GAINESVILLE, GAINESVILLE, GAINESVILLE, GAINESVILLE, GA Harry Higgs had a strong feeling immediately before the Masters was canceled due to severe weather, so instead of practicing air swings at the rental property, he and his coach Corey Lundberg went to Dick’s and bought a hitting net. Harry used Alex’s 8-iron and went to work with his clubs back at Augusta National. They used linens to cushion the area and drew a flag on a towel. I managed to avoid the neighbor’s house.
Alex said, “Only whack the ceiling fan once.”
It was a good session, according to Lundberg. They’d even brought out the TrackMan.
Higgs’ strength has always been ball striking, although he has suffered recently. “Phone booth” and “dead leg” are the code words for his swing this week. Higgs had his finest ball-striking day in a long time on Thursday, according to Lundberg.
This was Harry Higgs during the rain delay two days ago, if you needed a millionth reason to pull for him. pic.twitter.com/Xp1ZTXqetI
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) April 7, 2022
His first competitive round at the Masters also happened to be his first competitive round. He started with a 1-under 71, which included three consecutive birdies on Nos. 2-4.
“There’s no such thing as a secret out here,” Higgs stated. “There’s only one spot to go wrong and one place to do it right, and it’s up to you to do it.”
When the kids were younger, Mike Higgs said the family would clear the calendar for Masters week and camp out in the basement watching the big screen. A group of students at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Kansas City concocted a putting competition in which they competed in all four majors.
“A lot of the time, if you didn’t win the Masters,” Alex explained, “you just stopped.”
This week, about 50 of Harry’s friends and family are in Augusta. Three residences have been rented by a group from his Dallas home club, Trinity Forest. Some of the kids from back when the putting contests were held are also there.
After his girlfriend’s sister got engaged on the 14th at Augusta, his girlfriend’s family had a party at their rental property last night, with a view of the renowned 13th in the backdrop. Mike claimed, though, that his sons were in bed by 9 p.m., taking the week’s work seriously.
Higgs, 30, played Augusta National for the first time with his father and Alex in December of last year. The Higgs family found themselves standing outside the pro shop for a second time after that dream round, unable to leave. If only they had the ability to stop time.
Mike stated, “They claim Magnolia Lane is the best drive in golf.” “One of the most depressing drives is in the opposite way.”
Fortunately, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that the Higgs family will be able to revisit again and again.
Harry returned in the spring with Alex and Lundberg for a practice round.
“For seven holes, I felt like I was in outer space,” Lundberg said of his first trip on the course.
This week, Team Higgs arrived on Sunday and played back-to-back practice rounds alongside Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters champion.
“He was a fountain of knowledge,” Higgs added. “When I looked perplexed, he almost came over and started talking to me.” He nearly seemed to remember himself as being the same way when he initially came here.”
Higgs remarked that one of the most important lessons he learned from Johnson was the importance of not being overly aggressive.
Sungjae Im (2020) and Will Zalatoris (2019), both first-timers in the Masters, have finished second the past two years (2021). This fact does not surprise Higgs in the least.
“Guys are pretty excellent,” he remarked, “and I don’t think most of the young guys pay attention to the moment.” They lose track of what they’re trying to accomplish. They have faith in their abilities. They’re really confident about it, and many men simply want to flaunt it. They want to show themselves and the rest of the world that they can win these things.”
Higgs qualified for his first Masters by finishing in a tie for fourth place in the PGA Title last year, his first major championship. His everyman persona and life-of-the-party demeanor have helped him become a more popular figure on the PGA Tour.
The joy-seeking Higgs made headlines earlier this year when he famously removed his shirt at the WM Phoenix Open. While such behavior is frowned upon in our country, Higgs’ signature one-button-buttoned polo made him look somewhat vulnerable at Augusta. He also donned a belt from the pro shop that he purchased in December.
Higgs walks with a natural bounce in his step and roamed the fairways with his hands in his pockets or a club in his hand on Thursday. While Higgs claims he prefers to go about his business quietly and unobserved, one look at him makes that impossible to believe.
“It’s wonderful to be myself,” Higgs said, “and to have people recognize and kind of like – I can’t believe I’m going to say this – but love watching me play golf.” That’s something I never expected to happen.”
The truth is that most people can’t get enough of it.
