AUGUSTA, Ga. — Though Cameron Champ played the unconventional Masters Tournament in November, his first time in the field, this year felt more like his first Masters than five months ago.
“With Lee Elder and my family being here, it definitely made, for me, kind of feeling like it’s my first Masters,” Champ said.
And for his dad, Jeff, he had one simple word to sum up the week.
“Amazing. Absolutely amazing.”
Other than his bogey on No. 18 and double bogey on No. 10, Champ played the second nine at even par Sunday, getting three birdies and a near ace on No. 16. His best round came on Friday, when he shot a 35 on the back side to get to 4-under for the tournament. He added birdies on Nos. 2 and 7 during his final round to sign for a 1-over 289.
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“I hit one bad shot all day and on No. 10, it somehow stays above the lip of the bunker, I have no idea how, and I make double there. If I make par there, I shoot 2-under and it would have been an even better day. Nothing negative to take away from this,” Champ said.
Though it wasn’t a typical roar, his entourage of friends and family that followed him this week cheered him on as he made the walk from the 16th tee to the green for his birdie tap-in. Despite his up and down play all tournament, his family was supportive.
They’d say to each other, “A par is good here. … If we can get another birdie here, we’d be good.”
It was an experience that only could have been better if his grandfather Mack Champ would have been there. Mack developed Cameron to get to where he is now. Mack idolized Lee Elder and one day hoped to step on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club in his lifetime.
Though that never came to fruition, Cameron, his dad and the rest of family knew he was there in spirit. And that’s good enough for them.
“It was one of his dreams to be here. … This is the one place he wanted to go. It was, obviously, my rookie year so I was just trying to get here as fast as I could. Obviously, I was a little bit late, but again, I know he’s looking down on us,” Champ said.
And if Mack was on the 18th watching his grandson finish off his second Masters, Jeff said he could imagine what his father would say to Cameron: “I’m proud of you.”