4.6.26 | Jim Nantz, Scott Van Pelt, Ben Crenshaw, Jaime Diaz, and Keith Stewart | Masters Preview | 5 Clubs

Good morning and welcome in. This is Five Clubs on God Channel. You are a vital part of our game.

Thank you for having me on. All the way to the greeting. What was that fun? I've always wanted to be on Five Clubs.

Good morning and welcome to Five Clubs live on a Master's Monday. Here on God Channel and also on Master's Radio.

Normally PGA Tour Radio Channel 92 on Series 6M. This week it is Master's Radio 2 hours for you today. I'm Gary Williams.

Whether it's one or two and in this case Master's Monday. Every day presented by Century Insurance.

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And all the way to the PGA Tour and right here at Five Clubs. Their business is business insurance.

Evaluate yours with them at Century Insurance. Over the course of the next two hours we've got a lot to get to because

these are special weeks that define careers and we start with your T-sheet because some of the people

whose careers have been defined by this. Not only covering it by playing as well on the Master's

Tournament but we will also honor those who get to the elusive winter circles on the various tours

because we always start with your weekly winners. Jaime Diaz is first Master's. He picked a good

one 1986. He will be with me in about 15 minutes, get his thoughts. On this decade to start with

we're halfway through it and I believe that every guy who's already won in this decade is going to

the World Golf Hall of Fame. Ben Crenshaw is in the World Golf Hall of Fame and large measure because

he won the Master's Tournament twice in addition to having a fabulous wonderful career. One of the

best college players, amateur careers as well and of course one of the best designers of golf courses

around the world looking forward to a conversation with him at the bottom of the hour. The Rory repeat

has only been done three times in the history of the Master's Tournament. We'll take a quick look

back on the last decade and the fact that these winners have struggled as well to even put them

in position to contend to win Jim Nance. Top of the next hour, his first Master's was also

1986. I mean good timing, Jim and of course he stationed on to 16 when Nicholas backed off and

he had that incredible interlude with Tom Wisecoff who was stationed in Butler cabin. Always

love a visit with Jim Nance. Five to no, five nuggets about a gust of national in the Master's

Tournament. You might not be aware of and then key Stewart from Read the Line is going to join us

trying to give us an idea of how do you handicap and and get yourself set up to play players when

it comes to this week. It will also include our Master's picks from the staff here at five clubs

and then finally the man will host on ESPN on Thursday and Friday in addition to the poor three

contest as well on Wednesday afternoon started his career in terms of people really seeing him

at golf channel and he had one of what I thought was one of the great impromptu conversations

with a Master's champion in the aftermath of 1997 with Tiger Woods, Scott Van Pelt,

always loving having a conversation with him. So that is your T-sheet. Let's go back to the top

of that T-sheet because even though we look ahead now to this Master's week, the winners,

we always celebrate them. Let's take a look across the board. One of them did it at Augustin

National but JJ Spawn was already in the Masters field. He won the US Open last year. He was struggling

to a degree early in this season through the quarter pole. He had four missed cuts. His best

result was a tie for 24th at the players. He jumps up, plays marathon golf on the weekend,

stops and starts and he wins the Valera Texas Open his third win. Maria Jose Marine wins the

Augustin National Women's Amhert. Three rounds in the 60s including a final round of 68 at Augustin

National. She wins the junior from the University of Arkansas. Obviously her biggest title of her

young life and career and then finally Lauren Coglin out there at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. She

wins the Ramco Championship. Her third win on the LPGA and her first since 2024. But let's take a

quick capsule by looking at that first page of the Valera Texas Open just to give you a sense of

who had a good week. And of course it's golf pride when it comes to giving you everything that

you need. It is golf pride. But there is your Valera Texas Open first page. JJ Spawn. He is one of

two players of my estimation this year that really had no form coming in. Everybody else was trending

like Nico Echeveria who did it at the cognizant. He does it here. I mentioned the four missed cuts. He

wins by a shot over Matt Wallace. Michael Kim and Robert McIntyre was the guy who was

shouldering the lead there for most of the week. Andrew Putnam and also Ludwig Oberg tied for fifth

another top five for Ludwig. He's going to get a lot of chatter this week. He should. He's played

well in two starts at Augustin National Kevin U alone in the seventh Chandler Phillips Rio Hisatsune.

That 23 year old young man is piling up a lot of very productive weeks on the PJ tour. And then

you're seeing that quartet at a time for 10th including Tommy Fleetwood. He's the highest ranked player

in the field at the Valera Texas Open. So his form is good. Headed to the first major of the year.

So those are your weekly winners. That is your first page of the leaderboard. Again, we appreciate

golf pride. The best products, the best materials around the world trusted by more players at every

level. Speaking of trust, you know, Jaime Diaz is trusted to tell stories and to get you to a place

where you're like, wow, that was even better than maybe the way that I saw it. And Ben Crenshaw is a

romantic who loves the history of the game of golf. Jim Nance Sames, Scott Vampelt, and many of the

moments that they've had are tied up with Augustin National. And for Augustin National being the first

major of the year, you can say it's always good to go first. But let me just spend a couple minutes

talking about why they are, what they are. Like, how did they get here? And if you look at them

historically, they are the youngest major by a margin. And certainly when you compare it to the

Open Championship, the first one contested in 1860 in for the Augustin National invitation tournament.

It was 1934. And like anything new, what road are you going to choose? And Augustin National wanted

to choose the road that included a United States open. They made the appeal to the USGA in 1933.

And it was primarily the voice of Prescott Bush who said, I don't know, maybe down the road,

but not now. And so the 1934 US Open, which Augustin National Golf Club wanted, and Bob Jones,

not less than four years removed from winning the US Aminor and completing his impregnable quadrilateral

at Marion, at Marion. The US Open was played at Marion in 1934. And Augustin National had a gathering

of friends. And I don't know how much of a bump. But yeah, it was a bump that in 1935, and it's

second year, Gene Saris and made the 2 on 15. But this is why, as you start to follow their path,

why they are, what they are, because after World War II, when you start to see winners,

who you know are the best players, who are iconic figures start to dot and kind of represent the

decades, because then it was into the 50s, and it was Hogan early, in 51 and 53. And he was the one

who said, why don't we gather the champions and have a night before their tournament begins,

and they have built maybe that the most revered fraternity in terms of coming back every year,

and that will be tomorrow night. And just a couple years after that, Arnold Palmer,

won for the first time in 1958, and Palmer in television got engaged simultaneously,

and boy was he right out of central casting. In the 60s, became one of two decades dominated by

Jack. And then the 80s was the emergence of Europe. And also it was Jack's last act in 1986.

And then in 1997, that really was Tiger's Hello World. And he gave you all those memories,

all those chapters, all those moments, that he put a bow on in 2019. So the idea of where the

line of demarcation is and was for Augustine National become what it is, the proof really is

every year. Because why it is what it is is amplified every year. Because what happened last year

is not going to happen every year. But these bold type chapters that go into the book of golf,

that every major writes April, May, June, and July every year are on the same line. But Augustine

National does something that that pushes back against a narrative or a term or a phrase that

familiarity breeds contempt. I think that only really applies with your in-laws. Mine not included

if you're listening. Because familiarity really, what does that conjure in all of us? Warmth

in nostalgia and memories. And that's what Augustine National does. The familiarity of the players

to their moments good and bad. And to the people who go there every year who remember the first

time they went there with mom or dad or with friends. And certainly for people who watch on television,

where you were in 86 and I was in the TV room at the Sigma Chihouse at Vanderbilt University

watching with my boys. Because that's what it does. And it's also the stage itself. The greatest

one to get to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and the Boston Pops. They all want to play on

the biggest stages. And whether it be Lambo in January or Churchill Downs, the first Saturday

in May or when it comes to a fall Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium or Bryant Denny or Cameron in

February, the first full week in April, we all, whether we're there in person or just leaning

forward on all of our various devices now because we have all these platforms that we can consume it.

That first full week in April, we lean forward and lean into this, to this tournament. And the one

other thing about Augustine National, bridge Ricky said it that luck is the residue of design.

And I love that term and it's true in a way. And all those winners, that's not dumb luck,

but there's some good luck associated with anybody who wins any tournament of this magnitude.

But all those winners, that roll call. And them always adhering internally to the things that matter

most all the years, years later, while also applying looking ahead and almost being clairvoyant as

to giving us things that we didn't even know we needed. Like not needing our phone. When did you

ever think there was going to be a day that you didn't need it? Well, if you're there this week,

that is something that is something I hope never goes away because those memories,

they're going to be fully intact because you won't be distracted.

They have a lot to give all of us. And it begins now the week before because it's a fortnight.

And that young lady from the University of Arkansas that walked up on the 18th green on Saturday

to have an indelible moment that will be etched into the memory of her life. And then those kids

yesterday wrapping putts in on 18 and getting hugs from mom and dad and getting handshakes

from the 2025 Masters champion. It's Masters week. It's nice to have you with us here. Not only on

golf channel, but Masters Radio, normally Channel 92 PGA tour radio. But this week it is Masters

Radio. When we continue, Jaime Diaz, he knows all these chapters expertly. One of the great

historians and writers that the game of golf has. I'll talk to him about this decade. We're midway

through. They're on a good run. And then we'll talk about some other items and then bottom of the

hour, speaking of historians, Ben Crenshaw, two time champion will be with me. Will be with me.

He steward as well to follow Jim Nance, Scott Van Pelt. What a great way to start our Masters

week here on five clubs. Nice to have you with us. We're back right after this.

Welcome back into five clubs live on golf channel and Masters Radio. That's Channel 92.

On Series 6M on this Masters Monday. And a little fit check from Peter Malore lucky enough

to where the premier luxury lifestyle brand for 16 years. It is Peter Malore and PeterMalore.com.

And when it comes to what I need, whatever I'm doing, wherever I'm going, it is the premier

luxury lifestyle brand all the way to the golf course. It's the preparation. The movements that

become second nature. Precision matters. This is performance refined. Peter Malore.

And with that, we welcome in contributor. Not only to golf channel, you will see him all week on

live from giving his perspective also with golf digest as well. He is, of course,

Jaime Diaz contributor here at five clubs. Good morning, my friend. How you doing?

I'm great, Gary. Great week coming up here. Yes.

Yeah, you're first. You're picking. You and Nance both pick 86. I don't know, you necessarily picked it.

But the time was right for you to go there and cover your first Masters. I want to start,

though, Jaime, with this decade. I love talking to you about whether it's looking at periods.

You and I are both incredibly fond of the 70s overall for a variety of reasons. But this decade

right now, we're midway through it. Rory gives us the last memory, which is something we don't

get much 25 years in the making of the next career Grand Slam winner. He's the first to do it in

the modern era at Augusta National. And Jaime, as we look at the guys who have won at Augusta

National this decade, I believe without equivocation, all of them will be members of the World Golf

Hall of Fame. I don't think they have to do anything more. That includes Hideki Matsiyama.

You know, when you consider the international player first Asian born player to win the Masters,

his production overall, I think you would agree with that. But here's my question.

As far as it being among, if not potentially the greatest decades that we've seen in Masters

history, what do they still have to do? And what is the measuring stick?

Well, it's a very high bar, very high bar, Gary. I mean, you go back to the 90s. Every winner

from the 90s is the World Golf Hall of Fame. And of course, we talk about the 70s with Jack,

you know, winning twice and 75, perhaps being the greatest Masters along with 86 or maybe 97.

But, you know, just such a really difficult thing to break into. And I think we are off to a great

start this decade, but I think they got to sustain it to be in that ranking. And what will that

take? Well, probably a repeat from some of the guys who've won already, Rory, Scotty.

Then you're talking about some history really being made. Somebody else perhaps, you know,

a Dishambo, Rahm would have two Masters and a US Open. We measure these things by majors so

often, but it is the easiest major, excuse me, measuring stick. You know, the thing now, the challenge,

I think is so much depth. I think it's harder for the so-called stars, as they did in the 60s and 70s,

to kind of dominate the tournament as easily. And you see a kid like Chris Goddard or who knows,

you know, it could be so many players, Wyndham Clark, just popping out of nowhere, so to speak,

even though he's got so much game and so many guys have so much game now, that I think it

actually winning a major now is almost harder than it's ever been, even for the greatest players,

even for Scotty and even for Rory. And so that makes it difficult these next few years to finish

out the decade. You know, it's interesting you mentioned the 90s and it's obviously it's irrefutable

in terms of you look at all of them, they're all in the World Golf Hall of Fame. And it's interesting,

I'm just your thought on the 60s because the 60s was owned by a couple of guys except just right

there at the end. And in these decades where there was dominance from a couple, how do you balance

that between a couple people who are the iconic figures and then this blending of the 90s where

it's a collection which included Tigers, you know, first major and just run away fashion. How do

you balance that? Well, I think it's just, you know, an extension of what's happening in golf

with just so many more great players. However, the 60s were just such a great establishment for

the Masters as far as showing this is where the dominant power players really can excel. And of

course, you had Jack and Arnold and Gary one, one, two. And yes, you know, Casper and those

or later on, it was not necessarily those iconic guys, but I think that cadence, you know, 60,

62, 64 was was Arnold and 63 and 65, 66 was Jack and Gary was 61. That first half was just

something that I think lifted the Masters. You know, people say it became a major in 54 when

Hogan and Sneed played in the playoff. I think it really became a, absolutely equal major when

Jack and Arnold just uses such a showcase and the television show itself was so great that it just

stood out as the place you really wanted to watch golf the most. That no question that the TV

part in terms of making it what it was was not accidental at all. Rory, when we start talking

about these lists and you start talking about the Hall of Fame wing of the Hall of Fame.

And the career grand slam is real big time bull type. What else from a production standpoint,

where do you have him right now in your mind and where do you think realistically he can still

ascend to? It's hard to knock him out of the top 10, but I don't think he's quite in it,

but I think another major would get him in it. First of all, all the other grand slam winners

are in the top 10, or at least my top 10. And I think most people's with Sarah's in being sort of

the maybe 10th. So I think if Rory were to win another major, it would surpass Sarah's in and

put him in the top 10. I think that's very feasible. You have so many, I think he'd also surpass

Faldo as the greatest European player. So another major for Rory would really be big,

but that grand slam jumped him up probably from let's say 18th or 17th all the way to 11th,

let's say. And the grand slam is just probably if you're talking about one bobble that you'd

want to have in your career to be the prestigious historical player, it would be that. And he got

it last year, and that's why it was so satisfying to watch. It's interesting that you mentioned

Billy Casper because every generation that has some iconic figures in it and Rory is in that

class. And Sheffler appears headed to be very much in that class. And then you add Keppga

and in the uniqueness of his career by being this big game specialist, Zander Schoffley with the

two majors off a year that included injury, his form is going to have him on the minds of a lot of

people. And if he wins, he likes Sheffler is now on the doorstep at Chinatcock to a career, a career

grand slam. How do you view him, especially in the context of his peer group?

Well, again, you know, it's it's a crowded field and he's right on the cusp, another major and

it's certainly the you know, the masters would jump him probably over some people. I think it

right now he's behind Scotty and and Rory obviously and and probably speed in my mind because I

think Jordan's, you know, 2015 was so magical and in our memory so much that we just can't

discount it as something that really made him exceptional. But, you know, I think he's got

Keppga with five and I would say, you know, right now, Zander's behind him, obviously, but if he

were to, you know, get closer to that grand slam, it might because Brooks hasn't had the greatest

record in regular tournaments and Zander would be ahead of him in that. Now JT has got two

the PGA's, but he's got 15 15 regular events that he's won or 15 total PGA tour events and

and Zander has 10. So I think he's still got to put JT ahead of him. It's just one of these things

where, you know, as Rory did, he separated himself with one key victory and and and Zander were

to win the masters, you know, that's three with a leg at at Shinnecock. Like you said, we'd be

looking at him and Scotty and Scotty, of course, you know, being the preeminent player without the

grand slam right now, but Zander would be right up there. So, you know, he's got a ways to go because

I don't think he's really, although he's had a lot of top 10 finishes, can he do that finishing

round on a Sunday that really, as Rory did last year? It's a breakthrough moment that he needs. I

give him all the credit for winning the two majors in 2024, but at the same time, there's still

challenges ahead that I think he's still got to step up one more level to be in that category.

Last thing, Augustine National, there have been moments and examples that it can be kind of the

elders and their examples, not only of Jack, who, you know, is 46, he's roughly the age of Justin

Rose, who was in the playoffs last year and not unreasonable, I think that he can't

contend again this year. How do you view Augustine National now as a place where the elders,

the older set can have a week? Well, I think because distance has grown throughout all the age groups,

a lot of the older players in their 40s are long enough now and remain long enough. They're not as

long as the real longest, although the great exception is Gary Woodland, who's actually leading the

PJ tour in driving this since he's 41 and he just won, of course, so we can't discount him,

but when you talk about Adam and Justin Rose in particular, you know, they've kept their length,

Adam in particular, but at the same time, Justin's been the most competitive as far as contending.

So I think, you know, there's just a lot of guys who, if they have their week, I mean, you have Luke

Glover, you have Kagan Bradley as long. You know, Sergio hasn't been obviously the player he was

two or three years ago, but he's still a tremendous player. DJ could even have a little opening if he

were to suddenly find some form. I know these guys have been out of the mix, but I think they have

enough game if they're on their game and they're not precluded anymore from, you know, kind of aging

out as far as I can't handle the golf course anymore, at least at 40, certainly that happens at 50,

but you know, we saw Phil win the PGA at 51 and I just feel like that's even more possible

at Augusta. Augusta, you know, they lengthened it, you know, there was tiger proofing. The players

have caught up. I don't consider it really a super long overpowering course. Now I consider it more

a finesse course where, you know, it's really about position and being able to hit shots and keep

the ball pin high and do all these things with subtlety and finesse and touch. And that was always

with Faldo said, anyway, he was never that long, but I think now with the length that the players

hit the ball, the separator becomes, can you handle the distance and the shots to really control the

golf ball and against where Scotties excelled the most? And Rory hadn't, but I think since he's changed

golf balls, he's gotten better at that and last year, you know, he pulled through. He certainly did.

I would add, you know, Freddie couples had some weeks when he was hovering around 50. He was just,

it was nothing ceremonial about twilight in terms of the, you know, that portion of his career.

And of course, he's playing this week. Jaime, thank you as always. Look forward to being with you

this week. Look forward to it, Gary. Thank you. Okay. There is Jaime Diaz. We transitioned from

Jaime to a two-time champion in 1984, 1995. He was a low amateur twice. His first two starts

at Augustine National, plus his view of a golf course and he has such affection for his well.

Ben Crinchon, this Master's Monday, joins me next, Lab on Golf Channel, and Master's Radio,

that's Channel 92 on Series 6M, back with Ben right after this.

Back in it is Master's Monday Live on Golf Channel, and also Master's Radio, that's Channel 92

on Series 6M, that is normally PGA Tour Radio with you until 10 a.m., and later on it'll be Jim Nance,

it'll be Scott Van Pelt, who will be hosting, of course, for Jim on CBS and for Scott on ESPN

Key Stewart as well. But the gentleman joining me now, he went there for the first time as an amateur

and was a low amateur. He did it again the following year, and when he started going there as a

professional, you could tell that he not only loved the place, but his performances there

were as good as anybody throughout the decade of the 80s, along with Sevy, and of course was

jacked at his production, 44 consecutive starts won at twice in 84 and 95, second twice as well.

He was in the final group, 87, 88, 89, I know because I was dying lousy on those Sundays,

and as you can see from 1972 to 2015, he's also, along with his partner Bill Korr,

the design golf holes that are as memorable as holes that have been around for 100 years,

so it's not just a playing career that's in the Hall of Fame, his design, and what they've done

collectively will certainly be honored in the World Golf Hall of Fame as well. He has been

Crenshaw already in Augusta, Georgia, played nine holes yesterday, Ben, it's always a pleasure. How

you feeling? I feel great, Gary. It's great to be here. We look forward to it so much every year,

and I'm just amazed at watching professional golf and watching what these guys can do.

They have wide arsenals with their games. Yeah, you know, so much has been said about length,

and that's always going to have its due. It's got to be well directed, but I've always thought a

gust of national was a course that on and around the greens is where it is, and it's a,

Augusta National, I think, allows players to show their arsenal of the little shots.

The little shots are just as important as the big shots, and the pots have got to go down when

you need them, and the little shots around the greens are fascinating, and the greens were so

constructed a long time ago by Dr. McKenzie, and with the help of Bobby Jones,

that they were ardent admires of the old course at St. Andrews, and I think a little bit of that

is in the architecture, it's fascinating. You know, it's interesting, you know,

talking about Dr. McKenzie, you know, he's gone before the first Augusta National Invitation

Tournament, is played in March of 1934. If he did see the golf course today, what would be

for him the most easily recognizable aspect of it? I still think the natural beauty. I think

that was what was, you know, there's a there's a passage that Bobby Jones wrote when he first saw

the property, and it's just beautifully descriptive, you know, he said the drive through which the

magnolia trees and then the clubhouse, and then he said, I'll never forget my first look,

he said, when I came out in the back of the clubhouse under the big trees and looked out across

the property, he said, it's just as it is now. It's a tremendous sweep of property, lots of

elevation change. That's very much a hallmark of the golf course. It's, I must say, some people who

are long into tooth like me, it's a hike around there. But it's not confining at all. It's

beautifully spread out through an unbelievable piece of property. And, you know, actually the first

nine was the back nine when they played it at the first tournaments where you played the back nine

first, and then they reversed it, which is really interesting. But the back nine, as you know,

has told the story for many, many years. Most certainly. I'm curious as somebody who was really,

you became infatuated with the way the golf courses presented themselves, the story of you going

to the US junior with your dad at the country club in the late 60s, and all of these places,

and you've been trusted to restore and reclaim things on great places that may have been lost

over time. A gust of national has entrusted a handful of people, and early on Perry Maxwell,

who I know you have an enormous affinity for, had a great impact on that golf course. He also had

a great impact on Marion, some of the greens there, and a stretch of holes at Pine Valley.

He has great original work. Tell people about what he did in particular on number 10,

that I think is the most traumatic alteration from the original iteration of the hole to what they see

today. Oh, number 10. That's an amazing change. You know, the green used to sit down in a valley

short of where it is now, but you know, there were a couple of things about that. It put the green

back up on the hill, which you know, the first few tournaments there were frost, and that old green

down at the bottom would kind of frost over, to elevate that green like it is now. It's a plateau

to shoot at. It's very elusive now, and it's, you know, the green is encased with the gothic

pine trees. It's very, very, it's a sharp target, and it's strengthened the hole, no question,

but that was just one of the changes that Perry Maxwell made. I really think that Perry Maxwell

has been an unsung hero for many, many years, and many architectural enthusiasts. His work was

remarkable. Prairie dunes, crystal downs. He was tremendous. Southern hills and Tulsa.

Wonderful. He was, I actually grew up on the Old Austin Country Club was a Perry Maxwell

course. Tom Kite and I grew up on that golf course, and it had some wonderful holes.

Yep. It's, again, everybody who goes there, they have their places, and you're right about

10. There's something when you walk down that hill and you see those cascading loblolly pine,

you're like, how's this possible? How can something look this majestic? I'm curious, you know,

these anniversary years, you had one last year because 95, and now we're a six, so 86.

In the sixes, by the way, there's some good sixes. You know, Raymond's runaway, you were second

in the 76. You finished 16th in 86, one of the few years in the decade, you were not in the top 10.

Were you still on the property when he was finishing?

Well, I was, I was Gary, and I still think that that's probably maybe if not the most exciting

masters, because you had so many elements in there, Jack was making this unbelievable closing rush,

and Sevy, Sevy by Starros, and I think that was, unfortunately, the eclipse of his career.

Very sad, and you could tell how much it hurt him, but you had

Jack Nicholas with that big putter, and he hit that fabulous shot on 15 across the water,

and then he makes it unbelievable shot at 16, and he hits it right up there.

And, you know, you and Jaime mentioned players of a certain age. Jack was 46,

and as you know, I don't, there's not too many people who contend after the age of,

let's say, I won, and I was 43 when I won my last one, which gives heart to players of that

vintage. I look at Justin Rhodes. Justin Rhodes played beautifully last year. Yes, he really did.

And I think he's entirely capable. And as you say, there's enough of those guys who can

hit the ball far enough, but they knew what to do with it when the conditions get this way or

that way. So, you know, there's a lot of knowledge to play in certain circumstances, and I think

that helps them. No question. You know, it's interesting you were talking about Jack in those

moments, and when he made the putt on 17, in 95, your putt on 17 was not that dissimilar.

It had wiggle in both directions like his did, and I, Ben, your relationship with 17 is interesting,

because 84, even though you won, you made bogie there in 84, you made birdie in 95, and then in 87,

you hit it just over the green. I was begging for you to putt it. I understood why you chipped it.

I ran it by four feet, and then in 89, with your club soaking wet. By the way, I went back and watched

your t-shirt on 17. You were trying to dry your grip, rubbing it between your thighs, and then of

course you had the issue on 18. You had a poor t-shirt on 17 and 89. You hit one of the great

three woods ever. It landed in Vern Lungquist, just said, what a great shot. It just came out of the

sky. What is it about that green that is so beguiling? Well, that is a peri-maxwell green,

and his greens were domed. When peri-maxwell built the green, so many of his greens,

they drain away so easily on both sides. That green is such a beguiling, it falls off to the right.

The right back where they put the pin, if you play left of that, you're shot going into the green.

If it's left of that hole, you can't believe how fast it is going across that spine, and it's

very difficult to pick up the speed. A lot of people have three putted from that situation.

Very difficult to play a second shot close to that pin, but there's so many greens that I can

think of peri-maxwell built that had the fall off on either sides. Ben, you mentioned short shots.

If Scott Hoke had made the par putt on 17 and 89, that short shot, his third would be remembered,

is one of the best of all time. Of course, you made birdie, and then your grip was wet. You dumped

into the bunker on 18, and now I'm bringing you memories that you don't want to think about

anymore. Memories that you do make every year is what you all do at the Masters dinner, the champions

dinner on Tuesday night. You're the steward of that dinner. Why is the night so nourishing to all the

men in that room? I look at it, and I must say, when I get up in front of them, these are guys that

I've looked up to my whole career. There's a brethren there. As a fraternity, a small fraternity,

then we just look around and say how lucky we are to be in that room. Each of them have different

stories. It boils down to it that you have to trust and believe in what you're doing, what

you feel is at the time, and try to produce shots that, you know, the most important of your career,

and it's amazing that we've gotten through those moments. Of course, we look at Jack with

five Masters that may have been easier for him at certain times, but not not not as when you look

back at all of them. You look at Gary Player, winning three, you look at Nick Fowledo, three,

you have to reach down inside yourself in those moments. It's just great to that we can talk

together, tell stories, and to see how we did get through. You always think about all the people

who have had great chances who are not in that room. It's a festival of emotions that we

can share together. That's why it's so special. Speaking of special, you know, Augustine

Asheville, it's all these little touches for people who go there to watch the golf tournament.

Certainly, you make eagles, you know, crystal arrives at the house. I went into my library this

morning before I came to the studio and peeled off from a shelf, the 1984 Masters Yearbook.

This leather bound book that they produce every year, Ben, and of course, that was your first year.

You go through this, and that is, you know, they go day to day, and that of course is, is, you know,

with your fists above your head after making this 60 footer on 10, and you kind of fast walked

your way to the edge of that green, like, give me off of this green. Ben, there's also a photo in

there of you and your dad and your stepmom. It's like, those things, Ben, I see that, and if you saw

it, and if I peeled it to that page, it conjures emotion, doesn't it? Oh, my gosh. That middle of

that round, that last round, I had birdied number nine, and I was looking so forward to the back

nine, and then I hit a decent T-shot and a very slack second. Well, left me on the front of the

green, and believe me, I was praying for a two-putt with that long putt, and when that putt went in,

I just, it was a shock, and I had to try to calm down, and I bogged eleven, and then I got a birdie

at 12, and that got back right into it, but that putt at number 10 was so improbable, and when that

went in, I said, well, I've got a chance, I need to somehow hold it together. And you did just that,

it's always a treat for us, for people watching and listening to start their masters week,

with thoughts from you. Thank you, as always. Hope to see you this week.

Gary, it's going to be a great week, and a drama is going to unfold that guarantee you.

No question. Ben Krenshaw, two-time champion in 1984, 1995, and again,

somebody who appreciates all of it. And tomorrow night, he'll set the tone in that very special room,

as he said, that fraternity. We come back. Why it's so hard to do it, only three men have done.

Nice to have you with us. It's master's Monday golf channel and master's radio back right up to this.

Welcome back in to five clubs at his master's Monday. We're going to be with you another

hour live here on golf channel, master's radio. We will lose you at the top of the hour. You will get

Michael Breach. Joe Michael was an assistant at Augustine Ashley. He has immense knowledge about

everything associated with the club, and certainly the tournament as well. And one thing,

when it comes to this tournament, and a reminder this afternoon, live from, we'll begin at 2 p.m.

Eastern time. And then again, of course, in prime time tonight, that fabulous group of people,

not only the people you see and hear the opinions of the entire team, it's one of the great sports

broadcasting properties that we have, not just in this game, but in all of sports. 2 p.m.

the first live from, and of course, prime time with Richer and Brandle Shambley,

Paul McGinley, the rest of that great team. So another hour for us. But one thing about this

tournament is it certainly it's it's elusive to win. It's doubly difficult to back it up,

to go back to back. Three men, and this is the 90th edition. It managed to do that. Jack

Nicholas, who at that point by the mid 60s, he had told Arnold Palmer, you're the biggest

star of the most popular guy, but I'm the best player. And he would win the most, and he won

his first in 63, and then went back to back in 65 into 66. They found out twice in playoffs.

1989, of course, was Scott Hoke 1990 with Raymond Floyd, and then Tiger was inevitable.

2001, which completed the Tiger slam in 2002. And if you look just over the last decade,

in terms of the players who have gone on to win the Masters, let's start in 2016. We thought

we were getting the fourth back to back. Now I watched Jordan's beef and watched them a lot,

and there was something precarious about his whole week, but nonetheless nobody saw what was

going to happen to him on the twelfth hole. And he agonizingly finished second Danny Willett,

who won. He and Sergio missed the cut in their defenses, Patrick Reed, Tiger Woods. Obviously,

coming back in 2020, Dustin Johnson missed the cut. If you look at Scotty Schaeffler, Scotty's

the guy who's been the one guy who said, well, I can more than just hang around. I can possibly do

this, which gets us to Rory. And we'll talk about Rory a little bit later on when we come back

in the second hour, because Jim Nance is going to be with me, Scott Van Pelt, as well as our

second hour on this Masters Monday. We'll examine maybe his biggest challenge. And if he gets in the

fight, and by the way, you can't come from way off the pace, not historically in this tournament,

not at all. It just goes to show you that you better be close to the first page of that leaderboard

after day one, not day three. We got another hour to go. Key Stewart, Jim Nance, Scott Van Pelt,

we are live on Golf Channel. It is Five Clubs. It is Masters Monday.

Good morning and welcome, man. This is Five Clubs on Golf Channel.

You are a final part of our game. Thank you for having me on.

All the way to the greeting. What was that fun?

I've always wanted to be on Five Clubs. Thanks, Gary.

Welcome back in. It is Masters Monday here live on Five Clubs and live on Golf Channel.

A reminder, this is our lone show of the week. We stepped out of the way, not only tomorrow,

but also Wednesday, because of live from the Masters. They're first show this afternoon to PM Eastern,

then again tonight in Primetime and of course, Rich and Brandon and Paul and Todd and Les and

Jaime and the rest of the great crew. Primetime every night through a Masters Sunday.

This hour like every hour is presented by Century Insurance. They want to be right by you when

it comes to your business insurance needs. If you need yours evaluated, do it with somebody

who is trusted, not to mention what they do by investing in the game of golf at every level,

the first tee, the United States Golf Association, the PGA Tour and right here at Five Clubs.

It is Century and this hour is also brought to you by Body Armor IV. When it comes to getting

the things that you need to get you through the day to hydrate right, to hydrate the proper way,

you want to do it with Body Armor Flashlight. IV is packed with electrolytes delivering faster,

long lasting hydration without artificial dyes, flavors or sweeteners. So whether you're training

traveling or just feeling the heat, work hard, hydrate hard with Body Armor Flash IV and

grab yours today at your local 7-11 convenience store. It is Body Armor Flash IV and I mentioned

the fact that it is Masters Monday. One of the things and we had this conversation with John

a couple of weeks ago and I was listening to a couple of the amateurs who played some golf

over the weekend at Augusta National. John always felt that by Thursday he played his way out of

contention before you'd hit a shot. It is Century overload and now with the advent of not only the

Augusta National Women's Amateur and to Rory McRoy's credit. If you do not think that the experience

that the young lady from the University of Arkansas, Maria Jose Marine had in winning that she is

then pictured with Rory McRoy the 2025 Masters Champion. The other nice thing is to see

players who go there before the week even begins Rory of course included in that and the round

that he had yesterday with his dad and those are the types of things that for all that has changed

and so much has. There are certain touches that still allow you to feel like like I said

that nostalgia of those memories that the Sunday before is a past champion whether it's Nick

Faldo and all the years that he played rounds of golf probably still does with his son Matt

and there is Jerry McRoy out there yesterday afternoon. Jerry still got game out there playing

with Rory and nice to see and being somebody who knows a few of the lines that are in these various

pro shops that smathers in Branson, embroidered ball cap that he wore on Saturday and then he

wore a different color on Sunday because it had the responsibility of satisfying certain sponsors

that he can just wear in Augusta National Golf Club ball cap. You don't see that at other major

championships and you also don't see whether it's past champions or the current champion who's

going to be hosting the champions dinner tomorrow night be somebody who's going to get there several

days before the week even begins and he also said that he you know he watched the Augusta National

Women's Amateur and the young lady who won it last year had a similar putt that he kind of put

into the recesses of his mind when he got into that position in the playoff of Justin Rose last

year and one other thing about the storylines is that you know every major championship is

is they rely on certain momentum but the week itself is such a separator because you're you're

calling a herd that goes another and manders and all these other different directions as it relates

to sports but yet they narrow their focus primarily during these four weeks and and and I do

think that the other three majors they're they're they're a little bit more reliant on trendlines

and form and and what level of momentum you feel like the game or the sport of men's professional

golf has before you arrive at these sites the site itself is the story that the familiarity of

Augusta National and the fact that people know the scoring opportunities but yet the turbulence

that can await on the second nine that already exists whereas people have to maybe maybe get I

don't know they have to get re familiarized with with certain places like Shinnecock which you

know really 1986 even though it had a US open a million years ago 1986 with with Ray Floyd with

Ray Floyd was the first chance for people said wow and and and Shinnecock looks decidedly different

now than it did in 1986 but when you have these infrequent chapters you do have to go yeah I

kind of remember that whole you don't forget the second nine at Augusta National but one thing

I would say about the storylines and J.J. Spawn and I would say Nico Echeveria or are there two

guys in its separate category from everybody else who is one who is headed to Augusta National

and the Masters tournament this week and that is that there are trend lines and they're real

and so unfortunately in the case of Kalamora Kalla it was stalled out because of him having to

withdraw from the players and then again this past week so we don't know the state of his body

which in turn state of game and even though you may want to you know poke holes a little bit to

a degree and I get it about the iron players of Scotty Sheffler he's not fallen off the map

his form anybody would trade a win in multiple top fives and a worse result being a top 25

going to Augusta National but he's different but all these other players bring this sense that

I'm close or I'm right there Kim Young has the biggest win already this year

on in men's professional gop by winning the players and he will get a lot of attention in terms

of believing that he can break through and win his first major championship Zander Schauffly has

an excellent record at all the majors and the fact is is that he is going to get a lot of attention

but somebody who can help us with that is is niffs for Domus and and when he can't when I saw his

face on the screen I said this is unbelievable but the reason why I've had to sit here and gas

bag for six minutes is that we've had some technical issues I'm not blaming this on him

he returns again to Augusta National his first on the broadcast side was CBS was a pretty good year

1986 always a pleasure when he gives us some time he of course is Jim Nance good morning

please let the stress level we seed we've resolved the technical issues how are you I'm great Gary

I don't know this one wasn't on me but this is strikingly similar to last year and thanks for

your patience I'm thrilled to be on with you this eventually officially launches master's week for

me so let's get talking about the best week of the year let's do it and you know what Jim let's

start where it started for you 86 look I only know the moments that I heard uh your voice

and and the things that that you shared and said at these incredibly crescendoing moments take

us through that week the things that stand out when you arrived what kind of rental car you had

were your parents there who did you lean on from the broadcast team where did you have dinner

every night what are the things beyond what we heard and saw that will always be in your mind

well first off the nerves were substantial for me I was 26 years old I haven't felt that kind

of anxiety until we were technically down for a little bit at the top of the hill but I

roomed that week out in West Lake with Bob Murphy wow you know it was great player in his time and

and for many years worked a tenth hole was a regular member of the CBS golf team I got there early

in the week and just couldn't believe that I was a part of this CBS broadcast team that I had been

watching since I was a young boy and always had dreamt of wanted be a part of it so it was an

absolute thrill to to be a participant in it we had early round coverage back in those days on

USA Network so we had a couple of days to get you know a little more comfortable with being in the

tower I was at 16 Frank Circuni and the legendary producer director was very mindful of the fact

that I was young and that I was I believe he knew that I was nervous never openly talked about it

most supportive as you can imagine and as the weekend progressed just an all-star Hall of Fame

leaderboard broke out we remember it on this 40 year anniversary of Jack winning it but you forget

some of the names that were on that leaderboard Gary it was craziness I mean Sevy and Norman and

Price and Tom Kite and Bernhard Long are going for it back to back and Tom Watson and Corey

Payvon and Sandy Lyle I mean it was just it was there was a lot going on there and of course it

all led up to Sunday April 13th and maybe the greatest day in the history of golf.

Did you when the broadcast is over anybody who gets to do this there's there's a level of adrenaline

that's that's hard to get to recede did you did you see Tom Wisecock did you talk about the

interlude that you guys had when Jack backed off on 16 and you called him in from Butler cabin

and he said what he said which was so I mean it was clear for when he said he's going to take dead

aim if I know he's going to take dead aim and my god he did did what when when it's over where did

you go I never saw Wisecock after that show first off as a young boy with you know not the

ability to go travel anywhere we wanted but my parents knew my love of golf and especially my

love of golf broadcasting and during my spring breaks of my youth we would we would get in a car

from our home in New Jersey and drive to Florida wherever the Florida swing was located that week

two days driving down there and they would you know take me to the old the Jacksonville open or

Jackie Gleason in very classic or Daryl I would run around and watch these players that I really

looked up to but I really would hang out at the bottom of these towers these announced towers so

now I'm in one and I'm communicating with Tom Wisecock who happened to be one of my golf heroes

on the air I didn't see him after that exchange and I asked him the question Gary what's going

through Jack Nicholson's mind before he hit his t-shirt at 16 and he came back with a classic line

if I knew what was going on in Jack Nicholson's mind I would have won this turn of a two or three times

myself which was genius so I didn't know Tom well I was an awe of the fact that I was working with him

and in a pad someral Ken Venturi I walked back to be honest dejectedly to the compound because I

had uttered the line when Jack knocked in his birdie butt that the bear has come out of hibernation

and I didn't know where that line had come from I didn't have anything written down I hadn't

anything pre-planned but it just kind of dropped out of the sky and into my head and left my lips

and as soon as I said it I thought where did I come up with that oh I know someone on the broadcast

maybe it was Murphy down at 10 or Melonick Steve Melonick down at amen corner maybe someone else

already said it that's why I was fresh in my head I just plagiarized someone else's remark

not good I'm never coming back here again I had all these doubts that were kind of overtaking me

for a moment there was the euphoria of having watched what Jack had just done and then the despair

of maybe I had not said something original anyway as I'm walking back dejectedly toward the CBS

compound we're up about the 10th tee here comes a golf cart racing up to my side it was Venturi

who would be a profound influence in my life who I would sit next to for 18 years in the 18th

hour and Ken said he was just euphoric Gary he had just watched maybe the all-time tournament

and he said Jimmy how old are you and I said I'm 26 or he said I'm going to tell you something

right now you may one day be the first to ever broadcast this tournament 50 times but you will

never live to see a day greater than this around Augusta national well that moment in that golf

cart really kind of crystallize what my goals were going to be in my career he made this out landish

prediction of 50 masters he called me Jimmy which my close friends and families still do that

was always my name my dad was Jim big Jim and he was euphoric it was very parental

feel good and got back to the compound and I sought your kin and he came up and gave me an embrace

and said I had done well and I told him that I was feared I maybe said something had been

used early in the broadcast and he said no only you son only you you're going to be here for a

long time and truly no one else had used that line it's just whatever the man gave me a line

and I went with it and set course on what now is my 41st masters and one last post script on this

here was the jury I didn't know very well communicating with me and giving me confidence and here I

was on the air with Tom Wisecoff I didn't know very well but I looked up to them both both of these

great men would become very dear friends and both of them I would deliver the eulogy at their

funerals so it's it's amazing how you go from just a young kid to Augusta to these relationships

that grow and evolve over time and I had no idea when I was there that day that the journey I was

going to be on that would include having such a great relationship with those two men wow that's

wonderful you know famously that year it was Lance appealing to Frank like Jack and he kept

begging off like no no no and then finally you know there he is he's he's in the middle of the

narrative last year take people through this high wire act that Rory he made four doubles over

the course of the week there's only one guy who's ever made three in one and only one guy who's

ever made two and won the masters so he he and not only the week but that day take us through

what the internal dialogue was from the tuck from the truck to you guys to you and butler cabin to

to everybody is that day is unfolding and it started on the first hole when he made six well

you felt like on Thursday he had a great chance to establish some solid footing and then

he threw away the round with two late doubles and shot 72 and he thought well there goes that story

which we were all primed for having seen him come in off of wins at the players at a public beach

but then he bounced back on Friday and like wow that was resilient that was incredible and then

Sunday starts as you said with him seating the lead to to Bryson those first two holes were not

good things changed at the third but there's not a lot of internal dialogue just to

be clear that conversation you alluded to with Lance and Frank and 86 those are conversations that

the announcers are not privy to there's chaos going on of those trucks they're looking at

hundreds of monitors and replay machines and trying to get to the right place at the right time

and they do I mean it's amazing what sellers shy and Steve Milton and our entire team

are able to put together but we're not hearing it we're not hearing the chaos or the internal

dialogue and there are so few commercial breaks as you know those are usually one minute

positions and in that one minute you really don't interact with your fellow commentators like

you do maybe at a tour event when you're you have more breaks more commercial breaks that are

longer and the mics are open during those breaks and we aren't discussing strategy and things

we've seen and Augusta you're locked in the whole time there are no breaks really even those

one-minute breaks you're mentally still locked in but we're not we're not hearing what the truck

is thinking all of us though we're in shock particularly after the shot at 13 not below was on

the call there he handled it beautifully I thought he had thrown the turn of it away I just

just mind-blowing that he could miss the green from whatever was 87 yards and be that far

right of target when you needed to be equally that distant on the other side of the whole coming

off the slope but it was the wildest rollercoaster ride jacks event was in 86 jack was out in front

of the leaders then you had to wait and see what said he would do what Norman would do what kite

would do but in this case you know you got Rory playing in the final pairing and he won it he lost

it he won it again he lost it again and I mean it was it it was just the strangest fantasy I've

ever seen in the golf tournament do you think that he has any particular emotional or psychological

challenge this week it'll be emotional tomorrow night but in it but in a very sweet

and satisfying way do you think he's challenged by anything from the from the mental side of

things this week I think just what goes with being the champion host into champions dinner I

don't want to make too much out of that he's not preparing the meal you know so he's thankfully he's

on site already he's played practice round with his dad who's one of the all-time great guys and

I think he's gonna play with freedom and I think that's what he will be saying to himself he's

never cheated up at the masters with anything to prove now you're always trying to prove but he

has that career grand slam his legacy is cemented forever and now he gets to go play Augusta without

any downside I mean look out at that back is healthy and I trust it is I think that this could be

a very big week for him we've only seen three times a player ever successfully defend

in Rory's case he longed for that green jacket for so many years

you know going back to the near miss in 2011 and then you know once he had all the other majors

lined up after 2014 he had those 11 attempts to close the deal and and become the sixth in

history he's got all that now just go out and play I mean you know how to rack up birdies there

just go play with total boyhood freedom that young boy just with a bag on his shoulder at

Hollywood golf club just go be that guy for the week and I think it could be an extraordinary

week for him I'm with you look you had him at Pebble and Riviera his iron play there was an

artistry he was fighting shots all the windows were open and then Bay Hill you know Saturday happens

and it's kind of like right now we're kind of pausing but his iron play was was fabulous

earlier in the year is there somebody that you only see this week every year who gives you

something that kind of fills you with fuel whether it's a past champion or somebody who covers

this sport is there somebody that that that nourishes you once a year well the global golf media

is there and I pretty much touch all the bases being underneath the big tree my favorite hang

spot I don't get a lot of time just to hang there I truly don't but I'll be there come Thursday

morning and that's where I'll be watching the ceremonial first shots I think that the thing

this most special for me is just seeing some of the past champions it is not just jack and Gary

and Tom who are you know the the biggest legends of the game it's it's guys like Tommy Aaron

you know seeing you know past champions that that are around there it's through the years and

have had many visits for example through the years with Charles Cudi and there's just a

gentleness to the week in terms of just how cordial everyone is being reunited that feeling of

renewal springtime but there's a lot of work to do I'm not going to kid you I'm not I'm not

socializing a whole lot we have expanded coverage as you know including on Thursday and Friday with

with streamers and I'm looking forward to being a part of that and it's just uh

it's busier than it's ever been let's just put it that way and I'm not complaining I love every

minute of it but I don't like this is gonna sound weird I don't like to be away from the monitors

and the computer I like to watch what's going on basically every minute so like if I'm standing

around talking to someone I might lose for 10 minutes oh what happened over on the fifth hole

for Mora Kawa oh meanwhile over at eight is to Shamba what did he do and I'm I'm watching it

truly shot by shot I am so into this it's probably a little obsessive but I like to monitor the

tournament and meet and greet some folks but I'm pretty much always moving when I'm talking so

off the air I'm I'm trying to get back to watch the play well gratitude is reflected in performance

I've certainly in yours I know how much it means to you hope to see under the tree you're awfully

kind we'll take this one on the technical side this one's on us we got a short change a

couple minutes but thank you as always for making our masters Monday what it is thank you Gary for

what you do for our game you're a tremendous ambassador and if we meet under the big tree the best

time is going to be on that slope toward the first tee under the big tree Thursday morning

when three legends stand on the first tee and are introduced by chairman Fred Ridley and the

masters gets underway I will see you there my friend that is Jim Nance his first was 1986 he returns

again 40 years later what a moment that Ken Venturi gave him giving him comfort at a moment where

he thought you know gosh did I did I did I have the moment right myself that's fantastic we take

a break when we continue Scott Vempelt will join us he has the hosting responsibilities not only the

par three contests but Thursday and Friday on ESPN key Stewart as well it's masters Monday on five

clubs we're back right after this it is the bottom of the hour on this master's Monday live on

golf channel a reminder 2 p.m. live from the masters which will begin their great comprehensive

full week of course in prime time every single night and in the mornings as well starting

tomorrow morning on golf channel and this segment is brought to by body armor flash IV when it comes

to getting hydrated make the decision to use body armor flash IV packed with electrolytes delivering

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grab yours today at your local seven eleven convenience store all right join me now I contribute

regularly here giving us his viewpoint which is not just simply about you know gosh if I if I'm

going to you know make a wager on the masters he's giving you informational information agronomically

in terms of the setup of the golf course trend lines as well he is the overlord of read the line

in Augusta Georgia he is key steward good morning how you doing Gary the overlord title is

it's it's catching some momentum it's going on the business card I just love it I love it good morning

from Augusta look forward to being with you let me ask you you know I look at all these stats and I

was looking a lot over the weekend whether it's you know stroke scheme numbers reflected by

guys who wanted what they were going in what do you think are the most valuable traits that a

player has to be in possession of to have a chance to win this well Gary and I'm so happy you

asked this question and you said traits not trends and I think you have to really you have to be

good at three things you have to know the setting you have to control your strokes gained and you

have to maximize your scorecard let me elaborate just real briefly know your setting you know

nine of the last ten winners here they've had at least three starts before they've won the you

know they put on the green jacket so course knowledge experience is more important here than any

other venue on the PGA tour the second one is that that the strokes gained factor you know for the

last five or six years we've had that kind of data here at Augusta National and I think it's

super important we know all about the it's a second shot golf course but that holds true for the

winners and the secret sauce is certainly around the green and and no more than at this venue when

you talk about major championships is approach and around the green more important and then the last

one is is when you talk about the scorecard you've got to maximize those par fours you know Rory

last year he made thirty threes if you include the playoff and eleven of those were on the par fours

he played the par fours three under par Scotty the year before played them even

rom three under the year before that you have to really be able to know your setting Augusta

National Golf Club control the strokes gained approach and around the green and maximize your scorecard

on those par fours yeah you know it's interesting you mentioned about trends I was asking you over the

weekend you know I know how much you appreciate Justin Ray he's mining information and it's anecdotes

but it's data the last eleven guys to win here hadn't come in here with more than a week of rest

what what do you make of that is there is there something that you would apply to the way that you

would set up your card this week based on that information well you talk about mining you could

end up in a black hole Gary so you have to be careful with all of that right so my golf digest power

rankings comes out this morning and the lead in was that in the last forty plus years there's only

been one player that has one who took three weeks off before they you know they came down

agnolia lane and that's Adam Scott in 2013 so I think the trends can become somewhat of a sketchy

route to go down you know I I need them to be able to back up with some form of recent play or

data or something like here's a perfect example nine of the last ten winners had a top ten

in their three starts coming in their last three starts coming in well that that makes sense

they had great recent form but if you told me that ten of the last ten winners had a start here

in the United States well I'm I'm not really ready to eliminate John rom Bryson D. Chambo or

Patrick Reed from this list another quick example would be ten of the last ten winners you know

a great trend they were all in the top 25 of the official world golf ranking fantastic but nine

of the last ten winners between the ages of 27 and 36 that seems a little more arbitrary to me

I'm not going to eliminate Adam Scott Justin Rose or Ludwig Oberg just because of that so I think

if the trends show some form or they show like they they are based upon some logic I think that

that's great I think if you dive too deep then you're going to end up in your own hole okay let's

let's update our standings through the ballerad Texas open it is for our team Gil Hans will be on

property this week he had Cam Young one of the players that's given him the the kind of the cushion

that he's got overall and with that let's show that the masters picks from the five clubs team

and there is it there's a trend X marks the spot he's liked by by half half the field or almost

myself you Jay Billis which I don't want to be tethered to Jay for any reason you're outlined

here is give us the one reason why you like Xander this week oh boy recent form and his

form at Augusta National I mean eight times he's played here he's got five top tens you know two

thirds of the time you come down Magnolia Lane you contend the X marks the spot Gary all right

I look forward to seeing you this week appreciate your your input as always Gary I can't wait to see

you too and we'll have some lunch there we will indeed key Stewart again the overlord of read the

line all of his information just like he said we cough digest his information coming out today we

take a break when we continue from Jim Nance who will host on on CBS to Scott Vampelt ESPN Thursday

Friday in addition to the poor three contest on Wednesday afternoon SVP joins me next

back in on this master's Monday here on five clubs live on golf channel on this summer brought

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convenience store I'll grab several head it down I-77 I-20 over the border into Augusta

Georgia he's already there he's been there for weeks curating and appointing the house that he

is running this week he of course will host on ESPN Thursday and Friday in addition to the

par three contest he is Scott Vampelt hello friend hello friend how are you I'm good thank you

as always for doing this look you got a jammed up week I know you'll carve out from 9-18

to about midnight you con Michigan tonight then you'll narrow your focus I'm curious is somebody

who gets to do all these great things you do and I know how much you appreciate it the masters

yet like guys who you see every other week of the year they want to talk about this they want

to talk some golf how do you think Augusta national the masters tournament over your time covering

the sport which began in earnest a golf channel has become I think the most famous major how have

they done it it's it's a feeling it's how people feel when they're here myself included you

included I mean I shouldn't speak for you but if I'm if I'm wrong correct me but I doubt it it's

a state of mind the notion of getting here and it's how this tournament delivers in such memorable

ways year after year and what it represented to Rory last year not granted you know speed looks to

finish the slam but it's it's in a PGA which moves from place to place um the ability to to to

write history here it's so visceral that's so clear in our minds it's how this place is so clear

in the minds I had an opportunity to have a meal late last night with some folks that were going

to be I think it was about five or six of them were going for the first time and I just smiled

and said shook my head and said you have no idea you know everything you know every shot you know

what everything looks like but you've never you've never smelled it you've never felt the sun on

your face when you're standing there I said I wish I could see you tomorrow when you're walking out

because you're going to be floating I think it's all of that I think all of those things just just

coalesce in such a way that that the masters feels unlike any other thing you know Scott when

when the PGA moved to May um and and now with ESPN and you guys have you know Thursday and Friday and

then with the PGA Saturday and Sunday early and and the PGA what you do look you're there at

first light you're there to pull the curtain when the sun's going down it's so glorious because

the whole team and by the end of day there's some levity and and you're punchy this is different

there's it there is there's a civility here um and and it's in its refined and it's a confined

amount of time what about the exercise and the execution of Thursday and Friday for you and

your team here well it's it's CBS's show from seller shy in the in the in the truck on down and

I think you know Curtis and I are there to welcome folks on and and to throughout the afternoon

perhaps call a few shots late in the day some as well but I view my role very differently here

because it is and you spoke of the civility Gary I think people you know what it's like is it's like

we all had that one friend who had who had this amazing home and when you went there you just acted

right you know it was no one had to give you a list of things to say think don't put your feet

on this table no one had to tell you any of that you were just psyched you got to go to whoever's

house and when you went there it was you were happier there you you you look forward to going back

and you act you act right and this place and I don't mean us I mean everyone I mean the

actions every but the players everyone arrives in a certain state of mind and when I sit there in

the Butler cabin and I've shared this story before but I'll close notes it here that there's a

moment every every Thursday and Friday just before three o'clock Eastern when we come on where I

take a moment and it's like this is sort of this zen feeling and I think of my father who passed

to my dad and I used to watch this event and it's the calmest I feel ever I'm I mean I'm in touch

with the idea of my pop I'm grateful for where I am and I I'm very mindful of trying to be

present with the idea of my dad and how thrilled he'd be that his boy was doing this doing this job

and I don't I don't know if that makes any sense maybe folks who've lost people can relate to that

notion but from that to what the place feels like to the fact that it's really light lifting from

the TV side it there's just no better couple of days of work than this no I certainly I first time

I went was 1991 with my mom and dad they told me I was going sitting in the newer care

port I wasn't crying because that was in the newer care port which would have been natural

I was crying because I know yeah although it's it's much better now no I I totally understand

and feel what you're saying sheffler to me again for somebody who gets to have this really great

wide lens on sports and really dig in and all of it and get to know these people spend time

how do you view him as a leading man in his sport

he's he's this is an overused word and and my my guy stand for Steve and I we've come to penalize

each other for using the with this word but it's I'm I'm going to owe Steve some money here

chef was fascinating because his his talent his appetite to be great which is there but then his

indifference with work that appetite and accomplishment gives him i.e. attention success

that's fascinating he wants to be great then when he is it's like cool this doesn't define me

this doesn't fulfill me my family and my faith do and that's wild because I see in other athletes

who have a a greatness that is their own a focus and an appetite to be great that's ravenous

but it seems like it's fueled by by like not not dark forces but but an insatiable rage to be great

that when they get it they want more of it and sheffler you know he went he before we won the

opening is like man if I win whatever and then he won and then like well are you happy he's like

sure I'm happy but then it's like what's for dinner and where's my family which is grown and

that I admire it I admire the ability to seek something that isn't the destination if that if

that makes sense that that's wild that truly feels singular it's you know Kevin von Valkenberg

wrote an extensive piece over the weekend and it's great and Rory spoke to exactly what you're

saying Rory's like look I didn't get into it for all the shiny objects um but but it's hard

not to indulge and he goes he didn't care about the shiny objects um which is which is spot on

give me a couple story lines beyond the defender uh who who gave us all a hell of a ride last year

and sheffler give me some guys that you have a feeling about

Bryson Bryson um I think we and I'll go I'll use an analogy from a different sport um and it'll

be about that time when we get back from here for the time for the NBA playoffs there's this widely

held notion that you you kind of have to take your lumps kind of have to learn which is why the spurs

are incredibly compelling because of Wombinyama and and the fact that they're really good but they've

never played a playoff game together I don't know can they do it maybe we're about to find out

well you come here and uh there's there's a process of learning and understanding this place right

that it seems to be an accrued knowledge and Bryson's gotten it over time and he got humbled when

he showed up and said you know par's 67 and the folks looked around like is it and we saw him

in the last group last year alongside uh Rory and we've seen him get a top 10 we've seen him win

around the world recently uh he's my pick by the way I really I believe I believe that he uh he's

going to win um so he's a storyline but as I say you typically have to learn in accrued knowledge

over time gotter up brand new here but he hits it eight miles and he seems to have a real nose

for how to win when he's got that opportunity I'm really curious to see how he does and if I were

you know we're not meant to root for folks right it's our job to cover the sport but if if Justin

Rose were there on Sunday with a chance to win I I emotionally I'd be thrilled to see that

think of this Gary twice in that man's life he's gotten to 72 holes on Sunday in that very particular

sunlight that we know late in the day and no one finished lower than him twice and he didn't win

either and that's a lot man because he he I said I told some of the guests at this dinner last

and if you stood in the corner a man corner with a pocket full of 20s and just asked pastors by

hey who'd Rory beat in the playoff last year you'd give away no money yeah but not all of it

not all of it because he he became the wallpaper to Rory and he's a great champion he's a great

gentleman and he's played incredible golf here year after year after year after year after year after

year so I mean it's a wide lens I could keep going I know at some point you got to go so I don't

want to take up all the time but those are just some of the stories that I'm really interested in.

Yeah I'm just curious one last thing because it's I go back to civility when you get on the

property if you have a public persona you're you're pretty much unbothered because nobody has

phones for is there somebody you've seen in your time there you went I can't believe so

and so is that the master's me was last year was Bill Burr Bill Burr and I'm like I got I I

I didn't know he like golf at all I know he's a huge sportsman is there anybody you've seen

you went wow he's at the masters or she's at the masters I mean it's it any direction you turn it

could be a captain of industry it could be an actor actress all right this well it shouldn't have

been surprising because she happens to be a member but this and I'll try I know I don't I need

to hurry up yeah I'm standing there and I hear some I hear a female voice behind me say SVP

I excuse me I turn around it's Condoleezza Rice and so I say

madam madam secretary and she looks at me and goes

Condi and I said

Condi hi so now it's our running joke because she's just she couldn't be more generous with her kindness

she couldn't be a more gracious host and so now when I see Condi I just go hi Condi and if she's

sitting with people I say we're friends it's okay that's a perfect way to put a bow on it thank you

for the indulgence always hope to see you have a great week drive safely look forward to giving

you a handshake and a hug when I see you here on the property all right there he is Scott van

Pelt Thursday Friday in the poor three contest Wednesday we're back right after this

couple minutes left for us here on masters money a couple minutes left for us this week live from

this afternoon at 2 p.m. then again tonight at 7 p.m. we step out of the way live from tomorrow morning

Wednesday morning through the week that great property and group of people that will be covering

the master's tournament the 90th edition so with that since we're not going to be able to end

our week on Wednesday we always end our week with dogs of the week we're doing it master style one

dog and it is the young man who is the US amateur champion and his mom submitted that's Hershey

that is Mason house dog who will play with Rory as obviously the defending champion in the

current US amateur champion the young man who was a senior in high school headed to the university

of Georgia his dog Hershey was jockeying to caddy for Mason in the par three contest he didn't get

the nod but he gets the dog of the week master style right here on five clubs a couple thoughts

here in the last minute the reason why you know that this event always is going to resonate is

that there are certain places that doesn't necessarily rely on certain things and this is one of

those places not only in sports but really in terms of places if you say you went there that means

a lot and for people who get to watch whether it's Rory in defense scottie sheffler doing something

that only a couple of players have done jack Arnold and tiger three in five years and you look at

ROM and Bryson and the idea that those two guys could very much nose their way to the front or

somebody who is not yet one of major championship and how life changing it can be enjoy all of it

from all of us here at signature sports group and five clubs have a great master's week we'll see

you next Monday