The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Garcia honoring his late friend
Augusta National member Chapman died last year at 66.
Sergio Garcia is wearing a green ribbon on his cap as he defends his Masters title in honor of late Augusta National member Robert Chapman III.
Chapman died on Aug. 23 at the age of 66, according to Garcia, of a brain aneurysm. Chapman, a textile mogul and philanthropist, was chairman, CEO and treasurer of Inman Mills in Spartanburg County, S.C.
Garcia said he and Chapman developed a friendship from his days as an amateur playing the Masters.
“Him and Nick Evans were the first two members when I started coming here in 1999 as an amateur, were the first two members that we built a relationship with and we played golf with,” Garcia said Tuesday. “Then we got to know the whole membership, which was amazing. But those two were the first two, and we built a really big friendship. And it was very sad to hear what happened to him.”
Garcia said he was happy to win the Masters, his first golf major title, last year with Chapman there to witness the long-awaited victory.
“I remember the hug we had just as we finished at the 18th hole, just before the prize giving,” Garcia said. “I remember he was right behind me on the right on the prize giving, and it was very special. I know that he wanted me to win, many people wanted me to win, but he
wanted me to win so badly, and fortunately at least he got to see that. So I hope he’s enjoying it up there.”
Groupings of note
The Thursday honorary tee shots at the Masters always draw a significant crowd but based on Tuesday’s pied piper followers of Tiger Woods in his practice round, the most anticipated first shot Thursday likely will be Woods at 10:42 a.m. His group includes Marc Leishman and Tommy Fleetwood.
Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus again will hit ceremonial tee shots to begin the day at 8:15 a.m.
Immediately after Woods is the group of defending champion Sergio Garcia, Justin Thomas and U.S. Amateur champion Doc Redman of Clemson at 10:53 a.m. Then two-time champ Bubba Watson is joined by Henrik Stenson and Jason Day at 11:04 a.m.
The key afternoon groupings: 1:27 p.m. (Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar), 1:38 p.m. (Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm), 1:49 p.m. ( Jordan Spieth, Alex Noren, Louis Oosthuizen) and 2 p.m. in the final group ( Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Rafael Cabrera-Bello).
89: An important caddie bib number in “Masters history, trivia division.” It was the number worn by Jack Nicklaus’ son as caddie in the famous 1986 sixth victory in Augusta by Nicklaus. Then the same number was worn by the winner’s caddie in 2016 (Danny Willett) and 2017 (Sergio Garcia). With only 87 players in this year’s field, the smallest since 86 in 1997, there is no caddie set to wear the number.
He said it
“No. Not at all. Phil is actually
twice my age but really I feel after spending so much time with him that I just consider him a friend. To me, I still look up to him a lot, still an idol, and I know every time I see him it’s wow. It’s still Phil Mickelson, right? I still feel like a kid. Especially when you see him around here. It’s just — it just seems like one step above us every time, especially when he grabs a sand wedge around the green. But I don’t think — I mean, I don’t consider them old.”
— Spaniard Jon Rahm, 23, when asked if Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were old to him.
Forecast
Today: 50 percent chance of rain mainly between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., cooler with high around 70. Clearing by 4 p.m. For Thursday and Friday, the forecast is for cooler but little chance of rain.