Stadlers embrace place in history

When Craig Stadler finished registering for the Mas­ters Tournament on Saturday evening, he looked over at the main scoreboard.

There it was, his son’s name right next to his. This was really happening.

Craig and Kevin Stadler will be the first father-son duo to play in the same Masters.

“I had envisioned this and knew it would happen some day,” said Craig Stadler, who won the 1982 Masters. “I was hoping it would happen some day – I was pretty sure. The rest was up to him.

“It’s going to be just a wonderful week, and I hope he plays really well, and I hope I don’t embarrass myself.”

The men didn’t waste any time beginning their historic journey. They teed off together for Monday’s practice round, though they completed only two holes before bad weather suspended play.

So, who won the brief round?

“I bogeyed 1 and birdied 2, and he parred, and so I was tied after two, so I was happy,” said the elder Stadler, 60.

“That birdie I made on 2 doesn’t count, huh?” Kevin, 34, replied, which started a humorous exchange.

Craig: “You didn’t make that putt.”

Kevin: “He’s paying a lot of attention.”

Craig: “Did you?”

Kevin: “Of course I did.”

They downplayed any distraction their appearance will have this week. They both want the other to play well. If they’re paired together for the first two rounds, that desire won’t strengthen or lessen.

On Thursday, Kevin will begin his first Masters; Craig will open his 38th and probably last.

When Craig Stadler won his green jacket, Kevin was only 2. As far back as Kevin can remember, his father was always a Masters champion. He has been around golf courses his whole life, so he can’t even pretend to know what he would be doing if he wasn’t playing golf.

“I couldn’t wait for April every year, when I was a kid, to come out here and just run rampant around the golf course and just watch him and watch all the kids of other people play,” Kevin said.

Craig praised his son’s consistent play in recent years. Kevin’s victory at the Phoenix Open in February ended their wait for him to qualify for the Masters.

“He’s been close a zillion times and finally got it done, so it’s a very special week, but I’m just going to be out there slashing around, trying to make the cut and he’s going to be trying to win the golf tournament,” Craig said. “In that regard it’s a little bit different.

Craig hopes for more Phoe­nixes in his son’s future. Other than that, he’s going to enjoy this week, because his last Masters could be the first of many for Kevin.

“I have said ‘probably,’ every time,” Craig said about this being his Augusta finale. “But you know, if and when I do, which probably will be this year, bow out, I can’t think of a better way to do it than playing with your son in the same tournament. I mean, it’s awesome.”