AUGUSTA, Ga. — Two double bogeys, five bogeys, never sniffed a birdie. It was the best 81 of Randal Lewis’ life.
The 54-year-old financial adviser from Alma, Mich., is believed to be the oldest Masters rookie ever. Paired with two-time champion Jose Maria Olazabal on Thursday, Lewis said playing Augusta National was a “dream come true.” He also played a practice round with 19-year-old son Nick—short for Nicklaus—who got to meet his namesake.
“There’s nothing bad about a sunny day at Augusta National,” Lewis says.
Lewis figured his chances of playing in the Masters ended 15 years ago, when he lost 3 and 2 in the 1996 Mid-Amateur final. But he became the oldest Mid-Am champ by five years last summer.