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THE MAJORS
OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
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SPRING 2014
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obsports.com
member President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ike's
Tree was a tall Loblolly pine that the president
despised because it usually swatted down his
sliced tee shots.
At a board meeting in 1956, Eisenhower called
for its removal, but club chairman Clifford
Roberts vetoed the idea and it re-
mained in place until this year.
Even with a new back tee created
in 1998, the tree seldom bothered
tour pros in the modern era, though
Tiger himself tangled with it in
2011's third round after a poorly struck drive.
Club officials are entertaining replacement
ideas. For 2014, however, they will study how
the hole plays without it. Somewhere up there,
the old general is smiling broadly.
•••
FATHER AND SON REUNION
One of Kevin Stadler's perks for winning the
2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open was an
invite to the Masters.
His debut is unusual, in that he'll be joined in
the field by his father, Craig, who is eligible to
compete as a past champion, a feat "the Walrus"
accomplished in 1982.
This will mark the first time that a father-son
duo has ever teed it up in the same Masters. The
side story here is that father and son had experi-
enced a frosty period in their relationship for a
number of years.
Thankfully, the thaw is progressing nicely.
"I get along with him fine," said Kevin, imme-
diately after his Phoenix victory. "I'm just not as
close with him now as I used to be, but he's still
my dad. I love him."
For the elder Stadler's part, he's thrilled at the
Masters prospects.
"It's really my last one (Masters)," said the 61-
year-old Walrus. "I kept saying, 'You know,
when he gets in, that's my last one.' "
•••
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Masters fans love their history, and 2014 cele-
brates an embarrassment of riches.
Eighty years ago marked the first Masters and
50 years ago, Arnold Palmer captured his fourth
Masters and the final major of his career.
That said, three other anniversaries stand out
for sheer memorability. In 1954, Billy Joe Patton
nearly became the first amateur to win the Mas-
ters. A final-round ace at the 6th propelled him
into the lead, but he when he gambled at the
par-5 13th and splashed, then did it again
fi
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GARY PLAYER
ON IKE'S TREE
THE MASTERS: BY THE NUMBERS
12
14
23
25
63
64
66
Widest margin of victory
Tiger Woods in 1997
Age of youngest player ever
Guan Tianlang in 2013
Most consecutive cuts made
Gary Player and Fred Couples
Most birdies in one Masters
Phil Mickelson in 2001
Lowest 18-hole score
Nick Price and Greg Norman
Lowest final round by winner
Gary Player in 1978
Lowest round by an amateur
Ken Venturi in 1956
