For some patrons, Masters tops all other sporting events

Tim Pike has walked the infield at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby and celebrated a last-minute Super Bowl victory from the stands of Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.

Ranking the two great Amer­ican sporting events against the Masters was not easy Saturday for Pike, a truck driver from Louisville who was making his first visit to Augusta National.

“The Kentucky Derby is definitely third,” said Pike, who lives less than 2 miles from Churchill Downs and has attended horse racing’s premier event between 15 and 20 times.

“The Super Bowl wins for rowdiness, but the Masters is the most elegant,” said Pike, who watched the New York Giants win Super Bowl XLVI in 2012 against the New England Patriots.

Pike, 51, said the Masters earns extra points for its fair prices, weeklong activities and exclusive invites.

He suggested the tournament takes the top spot, based on the replies he received from the 60 to 70 text messages he sent out after winning Masters tickets through his employer, Pilot Corp. Though most replies included phrases such as “Have a nice trip” and “Be safe,” a good many came from longtime sports fans reading, “Lucky Bastard.”

John Gronert said the Mas­­ters’ entertainment value goes beyond the sporting world.

“Imagine a 5-year-old going to Disney World, and multiply that by 1,000,” said Gro­nert, of Jacksonville, Fla., who has attended the Mas­ters three times. “I can’t think of any better way to describe it.”

Gronert’s wife of 21 years said his excitement about the Masters was contagious.

“I feed off his enthusiasm,” said Alice Gronert, who has been by his side each visit to Augusta National.

She said he informs her of current player rankings, past Masters champions and historic trends of the course to enhance her experience.

This time, the couple discussed the movie Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, in which Jim Caviezel plays the role of the legendary co-founder of Augusta National who dominated golf through most of the 1920s.

The closing scene has Jones, with his friend and golf writer O.B. Keeler, driving into an open field overlooking rolling hills and beautiful trees. Jones gets out of the car and stands in the knee-deep grass. He looks at Keeler and says, “We’re standing on the first tee. I’m going to call it Augusta National.”

Said Gronert: “That part of the movie gave me chills, and I’m extremely fortunate to share Bobby Jones’ creation with my wife, not once, but three times. I love her.”