Augusta native, longtime caddy honored by city

It was Ben Crenshaw, not honoree and Augusta native Carl Jackson, who got the most choked up during Monday night’s Mayors’ Masters Reception at Augusta Common.

Crenshaw had to pause for nearly 20 seconds before he could start his speech, which he had memorized.

It was that kind of emotional night as the 67-year-old Jackson, who has caddied in a record 53 Masters – the past 38 for Crenshaw – had his life celebrated.

Before Crenshaw or Jackson spoke, Mayor Hardie Davis proclaimed Monday as Carl Jackson Day in Augusta and gave him a crystal key to the city.

Jackson is the first non-golfer and first black person to be honored at the reception, which ran from 1999-2013 before being revived this year. He’s only the second Augusta native to be honored, joining Larry Mize, the 2011 honoree.

“To be frank and honest with you, this a special day for Augusta; I can’t believe it,” Larry Johnson, who caddied with Jackson at Augusta National Golf Club for more than 25 years, said before the reception.

Before Crenshaw spoke, letters to Jackson were read from Craig Stadler, Arnold Palmer and Mize, all praising Jackson, who helped Crenshaw win the Masters in 1984 and 1995 with his course knowledge and by giving him swing tips.

“How can you thank a man who has given so much to you?” Crenshaw asked, once he started his speech. “How can you thank somebody who has been in the fire with you and shared your triumphs, who has meant so much to all of our lives?

“Carl has the capacity to gather friends,” Crenshaw added. “He means so much to this city. I’m so happy the city fathers have accorded this day to our friend Carl. I’m so proud to call him my friend.”

Crenshaw and Jackson started working together at Augusta National in 1976. They tied for second that year and have been together every year since with the exception of 2000, which Jackson missed because he was recovering from colon cancer surgery.

“The 1976 Masters … was the turning point for me; I became a caddie for life,” Jackson said.

“I know I’ve had the best in Carl,” Crenshaw said.

After he was chosen as the honoree in early February, Jackson said the speech he’d make needed to be “very special” because he wanted to thank so many people who helped him rise from the poor Sand Hills neighborhood to become one of the best-known caddies in the history of the game.

Jackson referenced his upbringing in his opening remarks Monday.

“Being honored here is something I never imagined, because this is a long way from where I began and I am profoundly grateful and humbled to be standing here,” he said. “I was 14 years old at my first Masters (he caddied). I remembered being in awe of the Augusta National Golf Club – a boy among men.”

Jackson thanked his grandfather and the late Augusta National Chairman Jack Stephens and his son, Warren, who he still works for as caddiemaster at the Alotian Club in Roland, Ark. It was Jack Stephens and another Augusta National member who suggested to Crenshaw that he use Jackson as his Masters caddie.

Jackson said Jack Stephens “gave me the direction and confidence to know I could be the best at anything I choose to do. It’s because of my time with him and those lessons that I can now say I’m proud of the caddie I now became.”

Jackson, who will most likely be working his final Masters this week since Crenshaw is retiring from the tournament, said he is throwing his energy behind his foundation, Carl’s Kids, which helps underprivileged children just like he was.