Not even a 76 can ruin Quigley's day
From his yardage book, Brett Quigley whipped out a photo of his newborn daughter Thursday afternoon.
"You see how much she looks like her mom," he said.
In his first Masters Tournament, Quigley shot 4-over-par 76. It was his worst opening round of the year, and it was his best.
One day removed from the birth of Lillian Sage Augusta Quigley, Brett floated around Augusta National Golf Club wearing his white hospital bracelet on his right wrist.
"I hate to say it didn't matter, but it was so nice, so peaceful out there," he said. "It was probably the only way I could enjoy my first round at the Masters."
Amy Quigley's due date was April 16, but during Tuesday's practice round, Brett reached Amen Corner and checked his cell phone. He soon received a call. Amy was in labor.
Quigley quit his round, made his way to the airport and flew back to Jupiter, Fla. He was worried he would miss his baby's birth. Amy endured a long delivery, though, and at 2:55 a.m. Wednesday, doctors performed a C-section to deliver the 7-pound, 2-ounce girl.
"It was kind of surreal," Quigley said. "She just started wailing. I mean wailing. Crying, crying, crying. They cleaned her up, put her in a little blanket and brought her to me."
In Quigley's arms, she found instant peace. The crying stopped.
"I said, 'I've been talking to you for eight months. I guess you recognize my voice,'" he said. "I've probably been crying ever since."
After getting no sleep that night, he returned to Augusta - at Amy's urging - at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Quigley said he got a good night's rest for his 2:03 p.m. tee time and felt fine all day.
"I had some pretty good adrenaline out there," he said. "It's nice playing late."
The 37-year-old Quigley, who qualified for the Masters after earning more than $2.6 million and finishing 20th on last year's PGA Tour money list, described his round as "exhausting" and "incredible."
"There were probably five, six times," he said, "I was out there today fighting back tears thinking of Amy and Lily."
Quigley stepped up to the first tee and bogeyed the first hole. He made the turn at 39 and shot 1-over the rest of the way, his lone birdie coming at the par-5 15th.
He walked off No. 18 as the happiest man to shoot 76.
"It was probably the biggest day of my life, the past two days," he said. "Golf-wise, I stepped on that first tee and that was it for me. It's just a great feeling to finally get it done and finally be here.
"It was incredible the support from the players, the fans. It seemed like everybody knew (about the baby). That was really nice. It was really amazing to me. I had a smile on my face all day."
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
