Harold Varner III is a golfer with a difference. From a very modest family, he has come to sport thanks to a university professor who saw his manners and she keeps changing and leaving her things in the caddy’s room, away from the fabulous dresses of the famous ‘Club House’ of Augusta National, for example. At 31 years old and hovering around the Top 100, he dreamed of playing the Masters and an amazing eagle on the 18th hole that gave him victory at the PIF Saudi International and placed him in the Top 50 for a week… just the one that determined the invitations for this tournament. At 31 years old, the player who was born in Ohio and grew up in Gastonia, 280 kilometers north of Augusta, wanted to emulate Fuzzy Zoeller, the last rookie to win in the mythical event on the Georgia green carpet. He did it in 1979.
The MastersAmanda and Harold Jr, wife and son of Harold Varner III.
BRIAN SNYDER (REUTERS)
On the opening day he skirted an albatross (three under par on one hole). He hit with pinpoint accuracy from 207 meters with the 4-iron in the 13th and the ball appeared in the hole showing his great virtue in golf: a deep determination and competitive spirit. Confidence that he has a trick to release tension: vomiting every night before facing a tournament round tour.
Curious habit that works for him and that makes his winning attitude aroused the interest of Michael Jordan… who took several hours to answer a WhatsApp message offering to join his clothing firm as he did not have the number saved and did not believe that it was really the myth of basketball. Humility that is engraved in fire: “I hope to represent children who simply do not have access. If a black or white kid wants to be like me, I’d like to be inspiring to them.” The third day in Augusta was disastrous for him and the dream of the player who does not have a field book and leaves that responsibility to his caddy became almost a nightmare.
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