Tom, where do you get the idea that I have these dozens of guys asking me to play ANGC? I know guys who have played there. BFD. The day I get asked to play ANGC the the day the azaleas freeze over, though. My point is que sera sera, or however the hell you spell that. Believe it or not, I really don't want to play anywhere in particular (other than maybe an occasional trip to Scotland or England, but that fits with my position -- that it's going out of your way to play somewhere that says something about you).
Let me ask you a question:
Would you say "yes" to somebody who offered to give you $1 billion? (not a trick question - no strings attached)
Of course, everybody would. So how does accepting it make you special?
Wow do we look at this differently.
First, I never said, nor meant to say, that you had many invites to Augusta. If you did, you would have played there by now. What I meant is the difference between us is as you said yourself, you know quite a few people that have played there, or that could find a way to play there. I know exactly one person outside this forum who has actually played the course, and exactly ZERO contacts who could make it happen for themselves or others. It is that kind of exclusive. And thus our experiences are different... for me, making this happen - that is actually getting on - would mean I found a connection that would give me legendary status, amongst my group of friends. The reaction would be universal and would be exactly this:
"How in the HELL did you manage that?"
Now of course this would say nothing about me as a person, in terms of achievement or anything. But what it would say is I have played Augusta, which would be legendary in and of itself. Again, not for any achievement per se, but just because I would have done it.
And in your example, the obvious answer is accepting the billion dollars sure as hell does make you special. It makes you a billionaire. Now of course in the great karmic philosophical universe that in and of itself is no great achievement. But the bottom line is you join a very select group of people who can do anything they want with their lives, with no limitations financially.
And the same goes for Augusta... if you play there, you join an incredibly small group of golfers who can answer Pat Mucci's questions when discussions of the golf holes inevitably come up. And for me, I become a legend.
I don't expect you to understand this. But it's second nature to me. And the real bottom line here is that all legendary status and impressing one's friends aside, I just do think in all honesty that playing Augusta would be REALLY REALLY REALLY fun. You don't think I'm gonna try my ass off to reach 13 and 15 in two? That I'm not gonna plant a ball on 17 green and do a "maybe.... yes sir!!!" on myself? That I'm not gonna pick up my tee and not watch my tee shot on 16? The chances to live out glory are endless. That in and of itself makes it a holy grail, all this other bs aside.
BTW, not to toot my own horn, but I feel like I'm a pretty nice guy and I know I have no chance in hell of ever really playing Augusta. I'd be happy to be you and John's lab rat.
