Florida State Sophomore Drew Kittleson, the runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship, is penning an exclusive diary for masters.com during the 2009 Tournament. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native is making his first Masters playing appearance in only his second year with one of college golf’s most successful programs. During the Masters, he will write daily on his experiences and performances in his initial showing at Augusta National Golf Club. This is his fourth entry.
Today was Par 3 Contest day and I learned one valuable lesson - always have your own Sharpie. You think I would know that after three days, but I really needed one today!
I know I’ve never signed as many autographs in my life as I have this week - back and forth to the practice green and at the Par 3 Contest - and it was incredible. The pros are pretty quick at signing and they all have their pens.
Otherwise, the day was really great. I had my dad, Kurt, on the bag and that was pretty special. He hasn’t caddied for me in a long time.
He hasn’t ask for a raise yet after his work today; I did have a pretty light bag, but since he’s usually the funder in the family maybe I’ll be asking him for a raise.
Of course, with all my friends and family here I’m also thinking about my mom, Janis. She passed away when I was 13, the same week I actually won a tournament, but I know she would have liked this.
She wasn’t the biggest golf fan in the world, but I know she would have been proud of her son playing in the greatest golf Tournament in the world. A lot of times they didn’t let parents watch junior tournaments, but she would have been here for this one.
That’s why this week is so special for me. All my friends and family are here, my aunts and uncles, dad and step-mom, friends, family, coaches, buddies back home.
Hopefully I’ll play here a bunch more times, but probably there won’t be as many people here.
As far as the Par 3 Contest was concerned, I didn’t have a great strategy today, just mainly to have fun. I’ve played the par 3 course a few times during my practice rounds and really enjoyed it, but never made a hole-in-one.
That’s probably what today was to me – a hole-in-one contest, not really a closest-to-the-pin contest.
I really thought I had made one. I hit it up there on No. 3 and it nearly hit the pin for an ace, but just skipped past. That would have really been special. I played pretty well and I thought it was a good day. I finished one over par and that’s about as well as I have done here.
On the ninth hole, I was coming up to the green and just picked out two kids to help me make the putt, another Masters tradition.
I had a really tricky downhill putt for birdie on No. 9, 15-20 feet, and man they almost made it.
The Par 3 Contest really helped me get ready for my week. I think I’ve done about as much as I can do to prepare.
I’ve played a bunch of rounds here, practiced, got a good game plan, and I’m ready to go. After being here a lot of times, I think this is a course you have to be conservatively aggressive. Take your time, then take your chances.
I’m feeling a little bit of nerves, but it’s the Masters so if you’re not a little charged up something is wrong.
After the Par 3 Contest, I went to lunch on the clubhouse lawn with my Florida State coach Trey Jones and his wife, along with some other friends.
After lunch, I just went out and hit balls, then headed back with my friends and family. We have a brief reception tonight with some food and I will go back to the Crow’s Nest and get ready for round one.
I’ve got plenty of Florida State stuff to wear and I have an aunt who picks out all my clothes, sort of like Tiger, so she’ll have some good FSU gear put together.
It’s already been a great week, but tomorrow is the big day. I can’t wait to see what happens.
