My Year in Golf, 2016: Kevin Casey
As 2016 unwind, members of the Golfweek personnel review their year in golf. Up next: Kevin Casey.
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My very first complete year at Golfweek remains in the books, and yeah, there were some memories.
I’m going to cut ideal to the chase. A particular week at Augusta National in April stuck out as the clear winner for my 2016.
Yes, the Masters * hint flowery music with smooth Jim Nantz voiceover *. Every golf fan dreams about being on the premises of Augusta and any who declare they do not are phonies. I began playing golf when I was 7 and have actually been yearning for that chance for 16 years– it’s definitely turned up a number of times in between myself and my father, likewise a devoted golf enthusiast.
I was hoping it would take place some day, however not at 23 years of ages, and I definitely didn’t believe I would be covering the most expected golf competition on the planet by that age. But, it took place, and I’ll be forever grateful for that.
You’ve undoubtedly come to the best location if you desire a little insight into exactly what it’s like for a media member going to the Masters for the very first time. My very first day at Augusta was the Sunday prior to the action, and it was a complete day.
Myself and coworker Brentley Romine, likewise a first-timer at the Masters, chose to obtain as much as Augusta as quickly as possible for no other factor than to soak everything in. That indicated a sleep deprived night, a half-hour flight to Brentley’s home at 1 a.m. to park my automobile for the week, and then an area in the traveler’s seat while he drove 6 hours through the wee early morning hours so we might reach the premises well prior to twelve noon.
It deserved the absence of rest. We were at the Masters.
From there, the rest of the week went by rapidly of course, however every minute was enduring. And I state that without even seeing the entire course!
Some other observations from a Masters novice:
Possibly it’s simply me, however I’ve seen the trees through the screen and figured the course was quite traditionally confined. It is in areas, however there are plenty of areas where it kind of feels like you’re in a big pasture.
My preferred area on the whole Augusta residential or commercial property was truthfully not on the 18-hole course where they play the Masters. Yes, it was even more unbelievable than Amen Corner. I went down there Wednesday to examine out the Par-3 Contest and it’s tough to explain how cool it is to look down at those 2 holes, surrounded by water with fans hugging every inch of readily available land with the sun sprinkling down.
Anyhow, it in fact took me some time to discover them, initially going to concessions (since that’s where the beer is) however no dice. Not precisely being there shot-by-shot as Spieth shockingly lost the Masters, however I truthfully took pleasure in doing this simply as much. Whatever you’re doing on the premises on Masters Sunday at Augusta National, you’re on the premises at Augusta National on Masters Sunday.
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The Masters experience was most unforgettable, however there was absolutely more to my year. I went to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., for 2 weeks and that was a blast.
As for the real action, I do not require to state too much on either last, since if you paid attention, they were both amazing. The Oregon males’s win had the cooler ambiance, I believe, simply due to the fact that there was the house crowd there increasingly cheering on and hurrying the green at the end. Washington ladies’s triumph was more surreal, thinking about the wonder hole-outs the Huskies pulled off to win it all.
And this is how the match ended: UCLA’s Bronte Law, the finest gamer in college golf, holes a putt to win an important point and screams in enjoyment. Essentially 30 seconds later on about 100 lawns away, Washington freshman Sarah Rhee containers a greenside bunker shot to essentially seal the Huskies win and move them to the finals.
There were numerous others I went to this year that I was excited to cover and completely delighted in. It was a fantastic year when I went on the roadway and even when I didn’t in 2016. I believe we made terrific strides at Golfweek.com this year and will make numerous more rapidly when 2017 hits.
I began playing golf when I was 7 and have actually been yearning for that chance for 16 years– it’s definitely come up numerous times in between myself and my daddy, likewise a passionate golf player.
The Masters experience was most remarkable, however there was absolutely more to my year. There were numerous others I went to this year that I was excited to cover and completely delighted in. It was a terrific year when I went on the roadway and even when I didn’t in 2016. I believe we made terrific strides at Golfweek.com this year and will make numerous more rapidly when 2017 hits.