Dream of a lifetime! My trip to the Masters!

I'm not sure when my obsession with the Masters started. It may have been during the 1997 Masters when Tiger Woods won his first Masters or Phil Mickelson's quest for his first major championship win which was finally realized in 2004. Many people ask me why the Masters...why not the US Open, PGA Championship or the Open? I think it is the fact that the same course is used every year and there is so much history on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National. The tournament has been played there since 1934 with so many amazing winners. Each year I watch the entire tournament and dream about what it would be like to walk the course and see all of the different holes and witness the presenting of the green jacket.

I've had an obsession with the Masters for a long time but my obsession with collecting Masters memorabilia started in 2001 with my first Masters flag. Now 8 years later I have many more flags and a whole shelf full of Masters books. And some of you may know of my "spreadsheet" in which I track all of my purchases and other things I wish I could buy. I used this spreadsheet to buy extra books and sell them for a profit on ebay. My ultimate goal for my memorabilia is to get as many of the Masters winners to sign my undated Masters flag.

Collecting Masters memorabilia and taking Thursday and Friday off of work so I can stay at home and watch the entire tournament are one thing but to attend the tournament is my dream and up until last weekend I was never sure it would ever happen. Last Sunday my wonderful wife took me on a "scavenger hunt" that she said was from Valentine's Day. I took her to Vancouver BC so she didn't have a chance to do this "scavenger hunt". Throughout the scavenger hunt on Sunday I had no idea where we were going and was having fun trying to figure out all of the clues. When I walked into my parents house thinking that I was getting the final clue I saw my mom and brother on the computer and didn't suspect what was about the happen. I turned the corner and saw all of my friends and family who had shown up for an early 30th birthday party (my birthday isn't until May 17). I was completely shocked and when I saw that it was a "Masters" birthday party I was even happier.....I still didn't know what Mandy was about to tell me. When she told me that we were going to the Masters I lost it.

My dream....the number one thing on my "Bucket List"....the place that covers our walls in our tv room. Ever since Mandy told me I haven't been able to sleep. I've been researching where to go and what to see each day. Mandy has limited my talking about the Masters to 10 minutes a day. I can't wait to go and am so thankful I have the most amazing wife. Mandy, thank you for giving me this amazing gift! You are the best wife ever!!!