AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jay Nimmo has experienced something many golfers will only dream of…driving down Magnolia Lane and stepping onto the green of the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Club.
A beautifully manicured green that has created moments and memories that will forever be etched in history. A green where Jack Nicklaus won six Green Jackets and Arnold Palmer four, where Tiger Woods became the youngest Masters winner in 1997 and where Jordan Spieth won in historic fashion last year.
At just 13 years of age, Jay already has quite the golf resume with over 60 tournament wins to his credit since he picked up a club at the age of 3 and is a 2-time United States Junior Golf Tour Player of the Year. Jay became a member of the Marshall County High School golf team as a 5th grader and has been a big part of their success the last two years.
Jay’s journey to the Drive, Chip and Putt Finals at Augusta began at Seneca Golf Course, site of the local qualifier, then the sub-regional qualifying site at Oxmoor Country Club and finally the Regional Qualifying site at Valhalla Golf Club where he secured one of the 10 coveted spots in the boy’s 12-13 age group and a trip to the Masters.
In its third year, the Sunday before the Masters, eighty boys and girls finalists competing in four age groups, 10 in each group, had two drives within a 40 yard grid, two chips and two putts on Sunday morning at Augusta. Jay took 4th in the boy’s 12-13 age group, just one point from 3rd place, finishing in memorable style by sinking his final putt of the competition.
The memories Jay made will last a lifetime, and in the words of Chairman Billy Payne to the 80 Drive, Chip and Putt Finalists at the Saturday evening banquet – “Fifty years from now, you will be telling your grandchildren about your experiences tomorrow.”
Here is a conversation with Jay about his experience at Augusta.
What was your favorite memory?
“Hitting my second putt on 18 because the applause felt like I was actually at the Masters playing. It was pretty neat. The patrons were kind of circled around the green and when I hit it, the roar of the crowd felt great.”
Were you nervous?
“I was a little nervous but once I hit the first drive in the fairway I wasn’t as nervous. I knew I’ve hit thousands of drives so I just trusted my swing to the days I’m on the range at Calvert when no one is there.”
Were you able to practice before the Finals?
“The day before, they opened up a course near our hotel where we could go out and hit balls as long as we wanted to and chip and putt. Then right before the competition they let us practice chipping and putting and hit range balls 30 minutes before.”
Who were you most thrilled to meet?
“You would think it would be a golfer, but it really wasn’t. When we got there, Lou Holtz opened our van door and greeted us to Augusta and that was pretty cool. He’s a member there and was in his Green Jacket.”
Did this experience fuel your desire to someday play in the Masters?
“I’ve always wanted to play in the Masters but actually being there and being on the 18th green made me want that even more. I have to work hard to get there. I think I can get there, but it will take a lot of hard work.”
What Pros did you meet?
“I met Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, a lot of Golf Channel analysts like Rich Lerner and Charlie Rymer, Condeleeza Rice, Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne and a lot of the members. Then I met John Daly selling shirts in the Hooters parking lot.”
Who did you follow during Monday’s practice round?
“During the practice round we really just wanted to see the whole course, but we did get to see Tom Watson, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Rory McElroy and Jason Day practicing.”
Do you plan to try to qualify next year?
“We’re going to try to qualify again but it’s the luck of the draw if you get there because it’s only nine shots at every stage and I’ll be competing against older kids next year but I plan to try.”
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