Magnolia Lane, the Champions Dinner and Jeff Knox – they are all great Masters institutions. With the latter perhaps the least known Masters tradition we set out to find out more about golf's most famous marker...
Knox is that lucky guy who gets to play with the professionals whenever an odd number of players survive the 36 hole cut – which is something that has happened for seven straight Masters now.
Before you have visions of a hacker out there with the best players in the world, it should be known that Knox is quite the opposite in fact – with the Augusta National member holding the record for one of the world’s most famous courses, thanks to his 61 from the members’ tees.
Three years ago, the 53 year old, who Justin Thomas said he would ‘take over any player in the world on Augusta’s greens’, beat Rory McIlroy by a shot with an unofficial two under par 70 in the third round.
So he’s not one to get fazed by the big occasion, and that Sunday outing with Rory is by no means a fluke, with Knox also boasting of ‘unofficial’ victories over Sergio Garcia, and getting the better of six of the players he has come up against over various weekends since he first took on what has to be the best job in golf against Craig Stadler for two rounds in 2003.
Knox has many well-known admirers in the game too – with McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson all seeking the putting hotshot out as their preferred host in the weeks leading up to the Masters.
Knox’s weekend duties when an odd number of players make the cut aren’t just about playing – with the American also getting up before dawn to help set the pins for the tournament (no wonder he beats some of the main field).
So with such a reputation it was no surprise that Jason Day, who was the Augusta Member’s latest high profile partner on Saturday, was determined to not let himself become the latest victim of the world’s most famous marker.
The World Number Three admitted to feeling nervous ahead of his round, but four straight birdies on the back nine helped the Australian see off Knox comfortably.
Expect to see more of Mr. Knox, the man with the best job in golf, for the final round on Sunday.
