Inside a zip-close bag and a leather case, Hans Mayer Gidion keeps a book of signatures of Masters Tournament winners.

Hans Mayer Gidion, 81, a documents inspector, walks around Augusta National as he tries to collect the signatures of more Masters champions to include in his book. (Kendrick Brinson/Special)

It lacks all but three who died before 1986, when his quest began, and four recent winners: Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir. Gidion, 81, hopes to get those this Masters Week.

Much of Gidion's life is about signatures. His career is examining handwriting and signatures on documents, which he has done for 43 years.

The book The Masters: Golf's Most Prestigious Tradition , by Dawson Taylor, holds pages of information about winners up to 1985 and obituary clippings. In the blank pages, Gidion typed the years of the winner underneath the signatures. The book was bought as a gift for a son-in-law, and he resolved to get every Masters champion's signature.

"I didn't know what I was getting into," Gidion said.

The goal has taken him off the path and beyond Augusta. He got three signatures when trips were in proximity to winners. He flew to Memphis, Tenn., where Cary Middlecoff worked as a dentist.

"He picked me up, believe it or not. We had lunch at the Memphis golf club," he said.

When he had a trip to Cleveland, he called Herman Keiser and rented a car to the 1946 champion's hometown and met him only days before his death.

Gidion's interest in signatures began while he was in the military, serving in Japan. He was offered a job as a criminal investigator.

"I got into something I enjoyed," he said.

Along the way, he met his wife of 56 years, Setsuko, and his career evolved into forensic document investigation. He is now in private practice.

In most forensic examinations, there are instruments to obtain evidence.

"In handwriting, there's no instrument," Gidion said.

Reach Sarah Day Owen at (706) 823-3223 or sarah.owen@augustachronicle.com.