As consolation, I will have access to the Masters Digital Media Hub allowing me to take advantage of many media resources, \u201cincluding video and photography, interview transcripts, statistical information and Tournament notices.\u201d In a nifty touch, Press conferences will also be streamed on its Digital Media Hub.<\/p>\n
Though these resources will be state-of-the-art when it comes to virtually covering the Masters, they\u2019ll never match being there in person. Besides not experiencing the tournament and its unmatched attention to detail, beauty, drama and steadfast traditions, I\u2019ll miss meeting and bantering with my media colleagues, friends and patrons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Masters is an annual gathering, a convention of sorts, of those who love and follow the game. With that in mind, I\u2019m sharing a few stories about some of my favorite surprise meetings of such persons at the Masters:<\/p>\n Tennessee Ernie Ford<\/p><\/div>\n Tennessee Ernie Ford<\/b>\u2014Although his name and place in American culture has faded with time, the singer and TV host in the \u201850s and \u201860s was a huge celebrity and major figure in entertainment.\u00a0 <\/span>With his deep base-baritone voice, Ford is best known for the no.1 Billboard hit \u201cSixteen Tons,\u201d his short-run comic role on \u201cI Love Lucy,\u201d and hosting his own variety TV series.\u00a0 Check out this cover by\u00a0Jeff Beck\/ZZ Top & 16 Tons<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n In 1984 during my first year as a golf writer at the Masters, I happened to be sitting next to Ford\u2019s dinner table at a Augusta restaurant. Luckily, in recognizing him I also recalled a recent news item about the entertainer. At an appropriate moment, I mustered up the gumption to catch Ford\u2019s eye and said, \u201cMr. Ford, I just want to congratulate you on receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.\u201d (Along with the Congressional Gold Medal, it\u2019s the nation\u2019s highest civilian award. Tiger Woods received it last year.)<\/p>\n Immediately, Ford\u2019s eyes lit up and he broke into a huge smile saying, \u201cI was never more humbled or more nervous about receiving it.\u201d He then went on for a good ten minutes talking to our table, which included my brother and some friends from Blythefield Country Club who had rented a house for the week, inquiring about us and our day at the tournament. As I dimly recall, my brother even addressed him by his trademark nickname, \u201cThe Ol\u2019 Pea Picker.\u201d In true down to earth form, he took it all in good humor and laughed. Whew!<\/p>\n Peter Lynch<\/p><\/div>\n Peter Lynch<\/b>\u2014The legendary mutual fund manager at Fidelity Investments was a guest one year at the annual USGA cocktail party and dinner during Masters week. Due to the long coattails of my friend and colleague Jack Berry, then the Secretary-Treasurer of the Golf Writers Association of America, I attended as well. During the hospitality hour, I spied Lynch\u2019s unmistakable shock of white hair and, with Berry, went over and introduced ourselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After mumbling a few lame words about being a (lowly) Fidelity customer, I asked Lynch how he was enjoying the Masters. \u201cWell, my first day is tomorrow and I can\u2019t wait,\u201d he said. When he learned we were golf writers with a number of Masters under our belt, Lynch grilled us on how we covered it, what to do, where to sit, and who to watch. He told us he grew up as a caddie in Boston and that being at the Masters was a life long dream.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Later, I read where his initial hiring as an intern at Fidelity was due to him caddying at Brae Burn CC outside Boston for Fidelity\u2019s president at the time. What I remember most about Lynch besides his approachable manner, was his intense almost boyish curiosity about the Masters and what it meant to him as a golfer.<\/p>\n Jim Thorpe<\/p><\/div>\n Jim Thorpe<\/b>\u2014The PGA Champions Tour player, winner of the 2004 Farmers Charity Classic at Egypt Valley CC in Ada, MI, walked into the Augusta restaurant and came over to the table where Greg Johnson, then the Grand Rapids Press <\/i>golf writer, and I were sitting. A former college football player, the physically imposing Thorpe recognized us since we both covered and interviewed him at that tournament. He was in Augusta as part of a corporate outing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For the next 20 minutes, Thorpe regaled us with side-splitting stories and brutally frank and funny comments about some of his Tour brethren and golf in general. One Thorpism: \u201cThere\u2019s only one <\/i>color that matters in professional golf: green, as in money!\u201d Catch me at the 19th hole sometime with a brew in hand, and I might s<\/i>hare some others. Don\u2019t be wearing a wire. P.S. Always loved Thorpe\u2019s nickname, bestowed on him by Tour caddies: The Walking Muscle<\/i>.<\/p>\n![\"Tennessee](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/teemoore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/11\/ADD931F6-7B62-4E00-9D9C-9B50C0660746_4_5005_c.jpeg\")
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