College star enjoys perks

As the chairman and CEO of Acushnet Co., which is composed of the Titleist and FootJoy golf brands, Augusta National Golf Club has been the perfect place to talk business each year for the elder Uihlein.

This year, Wally will have more on his mind than business.

Peter, his 21-year-old son who is Golfweek 's No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, qualified to play at the Masters as the 2010 U.S. Amateur champion.

Peter, who is a junior All-American at Oklahoma State, earned his Masters invitation by beating David Chung 4 and 2 in the U.S. Amateur final at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.

In the past, when Wally Uihlein headed to the Masters each year, Peter stayed behind.

"I've never been to Augusta, and I wanted to earn my trip, and I did," Peter Uihlein said. "So that will be pretty special. It will be pretty awesome."

Once he qualified for the Masters, Uihlein was eligible for one of the perks of being a Masters participant: He could play the course, which opened for the 2011 season in mid-October, whenever and as often as he wanted.

Uihlein didn't waste any time. He took trips to Augusta National in October, January and early March.

"I'm getting used to it a little bit more," Uihlein said. "The greens, from what I keep getting told, are never really Augusta speed until the week of the tournament.

"So you know, it kind of limits how much practicing you can do around the greens," he said. "But visually off the tee, it's been good. I've been able to work on some things and trying to get some shots there."

The U.S. Amateur victory wasn't the first time Peter Uihlein made a splash nationally. He went 4-0 to help the United States beat Great Britain & Ireland 161/2 to 91/2 in the 2009 Walker Cup.

Rickie Fowler, one of Uihlein's Oklahoma State teammates at the time, was also on the 2009 Walker Cup team. Fowler, who was a junior, turned pro after the Walker Cup. Uihlein was a freshman that year.

Now, two years later, the former teammates will make their Masters debuts in the same year. Fowler qualified by finishing among the top 30 on the 2010 PGA Tour money list and by being in the top 50 in the world rankings at the end of 2010.

Fowler expects to play at least one practice round with Uihlein before the Masters.

"He's one of my best buddies," Fowler said of Uihlein. "We played a lot of junior and amateur golf together. We spent a year together at school. We're really close."

Fowler thinks Uihlein will play well at Augusta National.

"I think his game can fit in with any course, really," Fowler said.

Here's his rundown on Uihlein's game:

"He's got a great short game. He can roll the ball. Around those greens, obviously, short game is key. Being able to know what you're doing with the putter definitely helps there. Driver has been his weakness in the past. He's a really good iron player."

Not many amateurs have played in back-to-back Masters in recent years, but Uihlein could do it.

Unlike Fowler, Uihlein plans to stay all four years at Oklahoma State and could make it back for the 2012 Masters.

"Yeah, I'm going to be there for four years," he said. "I'm going to finish up. I love it in Stillwater. Surprising, but I do love it out there. I love all of the people and I love the school. So if I can go more, I would."

Reach David Westin at (706) 823-3224 ordavid.westin@augustachronicle.com.