1999 JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL’S WALK INTO HISTORY
perfect iron to about 25 feet. Then Ollie wedged on, maybe five feet inside of Greg’s ball. Here’s where it gets fun. As Ollie tells it, he found himself taking in the scene as they stood on that green surrounded by all the beautiful azaleas in full bloom and rows and rows of patrons 10 deep. It was an odd time to be daydreaming, and then suddenly the crowd went crazy. Greg had made his eagle putt. Now I’ve heard Ollie tell this story many times, and some- one always asks, “What happened next?” Ollie will say his thoughts were, How great is this? I thought I might never walk again, and here I am on Sunday at the Masters playing with Greg Norman with a chance to win. Then, in his thick Spanish accent, he’ll add, “Oh, yes, then I make my putt for birdie.” I tell my players this story all the time because it’s about appreciation. It’s natural to get caught up in the competition and miss the experience, the joy. Ollie went on to win by two, and I don’t think that ever would have happened without the gratitude he felt for just being there.
hen Jose got to Augusta that year, it was already a major victory. Soon after he won the ’94 Masters, he developed foot pain that often left him unable to walk. He thought his career was over. Then, a back specialist found the source of the pain, and he finally got treatment that worked. As a result, his attitude coming in that week was, in a word, grateful. Ollie and I had worked together for many years. His short game is one of the all-time best, and as a competitor, he’s as tough as they get. Plus, he absolutely loves Augusta. It was a mixed bag for Ollie through the first three rounds: 70 on Thursday, a brilliant 66 on Friday, 73 on Saturday. Going into the final round, he was one shot ahead of Greg Norman, always a crowd favourite and now his pairing on Sunday. The best story of that day happened on the par-5 13th. Still leading Greg by a shot, Ollie pushed his drive and laid up his second shot. Greg hit a big draw around the corner and a
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