PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Mark Calcavecchia was talking about his plans for the Masters when he mentioned what surely is a first on the PGA Tour. Is there anyone else whose wife has never been to the Masters but who has played Augusta National?
"That's a rarity," he said.
They were dating in 2001 when Calcavecchia played in a silly-season event late that year at Kiawah Island. He and Brenda drove over to Augusta National as the guest of Will Nicholson, chairman of rules and competition.
Calcavecchia's wife (they married last year in Italy) grew up in Ohio playing golf and knew all about the Masters, so the reaction was predictable.
"She freaked out," he said.
And then she teed off.
"First hole, the pin was in the same place it was Sunday, that middle hollow to the right," he said. "She was up in the back of the green, putting down the hill. I said, 'This is fast.' And we had just been on the putting green, which was kind of shaggy. She putted it 25 yards down the fairway."
It got better. Augusta National has only championship tees and members' tees, so the men allowed Brenda to tee off at the top of the hill at No. 11 to giver her a chance. She made par. She hit the green at No. 12 and made par.
"Then she makes bogey out of the creek on No. 13," Calcavecchia said. "She shot 43 on the back, parred or bogeyed every hole. And she was excited."
Calcavecchia was able to play because he had qualified for the 2002 Masters, the first year of the significant strengthening of the golf course. He missed the cut and hasn't been back since, although he is eligible this year from finishing in the top 40 on the money list last year.
But he hasn't been back to Augusta National with Brenda, so on her next trip, she'll have to stay outside the ropes.
Why no practice round?
"I haven't had the time or the opportunity or anybody's private jet I could borrow," he said.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
