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The Masters is always a special time of year, signifying the true start of the golf season, while also representing the beginning of Spring across the United States. While there will still be colder days on the horizon, the blooming azaleas and rolling landscape of Bobby Jones’ masterpiece course always represents rebirth and revitalization.
The Wake Forest golf history is long and illustrious, filled with ACC and NCAA Championships. Once in the professional ranks, Augusta becomes the Tournament that everybody wants to win.
Arnold Palmer is the only former Wake Forest player to have won The Masters, winning in 1958, 1960, 1962, and 1964, but the list of former Demon Deacons to tee it up at Augusta National is a long one.
Other golfers who have played at Augusta include: Lanny Wadkins, Jay Haas, Billy Andrade, Scott Hoch, current golf coach Jerry Haas, and this year’s participants, Bill Haas, and Webb Simpson.
Curtis Strange was the low amateur in 1976, while Jay Sigel was the low amateur three times (1980-81, 1988).
Wake Forest has two alums teeing it up this week down at Augusta. Bill Haas (‘04), and Webb Simpson (‘08) will both be seeking their first Masters Tournament title.
Simpson has won one major in his career (2012 US Open), while Bill Haas has yet to win one, but did win the FedEx Cup (the PGA Tour year long trophy).
Simpson’s best finish at Augusta is T-28th place, while Haas’ is T-12, both of which took place in 2015.
Tee times start at 7:40 AM tomorrow morning. Webb Simpson will get underway at 11:51, playing with former champion Jose Maria Olazabal. Bill Haas will tee off at 1:52.