Masters Week and the Eye of the Tiger

Masters week is upon us. It brings such fond memories for when I drove down Magnolia Lane in the company of my great friend and golf student Tim Herron for his first Masters appearance as a professional golfer.

To understand the importance of this for me, I would like to take you back to my childhood in Ireland. Growing up as a boy in Belfast at my Shandon Park Golf Club, I saw the members congregate around the television with total excitement to watch the start of this prestigious event.

Everyone had his favorites and discussions would go back and forth in time between current and past champions. Wagers would be placed and the Guinness would flow from the taps, as everyone waited in anticipation for the tournament to commence.

Back in the day, my favorite was “The Matador,” the great Spaniard Seve Ballesteros. He played that course with such creativity and flair, exciting his galleries with recovery shots that were beyond imagination.

My first experience playing Augusta was at the invitation of the late Gordon Ritz, along with our mutual friend the late Duncan MacMillan and the flamboyant New York Irishman, John Bannon. I had the experience of a lifetime! Lodging at the clubhouse under the infamous “Crows Nest,” I awoke at 5 a.m. and witnessed a misty morning sunrise over the first tee.

The mists had dissipated by our tee time and standing on the first tee, Mr. Bannon looked at me and said, “Gerald, there are those of us who are Irish, and those who would love to be Irishmen today!” 

The 2007 Masters was a memorable one for me. Two events that stick in my mind are my conversation with the great South African, Gary Player, and getting caught in Tiger Woods’ stare.

Walking inside the ropes with Tim Herron during his practice round, I looked over at the ninth green and there was Gary Player putting. I told Tim I would be back in a minute and strode over to Mr. Player where I said to him, “We have a wonderful friend in common.” To which he replied, “Who would that be?” “Harold Middleton,” I said. His eyes lit up and he asked me how I knew him. Middleton taught me to play as a young boy at Shandon Park Golf Club. He and Gary Player had traveled together as young touring pros in South Africa.

Later that day, I was on the practice green and knelt down to watch Tim’s putting stroke. After retrieving three perfect putts out of the hole, I stood up and found myself in Tiger’s eye line. His gaze wasn’t on me per se, but focused intently on whatever his objective was for his practice session.
It occurred to me after witnessing his focus firsthand that this is the reason he is the perfect golfer and so dominant in this sport—and the reason Masters week is a treat for the golfer and the non-golfer alike. His gaze was simply a reflection of his dedication and passion for winning. 

- Gerald McCullagh