Old dogs on hard road are still a perfect match

CARL JACKSON was 14 when he carried his first bag at the Masters. That was 1961 and yesterday, he returned to Augusta National for his 50th tour of duty in the tournament, looping for long-time employer Ben Crenshaw and, for once, stealing the spotlight from the two-time champion.

Now 64, Jackson was a full-time caddie at Augusta National Golf Club when he was first pressed into action and he’s been Crenshaw’s caddie for the past 35 years, which included the Texan’s two Masters victories in 1984 and 1995. It is a remarkable feat in a tournament and at a golf course where you can’t walk 10 feet without tripping over a legacy or stumbling all over a tradition and Crenshaw, celebrating a mere 40 Masters appearances this year, is appreciative of his old retainer.

“Well, I feel very fortunate to have had him with me all these years,” Crenshaw said after carding a six-over-par 78 for his first round. “You know, we can certainly look back and see some very, very nice times and some really fine, fun tournaments that we didn’t win but we were in the fray a lot. You know, fortunate to win twice, but there’s a lot of years. He’s spilled a lot of blood for me.”

This pair of Southern gentlemen were not inclined to make a fuss out the anniversary and they denied even mentioning it as Jackson stood on the first tee box for the 50th time while Crenshaw prepared to play with Brandt Snedeker and Kevin Na. “No,” said Crenshaw, “we know what it is.”

There was still plenty of work to do, you see, no time for emotion and Jackson was working as hard as ever as Crenshaw huffed and puffed his away around the old place. “He did a great job today,” Crenshaw said. “His player didn’t.”

Ever faithful, Jackson defended his boss, by adding: “He hit some great putts for saves, missed one putt from close range, but that’s alright. He’s allowed to do it. He’s allowed to be frustrated. (It’s ) just a pleasure to watch him putt these greens around here those many years, no matter what the outcome, he’s always got a chance.

“Day in and day out, speed putting, touch putting, whatever you call it, it’s just — it makes me look good.”

Thirty-five years is a long time for any sort of relationship let alone at the highest levels of professional sports and Jackson is a legend among his fellow caddies, who respect his achievements and are staggered by his longevity.

“If I ever have the opportunity, as unlikely as it would be, to caddie in more Masters than Carl, I wouldn’t do it,” said Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, caddie to defending champion Phil Mickelson and in the midst of his 21st Masters.

“I would call it quits before that because there is no way I would do it. He’s an amazing guy and no-one need to be anywhere near what he’s accomplished there.”

Jackson’s knowledge of the Masters venue is second to none: “There isn’t a person alive that knows Augusta National any better than Carl Jackson,” said Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan, working on Jim Furyk’s bag in his 28th consecutive Masters. And Crenshaw spoke of his gratitude at being able to take advantage of all that accumulated knowledge.

“These are the most fascinating greens that anyone has ever come up with. You just scratch your head and say, ‘how am I going to get this pace right?’ We agree all the time on lines, but it’s always the pace. You see the players this week, that’s what they’re working on. They sometimes know the lines, but to get the right look for the ball going down there, that’s what they’re looking for. It’s really difficult.

“You know, it’s all for him. We’ve spent most of our lives here. Like he said, I think that’s a nice word that he used. It’s a pleasure to be together around here. I’m convinced I’ve had the best so far.

“Our chemistry started right, right from the beginning. You know, belief in each other. When you’re out in the thick of it, that’s really fun. It’s exciting, and I’ve always said that this is the most emotional golf course you could ever play in the world. It’s wide and inviting, and it tests your bravery a lot of times when you’re capable, but it tests your nerve, skill and patience.”

Jackson agreed, adding: “You’re going to have nerves, and I’m not afraid to say what I think, what I see, and I’m making a suggestion, and if I’m wrong, I’m hurting more than he is.”

Whether there will be another Masters for the Crenshaw-Jackson axis is up for discussion, however. “That’s a tough call,” Crenshaw said.