AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — Streets in the Garden City are busier than normal due to Masters week but now a free traffic report is available for your smartphone with a unique twist. 

A local media company teamed up with MVP Aviation for a look at the traffic on your phone. Eureka Earth Webcast gives you a bird’s eye view of your destination.

A plane flying 12,000 feet in the air with an HD camera makes it possible for you to keep a look out for the event your headed your way.

“There’s something that could go on in downtown Augusta and if you’re logged in you could say hey I would like for you to capture this event and tell the pilot to go to the exact location and livestream that out to you,”  Director of Marketing and Media Relations DeAndre Cochran told NewsChannel 6’s Ashley Jones. 

Streaming began April 8 for The Masters. 

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — Charles Williams, who is nicknamed ‘Bull’ worked for the Augusta National Golf Club for 42 years. Little did he know he would become great friends with the 41st president, George H. W. Bush. 

“Charles Bull Williams. He was different and the president felt that same way about him,” says John Hatney, Charles ‘Bull’ Williams’ cousin. 

Charles Williams held many jobs, like caddying. He held many jobs like- caddying and operating the golf ball picker. He was a well-known worker for the Augusta National Golf Club and known for caddying high-profile golfers fostering many relationships.

From caddying, Charles started a friendship with president George H. W. Bush from 1995 until Charles passed in 2014. Overtime they connected through fishing at the Augusta National.

“They were fishing partners,” John Hatney. “They would get together, the two of them and just have a pretty good time with each other. Not like the president of the United States you would think, but like two fishing partners.”

The two stayed in contact with each other by becoming pen pals until they reunited at the Masters. In the letters they kept each other updated on their latest catch.

“One of the stories when the president came down one time and didn’t catch any fish,” says John. “Which he wrote Charles about that… ‘Bull where is the bass. I didn’t catch any bass. Whatcha going to do the next time I come to Augusta’?” 

Many believe that Charles was a beloved figure in the Augusta National Golf Club. In his honor letters and pictures of the two pen pals hang on the walls of the local Veracruz a staple restaurant for Masters patrons.

After going back-and-forth with letters. The last letter sent was a condolence letter from bush when Charles died from kidney cancer. Only memories are left on the wall. 

“He was upset because his fishing partner had passed,” says John. “And that’s how he wrote that letter, and it was a very personal thing. Not like a president of the United States would be writing. But this was his caddy buddy who he wrote that had passed, so now he’s not going to be able to have that anymore.”

This is a tradition unlike any other for the Masters — an early start Sunday with hopes of finishing ahead of thunderstorms.

Players will start in threesomes on the first and 10th tees, with the first group out at 7:30 a.m. The leaders will tee off at 9 a.m., about six hours earlier than a typical Sunday at Augusta National.

Assuming there are no delays, the final round should end about 2:30 p.m.

CBS Sports will broadcast the final round starting at 9 a.m.

Club chairman Fred Ridley says an early start gives the tournament the best chance to avoid rain and end on Sunday. The Masters has not gone to a Monday finish since Seve Ballesteros won in 1983.

Bright and early and on the practice range.  

“Practice makes perfect,” says a little girl between swings. 

Beginner golfers beginning the day with a dream.

“It’s like, it’s this feeling that is so happy,” another new golfer says.. “Because I’ve never gotten to play golf before and it’s a really happy feeling.” 

Jalieyah and her little sister Amani are in touch with that emotion. 

“It feels good and I get happy,” Jalieyah says. “Because it’s like a little small moment of excitement. It’s like, yay. And I just try to do it again.”

The joy they get out here is fun for their whole family. A family that  knows golf is hard.

Katina Horne is Jalieyah and Amani’s mother. 

“Try something and you’ll be able to do it,” Horne says. “But to say, I can’t, you’re never going to try. You’re never going to learn anything because life is about changing. Get out of that box that you’re in.”

So where could all this lead? A college scholarship? A shot at the pros? A spot at the Women’s Amateur at Augusta National? Maybe. But folks at First Tee tell parents, just focus on the fundamentals of what your child might get from this game.

“If for nothing more than it becomes a lifelong sport for them,” First Tee of Augusta Executive Director Jill Brown says. “An oppotunity for them to just play with other women and fellowship and surely it may benefit them in their careers,  I think it’s just a good thing for them to learn.”

Golf, especially for children, is not just swinging a club and hitting a ball. A few minutes on a beautiful afternoon with Ivy Johnson drives that home.

“It plays a big role in my life,” she says.

An amazingly engaging 5th grader learning life skills in a spectacular setting.

“It teaches me how to be nice, and not disrespect anybody.”

Characteristics that come in handy when Ivy’s not out here.

“There’s a lot of drama going on in my classroom,” Ivy says. “So, sportsmanship helps me because it’s like, just ignore those feelings. You have to get along with your peers, and say, just forget about it I know I’m good.”

Ivy is a good golfer. And just like the other girls giving this game a try, she’s becoming a better person.

“It takes a lot of strength and perseverance. And sportsmanship.”

“I love that everybody comes together and helps each other out.” 

Girls on a golf course. Honing their skills and setting their sights on a future where the brightest possibilities are always in play.

“I’ll have dreams about it,” a young hopeful golfer says. “And I’ll not give up. I’ll keep doing what I dream.”  

You’ve read about it, you’ve seen it on TV, but there’s nothing quite like the experience of your first encounter with Augusta National Golf Club. It can be awe-inspiring the first time, and every time. 

Daniel Bleho got a little emotional. The Canadian from Montreal was taking his first steps on the grounds of Augusta National. 

“It’s a special place, glad to be here first time, hope to come back. Won’t be leaving until they throw me out,” Daniel said, his voice cracking. 

Emotions do run high when arriving a Augusta National. The joy and excitement is something to see. 

“I always love to talk to people who are coming here for the first time to see it. Because it’s such a revelation. I can’t believe it’s this hilly…big,” said two time Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw. 

But talk to those who’ve been here many times before and the special feeling never goes away.

“Oh yeah, tickled. I get the nerves, I get the feeling when I drive down Magnolia Lane, every single time,” said 1998 Champion Mark O’Meara

“It’s still an amazing spot, I first came here in 1979, and now this is your world between the famous oak tree and the garden setting,” said three time Masters Champion Nick Faldo. 

Gary Player has been coming to the Masters for more than 60 years, he says the most he was in awe was his first time he came to compete

“But still in awe of the beauty because I’m such as a lover of nature, we walked around the golf course early this morning, doing some work for a network. I was in awe of the beauty,” said Player. 

What’s not to love at Augusta National?

“Everything, is just as it should be. As I’ve seen so far, everything is just perfect,” said Daniel. 

“Whether it it’s a player, whether its a caddie, whether its the media, whether its the patrons who walk these hallowed grounds it just doesn’t get any better than this,” said O’Meara. 

In April of 2019, Augusta National Golf Club will host a women’s amateur tournament for the first time in the club’s illustrious history. Below is a press release detailing the schedule of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, as well as where to watch the tournament and apply for tickets.

Courtesy Augusta National Golf Club

In less than seven months, golf’s best women amateurs will compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).

Ticket applications are now available for those interested in attending any of the championship via www.ANWAgolf.com.

“Since the announcement of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, we have remained determined to organize a competition that will provide a meaningful impact on the development of the women’s game,” said Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. “While we aim to stage a first-class championship, our motivation goes beyond the scores posted between the ropes. By providing this opportunity and shining a brighter light on this important segment of the sport, we expect role models to emerge who will help inspire a new generation of golfers.”

Gathering the week before the Masters Tournament next April, the international field of 72 players will compete over 54 holes of stroke play, with a cut taking place after 36 holes. The first two rounds will take place on the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4. The entire field will then play Augusta National for an official practice round Friday, April 5. The final round will take place at Augusta National on Saturday, April 6 and will feature the top 30 competitors who made the cut.

NBC Sports will provide live coverage of the ANWA across its television and digital platforms, including live final-round coverage on NBC at Augusta National from Noon – 3 pm EST. Golf Channel will deliver highlights, live reports and news coverage throughout the event, including onsite during the first two competitive rounds at Champions Retreat.

Additionally, Golf Channel’s “Live From the Masters” will commence on Friday, April 5 from Augusta National and wrap ANWA coverage on Saturday, April 6 and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals on Sunday, April 7.

Golf fans wishing to attend any of next year’s competition rounds can now request a ticket application via www.ANWAgolf.com, the event’s official website. Tickets will be sold in advance, but only after receipt of an online application. Applications will be accepted through September 30. All applicants will be notified in late October when the selection process is complete.

Based on the qualifications for the ANWA published in April, the following players are currently eligible for invitation:

• Kristen Gillman (USA) – U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion
• Leonie Harm (Germany) – Ladies’ British Open Amateur Champion
• Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) – Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Champion
• Yealimi Noh (USA) – U.S. Girls’ Junior Champion and Girls Junior PGA Champion
• Emma Spitz (Austria) – Girls’ British Open Amateur Champion

The following criteria will fill the next 60 positions in the field, based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking at the end of the 2018 calendar year:

• The top 30 players from the United States of America not otherwise qualified
• The next 30 highest ranked players not otherwise qualified

The field’s remaining spots will be filled by special invitation from the ANWA Championship Committee.

For more information, please visit www.ANWAgolf.com and follow the event’s official social media channels across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

So many people hope to walk the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club just once in their lifetime.

Juanita Scott has been a golf patron at The Masters Golf Tournament every year for decades.

Scott has a mini museum in her downstairs living room, full of Masters memorabilia.

We took a trip with her down memory lane about her first time down Magnolia Lane.

“We came home, had lunch and he said,’Let’s go out to the Augusta National and I said what’s that?'” remembers Scott.

Scott is talking about her first trip to The Masters Golf Tournament she took with her husband back in 1955.

“We paid $5.00 for a ticket, walked in, went up to hole 18 and there might have been 30-40 people standing around hole 18,” said Scott.

Since Scott’s first trip with her husband, Scott has been attending The Masters every year for the past 61 years.

“He already had the bug, but I got the bug that day,” said Scott.

Scott has the badges to prove it and with each badge comes a memory.

One memory she says she’ll always remember- when Roberto De Vincenzo signed an incorrect score card at the 1968 Masters Tournament.

“The look on his face when they told him or he realized what he had done was something I will never forget,” said Scott.

While she’s laid eyes on many golfers who’ve played the Augusta National Golf Course, one player remains her favorite.

“My favorite person is always Gary Player because he is such a gentleman,” said Scott.

Scott has bought numerous Masters memorabilia over the years but there are some items she has that you won’t find in the gift shop, like two custom rings her husband made for them to wear each year before he passed away and a Masters Champions menu signed by 17 players.

“I’m very very proud of it. I had it framed but the light was fading the signatures,” said Scott.

While she says the course, the fashion and the crowd has changed over the years, one thing has remained the same.

“The etiquette at The Masters is far above any other golf tournament in the world. When I watch golf on the television and the people are doing the things that they do, I say ‘Mmm,mmm… that would never happen at The Masters,” said Scott.

If you’re lucky enough to walk on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, you can catch Scott at the 18th hole, above the sand trap this Sunday for her 63rd year.

EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) — There’s no place like home. Apparently that’s the case for a couple of area golfers climbing up the leaderboard at the E-Z-Go Vaughn Taylor Championship at Jones Creek Golf Club.

Alex Shead, Montgomery Harrison, and Colson Herrin are all home-schooled and play for the Augusta Eagles golf team, and they’re all playing in the VT Championship this week.

Shead has worked his way to the top of the leaderboard. He’s -2 overall after a 4-under 68 on Wednesday. He leads by 1 shot. Harrison, of Evans, is tied for 6th at +2.  And Herrin is tied for 30th.

Here is a link to the Live Scoring.

GRANITEVILLE, S.C. (WJBF) — Austin Eckroat of Oklahoma took a 5-shot lead into the final round, but he would have to make a couple of clutch birdie putts late to finish off his victory in the 6th Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. The Oklahoma State commit made a big birdie putt on 15, then needed another one on 18 to secure a 1-shot win over Australia’s Min Woo Lee. Lee fired a final round 67 to nearly overcome a 9-shot deficit for the victory.

Duluth, Georgia’s Benjamin Hunt was in the hunt for most of the day Sunday, but he double bogeyed 15 and 17 and finished tied for 7th.

Here is the full release on Sunday’s final round from the PGA of America:

Graniteville, South Carolina (April 23, 2016) – Sometimes in life you have to read the fine print. Austin Eckroat of Edmond, Oklahoma, shot a final-round 75 to win the 2016 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club by one shot over Min Woo Lee of Australia. Eckroat led wire-to-wire finishing with a three-day total of 210.

Don’t be deceived. Sunday was an epic struggle for the 17-year-old Oklahoma State verbal commitment, who edged Lee (211), John Axelsen of Sweden (third place, 213) and Davis Shore (fourth, 214) of Knoxville, Tennessee.

The leader by three and five strokes after the first two rounds, respectively, Eckroat started Saturday’s final round slowly. He knew early something was amiss. He double-bogeyed the first hole, his first double-square all week.

His was so off, he had more bogeys or double bogeys (three) within his initial seven holes than he had the first two rounds (2), combined.

“I really struggled off the tee,” said Eckroat. “I was hitting it left and my irons were going right. I had no idea what I was doing.”

Four consecutive pars on holes 8-11 steadied his ship, but only temporarily, as bogeys on No. 12 and 14 shaved his lead to a single shot.

He birdied the par-5 15th, getting up and down from just off the green (50 feet). “I knew I needed to make that [15-foot birdie] putt.”

At 16, Eckroat “pushed” his 4-foot bid for par.

“Then I heard the loud roar,” he said.

The roar was engineered by Lee, who snaked in “probably the best shot I’ve ever hit. It was a big 40-footer, down the hill, left-to-right, then right-to-left, a double-breaker. It just trickled in.”

Just like that, things were all square between Eckroat and Lee.

After routine pars on 17 for Eckroat and on 18 for Lee, it appeared extra holes might be in order.

Eckroat pushed his drive on 18 into the right rough. He was 235 yards out.

“I was thinking playoff,” admitted Eckroat, who pulled his 2-iron. “Whenever you have a 2-iron in hand, you are not thinking birdie.”

That mindset changed quickly when the 2-iron split the large green and rolled within 12 feet.

“I just totally forgot everything, swung and it worked,” said Eckroat of his second shot.

That left just the putt. Uphill, slightly right-to-left.

Eckroat walked it in. Just the third birdie of the day at No. 18 provided the 2015 Oklahoma Junior Champion with the greatest win of his burgeoning career.

Moments after his charge, which included eight birdies en route to a closing 67, had ended and his hopes for a playoff were dashed, the 17-year-old Lee was content with his effort and pleased for his friend.

“I am glad Austin made the birdie on the last hole. I’m happy for him.”

Asked about the week, his win and the experience, Eckroat smiled and offered, “this place [Sage Valley] is awesome, by far my favorite golf course.”

The 54-hole Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club is widely recognized as one of the premier junior tournaments in the world. The prestigious event attracts many of the game’s top-ranked junior golfers on an annual basis.

You’ve read about it, you’ve seen it on TV, but there’s nothing quite like the experience of your first encounter with Augusta National Golf Club. It can be awe-inspiring the first time, and every time. 

Daniel Bleho got a little emotional. The Canadian from Montreal was taking his first steps on the grounds of Augusta National. 

“It’s a special place, glad to be here first time, hope to come back. Won’t be leaving until they throw me out,” Daniel said, his voice cracking. 

Emotions do run high when arriving a Augusta National. The joy and excitement is something to see. 

“I always love to talk to people who are coming here for the first time to see it. Because it’s such a revelation. I can’t believe it’s this hilly…big,” said two time Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw. 

But talk to those who’ve been here many times before and the special feeling never goes away.

“Oh yeah, tickled. I get the nerves, I get the feeling when I drive down Magnolia Lane, every single time,” said 1998 Champion Mark O’Meara

“It’s still an amazing spot, I first came here in 1979, and now this is your world between the famous oak tree and the garden setting,” said three time Masters Champion Nick Faldo. 

Gary Player has been coming to the Masters for more than 60 years, he says the most he was in awe was his first time he came to compete

“But still in awe of the beauty because I’m such as a lover of nature, we walked around the golf course early this morning, doing some work for a network. I was in awe of the beauty,” said Player. 

What’s not to love at Augusta National?

“Everything, is just as it should be. As I’ve seen so far, everything is just perfect,” said Daniel. 

“Whether it it’s a player, whether its a caddie, whether its the media, whether its the patrons who walk these hallowed grounds it just doesn’t get any better than this,” said O’Meara.