Vinny Giles simply couldn ’ t sit still two weeks before the 1968 Masters .
by LEONARD SHAPIRO
G
LOSE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vinny Giles simply couldn ’ t sit still two weeks before the 1968 Masters .
He ’ d qualified to play after finishing runner-up in the ’ 67 U . S . Amateur , but there he was , stuck in a lecture hall as a second-year law student at the University of Virginia , day dreaming far more about birdies and eagles than briefs and torts .
He ’ d initially planned to head to Augusta on the Saturday before the tournament week started . But he knew his game needed a whole lot of work . He hadn ’ t been playing much in wintery Charlottesville , and when he did venture out for a chilly round , it took three layers of clothing just to walk on threadbare fairways and putt on frozen greens .
“ I woke up that Thursday before I was supposed to leave and I just said I can ’ t stand this anymore ,” Giles recalled . “ I was up at 6 , loaded up the car by 8 and got to Augusta at 2:30 that afternoon . I played 18 that day , then 18 or more every day in the practice rounds .”
In the end , it paid off handsomely . Giles was the Masters ’ low amateur that year , tied for 22nd . The upcoming 2018 Masters marks the 50th anniversary of the Lynchburg native ’ s memorable week at Augusta National , though truth be told , Giles — who is retired and splits time between homes in Virginia and Florida — didn ’ t even realize it until a reporter called for an interview .
That Masters will always be remembered as the tournament where Roberto DiVicenzo of Argentina , who thought he won , signed an incorrect scorecard after his final hole and was penalized , allowing Bob Goalby to claim the green jacket .
Giles ’ amateur medal received scant attention that day , and probably forever more . And yet he , his wife , Key , and all the friends and family who saw it up close and personal will never forget the first of Giles ’ three appearances in the tournament he dreamed about playing almost from the first time he picked up a golf club .
Giles spent his first five days at Augusta National living with his fellow amateurs in the spartan “ Crow ’ s Nest ” in the upper reaches of the clubhouse . He describes it now as like living in a military barracks , in a room that had a curtain for a door , and only one bathroom . Still , the price certainly was right . They paid $ 1 for breakfast , $ 1 for lunch and $ 2 for dinner in the clubhouse and were charged $ 2 a day for the room .
When Key and other family members arrived , Giles moved to more comfortable accommodations away from the course . He also seemed extremely comfortable in Thursday ’ s opening round , despite being paired with former Masters champion Doug Ford , who was not particularly pleasant to his young playing partner .
Giles , avoiding a harsher description , just as you ’ d expect from a perfect southern gentleman , said , “ He didn ’ t really talk to me , always walked ahead of me or stood at the edge of the green in my line while I was putting . He wasn ’ t much fun to play with , I can tell you that .”
Giles manufactured his own fun , with a birdie at the first hole despite hitting his drive left onto the ninth fairway . His 6-iron approach left him a tricky 30-footer , but he made that putt , sank an impossible 45-footer over a swale for birdie at the fifth and birdied the par-5 8th to go 3 under .
After he parred the ninth for a fabulous front-side 33 , a red-coated Masters official on the putting surface , there to announce the names of
M ARCH / A PRIL 2018 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 19