The Masters, hosted annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and remains the only major golfing event never to have been won by an Australian.
It is ‘Everest’ for Australian golfers.
While eventual 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel ended up spoiling the party for the local trio, it failed to dampen a proud showing from the Australians with Scott and Day sharing second place and Ogilvy tied for fourth.
But the Australian involvement at Augusta extended beyond the golf course.
Brisbane Lions Gold Member Geoff Lord, who was on a two-week golfing trip in the USA as part of the Corey McKernan Ultimate Events Masters Tour, helped recruit one of golf’s biggest names to the Lions’ stable.
As part of the once-in-a-lifetime experience, Geoff and his touring group were presented with an opportunity to have dinner with one of the most popular figures on the PGA Tour - two-time major winner John Daly.
Daly famously won the 1991 PGA Championship, the 1995 British Open and was at one time credited as being the youngest active player on the PGA Tour with two major championship titles.
He is also largely recognised for his colourful golfing wardrobe, charity work, no-frills philosophy and ability to generate incredible driving distance off the tee which prompted people to start calling him ‘Long John’.
Among his other nicknames, Daly is commonly known as ‘The Lion’ and even operates his own popular golfing label which features a distinctive - yet familiar - lion head logo.
So it seemed only fitting for Geoff to arrange an official presentation of a 2011 Lions guernsey to Daly during the group dinner.
“The presentation of the Lions jumper was very well received by John,” Geoff said.
John Daly was one of the celebrity guests at a private 'Aussie style BBQ' which Corey McKernan, co-hosted by Robert DiPierdomenico, had set up for the group at their private residence.
“ The guernsey presentation was set up as one of the highlights of what was a great evening," Geoff said.
"In presenting the guernsey to John, I mentioned the association of the Lion brand with the Australian market and AFL and he loved it - so much so that he mentioned that he might even wear it during his planned visit to Australia later this year for the President’s Cup.”
Daly personally signed a second Lions guernsey which has since been donated back to the Brisbane Lions in recognition of the Club’s newest international ambassador.
The inscription above his signature simply read - “From one Lion to another.”
We look forward to seeing John in Australia later this year. Go Lions!
You can learn more about John Daly by visiting his official website - johndaly.com
