The CSGA Links Volume 5 Issue 1 April 2017 | Page 21

2017 MASTERS
Raymond Jr. at Augusta National ~ An Inside Look at The Masters
TUESDAY- Champions Dinner
For the third year in a row, Raymond Floyd, Jr., former CSGA
Mid-Amateur Champion and the son of Hall of Famer,
Ray Floyd provided the CSGA website with a daily blog
from Augusta National each day of The Masters week. An
abbreviated version of Raymond’s observations and insights
follows here:
MONDAY- Practice Round

An interesting fact about the greens is the sub-
air system they have at Augusta. In short, they have
pumps underneath every green that literally sucks the
water out of the greens and pumps it to other spots
on the course. They also have coils underneath them
that water can be run through. So when you get the 95
degree days in Augusta in the summer they can run cold
water through the coils and keep the soil temperature
exactly where they want it for optimal growth, and in
the winter vice-versa. In fact, I have seen some pictures
of Augusta with snow all over the course and the greens
perfectly normal.

When I got to the 7th hole the group that was
coming up was Steve Stricker, Bubba Watson, and US
Amateur runner up Brad Dalke. What stood out, and
I guess this can be said anytime you talk about Steve
Stricker is how he putts. I will tell you that if he took 15
putts on that green today he made 13 of them. I mean
the ball rolls so perfectly every time. It is actually fun to
watch - almost mesmerizing in a sense.
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I saw Sergio on the veranda. He was dressed in
all black had a little grin on his face and just looked
very relaxed. He played a practice round with fellow
Spaniards Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Jose Maria Olazabal
as well as Italian Francesco Molinari.

Sergio looked very relaxed out there, was hitting
it very well, and actually looked very comfortable on the
greens. I think this might be a guy whose time might be
now. He just looks like a different Sergio, a Sergio that
might be in this tournament not having a care in the
world, a Sergio that has no pressure on him. I think he
is to be reckoned with this week.

As for the Champions Dinner, one thing that
is always a little surreal but never gets old is when we
leave the house and Dad is in a dress shirt and a tie,
but no jacket. Almost always I feel the need to remind
him to get his blazer, but I always catch myself as I
know he has a blazer waiting for him in his locker in the
Champions Room. Gives me goose bumps just to write
that sentence.

Of the 34 living Masters Champions 33 were at
the dinner with Jack Burke Jr. at the ripe age of 94 being
the only person not in attendance. Interestingly enough
Jack Burke is not the oldest living Masters Champion, as
Doug Ford has him by about 5 months. The youngest
champion is Jordan Spieth at 23. A span of 71 years
which is pretty remarkable.

As far as the Champions Dinner goes, Danny
Willett, the defending champion selected prime rib to
be served, and I can also tell you that the entire theme
of the dinner was about one person and one person
only, Arnold Palmer.

You can imagine emotions were pretty charged
up behind those closed doors. Kudos to Danny Willett
for doing a very neat tribute to The King. Mr Palmer’s
favorite vodka was Ketel One, so Danny Willett gave to
every champion in attendance a collectors edition bottle
of Ketel One with the famous Palmer umbrella logo on
it, with an old vibrant picture of the king on the label,
with the words “Dear Mr. Palmer, This one’s for you.” I
got the chills when I saw it. Well done, Danny Willett.
CSGA Links // April, 2017 | 21