Pan realises childhood dream with Masters debut

Pan's maiden victory at the 2019 RBC Heritage secured his start to make Masters Tournament debut, which he was dreaming of for the last 15 years.

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C.T. Pan of Taiwan looks over a putt on the seventh green during the first round of the Vivint Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on November 05, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

C.T. Pan still remembers those good old days as a child, when he would curl up on the sofa at home with his brother and father to watch the Masters Tournament on TV during the wee hours of the morning.

One of the earliest of those Masters memories was in 2005, the year Tiger Woods produced that outrageous chip-in birdie on the par 3 16th, which subsequent roars from the patrons shook the grounds at Augusta National Golf Club.

What Woods did left a lasting impression on Pan that left him dreaming about one day competing at the fabled tournament, which the legendary Bobby Jones co-founded with Clifford Roberts in 1934.

This week—some 15 years after watching that miraculous golf shot by Woods—Pan will finally make his Masters debut, thanks largely to his success on the PGA TOUR, where a maiden victory at the 2019 RBC Heritage secured his start.

“I am excited that I will realise my dream,” said an excited Pan, who is the first golfer from Chinese Taipei since Lin Wen-tang in 2009 to qualify for the Masters.

There will be a tinge of sadness for Pan as his father, Jung-ho, who passed away in 2010, will not see him achieve one of his lifelong goals. His father, a long time elementary school teacher, was instrumental in getting Pan to play the game at a young age and would drive him and his brother in their family van for junior tournaments all around Chinese Taipei. Apart from playing for his father’s memory, Pan will also have plenty of reason to cherish a memorable week, as he turns 28 on Thursday, the first round.

“Every player wants good results. We want to be the winner, especially at this level, this is the Masters,” said Pan. “Every opportunity, every day playing 18 holes, it gets us closer to our dreams. I will play my best and try to defeat the others.”

In preparation for his debut, Pan took a trip to Georgia two weeks ago and enjoyed a practice round at Augusta National with a club member. He absorbed all that he could, scribbling notes on his yardage book, especially pertaining to the course’s famed lightning-quick greens

He is looking forward to fully experiencing the Masters, which moved from its traditional April time slot to this week due to COVID-19, including enjoying some of those famous pimento cheese sandwiches.

“The Masters has many traditions, and many of them I have not experienced before,” he said. “I look forward to experiencing the famous pimento cheese sandwich and the beautiful Magnolia Lane!.”

PGA Tour Release, Nov 11, 2020