ESPN Masters 1968: Roberto de Vicenzo, between the award and the glory

Buenos Aires - And then everything was a rumble.The screams and applause of the public did not stop, they were increasing.The ovation gradually became a melody, the stanzas of a song and began to hear "Happy Birthday to you ..."

Already all around him sang the happy birthday in a loud voice, while Roberto de Vicenzo, greeting with his white cap, walked to the Green del Hoyo 1.Just a few minutes before, in the midst of absolute silence, I was in the Tee of the first hole.He listened how the Starter said his name.

It was 13:04.Without giving many laps, with the same usual routine, he stopped and hit a perfect drive that left the Fairway.His ball was about 125 yards from the flag.That ball, just a white point on the immaculate grass of Augusta National, would also be the starting point of a series of extraordinary events that were recorded in the history of world sport forever.

Roberto de Vicenzo turned 45 years old.It was Sunday, April 14, 1968.The happy moments that I had lived a few months ago were still very fresh in their memory.The teacher arrived in Augusta with the magic aura granted by the most important golf award: he was the British Open champion, played the previous year at Royal Liverpool.

On that special Sunday in Masters, Vicenzo began his last round in third place, tied in -4 and 2 blows of the pointer, which was the South African Gary Player (-6).A blow separated it from the latter, among whom was the American Bob Goalby (-5).

Roberto's caddy in that Masters was Henry Brown, nicknamed "Crosshanded", an African -American young man from Atlanta.His playmate, and Marker for that final turn, was the American Tommy Aaron.

Roberto was playing very well, and his plan for the day was to take advantage of his distance to lower the four pair five of the court.I thought that if I did birdies in holes 2, 8, 13 and 15, I would have a very good opportunity to fight for the title.

50 years have passed since that birthday of Vicenzo's teacher, no doubt the most important day of his career.What would that meek and dear man think, while walking towards that white point in the Fairway of Hoyo 1?

An unforgettable day begins the truth is that he remained faithful to his routine.He argued what stick to use with Crosshanded Henry and, once they agreed, took the pitching wedge, swing again with his magical rhythm and hit the ball that flew straight towards the flag.The public always celebrates a good shot.Roberto also knew that the blow had been good, but the rumble of the people around the Green was too big, and when he began to listen clearly "Happy Birthday to you ...."He knew he had hoisted her.He knew that his ball rested at the bottom of August 1 hole.Eagle.

That fantastic shot, crowned by luck, was the first act of a work that had, during that warm April afternoon, all possible ingredients and that, when the sun fell, ceased to be a drama to unexpectedly become a tragedy.The main actors of this work, in addition to Roberto de Vicenzo, were not only the Americans Goalby and Aaron, but also the legendary fan, president and co-founder of the Augusta National Golf Club, Bobby Jones, and also the co-founder of Augusta, Clifford Roberts, who together with Jones had created the masters.

In Hoyo 2, first torque 5, Vicenzo hit a great drive again, followed by a very good wood 3 and his ball was very close to the Green in two blows.In the third he executed a beauty, which left his ball less than a meter of the hole.Birdie.In the short and dangerous pair 4 of Hole 3, Roberto hit a very good exit.His second shot bordered the hole and the obedient ball was given again.Another Birdie.

Roberto was -8.I had climbed to the tip of the board and would no longer go down.His feat of the first three holes --águila, Birdie, Birdie-had traveled every corner of the court.In the absence of Arnold Palmer, a maximum idol that the qualifying cut had not passed, the American public decided that from that moment he would love Roberto de Vicenzo.Ovations and songs followed throughout the return.

The pointer before starting the day, Gary Player, had ceased to be before hitting his first shot from the Tee del Hoyo 1.Goalby, one of the second, accused the blow of the exhibition he was giving Vicenzo, but kept calm.He made four pairs in a row to start and then responded with Birdies in Hole 5 and in 6, to stay -7.

Roberto went back to the 5th torque 8 and put himself -9.Fifteen minutes later, Goalby also took it to reach -8.

Upon arriving at the famous and difficult par 3 of hole 12, in the heart of the “Amen’s Corner", by Vicenzo Risgated pointing to the flag that was on the right side of Angosto Green.His ball was three meters away and put the putt.Another Birdie (-10).But he could not go down the 5 of Hole 13.

Then he paid in the 14th and another Birdie more in pair 5 of hole 15, to reach -11.Goalby, playing two holes from behind, received Roberto's blows, but did not give up.He made two consecutive Birdies in Hole 13 and in 14, to reach -10.

The moment said by chance wanted the two pointers to play almost in unison at a decisive moment.GOALBY THE PAR 5 OF HOY 15, WITH -10, AND DE VICENZO THE PAR 4 OF HOY 17, WITH -11.They were two perfect and very long outings.The masters was already televised in that year and the commentators of the live broadcast, which began in Hole 13, could not believe the duel that was taking place at the top of the board.

While Roberto and "Crosshanded Henry" decided which stick playing Green, a tremendous ovation was heard.Roberto knew that it had been Goalby in 15.Indeed, his second blow to that torque 5, an extraordinary long iron from the American, had raffled the lagoon and left him a 2 -meter putt for Águila.Roberto, maybe remembering Hole 1, took the pitching wedge again.The ball flew and was a meter.

Television had to divide the screen to show the putts of the two players.Roberto in -11, one meter for Birdie in hole 17, and Bob Goalby in -10, from two meters for Águila in Hole 15.The two players hit their balls at the same time.Roberto's fell to the hole, and everyone could see his birdie.Goalby's entered Águila a couple of seconds later.Tournament tied in -12!

Roberto's departure in 18 was good, but I stay away from Green.From there it would have about 175 yards Barranca above.The caddy suggested the iron 6 and Roberto doubted.With his right hand on the sticks, he finally decided on the iron 5.The ball came out in the direction of the hole, but it was a bit long and with draw.The flag was short and left.The ball struck nearby, but rolled too much and fell through the ravine where the public was.

It was the worst place to fail that green.The Pasto was very stepped on and Roberto chose the putter.The shot was good, the ravine raised, but a couple of meters were short.The putt was not difficult, but fell more than expected.Bogey.

Vicenzo was very angry.If I had listened to the caddy and had hit iron 6, it would probably have made a couple.With that thought he walked to the table where they were reviewed, signed and the cards were delivered.

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A tumult of people surrounded De Vicenzo and Aaron.Roberto continued to chew the bitterness of his mistake in the second shot of 18 when a partner, in his impeccable green bag, asked him to go to the press room for an interview.Roberto signed the card and left with him.

Meanwhile, his rival, Bob Goalby, who made a torque at par 3 of 16, failed his departure in 17 and, although he arrived at Green with the second blow, was far and took three putts for Bogey.Equalized in -11.Then he played very well on 18 and took a good pair.The masters was tied and would be defined in an tiebreaker to 18 holes that would be played the next day, Monday.

An insurmountable mistake? Was it then when commentators of television broadcast went from a euphoric tone because of the battle they had just witnessed, to a more solemn one.Disappointed announced that Vicenzo's card had an error and that the committee was analyzing the situation.

When the rules officer received Roberto's card, he had 3 mistakes: one of them was insurmountable.The first was the sum of the return.In that locker read 33 instead of 34.In the total there was a 65 instead of 66.The last one, and the worst of the three, in the box of Hole 17, there was a 4 instead of 3.

Several million people had seen De Vicenzo do Birdie in 17, but a person, a single person, one of those who was closer, Tommy Aaron, had scored a 4 instead of the 3 that he had effectively made.And another person, from Vicenzo, nothing less than the player, had overlooked that error and had signed that card confirming his score.

The rules officer took the card and took it to Cliff Roberts.Given the implications of error, both went immediately to the Bobby Jones cabin.When asked what they should do, even knowing her by heart, Jones asked them to read the rule: “The competitor is responsible for the accuracy of the score noted for each hole on his card on his card.If you deliver a minor score in any hole than the really employee, it is disqualified.If you deliver a greater score in any hole than the really used, the score delivered is maintained."

Consciente de la gravedad de los hechos, Jones miró a Roberts y al oficial y dijo: “No hay nada que podamos hacer más que cumplir con las reglas".

The most difficult decision is the official version.However, the meeting in the Jones cabin lasted 20 minutes. Si “no había nada que pudieran hacer", ¿por qué necesitaron tanto tiempo? Sobre todo sabiendo que todo un país estaba esperando una definición.

On another Sunday of Major, but in July and in 1957, the South African Bobby Locke stopped at the Tee del Hoyo 18 of ST.Andrew's leading the British Open for two blows on the Australian Peter Thompson, who had already finished his return.Locke's partner was also the Australian Bruce Crampton.In that final hole, Bobby Locke, after a good exit, played a great second shot and his ball stopped 60 centimeters from the hole for Birdie.Crampton, after his first Putt asked Locke to run his brand, that he had stayed in the game line.Locke moved her.Crampton put his putt.

Hours later, when British television showed the images of the outcome, everyone saw that Locke had not run the brand again.According to the rules, Locke's score for the final hole should have been a 5 instead of a 3.Two penalty blows corresponded to play his ball from a wrong place.But the worst of all was that Locke's card had a lower score than the really employee, and therefore the disqualification corresponded. Sin embargo, la R&A convalidó el título de Locke.

In a letter that they sent him, they expressed that given the facts seen in the images of the TV, they applied a rule of golf equity, which says that in doubt it must prevail what is fair.What would be the most fair?That wondered Jones and Roberts in that cabin.While the rules were clear, they did not want to hurry without considering all the options.

They knew that declaring Goalby winner was going to be a very unpopular measure.Everyone had seen Roberto's Birdie in Hole 17.And what sport was this, in which the real events were altered by a simple administrative issue.To top it off, everyone loved Vicenzo.

But Jones and Roberts also considered that, in the remote case they gave the birdie of the 17regulatory irregularity.

On these two giants, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, on these two heroes a huge pressure fell.They knew that they were installed in history and that they should not only do the right thing, but also to analyze the consequences that their decision would bring.

They had seen the two players.Both wanted to win, no doubt.But Goalby seemed more ambitious and more beautified by the volatile charms of a triumph.Vicenzo, on the other hand, was a man in peace.Even under these dramatic circumstances that had to live had a huge stature.He seemed to accept with wisdom and resignation what had happened, and took charge of the mistake he had made.

And those who had the virtues and gifts to glimpse the greatness and transcendence of masters over the years.Those who had that vision and the strong decision to create and carry out a project of the magnitude of the Augusta National, could not see towards the future and not intuit how this unexpected event and its protagonists would treat history and its protagonists.

ENTRE EL PREMIO Y LA GLORIAY en esa cabaña, la famosa “Bobby Jones Cabin", mientras los minutos pasaban como horas, estos dos hombres extraordinarios decidieron darle a Bob Goalby lo que más quería: el título de campeón del Masters.And Roberto de Vicenzo what he deserved the most: the glory forever.Goalby was given the immediate and ephemeral;The teacher was granted permanent.

What a wise decision.Goalby had always lived with a stained triumph.Instead Roberto grew to infinity.

The vision of Jones and Roberts could not have been more accurate.They, with their decision, allowed Roberto to show himself whole, complete.Because it does not determine the error how a person is, but everything that does later.

Just three weeks later, demonstrating that he was recovered, from Vicenzo surpassed Lee Trevino in a tremendous duel, to win the Shell Houston Open.A few more weeks spent, and in the next big date, the US Open, Roberto said about the events in the Masters: “It was one of those stupid things that one sometimes does.People keep writing about it.They are so friendly.They want me to know that they feel very bad about what happened to me.But I would like them to stop blaming others. Lo que pasó en el Masters no fue culpa de nadie más que mía".

Roberto seemed to have gone through all stages of the duel in just six weeks.And he continued: “How fool I went, but people, fans, they love me.Suddenly I'm full of friends and people who admire me. A todos los lugares a donde voy me dicen: Vamos Roberto, estamos con vos".

In 1970 he received the Bobby Jones award delivered by the USGA in New York, which recognizes and distinguishes the sporting spirit in golf.Standing on the podium after receiving it, from Vicenzo said: “I play golf, I have made many friends and have earned some money.Today I have this wonderful recognition in my hands.This means a lot to me, for my family and for the people of South America.To win a tournament you have to have a good week. Para ganar un premio como este se necesitan muchos años".

Of all, 1968 was the most notable.On an April afternoon, while the sun fell and bathed in the gold.