Masters Insider: Loran Smith

INTERVIEW WITH LORAN SMITH

This Masters Tournament is full of Georgia Bull­dogs, so what’s one more going to hurt?

Loran Smith, 76, has been coming to the Masters since 1960, and it remains one of his favorite events.

“I was a college student at Georgia and I came over,” Smith said Friday. “I think I wrote a column about it afterwards for the Athens Banner-Herald, and I saw this great excitement and I decided this is something I want to do every year. So in 1961 I asked for a credential, and this is my 55th year.”

Smith received the Masters Major Achieve­ment Award, given to those who have covered the tournament for 40 years or more. He still writes a column for the Banner-Herald and has produced many books on golf and football.

“It’s been an uplifting experience and an enlightening experience,” said Smith, who has enjoyed time with noted writers Dan Jenkins and Furman Bi­sh­er. “They are outstanding writers and had great insights, but I think the thing that put them apart from most writers is they had that reverence for the Masters.”

His favorite Masters memory came in 1986 when Jack Nicklaus won for a record sixth time. He had developed a relationship with the Nicklaus family because their only daughter, Nan, attended Georgia.

“I think it’s the classiest sporting event and I’ve tried to think about it a little bit, only Wimbledon and Kentucky Derby come close to the Masters,” Smith said. “But there’s just nothing like coming to the Masters. Getting here on Thursday morning and seeing Nicklaus, Palmer and Player hit their tee shots, because you can reflect back on when it was different and they teed off feeling they had a chance to win.”

Smith has had a long association with Georgia’s athletic teams, and he is best known for his years as a sideline reporter during football games. These days, he does the pregame show and has a postgame commentary. Smith’s loyalties will be tested because today is the annual G-Day spring football game. He will be back in Athens this morning to emcee a breakfast.

“As soon as that’s over, I’m going to wish coach (Mark) Richt luck and come back to the Masters,” Smith said.

HISTORY LESSON

All eyes have been on Texas golfers this week with Ben Crenshaw’s farewell and Jordan Spieth’s opening 64. Seven golfers from the Lone Star state have won in Augusta, and they account for 12 victories. That’s more than any other state can boast.

THE LIST

The third round of professional golf tournaments is known as moving day. It’s when players make their move; if they’re way back, they can go for broke. If they’re near the top, they want to maintain that position. Here are five of the biggest moves in the third round of the Masters:

5 Steve Pate, 1999: Round of 65 featured seven consecutive birdies.

4 Tiger Woods, 2005: Seized the lead with seven consecutive birdies in a round that didn’t finish until Sunday morning.

3 Johnny Miller, 1975: Set record of 30 on front nine that included six consecutive birdies.

2 Ben Hogan, 1967: 54-year-old shot 66 that included 30 on second nine and thrilled crowd.

1 Nick Price, 1986: Set course record of 63 with 10 birdies after bogey on first hole.