French star Gregory Havret will end a 23-year maiden Masters wait thanks to the inspiration of Scotland’s Sandy Lyle reports Bernie McGuire, Houston, Texas.
Havret, a former Barclays Scottish Open, was just 12-years old when he watched TV coverage of Lyle producing the ‘Shot of his life’ to win in 1988 at Augusta National.
French ace Gregory Havret Augusta bound
Lyle stunned the golf world with his brilliant 7-iron from a greenside down up the left side of the 18th to be fitted for the most sought after item of apparel in all of golf – the Augusta National member’s green jacket.
Next week Havret, who shut out Phil Mickelson in a play-off at Loch Lomond, will finally get to drive down Magnolia Lane.
“Ever since watching that shot of Sandy Lyle from the bunker at the last hole in ’88 I have wanted to play at Augusta,” said Havret.
“I was just 12 years old and that is my longest, and one of my best golfing memories I’ve had.”
Havret will be the lone Frenchman inside the ropes next week after having earned his place in finishing runner-up to Graeme McDowell in last year’s U.S. Open.
Teeing-up at Augusta National will complete the Majors ‘set’ for Havret after appearances at Pebble Beach, three British Opens and 2007 U.S. PGA Championship.
But there had been disappointment for Havret after pushing McDowell all the way down the stretch on the final day at Pebble Beach, only to lose out by a shot in a historic European one-two finish.
“Thomas Levet was at Pebble Beach working for French TV and he told me I had qualified for Augusta but that was probably the only high point that day,” said Havret.
“Of course, it was great to finish runner-up in a U.S. Open but it was also very disappointing as I would have liked to be going to the Masters and the U.S. Open champion.
“But I was still quite pleased when Thomas told me about going to Augusta.
“I am really looking forward to the Masters and it is the toughest Major to play with only 96 players playing whereas in the other three Majors the field is over 150.
“You want to play all the Majors but this one was missing from my set, so I am glad to be going as I have waited nearly 25 years for this.
“It will be my own grand slam but I will hoping that I will get to be playing all four of the Majors more often.
“I am into three Majors this year so I would like to make that four.”
Havret has already being doing his homework with Levet handing him his old Augusta National yardage books from when he played there in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
As well, Havret has asked Mickelson the defending Masters champion if he could play a practice round with him along with also placing the same request before double Augusta winning hero Jose Maria Olazabal.
“I’m getting to Augusta early so I will be at the course on Saturday (tomorrow) morning and that means five days of practice.
“I think I will play 18 Saturday, nine holes on Sunday and then I will play 18 again on Monday and Tuesday, and then nine on Wednesday morning before the Par Three Contest.
“Thomas has loaned me his yardage books from when he played there so that will also be a great help.”
However one of Havret’s main concerns is the distribution of the complimentary tickets he’s afforded as a player.
“The tickets all went very quickly but then I am saving one for a good friend,” he added.
“I was going to take my parents but unfortunately my father, Dominique has to go to hospital for a heart concern so they can’t come but I have got plenty of friends all very willing to come, so it be okay.”
