David Barrett | |
Golf with David
April 12th, 2008
Long-time golf journalist David Barrett is covering the Masters for us this week.
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GolfObserver editors
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David Barrett blogging, on third round action.
59 Masters and Counting
Photo: © Courtesy Furman Bisher
| Furman Bisher has been a part of Masters folklore since 1951. | |
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This week Gary Player set a record by playing in his 51st Masters. But there's another Augusta regular with an even more impressive record.
Furman Bisher, still writing columns for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the age of 89, is working his 59th Masters. That's 59 in a row, incidentally, the streak having started in 1950 when Bisher was with the Charlotte News. Bisher is more than a connection to bygone era--he's a connection to several other eras, and to tournament founder Bobby Jones.
At the time of the 1950 Masters, Bisher had already been hired as sports editor of the Atlanta Constitution, where he was set to start the following week. He happened to be covering the Charlotte minor league baseball team, which was playing in Augusta, so he figured he might as well cover the Masters, too.
In those days, the press was housed in what "was just an old Army tent next to the fairway, with all the accoutrements you would find in an Army tent and a creaky floor they put in," recalls Bisher, who is still sharp enough to remain a working journalist at 89 and still gets around remarkably well.
Bisher recalls there being about 12 writers covering the tournament, all from newspapers in the region except a few from New York that Masters chairman Clifford Roberts had persuaded to come. Writers delivered their copy to their desks via Western Union back then, a system that remained in place for many years.
The press facilities were upgraded in 1953 with the construction of what is now referred to as the "quonset hut." Says Bisher, "It was a great step up to have a permanent building over our heads." The current state-of-the-art media building opened in 1990.
As sports editor in Atlanta, Bisher had the opportunity to interact with Jones not only at the Masters but also in Jones' native Atlanta. He used to meet Jones at the latter's downtown office, and, recalls Bisher, "He was very congenial. We would sit down and talk for a long time."
Once, Bisher was approached by the Saturday Evening Post to co-author a story with Jones, which would be bylined "Bobby Jones as told to Furman Bisher," with both getting a fee. When Bisher presented the proposal, Jones responded, "Furman, I can't do that, it would make me look like an idiot who can't spell my own name."
Bisher learned that Jones always wrote his bylined stories himself. He also has five or six letter from Jones in his files.
Photo: © GolfObserver
| Furman Bisher has seen a lot of changes in the 59 years he has covered the Masters. | |
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Bisher says that the autocratic Roberts, "always scared me to death." Not that Roberts ever actually gave him a reason to be scared. "It was just because of his reputation," he said. "You're afraid that growling bears might attack."
Masters memories? Bisher has plenty, and here are his favorite ones. First is 1954 when amateur Billy Joe Patton nearly won before finding the water on the 13th and 15th holes in the final round.
"In those days, you could just walk up and buy a ticket," Bisher remembers. "When he was leading the tournament, all the mountaineers from Morganton, North Carolina [Patton's hometown] drove down and came out to the tournament. "They kept yelling, 'Go for it, Billy! Go for it!'
"Well, ol' Billy went for it, and that was the end of his challenge."
When Arnold Palmer won in 1958, he was nearly sidetracked on the 12th hole when his tee shot embedded in the ground and an official named Arthur Lacey didn't give him relief. "I got out on the golf course in those days, and I had the glasses on them. You could see they were having a heated discussion," Bisher remembers.
Palmer ultimately played out the hole with a second ball, reported the situation to the tournament committee, and eagled the 13th hole while waiting for a ruling. On the 14th fairway, he got the good news that his par counted instead of the double bogey he made with the original ball.
Photo: © GolfObserver
| Bisher may be a month sly of his 90th birthday but he is still busier than ever at the Masters. | |
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Then there was 1967, when a 54-year-old Ben Hogan summoned one last great round, a 66 on Saturday. "On every green on the back nine, he got a standing ovation," says Bisher.
Naturally, Jack Nicklaus' win in 1986 is up there, with Bisher remembering that both Tom Kite and Greg Norman had putts to tie at the end.
A lot has changed in 59 years at Augusta, but Bisher is happy to say that one thing hasn't.
"The atmosphere is still the same," he says. "It's the only tournament in the world that represents manners in sports. You never hear one of those idiots yell 'Get in the hole!' here. Bobby Jones wrote a booklet once about tournament etiquette, and it's amazing that for the most part that atmosphere has prevailed. I can't think of any other outdoor sport, outside of maybe an equestrian show, where the fans are so polite."
One other tradition that has prevailed is Furman Bisher working in the press building. He fully plans to be back next year for his 60th at age 90. In fact, he says, "I don't plan to miss one until it's played over my head."
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