Players find course tribute is in the bag
Think Masters, think green. TaylorMade went blue.
"I wasn't expecting to see blue," Vaughn Taylor said of the 2008 "Season Opener" golf bags provided by TaylorMade for use this week by its players. "It's pretty cool, though. It's different, you know. I was expecting all green, and they came out with blue and green piping."
Equipment companies TaylorMade and Callaway have created special golf bags for pros to use in the majors for several years, but TaylorMade has taken the commemorative theme to the extreme since starting the program in 2003.
"Everything they've made so far has a story to it," Retief Goosen said.
For TaylorMade, this was a 50th anniversary tribute to the 1958 Masters Tournament won by Arnold Palmer and made famous for the birth of the phrase Amen Corner.
The unusual color scheme was taken from the 1958 Masters patrons badge, which is incorporated with a new logo on each bag.
"I like the badge; it's a great idea," Taylor said.
Said Goosen: "It's nice to see something different. It's cool in blue."
References on the badge allude to Palmer (A.P. 58) and Herbert Warren Wind (H.W.W.), who coined the term Amen Corner, which is illustrated with three greens (Nos. 11-13) and a pair of praying hands.
"I put together a little bit," Taylor said of the elements in the badge. "There were a couple of things I couldn't figure out."
Each of its tour reps is supplied with two bags -- one he keeps and another he autographs to be auctioned for proceeds benefiting The First Tee.
Taylor has collected a couple dozen bags, including the majors and Ryder Cup team bag that he has received. He said all of the Augusta bags are his favorites.
"I've just got them in a room upstairs in the house," he said. "Hopefully, I'll have a room one day and put the TaylorMade bags out. They're pretty neat and cool looking, and a lot of people might like to see that."
Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.
