Carlos Monarrez Detroit Free Press Published 6:00 AM EDT Apr 13, 2019 How do you write about a dream? Because that’s what this is. What I’m about to tell you is a dream. It’s a dream I haven’t woken up from for 15 years. I still can’t believe I got to play Augusta National Golf Club. Today is the 15th anniversary of my one and only round on the world’s best golf course. It’s an experience and a memory I’ll treasure until my final moments on Earth. Then I’ll probably think about it some more wherever I end up afterward. Before I explain how and why it happened, let me assure you that playing Augusta is magical. It was even more magical for me because when I played it in 2004, it was also the first time I saw the course while covering my first Masters tournament. It was like meeting the love of your life and getting married, all in the same week. The first thing that struck me when I saw Augusta was how immaculate the course … [Read more...] about How it feels to play Augusta National, home of the Masters
12th hole augusta national
Masters Chairman Ridley touched by success of first women’s amateur event at Augusta
It was Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley who first broached the idea of the club hosting a future women’s amateur tournament. It didn’t take long for the membership to back it, and the notion became reality with the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur that was held last week.Jennifer Kupcho’s victory and the way the tournament played out drew mostly rave reviews in the golf world. And still, Ridley said he was a bit surprised by what he saw and heard.Speaking Wednesday for the first time publicly in the aftermath of the ANWA, Ridley said, “What I’m not sure I fully anticipated was the emotional response, which was something that I’m still really glowing about. “I think I was really heartened by our staff and the way our staff really was motivated and inspired by the effort,” he added. “I think it made us a better organization. … I’m also very proud to hear so many members … say that they have … [Read more...] about Masters Chairman Ridley touched by success of first women’s amateur event at Augusta
MSU’s Allyson Geer-Park: Playing Augusta ‘surreal’
Jesse Smithey Published 6:18 PM EDT Apr 5, 2019 AUGUSTA, Ga. — Though she didn’t make the cut to play in Saturday’s final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Michigan State junior standout Allyson Geer-Park still walked away from the groundbreaking event with a proud spirit. She was one of 72 golfers in the field for the inaugural competition that brought the women’s game onto a stage once reserved only for men. Moreover, Geer-Park and the field got to play a practice round Friday at Augusta National Golf Club — site of next week’s Masters tournament — whether they had a tee time for Saturday or not. And they played not only in front of the interested eyes of Augusta National members, but also those of LPGA Tour legends like Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, Lorena Ochoa and Se Ri Pak. The four will hit the ceremonial tee shots to open play Saturday. Even Condoleezza Rice, the former Secretary of State and current member of … [Read more...] about MSU’s Allyson Geer-Park: Playing Augusta ‘surreal’
Inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur tees off one-of-a-kind week in golf history
On Saturday, one woman will be the first to hear her name announced as a competitor on the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club.Women will walk into Amen Corner and ponder their club selection in the tricky breeze at the par-3 12th hole and traverse the Hogan Bridge to cross Rae’s Creek.They will stand in awe of the beauty of the azaleas and dogwoods that dwarf them on the 13th green.They will hear roars from the gallery that have echoed for men through the pines for more than 80 years. As they experience it, millions will be watching on television. None of this has ever happened before in competition, thus drawing the assessment of World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam that this week’s inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur is “a milestone in the game.”Women have been playing as guests at Augusta National for decades. It has been seven years since the first two women were accepted as members. But there has never been an official tournament for … [Read more...] about Inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur tees off one-of-a-kind week in golf history
Duke stars have vastly different roads for pro careers in women’s golf, basketball
CARLSBAD — The Blue Devils head cover on the driver of LPGA Tour player Lindy Duncan gives away her college allegiance. She is enormously proud to be a Duke alum, and rightly so. She left Durham, N.C., in 2013 with a degree in psychology and the second-best career scoring average in the history of a storied women’s golf program. She was a four-time All-American.“Fun fact. The Duke women’s golf team has won one more national championships than the men’s basketball team,” Duncan said brightly after the Kia Classic’s second round on Friday in which she shot 1-under-par 71 at Aviara Golf Club.Tied for ninth at 5 under after two rounds, Duncan was five shots off the lead of world No. 1 Sung Hyun Park, of South Korea, and Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura, each of whom shot 66.Duncan knows her stuff, of course. The Duke women and their head coach of 34 years, Dan Brooks, have captured six national titles – the last in 2014. Coach … [Read more...] about Duke stars have vastly different roads for pro careers in women’s golf, basketball