Andrea Douglas relaxes and shoots some video during Monday's practice round. Douglas says she's not a big golf fan, but the course attracts her. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Spectators stake out course's choice spots
Web posted 04/05/01
John Kinkle has watched golfers win and lose the Masters on the 18th hole.
But it was always on the television at his Pittsford, N.Y., home.
``We've seen this on TV so many times,'' he said, standing on the mound at the back of the 18th green. ``I can't think of a more dramatic spot than right here. And it is such a beautiful spot.''
Thousands of spectators will walk the grounds of the Augusta National Golf Club this weekend in search of the perfect spot to watch the tournament.
For Peter and Melissa Brown of Cape Cod, Mass., that spot is on the bank of the pond at the 16th green, watching the turtles move along the edge of the water.
``You get to see the tee shot and then the player putting off,'' he said. ``And there is great scenery.''
The scenery was what attracted Andrea Douglas to the Masters. She admits she's not a big golf fan, but she does enjoy looking at the course and couldn't pass up a trip to the Augusta National.
``I could sit here and watch it all day,'' she said, her feet propped up in a chair on a mound near the second green. ``I think it's beautiful. I really do.''
A few feet away, Kelly Tyler, of Macon, sat just outside the ropes on the back of the second green.
``It's just nice,'' she said. ``My parents started sitting here years ago. We'll go down to Amen Corner for a little while.''
Walking into the Augusta National on Wednesday, Scott Breen of Billings, Mont., knew where he wanted to go. He spent several hours next to the green at hole 16.
``I just remember Greg Norman took a quadruple bogey on the 16th a couple of years ago on the way to collapse,'' he said. ``It's a bonus they are skipping (golf balls over across the pond).''
He also spent time at Amen Corner.
``You can see so much there,'' he said. ``That's really my favorite spot to sit and watch all day. But this would be a close second.''
For George Sarringar and a group from Greenville, Miss., the perfect spot was at the 18th green.
``You can take a few steps and watch players come up nine,'' he said. ``Plus it's not far from the clubhouse.''
