A relatively new tradition, the Drive, Chip and Putt national championship finals are the unofficial opening of Masters week. Announced in 2013, with the first national finals held at Augusta the following year, hundreds of boys and girls from 7-15 enter regional qualifiers around the country. Those who advance through the first three rounds earn their ticket onto golfâs hallowed grounds as the course prepares to host the yearâs most iconic major.
Donât mistake this for âjust another charity eventâ either. The event is free to register for, but the kids that make the national finals are really, really good. 2018 boysâ all-around runner-up blasted the long drive of the day at over 266 yards. Allison Cui, in the girls 12-13 division, poked one 237. And short games? These were on point all day, with kids of all ages handling Augustaâs speedy, undulating surfaces with pinpoint precision.
Augusta National has gotten a lot of flak â some very well deserved â for not being entirely inclusive in the past. They didnât have to be, but this is a legitimately outstanding thing theyâre doing to grow youth golf. Iâm looking forward to seeing some of these kids get to tee it up in some big tournaments down the line. Who knows? One might even wear the green jacket someday.