How a father-daughter Masters trip revealed golf’s true magic

AUGUSTA, Ga. — “I can’t believe he’s real,” my sister, Ellen, stated as Tiger Woods handed us on his stroll down the primary fairway at Augusta National.

Tiger is a fairly hanging determine at any time, however to see him right here, on Saturday on the Masters? And to see him now, simply a few seconds into the day we’ve all been trying ahead to for months?

Ellen grew up because the golf-bored center youngster in a golf-crazed household. But now she’s right here in Augusta, recent off a flight from Phoenix, to spend the day with my dad and me on the Masters. And she’s realizing, for the primary time, that Tiger Woods actually is bigger than life.

And that makes me joyful.

Every Tuesday in the summertime from 2002 to 2008, I made my dad late for work.

I used to be seven years previous when my dad and mom signed me up from the Tuesday morning junior golf program at Wannamoisett — a par-69 course in our hometown of Rumford, R.I. — however I used to be a little older earlier than I fell for golf.

In these days, golf was a chore. I’d refuse to get off the bed till the final minute, complain to anybody who’d pay attention, and attempt to sucker my dad and mom into letting me off on good habits. My perspective grew so dangerous that my older brother started using his bike to the golf course so I wouldn’t make him late. But my dad wasn’t so fortunate. He couldn’t begin his work day till he received me to the course — and I used to be comparatively decided to not let him convey me. Usually there have been tears concerned.

By eighth grade, my relationship with golf started to vary. Suddenly Tuesday mornings have been a social outing. There have been 15 or so children in my age group, and plenty of of them are nonetheless my greatest pals. Golf actually helped my confidence in these days, principally as a result of I discovered a group within the sport. I might be a part of my pals and match their 73s with 98s. Soon I spotted that I appreciated golf. I appreciated it a lot that I ended up attempting out for my (no-cut) highschool golf staff.

It might be onerous for a lot of fathers to attach with their teenage daughters, however I freely admit that I used to be a notably troublesome adolescent. My dad and mom break up throughout my freshman 12 months of highschool, and immediately I used to be working via my teenage years whereas dwelling beneath a totally different roof than my dad. I used to be younger and harm, and the ache made me offended. He was on the receiving finish of an excessive amount of of it.

Fortunately, Dad was (and is) relentless, and golf slowly grew to become our solution to join. After robust college days, we’d seize dinner on the golf course and chat in regards to the day from the golf green. Over afternoon nine-holers and night putts, our conversations graduated from golf speak to life. On the weekends, we started watching golf collectively. Soon we hardly ever went a day with out hanging out.

As I’ve grown into my golf media profession, my dad has change into my greatest fan. He listened intently after I known as him final 12 months to inform him that I met Rory McIlroy, and was my first name after I lastly gathered up the braveness to ask Tiger a query in a press convention. He listens patiently to the frustrations that include working in golf (or any job). He pays a lot consideration partly as a result of he loves golf, however principally as a result of he loves me.

Golf was so typically a ache level at first of our relationship, however I notice now that it was on the golf course that my dad grew to become way more than my dad — he grew to become my greatest buddy.

To know me is to know my sister.

We have been born 5 years aside however have been connected on the hip for years. I convey her as much as anybody who will pay attention. When she met Bones Mackay on the WM Phoenix Open in February, all he might say was, “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” When we have been in grade college, we made our dad and mom buy bunk beds so the 2 of us might sleep in the identical room. (How many siblings ask to share a bed room?) I by no means slept in my very own room once more.

I joke that Ellen is the “uninterested in golf” member of our golf-loving household, however that’s not completely true. She could not prefer to play a lot, however I’ve come to appreciate that we share some frequent actual property within the sport. Over the years, golf was her manner of rising shut with Dad, too.

When she comes again to Rhode Island, she will get up early to stroll throughout the road with my dad and eat breakfast at our residence membership. She could not know tools or be notably thinking about Strokes Gained, however she loves being round any setting that features the game. So after we all met as much as stroll round Augusta National in the present day, it felt like a full-circle second.

Every 12 months, the Masters brings about a minimum of one “father and son” story, however this 12 months, our dad couldn’t choose only one daughter to convey to the Masters with him.

So he introduced two.

My dad and Ellen drove in from Columbia, S.C. this morning.

They picked me up from GOLF’s rental residence so I might journey in with them. For me, in the present day felt like Christmas Day. Watching Ellen expertise the magic of Augusta National for the primary time was actually an honor. She was freaking out over the little issues that I’ve gotten used to experiencing through the years — gamers strolling by, a putt that lips out or a individual donning an unconventional outfit. Seeing her love for the sport jogged my memory why I fell in love with the sport within the first place. The golf magic continues to be very a lot new for her.

We could not have spent the day speaking about stats or shot shapes, however strolling with the 2 of them allowed me to view the sport via the lens of my former self, which was about 30 instances extra enjoyable. Ellen liked Vijay Singh’s HOKAS. Her eyes sparkled on the gorgeous vista of inexperienced chairs lined up completely across the inexperienced, and her checking account wept within the overwhelming goodness that’s the merchandise retailer. We discovered that some golf experiences are common … like style debates. When Jason Day got here up 18 in a funky Malbon match, Ellen stated that she liked his confidence — whereas Dad whispered that his outfit appeared dangerous. She introduced up random info about golfers she’d discovered from watching Full Swing. And when Tiger made his manner down the primary fairway, she was awed by the gravity of his presence.

Before lengthy our day was coming to a shut, and we idled collectively for a few lengthy beats. It was onerous for any of us to place to phrases precisely what our Masters reminiscence meant, however we didn’t need to. We all knew. The mere truth we have been there collectively was proof sufficient.

So dads, right here’s an concept for you: Bring your daughter to the Masters. Bring your daughter to any golf event. Enroll them in a Tuesday morning golf league and take them each week. Let them like golf and allow them to hate golf and allow them to be taught to love golf, regardless of which type that takes. Be the Dad who breaks the norm, and don’t concern it.

And dads, do all these issues as a result of your daughters will discover. They’ll discover your effort, your care and your love. And although it might not come simply or shortly, they’ll discover the golf, too.

Maybe you’ll get up one morning and end up on the Masters.

Or, even higher, possibly you’ll get up one morning and discover you’ve made a buddy.

Editor’s notice: Ellen has saved a log of notes whereas watching episodes of “Full Swing” on Netflix, so I inspired her to write down some bullet factors about her expertise on the Masters as soon as she left the course in the present day. Below is what she needed to say.

Ellen’s Masters Saturday

• Woke up in Columbia and received prepared in my new outfit
• Sat in half-hour of site visitors leaving due to a half marathon that was happening as we have been leaving the lodge
• Went to Dunkin & it was SO good (medium caramel iced espresso with almond milk, please!)
• Had my VERY FIRST Krispy Kreme (first and second if we’re being trustworthy right here). It was heat and glazed and so scrumptious
• Next up: a one-hour drive to gossip with dad
• Walking into Augusta was simply so loopy I didn’t know the place to look! Striking white buildings are so lovely I couldn’t recover from it
• Saw a lady instantly upon coming into carrying a “golf widow” hat and knew I used to be about to like this
• Pit cease on the toilet earlier than assembly sissy and there was ZERO line for ladies and a LONG line for males! Barbie dream home? Even had attendants serving to direct the (minimal) site visitors into stalls
• The scoreboard was so surreal I felt overwhelmed by how historic and well-known this place is
• The grass was so inexperienced and air so crisp I want u might bottle it up or make it into a candle scent
• Lunch expertise was wild. Most low cost concessions I’ve ever seen. Saved all my cups to convey residence.
• BBQ Sammy completely slapped & peach ice cream Sammy was very very yummy
• I gained’t lie. I couldn’t convey myself to take a chunk of the pimento cheese sandwich
• Saw Tiger placing on the apply inexperienced & I’m in awe that he’s actual I really feel as if we neglect he’s an precise individual
• Scottie’s dad was insanely type and personable
• Saw Max Homa and received so excited! He appears superior
• Amen Corner was the right spot to look at (minus the solar beating down on us) however my good new Masters straw hat was a life saver
• This entire day was a style present and I might have folks watched all day with out ever noticing the golf happening
• Everyone is so type and respectful there it felt utopian
• Sat on 18 watching Jason Day & Sahith who I’m OBSESSED with from “Full Swing” (unhappy I didn’t meet his dad)
• Merchandise retailer can solely be described as past your wildest desires, think about Disney for golf lovers
• Claire introduced us azaleas, a vodka/lemonade/grenadine concoction, and it was very refreshing, enjoyable to drink AND got here with a putter formed stirrer!
• Dad and I went again to the merchandise constructing and needed to get a number of extra t-shirts as a result of… when in Rome!
• Overall, I couldn’t have considered a extra good day to gossip and watch golf with two of my most favourite folks!

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Claire Rogers

Golf.com Editor