Why this unique Masters contest is worth the drive from Macon to Augusta

Strolling down the fresh grass to the seventh hole, one could look down to see Paul Casey’s son, Lex, running down the fairway.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello walked alongside his wife Sofia as she donned the all-white caddie jumpsuit, holding her hand the whole time.

Sergio Garcia stood next to his wife, Angela. She was holding their daughter, Azalea, who is — appropriately — named after the 13th hole at The Masters.

“He is carrying the bag. She is carrying the baby,” shouted a patron.

Players don’t normally carry their clubs. But the Par 3 tournament at Augusta isn’t a typical day.

“Jack (Nicklaus) said it was his most special time on a golf course last year,” said 13th-ranked player in the world Tommy Fleetwood. “You just get moments like that, that you can’t get anywhere else or any other place in golf.”

The two-and-a-half-hour drive from Macon is worth the trip for this unique experience.

Here are three reasons why:

1) Players remind fans they’re people, too

Ever seen Bubba Watson pull out his phone on the golf course?

He did so Wednesday to video his two children hit putts on the ninth hole — one lip-out and one near-make from more than 30 feet. Former Open champion Stewart Cink said the real course is serious business, but Wednesday gives players a chance to interact with patrons.

“It is a good chance to get to know who the players are when they are not grinding out there in front of the television cameras,” Cink said. “They get to see everyone relaxed, having fun and joking around.”

2) Don’t understand golf? That’s alright

You don’t need to know how to read a putt. You don’t need to know how to swing. You don’t need to know what “par” means. You just need to soak in the experience.

Whether it’s admiring the blooming azaleas, feeling the soft, manicured grass or watching the kids be kids, Wednesday offers something to anyone.

“I think Augusta takes a lot of pride in creating one of the best fan experiences of any golf tournament,” said second-ranked player in the world Dustin Johnson. “I think if you ask all the patrons here, they enjoy coming out.”

Any visitor could potentially interact with the players — whether it be because of an offline shot or the opportunity to get inside the rope yourself. One boy earned that opportunity when Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas asked him to hit a putt on a hole for them.

3) Wives and kids get to join the show

Dash Day lived up to his name Wednesday. The son of Jason Day, Dash sped down the walkway to the ninth green, high-fiving patrons and collapsed near the green. He was tired.

“I need to take a nap,” he said.

The Par 3 is infamous for the family aspect it invites, as players oftentimes have significant others and children out to enjoy the day.

“You don’t realize for the kids how massive this is,” Fleetwood said. “I think for my kids it was really nice that they got to experience it.”

Charles Howell III is from Augusta and walked the nine holes with his wife, Heather, along with their two children.

“This was a special moment for all four of us just to be together inside the ropes with Charles,” Heather said.

Whether it’s running down fairways, hitting shots off the tee or knocking in putts, the players’ kids sometimes garner larger roars from the fans than the actual players.

And if hitting a white ball doesn’t intrigue a child, he or she can take after Paul Casey’s son, Lex, who knelt down on the ninth green and stared out into the lake, admiring a turtle enjoying the water and soaking in the sun on a Wednesday at Augusta.

This story was originally published April 10, 2019 at 5:57 PM.