Chris Gotterup, one of the trending players on the PGA Tour, has recently enjoyed a special moment in his career. For the first time, he played at Augusta National, the venue of the Masters. He did so last week accompanied by his father and brother, just over a month before making his debut in the famous Green Jacket tournament. An experience he wanted to put off for a long time…
The American golfer had been invited several times to the club, even last season when he was in the area during the Masters week. But he always declined the offer. He was clear that the first time he played at Augusta National had to be when he was qualified for the tournament. His recent streak of good results and victories, which have propelled him to number 6 in the world rankings, will allow him to debut in April at Magnolia Lane. So there was no better time to fulfill his dream… a visit with a surprise.
Playing at the Augusta National Golf Club is not easy, not even for professionals. The rules are very strict. Guests can attend with up to two companions, but they can only play if they do so with a club member. Gotterup contacted the club and found a member willing to accompany his group, so he was able to tour the facilities, try his luck on the main course, and also enjoy the par 3 course.
Its masters week
— chris gotterup (@ChrisGotterup) April 9, 2015
“I think the rule is you can bring two guests, but you have to play with a member. You just have to find someone who wants to spend the day with you,” explained Chris. However, his first encounter with Augusta caught his attention… starting with the 18th tee: “It’s much tighter than it looks on TV.” He was also impressed by the slopes of the course, especially the 1st green: “You have a tricky tee shot and then you need a very good second shot to leave it in the right area.”
Another image that caught his attention was the green of the 2nd hole. During the Masters, it is usually surrounded by thousands of spectators, giving a sense of spaciousness on television. Without the crowd, however, the green seemed smaller and different. Although among all the holes on the course, Gotterup chose one that often goes unnoticed by fans, the 7th hole: “It’s very simple, but you have to hit a good drive and then the correct shot to the green. Visually, when you get to the tee, it’s a really beautiful hole.”
Taking advantage of his presence at the club, Gotterup visited the famous Augusta National shop, buying caps and souvenirs for his family: “I bought small things, like decks of cards and some trinkets.” In just over a month, he will be able to experience competing in a Masters after a meteoric rise that has allowed him to climb more than 200 places in the world rankings in a year.
Until then, he continues with his tournament schedule. But having already played Augusta, he starts to make his calculations. Because although the course usually favours players who play a draw, while he is a natural fade player, he already has in mind to work on his strategy for the tournament: “Everyone who loves golf would want to play there someday. But being able to do it knowing you’re going to play the real Masters is something incredible.”
