Older Australian golf fans will long remember the name Larry Mize.

Mize tore the heart of ‘Down Under’ supporters and virtually scarred Greg Norman for life on the April 12, 1987 when he outrageously chipped in from 140-feet at the back of the 11^th green to win the Masters.

The purple shirt and matching coloured trousers Mize wore that Sunday afternoon are still in Mize’s possession along the famed Augusta green jacket, the winning gold medal and the bass-relief sterling silver replica of the Masters trophy.

All Norman received was a silver medal, a sterling silve salver and $US 79, 200 in prize money.

But the memories of that remarkable chip shot continue to remind Australians of the remarkable turn of events that denied Norman.

Fast forward to 2011 and Melbourne resident Jin Jeong finds himself grouped with Mize for the opening two rounds of the Masters.

Jeong was not even born when Mize won his only green jacket and it’s not surprising then that the reigning British Amateur champion wasn’t aware of the circumstances of the American’s victory 24 years ago.

“I knew Larry had won the Masters but then I didn’t realise it was the year he beat Greg Norman,” he said smiling.

“I have watched his chip-in ‘You Tube’ because it always comes up on the ‘History of Golf’.”

Jeong was one of six amateurs in the 2011 Masters field.

He impressed on day one in shooting a one over par 73 that included four birdies.

“I was very nervous but also excited and it was nice to hit the middle of the fairway at the first,” he said.

“I stayed amateur just so I could play in the Masters and it’s been everything I thought it would be.

“I have dreamed about playing the Masters for about 10 years.  I didn’t sleep that well and that was because I was a little nervous.”

Jeong delighted Augusta patrons by wearing a green shirt for the opening round but revealed it was only because he found upon taking out his intended red and while Waverley Golf Club shirt that it was too big for him.

However is a bizarre co-incidence, Jeong came unstuck on just one hole, the par four, 11^th and walking off with a triple bogey ‘7’, and the hole where Mize buried Norman’s hopes of Masters success.

“Marty said to me after taking the triple on 11 that to just forget about it and concentrate on my golf and it paid off because I played the last six holes in three under par,” he said.

“I hit a good drove on 13 and then put a 5-iron onto the green and two-putted for birdie, so that was the turning point for me.

Jeong had arrived in Augusta after competing in the Georgia Club in Atlanta where each year the British Amateur champion faces the reigning U.S. Amateur champion.

Unfortunately, Jeong went down 4 & 2 to American Peter Uihlein.

And as is customary, the pair were then were roommates for a few nights in the Crows Nest at Augusta National.

“It was good staying in the Crows Nest for a few nights as it’s part of the tradition for amateurs to stay there,” said Jeong.

“It was really handy because I could walk downstairs have all my meals and practice as much as I liked.

“The only problem is that there are no views from up there but I was only there for a few nights and then I moved into a house with my parents for the week.

“And besides mum was doing a lot of cooking, so it was nice to have that luxury.”

And after competing in the British Open at St. Andrews last year, and also finishing the leading amateur, Jeong was asked how the experiences compare.

”It’s hard to compare because they are both very different but then both courses are fantastic with Augusta more about tradition and St. Andrews more about history,” he said.

However one of Jeong’s most memorable moments from his Masters debut was shaking hands with Jack Nicklaus.

“I just happened to be in the clubhouse and Jack Nicklaus was there and he shook hands with me, so that was exciting,” he said.

“He was very friendly and it’s amazing that you bump into people like him and Tiger and all the former champions.”

 

 

 

Bernie McGuire at Augusta National