Among the Masters
A Mizzou golfer faces the best in Augusta
Mizzou golfer John Kelly tapped friend Barr Blanton to be his caddie at the Masters. Photos by Kyle Coburn, MU Intercollegiate Athletics.
One week, Mizzou senior golfer John Kelly was competing at a collegiate tournament in front of a handful of parents. The next week, he was playing in front of thousands of bleacher-filling fans at the legendary Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga.
One week, he was chowing down with fellow Tiger golfers on the road. The next, he was having hors d’oeuvres and shaking hands with Arnold Palmer.
That’s because Kelly earned an invitation to the Masters by finishing second in the 2006 U.S. Amateur Championship. Starting on April 5 in Augusta, where even Tiger Woods (the other Tiger on the course) and fellow pros struggled with fast greens and tough conditions, Kelly shot five over par on each of the first two days. He missed the cut for the tournament finals by only two strokes, but he did beat all other amateurs — not to mention tying pros such as Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia.
“Normally I’m watching those guys on TV on the weekend,” Kelly says. “This time I was one of those guys. It was cool to get to measure my game against theirs and see where I need to go from here.”
Kelly is pleased with that measurement but also humbled by the experience of playing such a difficult course. The 11th and 12th holes (part of the notorious “Amen Corner”) gave him trouble in both rounds. “You have to find a way to keep it together,” he says. “You’re going to make some bogeys out there, but you have to minimize those and take advantage of good situations.” Case in point: On day two, Kelly recovered from 11 and 12 with a birdie on the 13th hole. Then, he even made it into TV coverage with a long putt for par to end the second day.
Playing in the Masters meant Kelly had to miss a weekend of collegiate competition, but now he is back to complete the Tiger team’s season. He hopes to play in amateur events all summer and to qualify for the Walker Cup, which includes top amateurs from the United States, Ireland and Great Britain. After that, it’s time to turn pro.
“We’ll see where that takes me,” he says. “Just from this past week, I know I’ve got the game to play with those guys.”
John Kelly blends in with the pros as he signs autographs at the Masters.