Happy Thursday,

 

What a great day for Brad Benjamin during the opening round of the Masters. Despite problems with his driver for most of the day, the Rockford native scrambled better than an egg, grinding out a one-over 73 on Thursday.

 

Brad started well, outdriving his playing partners, Bernhard Langer and Scott Verplank, on No. 1.

 

Strong start: Brad made par on No. 1, followed by a birdie on the par-five No. 2. "Brad knows he can play with these guys," said his father, Steve.  

 

Touching moment: The first thing Brad did when he arrived at No. 1 was hug his parents and brother.

 

Touching moment II. Brad brought a smile to one young fan when he handed the boy a golf ball on No. 4.

 

There were at least 25 people from Rockford who walked the course during Brad's round. The Rockford group cheered loudly whenever Brad delivered ...

Good morning!

 

Thanks to a two-hour weather delay in Chicago, it was a long travel day on Tuesday, but I finally made it to Augusta!

 

As we drove into town, the city had a Wisconsin Dells feel to it. Every store along the main strip is vying for the attention of the thousands of golf fans, who've invaded Augusta for the week, with signs, sales and other promotional efforts. 

 

And it's not just local retail businesses trying to cash in. Virtually every national golf company has semi trucks parked in lots near the course, showcasing the latest and greatest in golf equipment. And we spotted several TV outlets with their satellite equpment, camped outside the gates of Augusta, waiting, I'm sure, for the latest Tiger developments.

 

On Tuesday, the pairings were announced. Rockford native Brad Benjamin will be playing with two-time Masters champ, Bernhard Langer, and Scott Verplank. Benjamin's group will tee ...

Welcome to the new Rockford Golfs! blog. Each week, this is where you can find my inner most thoughts on the world of golf. From Tiger's tales to news from the local golf scene, you can find it all right here. And I want to hear from you, Rockford's avid golfers. This blog is as much yours as it is mine.

 

I've never had a bucket list, but if I did, watching the Masters live from Augusta would top my list. From the beautiful scenery to the tournament's rich history, the Masters is the ultimate golf experience. As Brad Benjamin says, "it's a little piece of Heaven." I can't wait to get there later this week to watch Benjamin makes his Masters debut.

 

Brad finds out Tuesday which past Masters champion he will be paired with. There's a chance he could play with Tiger; I hope not. Brad doesn't ...