One should be addressed
to Augusta National, which first recognise Baddeley's victory in the Australian
Open by inviting him to The Masters. Not since 1976 has Augusta invited an amateur
not otherwise eligible.
The 20-year-old Spaniard
has spent the past six months reminding the blue coats at the USGA what they
were missing at Pinehurst No. 2 by not offering Garcia a special exemption last
year.
They weren't about to make
the same mistake twice.
During its annual meeting
in San Francisco last week, the USGA handed out special exemptions to former
US Open champions Tom Watson and Curtis Strange, and to Greg Norman, who might
need an exemption to a major championship for the first time in 15 years.
The last one was extended
to Baddeley.
In November, he put together
four great days at Royal Sydney, held off Norman and Colin Montgomerie and became
the first amateur in 39 years to win the Australian Open.
That makes him exempt from
qualifying for the toughest test in golf?
"No question, it was an
action one would not normally expect the USGA to take," executive director David
Fay said. "It was a bit out of character."
Fay said the executive committee
measured the value of the Australian Open, which dates to 1904 and has a list
of champions that includes Gene Sarazen, Peter Thomson, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer,
and Jack Nicklaus.
"The fact an amateur could
win this influenced the committee," he said.
Explain that to Tom Pernice
Jr., who must go through the final stage of qualifying before he books a room
in the lodge at Pebble Beach. All Pernice did was win the Buick Open in August
over Tom Lehman and Ernie Els.
Despite the history of the
Australian Open, or the credentials of the players whom Baddeley beat, any victory
on the deep and talented PGA Tour is a far greater feat than any victory anywhere
else in the world except for the Open.
Baddeley's invitation to
Augusta prompted this reply from MasterCard Colonial champion Olin Browne.
"Colonial carries a lot
of weight, too," he said, noting past champions such as Nicklaus, Palmer and
Ben Hogan. "I would love to be invited on that basis. But the Masters is the
Masters."
True. Augusta can invite
whomever it wants and not feel an explanation is in order.
None is needed in Baddeley's
case. The Masters has the longest and richest relationship with amateurs of any
of the majors. The tournament founder, Bobby Jones, was the greatest amateur
ever and privately dreamed of one wearing a green jacket. The 1966 Masters field
included a record 26 amateurs.
And the US Open?
"Amateurism plays a big
role in the USGA," Fay said.
Indeed, 10 of its 13 national
championships are exclusively for amateurs. Baddeley played the US Amateur in
1998 and was beaten on the 20th hole in the first round.
If Baddeley is good enough
-- and count Butch Harmon among those who think this kid is for real -- then
let him qualify like everybody else. Instead, he will be able to skip the two
stages of qualifying and head straight to the first tee.
Would the USGA have been
so generous if Augusta National had not raised Baddeley's stock with its invitation?
Doubtful.
As for Garcia, Fay concedes
the Spanish star "would have been a great addition (at Pinehurst)."
At the time, Garcia was
merely the British Amateur champion and the first European to be low amateur
in The Masters. His best finish before US Open qualifying began was a tie for
third -- two strokes better than Tiger Woods -- in the GTE Byron Nelson Classic.
He went on to win twice
in Europe, finish second to Woods in a thrilling duel at the PGA Championship
and record a 3-1-1 record as the youngest Ryder Cup player ever. It's possible
that weighed on the executive committee when Baddeley's name came up.
"Another exciting amateur
to burst onto the scene ... that might have influenced some members," Fay said.
If the USGA wants to recognise
accomplished amateurs around the world, perhaps it should start with the British
Amateur. It doesn't seem fair that the US Amateur champion gets in the British
Open, but the British Amateur champion is not exempt in the US Open.
And if the USGA wants to
be like The Masters, then it should eliminate rough and sell pimento cheese sandwiches
for $1.
