April 04, 2016: Tales and fairys are never in short supply when you are working around the Augusta National Golf Club. But Jim Herman chose Houston to create a fairytale of his own. The 38 year old journeyman golfer won his maiden PGA TOUR title at the Shell Houston Open yesterday. Victory came on the eve of The Masters, in his 106th TOUR start, just in time to punch a dream ticket to tee off in Augusta on Thursday.
The Houston Open offered a final chance for anyone not already in the Masters to gain access with a victory on Sunday. Herman took the opportunity with both hands, outduelling a surging pack of top quality golfers including Henrik Stenson who came in second and Dustin Johnson, who was third.
The chasing pack also included Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth, but in the end Herman played with commendable calm to prevail as the champion at 15-under 273.
Not many players have managed to come and win in Augusta after succeeding at the previous event. Only five of them managed to register back to back victories, going on to wear the Green Jacket – Ralph Guldahl (Greater Greensboro Open) in 1939, Art Wall (Azalea Open) in 1959, Sandy Lyle (Greater Greensboro Open) in 1988 and Phil Mickelson (BellSouth Classic) in 2006.
Sam Snead did it too when he won the 1949 Greater Greensboro Open and the Masters, but he was the only one in this group to enjoy a week off after the first tournament.
“It’s a whirlwind. This is crazy,” Herman said. “I’ve dreamt of this for a long time and now it’s here. I’m going to enjoy it.”
“We’ll get our daughter out of school and they’ll be up at Augusta next week.”
“I am pretty proud of myself to get up there, first time I was in the final group, and bring it home,” added Herman.
