I had a nightmare at my first Masters, I nearly killed someone off the tee… then hit ANOTHER fan with my next shot
GREG CHALMERS suffered a wretched start to his Masters career by thinking he’d killed someone on the first tee.
Then he followed it up by hitting ANOTHER fan with his very next shot.
AP:Associated PressGreg Chalmers made one appearance at the Masters in 2001 but had a nightmare on the first hole[/caption]
X @GregChalmersPGAThe Australian managed to hit patrons with his first and second shots[/caption]
Australian Chalmers turned professional in 1995 and racked up 11 tournament wins, including one on the PGA Tour after 18 years and 386 starts.
The lefty reached No53 in the golf world rankings and made 12 major appearances, with his best result T4 at the PGA Championship in 2000.
However, it was his solo entry into the Masters the following year that lives long in the memory – for the wrong reasons.
Chalmers battled the nerves of the opening tee shot on the first hole, the famously tricky Tea Olive at Augusta.
And it all went horribly, horribly wrong for the Sydney star, who cut his 2018 season short due to arthritis in his back.
In a brilliant tweet ahead of the 2024 Masters, Chalmers summed up his nightmare ordeal.
He wrote: “You are not going to believe what happened the first time I played the Masters.
“It was in 2001 and my first round tee time was around 8:30 and I was a little nervous. I just watched Byron Nelson and Sam Snead hit off only a few minutes prior and the enormity of the event was dawning on me as I stood over the ball on that tee shot.
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“I managed to catch it out of the heel which had the ball sliding down the left rope line, frankly I was pleased it was on planet Earth.
“This joy was brief as I saw one of the patrons fall to the ground and my ball ricocheting through the pines to the left.
“I might vomit at this point… couldn’t help but imagine some poor soul has waited 15 years for tickets for the Masters and I’ve nearly killed him at 8:30 in the morning.
“It wasn’t great once I got there… I’d hit him right above his eye and you could see the dimple pattern in the lump now forming. I don’t think a signed glove is gonna cut it on this one. Not good.
“If I was nervous before I’m now close to lying in the fetal position and sucking my thumb.
“My second shot I have to slide a 4-iron through about four pines and slice it back towards the fairway. I got the first part done but failed on the second bit so managed to hit a person in the shoulder on the right rope line up by the green.
“I’ve waited my entire life to play Augusta National. I’ve taken two swings and hit two patrons.
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“Put me down for a bogey and a solid 78 at the end of the day and I’m not saying I’m the reason but it’s no coincidence patrons are no longer allowed on left side of the first hole.
“Enjoy your Masters.”
Chalmers was playing alongside 1988 champion Sandy Lyle and Chris DiMarco on that Thursday, with the latter posting a seven-under 65 to take the outright lead after round one.
The Aussie’s score of 78, meanwhile, left him on six-over-par and he went on to miss the cut.
Chalmers now runs a charity called Maximum Chances for children with autism in Dallas, where he lives with his wife Nicole and two sons.
ReutersChalmers managed a tie for fourth at the 2000 PGA Championship[/caption]
ReutersThe Sydney star secured 11 professional wins during his career[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationThe lefty withdrew from the 2018 season due to arthritis in his back[/caption]
