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Boo storms Augusta National

Scott Chancey

Loving to watch more NASCAR than golf, wishing to fish as much as hitting the links, Boo Weekley took to the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club.

Mark Thursday down — the day the Masters went country.

With a logo atop his cap’s bill that one might have wanted to do a double take on — many wondered if it was actually a fish hook — he’s quite the novelty act.

Weekely, a former ABAC star golfer, admittedly doesn’t know much about the history of the world’s most prestigious golf tournament.

And to be honest, many at the Masters are just learning about him, occasionally calling him, “Bo,” instead of, “Boo.”

“Yeah, well they don’t understand the last, ‘O,’ I guess,” Weekley said.

With a laid-back southern drawl, Weekley is the regular guy’s golfer.

Weekley doesn’t think about Tiger Woods, or Masters cornerstones such as Bobby Jones, or Clifford Roberts.

To Weekley, it’s just golf.

Amen Corner? It’s just golf. Rae’s Creek? Same answer.

Weekley, however, had quite a first-round showing at Augusta. After being 2 over par during the front nine, he eagled the 13th from 20 feet – which, by the way is part of that “Amen Corner” thing he was wondering about.

“Was it? What’s Amen Corner? Is it 12?  Why is that a corner?” Weekley asked about what are made of the 11th-13th holes at Augusta.“It should be 12, 13 and 14, shouldn’t it? Well, you got me there.”

Sigh. Never mind.

No matter where Weekley is on the course, 18 holes are on his mind, just like it was when he played at Abraham Baldwin in 1996 or at Milton High School in Florida.

 He stays in his country world amid the ambiance and decor of an Augusta National Golf Club course that is as much defined by its azaleas, magnolias and pines as golf. And that may be his key to success for the rest of the weekend.

Why worry about the past triumphs and letdowns of others when you don’t know about it?

 “Well, it’s a major,” Weekley said. “And the whole goal is to just try to keep (the ball) in front of you and a lot of pars don’t hurt you. I don’t know what all the scores are, but I can see that par ain’t going to hurt you in any major I’ve played in so far. That’s my goal, to just go out and play golf and treat it as another tournament.

Pensacola native Doug Hart and his cousin, Will, played on Weekley’s golf team while they attended Washington High School in Florida. Doug says he still sees the same Boo he has always known.

“We always got a kick out of him,” Hart said. “He stays true to himself, that’s for sure.”

Today, Weekley is scheduled to tee off at 8:33 a.m. in a group that includes Masters co-leader Trevor Immelman. Weekley had no special plans Thursday night.

“Just going to go home and cook some pork chops,” Weekley said. “It depends on my brother-in-law. He cooked the hamburgers (Wednesday night) so I might be stuck with the pork chops.”

If Weekley continues to not let the pressure affect him if he’s in contention Sunday, he can have his pick of whoever can grill those pork chops.

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