Dave Womack has a daily reminder of the Masters Tournament fixed to the wall of his home in the Atlanta suburbs.

Dave Womack, the U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, hits a fairway shot during his practice round. (Kendrick Brinson/Staff)

It's a framed portrait of Jack Nicklaus teeing off on No. 11 at Augusta National Golf Club about 15 years ago. In the background just outside the ropes sit two young teenagers from McDonough, Ga., watching in awe as the six-time winner keenly follows his ball's trajectory.

Nearly every day since Womack won the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in September, the McDonough insurance salesman has glanced at the photo and pinched himself mentally: He, along with cousin and caddie Walt Lee, actually will be inside the ropes when the 71st Masters starts Thursday.

"I'm living a dream," he said after Tuesday's practice round with two-time tournament winner Phil Mickelson, 2005 runner-up Chris DiMarco and Arron Oberholser.

"Being from Georgia, this place holds so much meaning," Womack said.

How the 28-year-old made the field is almost as meaningful.

He won the U.S. Mid-Amateur 1-up at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Ariz., edging former University of Georgia All-American Ryan Hybl. Womack needed a crucial par save on the 13th hole of the 36-hole final match, not to mention a 5-foot putt on the last hole.

"It was a grueling tournament," Womack said. "To get to the finals, I wouldn't say I was shocked, but I was a little surprised. I stood up at the first tee on the final match, and the starter said, 'Out of 4,052 entrants, two remain.'"

Womack led for the entire match but ran into trouble on the 13th hole. After his tee shot sailed into a water hazard, he watched Hybl's drive bounce into the fairway and barely trickle into the rough.

Hybl was in position to square the match, but a piece of mud was stuck to his ball and his approach shot leaked right into thick rough. Hybl bogeyed, Womack saved par and eventually secured the win.

Hybl, who had played Augusta National six times during his Georgia career, said throughout the weekend that he was playing for a tee time at the Masters. But it was Womack who emerged with the coveted prize.

"That 13th hole was crucial," Womack said. "If he wins that hole, he could be here today."

Hybl said he's rooting for Womack to break the 18-year streak of Mid-Amateur champions' missing the cut at the Masters.

"I'll be keeping up with Dave (this weekend), and I hope he does well," said Hybl, who is an assistant coach for the University of Georgia golf team. "As amateurs, we want the other amateurs to play well just because it gives us a good name and lets those pros know that these guys aren't too bad."

Thursday also will be special for Womack because of one member of his gallery at the first tee: his 91-year-old grandfather, L.P. McKibben, who was in the hospital dealing with a chronic heart condition during the Masters-clinching win in Arizona.

"It's just something with him being 91 and him being with me; it's going to be great for him," Womack said. "He was a huge golfer. Obviously, he can't get around too well here, but he'll be able to see me tee off and coming up 18." Womack had a successful collegiate golf career at Georgia Southern University, graduating in 2001. He played a few years on satellite tours before realizing the travel grind wasn't for him.

He intends on keeping his amateur status for good.

"These guys, they play golf for a living," he said. "I sell insurance for a living."

Reach John Kaltefleiter at (706) 208-2213.