Flags of victory are treasured

If the winner of the Masters Tournament comes out of the final pairing today, keep an eye on the champion's caddie after his man putts out on the 18th hole.

He'll be making a beeline for the flagstick, if he's not already holding it.

It's a tradition that caddies keep the flag from the 18th green as a memento if their player wins -- especially at a major championship such as the Masters.

"Pretty much these days, any caddie whose player has won the golf tournament, I think they want the flag," said Mike Cowan, who is the caddie for Jim Furyk.

"That's a pretty nice souvenir to have," said 64-year-old Carl Jackson, who is Ben Crenshaw's longtime Masters caddie and worked his 50th Masters this week.

Cowan, who is caddying in his 28th consecutive Masters, has the flag from one of the most famous tournaments at Augusta National Golf Club.

He was on the bag in 1997 when Tiger Woods broke 20 Masters records, including tournament scoring (18-under 270), largest margin of victory (12 shots) and youngest champion (21).

"Right now it's in the house but it's not up right now," Cowan said of the flag. "I have plans of putting it up."

Jim "Bones" Mackay, who has been the caddie for all three of Phil Mickelson's Masters victories, has the flag from the 2010 triumph, he said.

Jackson didn't secure the flag from Crenshaw's first Masters victory in 1984. He did get the flag from Crenshaw's emotional win in 1995, though.

The 63-year-old Cowan has been on the winning bag 26 times in his 36 consecutive years on the PGA Tour, including seven with Woods.

Woods parted ways with Cowan in early 2000. Cowan worked for Furyk for the first time in the 2000 Masters, and they've combined for 11 PGA Tour victories, including the 2003 U.S. Open.

Cowan carried the winning bag in many unofficial events, such as the Grand Slam of Golf (winning twice with Woods and twice with Furyk).

Cowan doesn't think he has the flag from his first victory, which was the 1980 Buick Open with Peter Jacobsen.

"In the beginning I didn't do it, so I don't have them all," Cowan said.

Jackson almost forgot to secure the flag from Crenshaw's Masters victory in 1995.

After Crenshaw putted out on the 18th hole in the final round, the emotion that had built up during the week after the death of his friend and golf swing consultant Harvey Penick came pouring out of "Gentle Ben."

"I was leaving the green; I didn't know Ben was back there all emotional," Jackson said.

It was then that the caddie for Brian Henninger, who was Crenshaw's playing partner that day, reminded Jackson to go back and get the flag.

"When I turned around, that's when I saw Ben was carrying on," Jackson said. "Once I got him back together, I went back and got the flag."

That night, Crenshaw dedicated the flag to one of Jackson's sons, Jason. The flag is now in a framed display in Jackson's office.

Jackson said the flags used for the tournament are nothing like the ones sold in the merchandise center at the course.

"The color and the material is much better," he said.

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