Daniel Summerhays
Nationality: American. Qualified: Finishing 3rd in last year’s US PGA Career highlights: Runner-up in two PGA Tour events, T8 in last year’s US Open
This is a lifelong dream come true. Of all the tournaments I dreamt of playing in growing up the Masters and US Open were the two that stood out, followed by The Open which I realised at Troon last year. I believe I can compete, but Rory is the man to beat.
I’ve been to Augusta once before but never played it. I’m excited to see what it’s really like during tournament week. You watch it every year, know all the holes, but to actually feel how fast and undulating the greens are…
It’s special because of its aura. The same place every year, the same 18 holes. I even like the Masters music, composed by Dave Loggins – I’m probably one of the few to know that. I even know the words to that song!
I’ve talked to a few guys – Zach Johnson and Branden Grace have been really helpful and the advice they’ve given me is to go there as close to the tournament as I can. It’s not really that useful to go to the course in January or February because it is completely different. I’ll go on the Monday before Bay Hill, three weeks before the Masters, so the course is going to be in pretty good shape, just to get a feel for the layout, the routing and everything.
I’ll have my entire family with me. I’m the youngest of seven kids. They give us eight passes and we can buy four more so we’ve pretty much got it taken care of. I can’t wait for the Par-3 event – I’ve got four kids and my wife has already got four little caddie outfits ready!
My earliest Masters memories were in 1992 when, aged nine, I remember seeing Freddie Couples’ ball somehow stop going into the water at 12. Four years later I watched intently Greg Norman’s collapse at the hands of Faldo.
I’m not expecting it to be my last Masters. I believe I will compete there by virtue of my top-three finish at the PGA Championship and also finishing 8th at last year’s US Open, so I know my game is suited for Majors.
If it’s not me wearing the green jacket, I feel the guy who wants it the most right now is Rory Mcilroy and I have a hard time believing he won’t be there late Sunday. He’s such a good guy and I think when he is on, there’s nobody who can beat him.