{"id":389,"date":"2015-04-03T22:24:20","date_gmt":"2015-04-04T06:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?p=389"},"modified":"2017-05-15T22:40:33","modified_gmt":"2017-05-16T06:40:33","slug":"the-masters-a-photo-essay-of-augusta-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?p=389","title":{"rendered":"The Masters — a photo essay of Augusta National"},"content":{"rendered":"

I started watching the Masters at the age of 13, having taken up the game of golf a few years earlier. \u00a0My first Masters was the 1979 classic in which Fuzzy Zoeller defeated Tom Watson and Ed Sneed in a playoff. \u00a0Since that spring morning, I’ve watched the tournament every single year. \u00a0For the last five, I’ve been privileged to attend one or more rounds in person, witnessing all four rounds of Adam Scott’s win in 2013 and Bubba Watson’s second green jacket a year ago.<\/p>\n

What makes the Masters so unique among major golf championships is that its the only one that is played every year on
\nthe same golf course in Augusta, Georgia. \u00a0The U.S. Open, British Open (the Open Championship) and the PGA are all\"DSCN0683\"<\/a> rotated through several courses. \u00a0Not the Masters: it’s held every April on the same terrain, a cathedral for the old game\u00a0resplendent with the greenest grass you will ever see and a visual feast of towering pines and azaleas in bloom. \u00a0Like 99..9% of the golfing population, I’ve never played the course but I feel that I know it as intimately as the 9-hole course I grew up playing in Connecticut. \u00a0 Decades of televised drama embed our brains with eternal memories of countless dramatic moments, legends created and heartbreak felt. \u00a0Seeing the tournament in person, especially on the final nine holes, a Masters fan can’t help but think of shots and putts made from previous years while watching new stories unfold.<\/p>\n

When attending the Masters, it is as if you’re in a time warp. \u00a0Walking the course on a tournament day, you could as easily be in the year 1985 as 2015. \u00a0There is not a hint of corporate sponsorship. \u00a0No luxury suites, no signage, not a trace of the commercial world that we live in. \u00a0Cell phones and cameras are not permitted. \u00a0The only cameras you’ll see on tournament days are the CBS cameras and media photographers just as you would have seen 30 years ago. \u00a0The leader boards on the course and operated by hand just as they always have been. \u00a0A 20-ounce beer will run you just $3. You can buy a “regular beer” or a “light beer”, no brand names are provided. \u00a0Ditto for sodas; it’s “regular cola” or “diet cola” even though I’ll guarantee they’re serving Coca-Cola products, with headquarters only a few hours away in Atlanta. The only nod to our super-corporate world is the presence of company names and logos on the players’ shirts, hats and golf bags. \u00a0Other than that, nothing: the lords of Augusta do not run the Masters for profit.<\/p>\n

Now, the “no camera” policy only applies to tournament days. \u00a0During the practice rounds, patrons may bring their own cameras onto the grounds. \u00a0Cell phones are still prohibited but regular cameras are OK: what follows is my click-free photo essay crafted from the last two years with my own lens, a hole-by-hole guide to Augusta National.<\/p>\n

Hole #1 — “Tea Olive” \u00a0 Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0455 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The first hole is home to one of golf’s great traditions, the ceremonial opening tee shots by non-participating former Master champions. \u00a0For the last four years, I’ve arrived at the course during morning darkness in order to get through the gates near the front of the throng of patrons and secure a position to see three living legends open the tournament at around 7:50 AM. \u00a0For each of the last four years, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player (owners of 13 Green Jackets combined) have stepped up to the first tee, drivers in hand, and each swatted a drive down the fairway. \u00a0 The photos below are NOT from the opening ceremony (no cameras allowed, remember) but from Wednesday’s Par 3 tournament, a family fun event in which both current players and legends of yesteryear compete.<\/p>\n

\"JACK<\/a>

JACK NICKLAUS<\/p><\/div>\n

\"GARY<\/a>

GARY PLAYER<\/p><\/div>\n

\"ARNOLD<\/a>

ARNOLD PALMER<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the tournament begins in earnest, minutes after the legendary trio departs, the players face what is historically the course’s fourth most difficult hole. \u00a0For any player battling the first hole major tournament jitters, the hole has one of the most diabolical putting surfaces he’ll see all day. \u00a0I’ve witnessed many three putts on the opening hole. \u00a0 One of the nice things about the 1st is that, as you can see below, a spectator can get very close to the putting surface. You’ll often be just a couple of yards from players putting or chipping from the left side of the green.<\/p>\n

\"1ST<\/a>

1ST TEE<\/p><\/div>\n

\"1ST<\/a>

1ST GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hole #2 — “Pink Dogwood” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 5 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0575 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As a par 5 reachable in two shots, the second hole is easily the best birdie opportunity on the front nine of Augusta. \u00a0As a spectator, from the right side of the fairway, you can see the players’ approach shots. \u00a0Then, with a pair of binoculars, you can see the putts. \u00a0From there, it’s a short walk through the trees to the 3rd green with a concession stand nearby. The other choice is to walk down to the back of the 2nd green, which provides a better view of the approach shots. \u00a0It’s a very short walk from there to the 7th green. \u00a0The green slopes from the players’ left to right which, when the pin is on the right side of the green (as seen below), a long approach shot can funnel towards the cup. \u00a0Louis Oosthuizen scored a double eagle this way in the final round of the 2012 event.<\/p>\n

\"2ND<\/a>

2ND FAIRWAY<\/p><\/div>\n

\"2ND<\/a>

2ND GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hole #3 — “Flowering Peach” \u00a0 Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0350 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The shortest Par 4 on the course, some players are tempted to bomb it up close to the green. \u00a0My experience though is that a 25 yard pitch on this hole isn’t much easier than a 100 yard approach shot. \u00a0As a spectator, if you stand to the right of the 3rd green, you can also see the tee shots and (with binoculars) the putts on the Par 3 fourth hold. \u00a0It’s a big drop-off to the left of the green, you can’t see anything from there.<\/p>\n

\"3RD<\/a>

3RD FAIRWAY<\/p><\/div>\n

\"3RD<\/a>

3RD GREEN (view from the right of the green)<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u00a0Hole #4 — “Flowering Crab Apple” \u00a0 Par 3 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0240 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the longest and most difficult Par 3 at Augusta. \u00a0It’s an elevated tee shot so it plays a little shorter than the posted yardage but it’s still an extremely difficult shot. \u00a0It’s a two-tiered green with narrow width and it’s very difficult to make a putt if the ball isn’t on the same tier as the flag. \u00a0If there’s a break in the action on the 3rd green, go behind the 4th to have a really good view of the players long tee-balls into the 4th. \u00a0There is a grandstand to the left of the green if you so desire but, with some binocs, you can see the putts from behind the tee while remaining close to the 3rd.<\/p>\n

\"4TH<\/a>

4TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

Hole #5 — “Magnolia” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0455 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’ve seen very little action here over the five years I’ve been going to Augusta. \u00a0It’s a good hole but it’s not geographically convenient to the rest of the course and the left side of the fairway is closed to the patrons. \u00a0It’s tough to see much of anything from the tee or even the fairway but it’s another very interesting green, with multiple mounds that can yield terrorizing ten-foot putts if your ball and the flag are on the wrong side of said mound. \u00a0There are grandstands to the right of the green but you can also see the putts quite well behind the ropes on the left side (pictured below). \u00a0This also give you easy access to views from the 6th and it’s a short walk to the 16th.<\/p>\n

\"5TH<\/a>

5TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

Hole #6 — “Juniper” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 3 \u00a0 \u00a0180 yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is a downhill-uphill Par 3. \u00a0The tee is highly elevated, but the putting surface is also elevated after a big dip which will give your calf muscles a good workout if you walk from the tee to the green. \u00a0The good news is that there’s a concessions tent behind the green. \u00a0On the other side of the concessions stand is the left side of the 3rd fairway. \u00a0 This is a popular hole with the patrons.<\/p>\n

\"6TH<\/a>

6TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

Hole #7 — “Pampas” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0450 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I really like the view of this hole from behind the green. \u00a0It offers an excellent angle to see the approach shots. \u00a0You can also see the approach shots on the 2nd hole and the drives on the 8th. \u00a0This is another narrow green with deep bunkers in front. \u00a0The grandstands you see behind the leader board here are for the 17th hole. \u00a0So this is a good spot because you have four holes of action nearby.<\/p>\n

\"7TH<\/a>

7TH FAIRWAY<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hole #8 — “Yellow Jasmine” \u00a0 Par 5 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0570 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is by far the toughest of the four par 5’s to reach in two shots but it’s yielded more than it’s fair share of birdies without the water peril of its more famous cousins on #13 and #15. \u00a0The green is a very short walk to the 1st green but otherwise not a great spectator spot. \u00a0The large mounds around the green block many potential viewing angles. \u00a0If you’re going to watch action at the 8th, I recommend giving your feet a break and utilizing the grandstand behind the green.<\/p>\n

\"8TH<\/a>

8TH TEE<\/p><\/div>\n

\"8TH<\/a>

8TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u00a0Hole #9 — “Carolina Cherry” \u00a0 Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0460 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Throughout the 1980’s and ’90’s, this was typically where the television coverage began. \u00a0The green is a very short walk from the 18th green and, like the 18th, is an uphill hole. \u00a0Unlike #18, which is a gradual uphill walk, the slope from the fairway to the green on #9 is severe. \u00a0The hole is famous for approach shots that spin\u00a0just<\/em> a bit too much and fall off the front of the green, running dozens of yards back down the hill (think Greg Norman in 1996). \u00a0There are no grandstands here but the natural slope offers many useful viewing angles. \u00a0Because of the uphill nature of the approach shots, it’s easy to follow the ball all the way into the green.<\/p>\n

\"9TH<\/a>

9TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Hole #10 — “Camelia” \u00a0 Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0495 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It’s a long hole but not nearly as long as the 495 yards suggests because it’s a severely downhill fairway from the tee. Most players will hit the ball well over 300 yards, with plenty of roll. \u00a0This hole, because it’s just 15-20 yards from the 18th green, has been the first playoff hole since the 1970’s when two or more players are tied after 72 holes. \u00a0This is where both Bubba Watson (in 2012 with the miracle hook) and Adam Scott (in the rain in 2013) captured their first Green Jackets. \u00a0The very large bunker that you see below in the fairway is not really in play for professional players (I’ve never seen a ball in there EVER, either on TV or in person). \u00a0There’s a good slope on the right side of the green for optimal viewing but the overall space is not quite sufficient for the masses that flock for a playoff hole. \u00a0When I witnessed Scott’s wining birdie putt in 2013, I did it from the fairway with my binocs. \u00a0Since this is a dogleg left, the green can be seen by the patrons from virtually the entire fairway. \u00a0From there, you can pop back to #18. \u00a0If you’re watching action at the 10th green, the 14th and 17th greens are also nearby.<\/p>\n

\"10TH<\/a>

10TH FAIRWAY<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0Hole #11 — “White Dogwood” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0505 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the first of the three holes known as Amen Corner. \u00a0They’re the first three water holes on the course. \u00a0#11 is by far the most difficult; it’s historically the toughest hole on the course overall. \u00a0In yesteryear, it also provided some of the most dramatic playoff moments in the history of the Masters: Fuzzy Zoeller won here in 1979 on the 2nd playoff hole, Nick Faldo won two Green Jackets here and it’s the site of Larry Mize’s impossible chip-in birdie in 1987 to defeat Greg Norman, one of many Augusta heartbreaks for the White Shark. \u00a0In recent years, the lords of Augusta changed the playoff format to alternate between the 10th and 18th holes because, as parallel holes, it’s easier for the patrons to bounce back and fourth between. \u00a0There are always thousands of patrons to the right of the 11th. \u00a0You can see the action on #12 from there and there’s a concession stand nearby.<\/p>\n

\"11TH<\/a>

11TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Hole #12 — “Golden Bell” \u00a0 Par 3 \u00a0 \u00a0155 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Certainly this is the most famous hole on Amen Corner. \u00a0It’s a short shot over Rae’s Creek to an extraordinarily narrow green. \u00a0Because the players are lofting short irons high into the air, a quick gust of wind can turn a birdie putt into a water ball. \u00a0The viewing angle to the right of the 11th green is easily the most popular on the course because it’s the only<\/span> way to watch the action on the famous 12th. \u00a0There’s no space around the green for patrons so the players are by themselves with the nearest gallery members 100 yards away. \u00a0This and the 13th green are easily the most well-known picturesque images at Augusta because of the water and the azaleas.<\/p>\n

\"12TH<\/a>

12TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Hole #13 — “Azalea” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 5 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0510 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With Rae’s Creek running up the left side of the fairway and in front of the green, this is the first of the two risk-reward Par 5’s on the back nine. \u00a0It’s a place where an eagle can jump-start a Sunday charge or a ball in the creek can result in a bogey. \u00a0It’s a sloping green from back-to-front, which once resulted in Tiger Woods putting the ball off the green and into the creek. \u00a0This hole is called “Azalea” because there are more flowers on this hole than any other on the course. There are multiple good spots to watch the action here on the entire right side of the hole. \u00a0Like #10, because it’s a dogleg left, you can see the action on the green from virtually the entire fairway. \u00a0As you can see, you can’t get really close to this green either; there are grandstands just out of view on the right side of this photo which also affords a good views of the tee shots on #14 with another concessions stand right behind it.<\/p>\n

\"13TH<\/a>

13TH FAIRWAY<\/p><\/div>\n

Hole #14 — “Chinese Fir” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0440 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The one no-water hole within a span of five others, this is the only hole at Augusta without any bunkers. \u00a0The hole has no natural hazards but the green is a hazard; it has more undulations on than any other. \u00a0It’s not an easy hole. \u00a0When watching the Masters in person, it’s an easy one to skip. \u00a0While the 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th greens are all at the lowest level of the course, #14 goes back uphill. \u00a0 It’s close geographically to the 17th green, 10th green and 11th fairway. \u00a0Still, with so many players on the course at once, it’s much easier to bounce from the 13th green to the 15th rather than go up and down the hill on #14. \u00a0You can see the 13th green far in the background, down the hill, in this photo.<\/p>\n

\"14TH<\/a>

14TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

Hole #15 — “Firethorn” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 5 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0530 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the last of the par fives and certainly the most famous . \u00a0Like 13, it’s an eagle or a bogey hole but a little more difficult. \u00a0Anyone who has watched the Masters over the years has seen many balls hit the green, only to spin back down the slope into the water fronting the green. \u00a0The most well-known place to watch the action on #15 is in the grandstands either to the left of the green (pictured below) or next to the adjoining 16th tee but there’s also an underutilized spot to the left of the stands on the right side of the green. From there it’s a short walk to see the action at the 16th.<\/p>\n

\"15TH<\/a>

15TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"15TH<\/a>

15TH GREEN (DISTANT VIEW FROM STANDS AT 16TH TEE)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Hole #16 — “Redbud” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 3 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0170 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The final par 3 on the course has been the source of countless dramatic moments in the history of the Masters. \u00a0Think Nicklaus in 1975 and 1986 and Tiger’s chip-in birdie on his way to his last title in 2005. \u00a0It’s a hole with such a large viewing area that it looks like it should have been designed by Pete Dye (the architect of the “stadium golf” concept at the Tournament Players’ courses around the U.S.). \u00a0If you buy a Masters folding chair ($40 I think), this is where I would place it (on the slope, put it high enough that you can see the putts on #15). \u00a0People are very respectful here. \u00a0If you put your chair down (with your name identifying it on the back), people won’t sit in it until you return.<\/p>\n

\"16TH<\/a>

16TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Hole #17 — “Nandina” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0440 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The penultimate hole was for years site of the famous “Eisenhower Tree,” a towering pine on the left side of the fairway that caught many a drive of the Augusta National member and former president Dwight Eisenhower. \u00a0Ike lobbied to have the tree removed but was rebuffed by club leadership. \u00a0Sadly, in the winter of 2014 the tree was damaged by an ice storm and had to be removed. \u00a0The hole is more difficult than it looks; I’ve seen many a player fail to get the ball up and down when they miss the green. \u00a0There is a grandstand to the left of the green but you can also see the action from behind it (which is then a short walk to the 10th or 14th greens.<\/p>\n

\"17TH<\/a>

17TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Hole #18 — “Holly” \u00a0 \u00a0Par 4 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0465 Yards<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There is no greater walk in golf for a former or hopeful champion than the walk up the 18th fairway. \u00a0It’s an intimate amphitheater at the green, not a tremendous amount of prime viewing area. \u00a0Somehow it works at Augusta because many patrons don’t make the long walk up the hill from the 15th and 16th greens (the bottom of the course) up to #18 (at the top of the course). \u00a0Still, if you ever find yourself at Augusta on Sunday you’ve got to get there somehow and wedge your way in for a viewing angle. \u00a0I will admit it\u00a0does<\/span> help to be 6’6″ in this scenario.<\/p>\n

\"18TH<\/a>

18TH FAIRWAY<\/p><\/div>\n

\"18TH<\/a>

18TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for taking the time to read. \u00a0 And if you ever make it to Augusta, try to get to a practice round so you can make your own memories.<\/p>\n

I’ll conclude this blog by adding some of my favorite photos from the two years I took pictures. \u00a0These pictures are not of the course specifically but of the players (from the practice round and the Par 3 tournament) and also a certain self-absorbed member of the gallery.<\/p>\n

\"2012<\/a>

2012 and 2014 CHAMPION BUBBA WATSON<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"2013<\/a>

2013 CHAMPION ADAM SCOTT<\/p><\/div>\n

\"2013<\/a>

2013 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION JUSTIN ROSE<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"1992<\/a>

1992 CHAMPION FRED COUPLES<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"JACK<\/a>

JACK AND ARNIE<\/p><\/div>\n

\"PAR<\/a>

3-TIME CHAMPION NICK FALDO<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"RORY<\/a>

RORY MCILROY<\/p><\/div>\n

\"3-TIME<\/a>

3-TIME CHAMPION PHIL MICKELSON<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"4-TIME<\/a>

FOUR-TIME CHAMPION TIGER WOODS<\/p><\/div>\n

\"AUGUSTA<\/a>

AUGUSTA NATIONAL MEMBER CONDOLEEZZA RICE AND…<\/p><\/div>\n

\"2-TIME<\/a>

2-TIME CHAMPION TOM WATSON<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"16TH<\/a>

16TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

\"13TH<\/a>

13TH GREEN<\/p><\/div>\n

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The best, the VERY best part about a long weekend at Augusta & the great concessions prices:<\/p>\n

\"DSCN0626\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"CONCESSIONS<\/a><\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I started watching the Masters at the age of 13, having taken up the game of golf a few years earlier. \u00a0My first Masters was the 1979 classic in which Fuzzy Zoeller defeated Tom Watson and Ed Sneed in a playoff. \u00a0Since that spring morning, I’ve watched the tournament every single year. \u00a0For the last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-masters"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/16TH-GREEN-POSTCARD.jpg?fit=4608%2C3456&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5rqzv-6h","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2714,"url":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?p=2714","url_meta":{"origin":389,"position":0},"title":"The Masters and The Open","author":"chrisbodig@gmail.com","date":"August 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A fortnight ago, I had the privilege of completing the \"career grand slam\" of golf attendance when I traveled across the pond and spent three days at The Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. Sunday's final round was, of course, one for the ages, as Jordan Spieth captured his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Featured Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/THE-OPEN-AND-THE-MASTERS-IMAGES.png?fit=1200%2C501&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/THE-OPEN-AND-THE-MASTERS-IMAGES.png?fit=1200%2C501&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/THE-OPEN-AND-THE-MASTERS-IMAGES.png?fit=1200%2C501&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/THE-OPEN-AND-THE-MASTERS-IMAGES.png?fit=1200%2C501&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/THE-OPEN-AND-THE-MASTERS-IMAGES.png?fit=1200%2C501&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1813,"url":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?p=1813","url_meta":{"origin":389,"position":1},"title":"Arnold Palmer 1929-2016","author":"chrisbodig@gmail.com","date":"September 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"During the Sunday Night Football contest tonight, most of the sporting world learned that golfing legend Arnold Palmer passed away today at the age of 87. Palmer, affectionately known as \"The King\" of professional golf, was a fabulous golfer and one of the greatest ambassadors any sport could have. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Featured Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/PAR-3-ARNIE-TEES-OFF.jpg?fit=1200%2C968&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/PAR-3-ARNIE-TEES-OFF.jpg?fit=1200%2C968&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/PAR-3-ARNIE-TEES-OFF.jpg?fit=1200%2C968&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/PAR-3-ARNIE-TEES-OFF.jpg?fit=1200%2C968&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/PAR-3-ARNIE-TEES-OFF.jpg?fit=1200%2C968&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1402,"url":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?p=1402","url_meta":{"origin":389,"position":2},"title":"30 Years Ago: Jack’s 6th Green Jacket","author":"chrisbodig@gmail.com","date":"April 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Every once in a while, the universe gives you a mulligan. It could be a second ball off the first hole, a second chance at the \"one who got away,\" or a second run at the presidency (see Hillary Clinton). This is not a political piece. It's a reflection on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Featured Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"NICKLAUS 1986 AT 17","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/NICKLAUS-1986-AT-17-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2556,"url":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?p=2556","url_meta":{"origin":389,"position":3},"title":"Masters Photo Essay and Course Guide","author":"chrisbodig@gmail.com","date":"April 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I started watching the Masters at the age of 11, having taken up the game of golf a year earlier. My first Masters was the 1979 classic in which Fuzzy Zoeller defeated Tom Watson and Ed Sneed in a playoff. Since that spring morning, I've watched the tournament every single\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Featured Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/15TH-GREEN.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/15TH-GREEN.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/15TH-GREEN.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/15TH-GREEN.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/15TH-GREEN.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1611,"url":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?p=1611","url_meta":{"origin":389,"position":4},"title":"Another Epic Duel in Scotland","author":"chrisbodig@gmail.com","date":"July 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Today on the west coast of Scotland, at the Royal Troon Golf Club, a course originally founded in 1878 hosted one of the greatest one-on-one duels in the history of major championship golf. With a final round of 63 (which included a record-tying 10 birdies with two bogies), 40-year old\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Featured Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/HENRIK-STENSON-OPEN-3.png?fit=433%2C359&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1843,"url":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?p=1843","url_meta":{"origin":389,"position":5},"title":"Thanks for the Memories, Vin Scully","author":"chrisbodig@gmail.com","date":"September 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This weekend in San Francisco, the world's longest broadcasting career will come to a close. The Giants, in their pursuit of a wild card playoff berth, will host the Los Angeles Dodgers. These will be the final three games of the regular season for the Giants and Dodgers and the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Baseball"","block_context":{"text":"Baseball","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/?cat=12"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/VIN-SCULLY.jpg?fit=800%2C453&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/VIN-SCULLY.jpg?fit=800%2C453&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/VIN-SCULLY.jpg?fit=800%2C453&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisbodig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/VIN-SCULLY.jpg?fit=800%2C453&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=389"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":461,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389\/revisions\/461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chrisbodig.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}