Masters rookies embrace nerves, soak in dream debut at Augusta
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 7 : For Masters first-timers, the walk through Augusta National’s gates is equal parts dream fulfilled and test of composure as a new class of players tries to balance awe with the demands of one of golf’s most exacting stages. This year’s tournament includes a strong contingent of debutants who say they are trying not to be overwhelmed by the pressure that comes with playing in one of golf’s most anticipated events. “As a kid, it was a dream to just even be out here,” said Ben Griffin, who captured all three of his wins on the PGA Tour last year. “As a player, this is a dream come true.” Like many newcomers, Griffin said he was still absorbing the details of a course he had previously known mostly through television highlights and golfing lore. He pointed to Augusta National’s famed Amen Corner as a place where the atmosphere seems to shift. “Once you get to Amen Corner everything kind of gets a bit more peaceful,” he said, even as he noted …
