AUGUSTA, Ga. — The innovator of the sixteenth gap skip returned Tuesday to Augusta Nationwide.
Fifty-two years in the past, Gary Cowan was taking part in a follow spherical with Ben Crenshaw when the pair reached No. 16 tee. Cowan, the reigning U.S. Newbie champion, turned to Light Ben and stated, “Watch this.”
The Canadian skipped a 3-iron throughout the water, beginning a Masters custom that has lasted half a century.
On Tuesday, Cowan returned to the sixteenth gap and, alongside countrymen Mike Weir and Corey Conners, shot a pellet throughout the pond.
“Ben couldn’t imagine what I used to be doing,” stated Cowan, reflecting on 1972.Many Masters traditions have indeniable timelines, such because the creation of the Champions Dinner in 1952, or Sam Snead being awarded the primary inexperienced jacket in 1949. Different tales have gained legs over time with out a surefire genesis.
One such customized is skipping balls over the pond at No. 16.
Ken Inexperienced and Mark Calcavecchia claimed to have began the custom in 1987, till Lee Trevino and Seve Ballesteros one-upped the pair by saying they did it within the early Eighties. Then got here images of Tom Kite mastering the feat in 1979.
However Cowan, now 85-years-old, with Crenshaw’s backing, believes he was the primary in 1972. The Masters official web site additionally credit with Cowan for being the primary.
“I used to be there. It occurred,” Crenshaw stated. “Gary used a 3-iron, put the ball again in his stance and bam, skipped it straight throughout the water.”
With Ben’s urging, Cowan efficiently knocked three over earlier than Crenshaw – competing in his first Masters – tried to duplicate the achievement to no avail.
A primary attempt went kerplunk. Then a second.
“Ben was taking part in it an excessive amount of like a chip,” Cowan stated. “I informed him, ‘Hit it onerous and low,’ and certain sufficient his third one skipped proper throughout. The gang went loopy.”
For Cowan, skipping balls over our bodies of water had turn into a favourite childhood sport in Kitchener, Ontario. The member of the Canadian Golf Corridor of Fame stated, “I at all times appreciated to horse round.” So when he received to the sixteenth tee field, Cowan didn’t assume twice about dropping a ball and skimming it at Augusta Nationwide.
“Did I believe I’d get in hassle?” Cowan requested. “You understand, that by no means crossed my thoughts.”
