Catherine Luckey ‘an icon of the ninth hole’ at Augusta National

Many who have attended the Masters Tournament and spent time at No. 9 have likely met – and received a hug from – Catherine Luckey, also known as the Pecan Lady. For the last 50 years, visitors and golfers alike could find Luckey, 71, at the hole named Carolina Cherry and leave with a handful of praline pecans.

But this year is different. Her pecans weren’t allowed in, Luckey said.

An Augusta native, Luckey grew up coming to the Masters.

“You could just walk in,” Luckey said. “Tickets were maybe a dollar a day, they were a round sticker you’d put on your button.”

She remembers when the Masters was simpler and quieter.

“When we first started coming there were no ropes, no green chairs,” Luckey said. “People brought lunch because there was no concession, and you put a blanket down. A little lady made jewelry while we watched and another brought sausage and cheese biscuits and I brought praline pecans and we all just shared and visited.”

But Luckey isn’t being nostalgic; times have just changed. One thing that has never changed: “It has always been immaculate,” Luckey said.

Through her time at the ninth hole, Luckey has fostered relationships with gallery guards, visitors, golfers and even former students — she taught AP Literature at Academy of Richmond County to help pay her children’s tuition at the University of Georgia, where she’s also an alumna.

“She’s an icon of the ninth hole,” said Davis Beman, the ninth hole supervisor and a former pupil.

She’s had the chance to meet President Eisenhower, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods – “he may have made the best shot ever on hole 9” – and Arnold Palmer, among others. Most have received at least a few pecans.

“If you come back every year like I do you just have this entourage of nice people around you,” Luckey said.

“She cheers on everyone. It doesn’t matter who the player is,” said Bo Blumenthal, a gallery guard, “She’s cheering for success.”

Luckey married Marion Wilkerson Luckey Jr. –“Bud” – and they owned Lucky Lady Pecans together until he died in 2010. She sold the company, but the tradition of bringing pralines to the Masters continued for 49 years.

“Maybe they’ll be here tomorrow,” Luckey said.