Masters experience life-long goal for some patrons

One fan stood out among the patrons lined up along the No. 1 fairway Friday morning.

A man dressed in a red, white and blue button-down collared shirt with a white star on his chest walked as people stared and greeted him.

That man was Chester Hicks, who also wore red plus fours with blue socks and a white beret.

Photos: Friday Masters Patrons

“One of the things I always said was if I’d ever be able to get to the Masters I was gonna dress like Payne Stewart because he was one of the greatest and classiest golfers of all time,” Hicks said.

The Houston resident traveled to the Masters after attending the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio the previous weekend.

“Probably one of the most ultimate of all golfers’ dreams to be here,” Hicks said. “To see the course and the shape it’s in is spectacular.”

The 68-year-old said he planned to follow Tiger Woods for the day and hit the merchandise store after.

The Chicago native said, before arriving in Augusta, he made sure to take a little precaution.

“As a matter of fact I had to call my credit card company to take my limit down so I wouldn’t go over it,” Hicks said while laughing.

Hicks said the last thing he’d do on the course before leaving was take a minute to realize he achieved one of his life-long golfing goals.

“One of the things I’m going to do is let it soak in that I’ve actually been to the real Masters,” Hicks said.

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Steve Pharr sat in his folding chair near the first tee box waiting for Kevin Kisner to tee off.

Pharr, from Marietta, Ga., enjoys watching Kisner because he’s from Aiken and he played collegiately at the University of Georgia. The spectator said it’s special watching the local guys and that it reminds him of when he watched his high school classmate play in the Masters.

“It adds a little to it,” Pharr said. “I think the first time I came here Mike Sullivan, a guy who I went to high school with, it was his first time at the Masters. The first time I got here I got to see Palmer and Player play.”

Pharr said he’s been able to attend the Masters on multiple occasions thanks to members of his wife’s family previously working at the tournament.

“My father-in-law worked up until about 10-15 years ago. My brother-in-law worked up until two years ago. He finally got to the age where he could retire and still get tickets so that’s why we’re here. We’re here on his tickets.”

Aside from Kisner, Pharr wants to see South African Trevor Immelman, who won the 2008 Masters.

“I like him because my son went to Columbus State and his brother is a golf coach at Columbus State so it was nice to see that,” Pharr said.

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As Aimee Reilly walked around the practice facility, she couldn’t help but admire how well the club runs the tournament.

“This thing is run like a well-oiled machine,” Reilly said. “Parking, you go into the restroom and they greet you, everybody’s just super nice. Great experience. I would highly recommend it for people to come.”

The Cincinnati resident is attending the tournament for the second year in a row but is hoping the weather will cooperate since she’ll only be here for Friday’s second round.

Reilly said over the last two years she’s spent about $2,500 in the merchandise store.

“People find out you’re going to the Masters and then you get texts with a list of, ‘Give me this, give me that,’ and that’s where we are,” Reilly said of the gifts she bought for 10 people.

Friday’s plans for Reilly include visiting new holes she didn’t see last year and root for Rory McIlroy.

“He’s Irish,” Reilly said. “I’m part Irish. He seems to be a good guy. Level headed.”