[Mick]

On a Stanford related note, I remember watching the Masters in the mid-80s and the Club President, Hord Hardin, gave a quick message. I damn near fell off the couch. Hord Hardin III, aka Tripp Hardin, lived next door freshman year and was a punter for the team. Who knew. . . .

Hord Hardin the Masters Chair, in 1982 ended a 46 year tradition in which the pros used local Augusta National caddies for the Masters.  Tom Watson (among others) made the request directly of Hardin that the pros be allowed to use their regular caddies.  After all, reasoned Watson in his message, as an attorney would Mr. Hardin accept a secretary from the secretarial pool instead of his personal secretary in the face of imminent major litigation?  Sound argument, sound reasoning, and the Augusta National caddies were eliminated.  Ironically, Watson won twice and finished second twice between 1977 and 1982 using Augusta National caddies...and never won after that.

Augusta caddies used to rule the grounds at the Masters. Then the rain came in 1982 (yahoo.com)

[Mick]

On a Stanford related note, I remember watching the Masters in the mid-80s and the Club President, Hord Hardin, gave a quick message. I damn near fell off the couch. Hord Hardin III, aka Tripp Hardin, lived next door freshman year and was a punter for the team. Who knew. . . .

Hord Hardin the Masters Chair, in 1982 ended a 46 year tradition in which the pros used local Augusta National caddies for the Masters.  Tom Watson (among others) made the request directly of Hardin that the pros be allowed to use their regular caddies.  After all, reasoned Watson in his message, as an attorney would Mr. Hardin accept a secretary from the secretarial pool instead of his personal secretary in the face of imminent major litigation?  Sound argument, sound reasoning, and the Augusta National caddies were eliminated.  Ironically, Watson won twice and finished second twice between 1977 and 1982 using Augusta National caddies...and never won after that.

Augusta caddies used to rule the grounds at the Masters. Then the rain came in 1982 (yahoo.com)