No player ever got more satisfaction and personal enrichment from one week at Augusta National than I did in 1999.

An Interview with Brandel Chamblee.

Brandel Chamblee, born in St Louis Missouri on July 2nd 1962, first experienced televised golf broadcast from the same stage as many of us have, at the Masters. Brandel would later become an All-American at the University of Texas, before turning professional in 1985. He would go on to play consistently well in a PGA Tour career that spanned 15 years and 370 events, before a spot in front of the cameras as a Golf Channel analyst came calling in 2003. Brandel played in all four major championships during his career, making his debut at the 1987 Open Championship, but the event he cherished more than any other, the Masters, didn't come his way until 1999 by virtue of winning the Greater Vancouver Open by three shots from Payne Stewart in 1998. 

A Masters debut is a magical experience for any player, but particularly if they play well, and that's what Brandel Chamblee did in 1999 at the 63rd Masters Tournament. Going into the delayed first round, Brandel produced a fine debut performance which was propelled by an eagle on the 13th. When the first round was finally completed on Friday morning, Brandel sat atop of the Masters leaderboard alongside Nick Price, Davis Love III and Scott McCarron. The second round wasn't quite as successful, but Brandel went into the Saturday of his first Masters Tournament with the knowledge that ending the week with a Green Jacket was still a very real possibility. Unfortunately Brandel finished in a tie for 18th, one shot out from earning an invite for the following year, but I quickly discovered that it was still one of the most cherished moments of his career, as Brandel very kindly took some time out yesterday to tell me about it.

1. Firstly Brandel, everyone has their own personal favourite Masters moments that they remember with fondness. When growing up and in your early years as a professional leading up to 1999, what did the Masters mean to you and what were your own favourite moments?

My favourite Masters moment is my first memory of watching golf on TV, in 1975, having started playing only a few monthes before, watching what some would argue is the greatest Masters ever. Jack Nicklaus in a battle with Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf and with Henry Longhurst on the 16th hole saying after Jack made that incredible putt from the lower tier to the upper right tier, as the camera pans back to Tom Weiskopf on the tee, "and now he must take it just like he dished it out". Both Tom and Johnny had putts to tie on 18 that just missed. It had everything, the top names and great commentary, I was hooked on golf and The Masters forever.

Brandel at the Augusta National Clubhouse in 1999

2. Take us back to your Masters experience in 1999. You were 36 going into your first Masters, having won the Greater Vancouver Open in 1998. Obviously you were focussed on playing the Tournament itself, but to what degree were you able to enjoy and take in the history and tradition that surrounds you at Augusta National, and had you set yourself any ambitions or targets for the week?

In 1999 I was at an age where I was fully aware of how long it took me to get there, and also that I might not ever get back, so not a moment, not a shot, not a view went unappreciated. I got there on the Sunday before, and made sure that those most responsible for me being there were able to take rides down Magnolia Drive with me. That one by one they got to see the clubhouse, the course, the entire aesthetic experience of just how special that place is to golf and to me. As for goals, I was determined to not let my intoxication with the club and its history keep me from doing what I came there to do, which was to compete as best I could.

3. You shot 69 and ended Thursday on top of the Masters leaderboard alongside Nick Price, Davis Love III and Scott McCarron. Some of the notable moments of that day were an eagle on 13 and a birdie on 18. How exciting were those moments in your first Masters round and going into that evening and then sleeping on an early lead, what were your emotions at the time being in such a position?

I was so caught up in the competitive desire to play my best that I didn't fully appreciate how good I played the first round. To be honest, the round felt average to me, but I had the advantage of having had Jack Nicklaus' yardage book and his shot by shot description of how to play each hole, to each hole location, via a friend of mine, Glen Day, who is a very good friend of Jack's. Still, that night admidst many friends and family, I felt a deeper satisfaction than I had ever felt in the game and that I was involved in something very special , not just for me, but for them as well.

4. The course was playing extremely tricky, but going into Friday coming off such a great start, did your focus or gameplan change at all during the 2nd Round?

My gameplan didn't change, it was to play each shot for the value in it, I perhaps felt the world looking on where I was anonymous the day before, for a few reasons, my previous day's round and that I was playing Jose Maria Olazabal, who was in the process of shooting a 66 and taking the 36 hole lead. His round was one of the best I had ever seen and a very special memory for me that week.

Brandel was in contention going into Saturday

5. After Friday, you did fall back a little, but were still very much in contention. Going into the weekend of your first Masters six shots back must have been quite an incredible feeling. What  was your approach to the weekend?

I was very much aware that I could win the Masters and looked forward to getting back on track to the previous day. On Saturday, I warmed up perfectly and through 7 holes I was only 2 back and as I walked to the 8th tee the thought came to me that I could win the Masters and I was overtaken by those glorious and pernicous thoughts. My 2nd shot on the 8th found the left trees, a miss I still rue to this day, it was stymied and I made double bogey. To this day, I have only one picture in my house of a golf hole, the 8th at Augusta National, to remind me both of its beauty and the fact that on that hole I felt the highest I've ever been in this game and a moment later, the most foolish. 

6. You ended the tournament in a tie for 18th. An excellent finish from a debut player, and your best finish in a major championship, but did you have any regrets at all about the week?

My only regret for the week was on the last hole, I drove around the corner and only had a SW left as it was playing downwind and the pin was on the front. My shot finished on the top tier and my 3 putt left me one shot out of an automatic invite. I see that putt, far too often. More than anyother shot I've ever hit in a lifetime of golf.

Playing his second to the 13th on Thursday

7. Unfortunately you didn’t manage to qualify for another Masters, but if you were given one sentence to describe the week looking back 13 years on, what would you say?

No player ever got more satisfaction and personal enrichment from one week at Augusta National than I did in 1999.

8. Looking ahead to this years Tournament. The attention will be on Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and to a certain extent Luke Donald. But who stands out to you as having the greatest chance to upstage those three?

Lee Westwood. Jason Day. Phil Mickelson.

9. Looking at Tiger Woods specifically for a moment. He has played consistently all season, finally ending his title drought at Bay Hill. But despite how well he played, and given the fact that all of the World’s Top 5  ranked players weren’t playing, are there still questions that Tiger needs to answer on the course going forward?

To draw an analogy to horse racing, Tiger Woods is Secretariat and Rory Mcilroy and Phil Mickelson are equal to Sham. The rest of the competative landscape can not compete with these three.

10. 1999 was the last time a European won the Green Jacket (Jose Maria Olazabal). Given the strength in depth within European golf in the last decade, is it a surprise to you that a player from the continent hasn’t won the Masters? And does Rory McIlroy, who took on the harsh lessons from last years Masters, and has seemingly turned himself into the complete player, have the best chance to end that run?

Rory McIlroy has the potential to be the greatest European player of all time. He has the genius of Seve, the perfection of Nick Faldo, the persistance of Padraig Harrington and golf intelligence of Henry Cotton. He could prove to be every bit the rival to Tiger Woods that Tom Watson was to Jack Nicklaus.

All the others world class players, like Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter etc.... have weaknesses either technically or mentally that have held them back at the highest levels.

 

11. Given the dominance of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, particularly in the Masters and in the world rankings, did that keep the increasing rise of depth in European talent from the public’s eyes? If so, was that dominance of just two players a positive or negative thing for US golf?

Tiger and Phil, hid the parity that exists in golf today. The reasons for the parity are many and complicated, but equipment has as much to do with it as the incessant desire to hire and depend to heavily on coaches.

Brandel can now be seen on the Golf Channel

12. You’re in your 9th season now with the Golf Channel, and given the excitement we have seen so far this year, and with all of the possible stories, would you say this season has the potential to be the most exciting and classic in all of your time so far as an analyst?

The game of golf continues to give us great stories, but what Tiger did from 2000 to 2002 will, many years from now, prove to be, perhaps the greatest golf ever played. Until Tiger gets close to Jack's record of 18 majors the excitement will never reach that pitch again.

13. Finally Brandel, my research has uncovered some interesting things. But how do you feel about your hair having its own Twitter account? I know I'd be flattered!

As for my hair having its own account on Twitter, I can only say that I get to work with some funny people, producers, directors and what not, who love teasing me at every turn, and many of them have a hand in my hair so to speak, so I suppose I'm happy to take the ribbing to entertain them!

Many thanks to Brandel for the interview, and you can see him most weeks of the year on the Golf Channel analysing the latest events on the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy's rise from childhood prodigious talent to world dominating superstar comes full circile in Florida.

Rory McIlroy is top of the world.

Rory McIlroy's coronation as World Number One was almost as poetic as it was an exhibition of guts, scrambling and patience. The state of Florida, the home of the Honda Classic, was the location of Rory's first international victory - as a 9 year old in the youth World Championship at Doral in 1998. Back then Rory was an enthusiastic young boy with big dreams and an even bigger smile. Just like most boys of that age, who dream to become greater at something than most people will ever achieve. Looking on with admiration at the iconic youthful figure of Tiger Woods as an inspiration, young Rory progressed through his youth conquering every obstacle put in front of him on the course. On Sunday, 4th March 2012, in Florida, just less than 14 years since his first taste of success, the rise of Rory McIlroy came full circle as he held off the resurgent aura of his childhood hero to reach the summit of this great game that has enthralled and challeneged him since the tender age of two.


However, it hasn't been a smooth race to the top. There have been slumps, back nine collapses, controversy in the media and dramatic change to his personal life But 11 months after the darkest and most lonely afternoon of anyone's professional career, Rory has overcome the challenges of being a young fledgling talent thrust into the limelight to become the man to beat. The battles so far have toughened him up, and as a result he is now potentially a much stronger number one than many will initially realise and come to accept. 


It seemed like destiny was on his side going into Masters Sunday last year. But the subtleties of Augusta National prayed on Rory's final round nerves and clouded decisions and led to a possibly career defining collapse. However, unlike many in the past who have struggled to overcome such a crushing defeat, Rory, quite ingeniously looked upon the the devastation, dissapointment and subsequent negative media spotlight as being a lesson that had to learned to the highest degree and for the mistakes to never be repeated again. The defeat at Augusta, when at one point standing on the 13th tee, Rory McIlroy became the lonliest and most pitied figure in the world, was a character building process on a grand and harsh scale. It toughened him up, he learned from his mistakes and he went out to rectify them. The future success of Rory McIlroy that began with his historic and record breaking US Open triumph at Congressional was born out of defeat. That is what makes Rory potentially a far stronger leading figure than many of those who have recently come before him. He is battle hardened and has a strength of character that equals his incredible talent, which in turn has allowed him to become a complete golfer. 


McIlroy's long game has always been something that has been admired, particularly by his contempories on Tour. His swing is elegant, rhythmical, powerful and is as close to perfection as you'll realistically see. Most of us were first introduced to this wonderful poise of McIlroy at the 2007 Open Championship, where Rory shot a fine round of 68 at Carnoustie on the first day before falling behind but in the end claiming the amateur's Silver Medal. But a fine swing and a prolific long game doesn't guarantee success. Since Augusta when his weaknesses were discovered, he has improved his short game and putting considerably. Before he didn't look confident over a putt, but now he is assured and natural with the flat stick in his hands. McIlroy's scrambling percentage was 30% higher than the field average on Sunday at the Honda, and under the utmost pressure of trying to become world number one he didn't look like missing a putt all day from almost any distance. His decision making has also developed since Augusta. He didn't take on shots he didn't have to, especially when the margin of error was slight. Rory McIlroy has one of the finest long games in the world that is now combined with an assured putting touch and a mature strategic and composed mind. He has become a complete player in every sense of the word.


Golf is in fine shape with Rory leading the way. He is popular and likeable, interesting to the media, sponsors and fans. But there is little time to enjoy his achievements. He'll be thrust straight into a fight to retain his top ranking in the next month as the season hots up as the countdown to the 76th Masters Tournament continues. With a resurgent and increasingly confident Tiger Woods lurking ahead of this crucial period, we are going to be blessed with spectacular and exciting viewing. One noteworthy journalist wrote earlier that he hasn't looked forward to a Masters so much since 2001 when Tiger was chasing a 4th major consecutive title. With Rory at the top, Tiger, Phil, Lee, Luke and the pack chasing close behind, this Masters could exceed even that historic event of 11 years ago. As for Rory McIlroy, the young man from Holyrood Northern Ireland, the rise has come full circle, and we are in safe hands with him at the top. As Jack Nicklaus said himself on Sunday; "Rory is a fine young man, who handles himself well, and will be a fine represtative for golf". 

Durng his 51 years involved in the professional game, Jack Nicklaus may have never spoken a more accurate statement than that.