Schmitz misses cut at Masters but grabs every bit of gusto he can

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Sammy Schmitz brought "Minnesota Nice" to Augusta National.

He brought Minnesota crowds, too.

Schmitz rebounded from his difficult back nine on Thursday with a 75 on Friday at the Masters, missing the cut like every Mid-Am champion before him but displaying his appreciation for the event and his entourage from dawn to nearly dusk.

The amateur from Farmington arrived early in the morning, was in the first group off the tee, then stayed for lunch and spectating. "They're going to have to peel me out of here on Sunday night," he said with a broad smile. "I'm going to be the last one on the property."

Unlike most of the other players at the Masters, Schmitz has to work on Monday morning, and unlike all of the other players he walked outside the ropes drinking a beer after his round.

He also ran out of his way twice to retrieve hats that had blown onto the course, slapped every hand offered him, chatted with his followers during the round and praised every aspect of his experience.

Schmitz attended the amateurs' dinner on Monday night, heard Jim Nantz's voice profiling his career, then trumped all of his previous highlights.

How will he handle playing amateur golf tournaments with smatterings of fans? "I have no idea how I'll go back," he said, laughing.

His coach, Joe Greupner of Braemar, called him on Thursday night to check on his frame of mind and plan the Thursday round, then Rich Beem grabbed the phone.

Beem, who won the 2002 PGA at Hazeltine National and is a member of the club, is staying with a large group of Minnesotans in Augusta. "He gave me some words of encouragement," Schmitz said. "He's a good guy."

On Thursday, Schmitz played the back-nine par-5s in 3 over, even though he was hitting into the green with a wedge on his third shot both times. Friday, Schmitz played the two holes in 1 under after hitting wedges safely toward the middle of the greens.

"He picked up four shots with the wedges on two holes," Greupner said. "He really could have shot a 76 yesterday and if he had, who knows, maybe he has a chance to make the cut.

Schmitz's 75 Friday was as good or better than the rounds of major winners Mike Weir, Graeme McDowell, Charl Schwartzel, Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson.

After a difficult lag putt on No. 9, Jordan Spieth turned, smiled and sighed. After hitting a long drive into the wind on 18, he started thinking about ideal endings to his two days at the Masters.

"We thought it would have been destiny if I holed out from the fairway," Schmitz said. "That's the word I kept using walking down the fairway. After I pulled it left, 'destiny' was chipping in."

Instead he chipped it close, tapped in, and started planning his return.