New Zealand born Wayne Mitchell could have easily made $20,000 for the golf ball Louis Oosthuizen used in recording an albatross or double eagle at Augusta’s second hole.

That’s how much a New Jersey auction house was reportedly going to pay Mitchell if Oosthuizen had gone on to win the Masters.

The ball that Louis Oosthuizen used to record only the fourth albatross in Masters history.

After picking his ball out of the cup the South African hurled the golf ball into the crowd where it was caught by Mitchell, who now lives in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania.

And while Mitchell was being descended on by the media, he was also soon approached by Augusta green jacket officials.

The golf ball sat at the bottom of the left pocket of Mitchell’s green cargo shorts.

“I’ve got a zip on it,” said Mitchell to reporters.

“Actually, the biggest fear I had was that I was going to drop it.”

The albatross was the Masters’ first-ever on the 575-yard hole and only the fourth overall. Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, landed a 4-iron shot on the front part of the green and then watched as it rolled all the way toward and into the hole, traveling a total of 253 yards.

Of course, the Titleist ball, with a red No. 4 and the letters “L N J S” marked on it would be well worth $20,000 had Oosthuizen had won the Masters.

However as Mitchell and his wife, Jocelyn had watched the final group come through the second they were greeted by two Augusta National members.

“Welcome to Augusta,” said one of the smiling members to Mitchell. “Happy Easter.”

In a very polite manner they asked Mitchell where he was from, introduced themselves to his wife.

“Well, we’re so glad you’re here,” said the other member.

With the media now gone, the Augusta officials returned to where the Mitchell’s were sitting and a short time later conveyed them in a golf buggy to the Augusta National clubhouse.

What the agreement was, no one will probably ever know but you can be assured Wayne Mitchell walked out with a momento of his visit to the Masters even it was not with Oosthuizen’s ball in his pocket.

“I’m not a souvenir chaser and for me, it was just one of those moments,” said Mitchell.

“The ball came at me and I put my hand out.”

“I came here anonymous today and I don’t feel as though I’m anonymous anymore.”

Mitchell recalled that earlier in the day he had mentioned to few people sitting nearby that “it’d be kind of neat to see an eagle” made on the hole.

As it turned out Mitchell was in the front row to witness a slice of rare Augusta National history.