Sammy Schmitz prepares for his Masters debut

AUGUSTA, GA. – Sammy Schmitz has spent six months preparing for the Masters. Ever since winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur to earn an invitation last October, the 35-year-old amateur from Farmington has traveled the country to work on his game, sought advice from Masters veterans and played a dozen or so rounds at Augusta National.

He has spent the past week at the course, playing with some of the best players in the world, such as Rickie Fowler, Louis Oosthuizen and Henrik Stenson.

His coach, Joe Greupner of Braemar, might have gotten the best insight into what the course will look like to an amateur on the first tee Thursday. Greupner asked a veteran Masters caddie for advice. "He said, tell your man, 'The rough moves,' " Greupner said.

That confused Greupner for a moment, until it dawned on him that the caddie was referring to the large, moving crowds that will line the fairways.

Wednesday, Schmitz practiced, played the back nine with Augusta native Vaughn Taylor, then participated in the Par-3 tournament. With his wife carrying his bag and his two daughters wearing white overalls, Schmitz almost aced the seventh hole. "It was awesome," he said by text.

Friends and family members continued to arrive at the course, some paying $1,000 or more for tickets to the practice rounds. Schmitz expects 50 to 100 people to be following him Thursday — when he tees off at 10:16 a.m. along with 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir and Cameron Smith — to watch him try to become the first Mid-Am champ to make the cut at the Masters.

Arnie's Army, meet Sammy's Squadron. The past two days, Schmitz has ducked under the ropes to hug friends, taken dozens of photographs and greeted people before and after hitting shots from the fairway.

"Hitting the ball off the water is so cool," he said. "I came on the back nine [Wednesday] on purpose because a lot of my family got into town last night and I wanted them to experience 16.

"I feel comfortable playing in front of people for the most part. We'll see how that plays out [Thursday], but I really enjoy the interaction with people on the golf course. That fits some people's personalities and doesn't fit others. I love it."

Minnesota golf is showing its support. Braemar pro Roger Fahrenkrug, who works with Greupner, is in attendance. After passing through the gates Wednesday, he found himself surrounded by a half-dozen security guards. They told him a bomb-sniffing dog had "looked at him funny." David Podas, who grew up caddying at Hiawatha and now is the head pro at swanky Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, is in attendance, along with Schmitz's regular four-ball partner, Jesse Polk. The two won the International Four-Ball tournament in February.

Schmitz's caddie, Jonathan Hanner, is toting Schmitz's carry bag, which bears logos of the two Minnesota clubs where Schmitz is a member — StoneRidge and Southview.

Schmitz wore a Masters golf shirt and pullover Wednesday. That's not a perk — he purchased them at the pro shop, like everyone else.

"The coolest thing has been the interaction with the players," Schmitz said. "Henrik remembered who I was. The guys I played with, I don't know if I just got the best group of guys ever, but they are all stand-up guys. Vaughn was one of the most relaxed players I've ever met. Everybody made me feel like a peer."

Schmitz struck the ball well in most of his practice rounds but was disappointed with his play Wednesday.

"I need to get some rest," he said. "The goal is still to make the cut. But that is hard. Half the field goes home, and these are the world's best players. You go to the range and the putting green and see how good these guys are — to be in the top half of this group, that's a story."

The rough starts moving Thursday. At least a lot of the moving people near Schmitz will be Minnesotans.