Ah...THE MASTERS!

Ah...THE MASTERS!

Affectionately known in the golf world as the "Holy Grail of Golf," this is one experience that more than lives up to its mighty reputation. From the first step, walking under the famous white porticos, to watching the drop of the last winning putt, you are drenched in the history, tradition and mystique that is the game of golf.

It's all there.

The challenge of a spectacular course. A course groomed to perfection and designed to require the golfer to reach into the deep recesses of their skill, imagination and courage if they are to be victorious.

The players, the challengers, the chosen few. Fierce competitors all, each with the pre-requisite skills, each a contender, a proven winner.

The Fans. Known as the most knowledgeable gallery on the tour, they both look and act the part. As befits the South, there is a genteel quality to the crowd, even as they walk briskly first thing in the morning to place their chairs in the perfect spot for the days viewing. Although unoccupied for even several hours, a placed chair is respected and left unmolested, awaiting its owners return.

Steeped in a history and tradition that is made tangible by watching golf greats Gene Sarazan, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson open the tournament with their honorary drives off the first tee, by standing under the huge umbrella tree in front of the clubhouse, or by viewing the memorabilia within the clubhouse, you know you are someplace very special.

Even the name, The Masters, reminds us that golf at its best is always about personal mastery. Victory in golf is a personal victory, a melding of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of self into a whole capable of successfully meeting all the challenges that come before it during four days of rigorous competition. No small feat. Especially at Augusta National.

No one could deny the electricity generated by U.S. Amateur Champion, Matt Kuchar, whose skill and infectious smile won the crowd over in short order. Starting his first round as a relative unknown, paired with Tiger Woods, he said he was a bit intimidated at first, but that Tiger helped put him at ease.

"He was really helpful to me, he talked and joked and that made it easier, he went out of his way to help me relax."

It also didn't hurt that within a few holes the hearts of the large gallery following these two was captured by this engaging gentleman from the University of Georgia who forever smiled, even after a double bogey!

It was a mutual love affair born of the delight of witnessing someone truly enjoying the game of golf while playing at a highly competitive level.

And of course there was the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, thrilling the crowd as he sank birdie putts and made everyone believe that anything's possible.

If the winner were chosen by a popularity contest it would have been close-with Nicklaus having a slight edge. But play as well as they did, the ultimate winner finally emerged from the pool of great players that lie between the history represented by Kuchar and Nicklaus.

And finally emerged is the key. Another tradition at the Masters is that the winner is usually unknown until the last few holes of play on Sunday, last year's domination by Tiger a noteworthy exception, this year's win by Mark O'Meara fit the mold.

The best game plan at Auguata is to have a game plan and then to stick with it through thick and thin. No where is it more important to hold the belief that you're capable of winning while at the same time recognizing that you may not, and that either way it is not a statement of your personal worth.

The concentration and the focus exhibited by the players was intense to say the least. The air around many seemed almost brittle as they strode purposefully down fairways and onto greens.

In fact it was remarkable that while observing the entire field walk by a large group of spectators seated on the grassy slope beneath the tee box of the par 3 number six, only three of the players gave any real indication of the presence of the crowd.

Even among cheers, clapping, and calling of players names, all but three focused straight ahead, looked down, or remained engaged in conversation with their caddie. Nicklaus, Zoeller, and Kuchar waved, smiled, and made eye-contact with the group of adoring fans. They made you especially glad you came.

For many others, they seemed to believe the myth that the "Hogan Way" is the only way. Ben Hogan is recognized for his intense concentration on the course, for his need to block out all distractions by becoming exceptionally introverted on the course.

His way worked for him and it works for some others, perhaps like Nicklaus in his earlier years, but it doesn't work for everyone, and in fact if it is not natural to your temperament and personality, can prevent you from playing at your best.

Watching many of the players brought to mind the "tension of trying," and the "got-to's" of grinding, versus the tranquility of trust. Of trusting yourself to find the right balance between "looking out" and "looking in" on the golf course. Finding the balance that is right for you is one of the many mental skills that is beneficial to any golfer, pros and amateurs alike.

Be encouraged to experiment with yourself on the course, at times practicing introversion, excluding all that is around you by the. intense focus held within. Then other times see what happens if you chat with your buddies, enjoy your surroundings and play more outside yourself.

Then try some blending of the two, perhaps with the goal of being able to move in and out of intense focus while over each shot. Know that the answer will be unique to you just as your best swing is unique to you.

Believing in your self and finding your own way is a potent skill for all golfers, leading to greater consistency and lower scores, and perhaps if openly expressed by more of the pros, would make even an extraordinary golf event like

The Masters a more pleasurable spectator event. The Masters, by its very nature, asks everyone involved to be the very best that they can be. No one is immune from its spell; not the players, the spectators, the officials, the sponsors, the media, the groundskeepers or the multitude of volunteers. And certainly not the clean-up crews, who, decked out in their bright yellow official Masters uniforms unobtrusively and diligently pick up any piece of litter almost before it hits the ground.

It is a privilege to witness this class act and easy to understand why tickets are carefully guarded and handed down from generation to generation. Because like "Maria," and to paraphrase this popular Broadway song, from West Side Story, for golfers the world round,

'The Masters' are two of the most beautiful words they've ever heard.

The Masters, say it loud and there's music playing,

The Masters, say it soft, and for most of the golf world, it's almost like praying, as could only be true of the "Holy Grail of Golf."

---

Dr. Paula King, Golf's "Head" Coach®, is a licensed sports psychologist in private practice in Phoenix. Specializing in work with golfers her clients include tour pros, juniors and amateurs. Comments or Questions?