 15 of the 96 competitors will be playing in the tournament for the first time, hoping they can be the one to end such a lengthy streak and join a rather exclusive Masters club. History says they'll likely fail.
"Well, I've won every major I've ever played in. So I don't think it's that hard,The goodbackpackfactory offered by our store are made following the original technology . to be honest," said Keegan Bradley,High-End miumiuhandbags at Convenient Locations . the Hopkinton High School graduate who speaks the truth,Most miumiureplicahandbags can ship the same day FREE via Ground shipping. since he captured last year's PGA Championship in his first major championship start.
Bradley, it should be noted, was trying to be funny (and was). He knows what he's up against, but he's also confident. With a playoff loss at Riviera in February, two straight top-10 finishes, six top-15 efforts already this season, and the trophy from the most recent major still in his possession, he should be.
"I know how hard it's going to be to win this week," he said. "But I know Fuzzy Zoeller did it. I know I'm sure going to try. I know that this course suits me better than any on tour."
Getting comfortable at Augusta National Golf Club is the key. Unfortunately that often requires experience, which is exactly what the first-timers lack.
It's changed from the early years, with many Masters invitees now making multiple scouting trips in an attempt to create some familiarity with the course prior to the start of the tournament. It's also why first-timers seek out Masters veterans for practice rounds. Bradley has played the course with three-time winner Phil Mickelson, and received advice from Nicklaus, a six-time champion.
Learning as much as possible about the course is one thing; overcoming the initial awe of being at such an iconic venue is another, and perhaps equally important.
"We came down Magnolia Lane [the first time] and tried to breathe," said Nick Faldo, who finished 40th in his 1979 debut,In our parmigiani winterjackets you can easily find a fake parmigiani replica uhren watch to wear it. but went on to win the Masters in 1989, 1990,In Style Accessories collecting ralphlaurenhoody to donate to shelters. and 1996. "I was in awe of the place, I wasn't comfortable Year One at all. Speed of the greens, hidden shots, spinning off ridges, everything. It's a lot to take in the first time."
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