Caddie set for Masters milestone
Source: Agencies |
April 6, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CARL Jackson, 64, will be caddying in his 50th Masters at Augusta this week, taking his familiar turn on the bag with Ben Crenshaw. They've been together for 35 of those years, first hooking up in 1976 and teaming for a pair of wins.
Jackson had a few minutes to reflect while he waited for Crenshaw to come out to the practise range at Augusta National.
His mind turned to all those men who came before him, the African-Americans from his neighborhood who grew up in tiny houses right down the road in the Sand Hill section of Augusta.
Most barely had enough money to put a meal on the table but were allowed through the most exclusive gates in town if they'd carry a golf bag for rich white men.
"I tend to keep thinking back to the old days," Jackson said on Monday, adorned in those familiar white coveralls that all Masters caddies must wear. "Pappy Stokes. Iron Man. Those guys are just on my mind right now."
Jackson is a link to that segregated past, an era when all the players were white and had to use black caddies who worked for the club. He was only 14 when he carried the bag for Billy Burke in 1961; he's been back every year since then except one, which means this will be his 50th Masters.
Jackson has long held the record for most Masters worked by a caddie, but this one is something special. He's as much a part of this place as Magnolia Lane and green jackets.
"Fifty Masters is more than a lifetime," marveled Crenshaw. "A lot of blood, sweat and tears go into those 50 years."
While Jackson points out the business side of the relationship, "I work for him," the caddie said, their pairing is more about friendship than dollars and cents.
Crenshaw was a young stud trying to harness his erratic golf game when he first hooked up with the 6-foot-5 Jackson in 1976. Their temperaments meshed perfectly - the golfer, outgoing and a ball of emotions; the caddie, quiet and steady - and the result was a runner-up finish.
This will be their 35th Masters together, the only break coming in 2000, when Jackson was battling cancer. He beat the disease and intends to keep coming back as long as his health holds and Crenshaw keeps coming back.
"We are so lucky to have come this far and shared so many things," Crenshaw said. "I couldn't have accomplished the things I've accomplished (at Augusta) without Carl."
Jackson had a few minutes to reflect while he waited for Crenshaw to come out to the practise range at Augusta National.
His mind turned to all those men who came before him, the African-Americans from his neighborhood who grew up in tiny houses right down the road in the Sand Hill section of Augusta.
Most barely had enough money to put a meal on the table but were allowed through the most exclusive gates in town if they'd carry a golf bag for rich white men.
"I tend to keep thinking back to the old days," Jackson said on Monday, adorned in those familiar white coveralls that all Masters caddies must wear. "Pappy Stokes. Iron Man. Those guys are just on my mind right now."
Jackson is a link to that segregated past, an era when all the players were white and had to use black caddies who worked for the club. He was only 14 when he carried the bag for Billy Burke in 1961; he's been back every year since then except one, which means this will be his 50th Masters.
Jackson has long held the record for most Masters worked by a caddie, but this one is something special. He's as much a part of this place as Magnolia Lane and green jackets.
"Fifty Masters is more than a lifetime," marveled Crenshaw. "A lot of blood, sweat and tears go into those 50 years."
While Jackson points out the business side of the relationship, "I work for him," the caddie said, their pairing is more about friendship than dollars and cents.
Crenshaw was a young stud trying to harness his erratic golf game when he first hooked up with the 6-foot-5 Jackson in 1976. Their temperaments meshed perfectly - the golfer, outgoing and a ball of emotions; the caddie, quiet and steady - and the result was a runner-up finish.
This will be their 35th Masters together, the only break coming in 2000, when Jackson was battling cancer. He beat the disease and intends to keep coming back as long as his health holds and Crenshaw keeps coming back.
"We are so lucky to have come this far and shared so many things," Crenshaw said. "I couldn't have accomplished the things I've accomplished (at Augusta) without Carl."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
