Mark Cannizzaro - Seven Days in Augusta: Behind the Scenes at the Masters

To my wife, Carolyn, for her organizational skills that helped me construct this book and, more importantly, for putting up with my nonsense.

Content

Foreword by Phil Mickelson

My first Masters memory was in 1980 when Seve Ballesteros holed out on 18, chipped in. He was fist pumping. I said to my mom, I want to win the Masters.

For me, that major championship meant the most because history is made there every year. That was always the most fun tournament to watch, because it was exciting. You had a lot of stuff happening, like birdies and eagles and fun golf, the kind of golf I always liked to play.

When I won the Masters for the first time in 2004, it was one of those moments that you kind of realize a dream. When you put stuff out there in the universe and you say, This is whats going to happen, Im going to do this, and then you actually do it...thats a cool moment. And thats what was happening for me when I won there for the first time.

You certainly feel differently about yourself as a first-time Masters or first-time major winner, because you know that people are viewing you a little bit differently, or at least you feel it. So you end up having a lot more confidence. It was certainly a validating experience finally winning a major and not having to deal with questions and the criticisms. In a sense it was more of a relief in that regard. But I always knew that it was going to happen, so it wasnt as big a deal.

What I remember most about that day was the Masters used to have a dinner the night of the final round for the winner. You could have all your friends and family and anybody who you want to be there, and that was a really fun experience. I really enjoyed that dinner, because its your first chance after doing the awards ceremony and giving speeches and doing the media that you can finally relax and hang out with your friends in the Trophy Room. That was always fun.

When Im asked to compare and contrast my three wins at Augusta, I always say I enjoyed 06 and 10 more, although I remember 04 better because of the moment and the way it all happened.

But I enjoyed the latter two more because I had a two- or three-shot lead walking up 18 and I knew I had it won. I was able to embrace that moment and let my guard down a little bit and look around and take it in. And I still have the memory of seeing the people and walking up the fairway and knowing I had won this tournament. I was able to let myself mentally enjoy it.

That was one of the coolest moments. Dont get me wrongits fun to birdie the last hole and win. But youre so in the moment that you dont really have the chance to cherish whats happening. And to enjoy the walk up 18 was pretty special. In 04, I had to stay sharp. I enjoy looking back on 04 more, but I really enjoyed 06 and 10.

The first win, in 04, was probably the most exciting moment in my careerto birdie the last hole to win by one, to win my first major, at the Masters, my favorite event.

The 2010 Masters win for me was special because the entire family was there. My wife, Amy, was past her toughest moments from treatments for breast cancer and the kids were old enough to understand what was going on and enjoy it. When I won my first Masters, my son, Evan, was only one year old. In 10, they were all there. My daughter Sophia and I would go for coffee in the mornings and play chess. The kids were teaching me how to play. I cant believe I hadnt played chess when I was younger, but the kids got me into it. So, we would go to a coffee shop and play chess in the morning, which was a great way to kill some time. I always remember that as being a special part of the week.

After I won in 10 was when I was photographed at a Krispy Kreme drive-thru with the kids while wearing my green jacket. The kids had been asking to go to Krispy Kreme all week long, and I told them, Ill go, but I cant go until after the tournament. I dont want to have all that sugar in me while Im playing. But come Monday, Ill unload and eat as much as possible.

So thats what we did. And it worked out very well. I had the jacket onbecause I was cold, of course. And the lady there took a picture of it, and there you go. It was all over social media pretty quickly.

My favorite Masters memory before I played the tournament was in 1989, when I was playing college golf for Arizona State and went to Augusta to play a tournament there at Forest Hills. I ended up winning it, which was a cool experience because Bobby Jones had spent a lot of time there. And after that, we went out and watched a Masters practice round at Augusta. I remember seeing Greg Norman and Ray Floyd playing with Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. And those four players had the fairways lined on each side down Nos. 8, 9, and 10.

That was the last year that autographs were allowed on the clubhouse side on the golf course, and they all had Sharpie marks all over them. It was chaos. Thats what I remember seeing. They could not get from the ninth green to the 10 th tee, it was such a mob scene.

The best benefit as a Masters champion is being able to play in the tournament every year until you want to stop. The way they treat the past champions at the Masters is better than any tournament in golfwhether its the little things like the Champions Locker Room or having the annual Champions Dinner. The way they give you your green jacket to walk around the premises and hang out in, or being able to come back every year, so you get to reminisce on the biggest victory of your career.

You get to be a part of the tournament for the rest of your life. Not every tournament does that.

In recent years, theyve started allowing past champions to stay in the cabins at the course. I used to stay in the Marriott Courtyard, and now when I go there, I stay in a cabin. I end up having dinner there, which is brought to the cabin while I watch past Masters Tournaments on the television. They have a system in every cabin where you can call up any of the Masters Tournaments and watch them.

I have watched my wins, but I also like watching the old ones, from Arnold Palmer going back.

Its the memories like that and the chance every year I have to play the Masters that makes it my favorite week in golf. Simply driving down Magnolia Lane still moves me now.

Looking back on it, every time I drive down Magnolia Lane, I drive slower so I can enjoy that moment, because you appreciate it more. When youre young, you think, Well, Im going to be doing this all the time . As you get older, you realize this is a special privilege to be able to drive down Magnolia Lane.

Im sometimes asked what it will feel like when I play my final Masters as a competitor. Itll be tough. Itll be emotional. But to have had that many years of doing it, and to be a part of the history, is pretty special. So, when its time, I will have had a lot of great memories and great years.

Phil Mickelson

PART ONE: MO NDAY

First Impressions

You never forget your first look.

The first glance at Augusta National Golf Club is as breathtaking as it is surreal.

The moment you walk through the gates for the Masters Tournament you realize how different it is. For many reasons, its not like any other golf tournament or sporting event on the planet, but mostly because of the canvas on which the worlds most prestigious golf tournament is played.

Augusta National and the Masters are about so much more than the 18 holes, a stately clubhouse, the best players in the world convening once a year, and a trophy being presented to the winner at the end of the week.