I think I have a vision of what sundown might look like in heaven! I left Minot at 7:50 a.m. and arrived in Coulmbia, S.C., a little after 4 p.m.
Hopped in a rental car and drove straight to Augusta National. All of the players had left for the day (the par 3 was cut short due to severe weather) so I walked out and stood along the first fairway. Looking across Augusta, I think they should patent the Augusta green off their golf course. It looks unreal.
Scanning the course I could see volunteers and grounds workers walking up and down all of the fairways with garbage bags and plastic buckets picking up all of the small twigs, pine cones and anything else that would make Augusta look unkempt. It looked like a busy ant colony with all of the folks doing their assigned tasks. I did not see a pair of jeans on any of the workers and I would say that 95 percent had on Augusta green shirts.
Anyway, back to Heaven! Sundown at Augusta is surreal and heavenly. An artist would have to capture the beauty of the place on canvas as I am sure that a camera would not do justice. The beauty of that sunset will be in my memory for years to come. I wish my old friend Mike Fedorchak could have been standing with me (maybe he was). He would have lit up his one of his famous cigars and then said "don't tell Betty!" Mike was a great supporter of golf and Minot. We recently lost Mike and he will be missed by all of his family and friends. He was a good man and a good guy.
Augusta had over an inch of rain so the predictors are all picking the long hitters. The last time I checked the tour stats, they all hit it pretty darn far.
My sentimental pick would be Fred Couples. Phil Mickelson would be my second choice. Hunter Mahan is my first real choice, followed by Rory McIlroy. The humidity is very high and I think it will be a little tougher on the older players with the extreme elevation changes. Well time to hit the hay as I want to be by the first tee to watch Arnie, Jack and Gary tee off at around 7:30 a.m.
Steve Kottsick is the golf professional at Souris Valley Golf Course. This week, he is at the Masters.