Masters XII
April 7 - 10, 2022
Masters XII
April 7 - 10, 2022
A brief history of a gathering of friends
Masters I
St. Louis, Missouri, 2011
A partially employed Mr. Fry suggests to then Ms. Watt that they get together, watch some golf and drink some beer. Then Charl Schwartzel (274) birdies the last four holes to just out pace Tiger Woods and three Australians and secure his first green jacket in one of the most dramatic second nines since the Golden Bear's charge in '86.
Don't forget about Rory's legendary choke 10 this year, and a closing 80, a splendid Augusta memory. It's a matter for historians if it was Rory's wild hook or Charl's charge that cemented this elegant Springtime tradition for Mr. Fry and Dr. Watt.
Masters II
St. Louis, Missouri, 2012
It's special shots that make the Masters and as such, who can forget Bubba Watson (278) on the 10th that year? If that wasn't enough, it was also the year Louis Oosthuizen made just the fourth albatross in Masters history. We were truly fortunate to watch these unforgettable Master's moments.
In non-golf event news, while the origin and exact date may be lost to the fog of time, it is believed this is the first year that amateur dentistry became a inexorable tradition at the Masters. We remain steadfast to its practice and hold that it immeasurably enhances the viewing experience.
Masters III
St. Louis, Missouri, 2013
In our first Master's playoff we saw high drama as Adam Scott (279) survived against wife beater Angel Cabrera to end Australia's Masters' disappointments. His countrymen celebrated by looting the commissary and holding the warden hostage for a week.
Meanwhile America still seethes over the awful luck Tiger got on 13 that Sunday, he was robbed of his 5th jacket. But those are the breaks on the rolling hills of Augusta. Tiger would be back.
Masters IV
St. Louis, Missouri, 2014
A truly special Spring. Mr. Fry made the trek down from the frozen North this year. We watched Bubba Watson (280) showed he wasn't a one-hit wonder this year. The bender from Baghdad won his second green jacket as Jordan Spieth experienced the ever enjoyable, Sunday collapse. It would not be his last.
Masters V
Fort Collins, Colorado, 2015
Our first Masters outside of Missouri. Now Dr. Watt headed west to enjoy the Rocky Mountain Highs of Colorado and watch our first Masters at altitude. That year Jordan Spieth (270) made everyone forget about his meltdown the year before by tying Tiger's scoring record and taking his first green jacket. We all wondered just how many green jackets this kid would get.
This year was also notable for the first ever appearance by a non-Homo Sapiens in the tournament. It finished T-33. We applaud The Augusta National for its commitment to diversity, bravo!
Masters VI
St. Louis, Missouri, 2016
The Masters returned to its original home in St. Louis for a rather high scoring and some have said, disappointing tournament. Jordan Spieth looked set to claim another green jacket on Sunday but made everyone forget about his record setting performance the year before with an epic quadruple bogey on 12. Danny Willett (283) fired a final round 67 to claim the green jacket in a high scoring Masters.
Danny Willett has gone on to win fewer tournaments than Spieth was over par on 12 that year. He was is our Slumdog Millionaire champion, sometimes Augusta has its eye on someone no one else does.
The neanderthalensis made it all the way to T-21 this year. We were just impressed that it was able to add its score correctly each of the four days.
Masters VII
Denver, Colorado, 2017
Our first Masters in the tiny home in Denver and the first introduction of the debauchery to Mrs. Kathryn M.R. Fry nee Siembieda. This year we learned 74 was a magic number. In his 74th try, Sergio Garcia (279) defeated Justin Rose in a playoff to win his first major and join his hero Seve Ballesteros as another Spanish Masters Champion. Golf is a humbling game and no one knows that better than Sergio, but this year taught us all the truth in the classic quote by the first great of the game, Harry Vardon, "Even in our darkest hour we must remember; never despair". Well said Mr. Vardon and well done Sergio.
In a frightening moment for humanity we saw the unevolved ape rose all the way to T-11. Heaven help us if it ever gains real consciousness.
Masters VIII
Denver, Colorado, 2018
Dr. Watt again followed the path of the pioneers west to the Rocky Mountains and like the intelligent ones, she saw those massive mountains and said, "these seems far enough". We watched Patrick Reed (273) hold off Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth (going the opposite direction he's accustomed to on Sunday) to win his first Masters. At the time we felt Patrick would be a Danny Willett champion but he has shown us a few glimpses in the years since and while he is not a favorite, he certinaly isnt the worst champion we've ever had. At least he's of our species.
The only real pleasure in this tournament was that the troglodyte missed the tournament because it hurt its wrist (probably from trying to operate machines designed for Homo Sapiens).
Masters IX
Denver, Colorado, 2019
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While we didn't know it at the time this would be the last Masters of the antepandemic era. And what a send off we received. This was our generation's 1986 Masters. The prodigal son Tiger Woods (275) sent chills down our spines as the Tiger stalked the fairways of Augusta once more and claimed his 5th green jacket. It was a different Tiger, a mature and clever Tiger, not the fearless brute predator of a decade before who had slayed his competition with a hammer. This Tiger took a scalpel to the field and as he knowingly bogeyed the 18th to win by one we all tipped our caps to one of the greatest to ever play the game.
This Masters had everything: Francesco Molinari's collapse was the exactly the schadenfreude we love in Augusta in Spring. Also, we were vexed but immensely pleased the Neanderthal could not take the title, despite finishing T-2... not sure they make sleeves big enough to get over its hairy knuckles.
Masters X
Denver, Colorado, 2020
The longest wait for the Masters since the War. In a strange but beautiful Fall edition of the Masters (brought to us by Mr. Covid), long time contender and former Mr. Fry antagonist, Dustin Johnson (268) took home the green Jacket and set a new scoring record*. While we begrudgingly give respect where respect is due to all humans, we had glee in our hearts as the large browed one fell from contention and finished T-7. It will be a bleak day indeed if it ever manages to win.
At the time we did not know it but it would be our final Masters in Denver as well as Mr. Fry moved north to his new home in Longmont. The long wait after the new mature Tiger's win, the move from a long time Masters venue, and the impending move from the home of the Masters in St. Louis by Dr. Watt made the Tournament Committee consider that it might be time to elevate the viewing of the Masters.
Masters XI
St. Louis, Missouri, 2021
This was an especially wonderful tournament as the caveman had sustained a leg injury (probably from poaching mastodons) and HILARIOUSLY limped to 74-75, 149 missing the cut. Its disappointment brightened our viewing experience immeasurably.
Masters XII
Evergreen. Colorado, 2022
The first adult Masters. We wait on tenterhooks for Spring, friends, and the next Masters.
For your viewing pleasure
The short days of Fall and the long nights of Winter may be upon us but Spring, and golf in Georgia is just around the corner. In the spirit of that perennial optimism, Dr. Watt and Mr. Fry would like to share a compilation of the greatest shots ever made at the Augusta National Invitational Tournament. We hope that these sixty-six moments will whet your appetite and put you in the mood for the majestic pageantry that is, The Masters.
