AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta National Golf Club is on Georgia’s eastern edge, practically nestled against the South Carolina border, but there’s a whole lot of Texas here, y’all. Great Texan golfers permeate Masters history and hallowed Augusta National itself, most notably the Byron Nelson Bridge (between the 12th and 13th holes) and the Ben Hogan Bridge (above Rae’s Creek on No. 12). Of the 90 ...

Jordan Spieth of the United States putts on the 16th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Ga..

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta National Golf Club is on Georgia’s eastern edge, practically nestled against the South Carolina border, but there’s a whole lot of Texas here, y’all.

Great Texan golfers permeate Masters history and hallowed Augusta National itself, most notably the Byron Nelson Bridge (between the 12th and 13th holes) and the Ben Hogan Bridge (above Rae’s Creek on No. 12).

Of the 90 Masters, Texans have won 15, more than any state.

Ben Crenshaw, the 74-year-old two-time Masters winner and longtime unofficial host of the annual Tuesday night champions dinner, brought a reminder with him from Austin.

“A long time ago Ben Hogan gave me one of his drivers and I brought it here this week,” Crenshaw told The Dallas Morning News outside the Augusta National clubhouse. “I showed it to the guys and said, ‘I know this is my driver, but I feel in a way it’s y’all’s, too.

“They enjoyed it, passed it around during dinner.”

Thirty-five of the 37 living Masters champions attended the dinner, including 1984 and 1995 winner Crenshaw, 2015 winner Jordan Spieth and fellow Dallasite Scottie Scheffler, the 2022 and 2024 champion.

Fort Worth’s Hogan initiated the first Champions Dinner in 1952. Waxahachie native Nelson soon took over as the annual unofficial host.

“Mr. Hogan wanted a quiet dinner for the champion,” Crenshaw said. “And Byron took over because he was very close to [Augusta National co-founder] Clifford Roberts. Clifford Roberts liked Byron very much.”

From 1956 to 2004, Nelson served as host and emcee. But before the 2005 Masters, Nelson phoned Crenshaw and told him he couldn’t make the trip, asked him to take over the dinner. Crenshaw said he literally dropped the phone.

“I went, ‘Oh, my God.’ Byron said, ‘Do you love golf history?’ I said, ‘Yes, I do.’ He said, ‘I think you’re the man.’ ”

Perhaps one day in the distant future, Scheffler or Spieth will succeed Crenshaw as host. But this week the Dallasites were focused on adding another Masters title to their legacy.

Spieth, 32, closed strong on Sunday with a 4-under 68 that got him to a tie for 12th just as Scheffler was about to make the turn, three shots out of the lead.

It’s the fourth time in Spieth’s last five starts that he finished just outside the top 10, as he works his way back from 2024 left wrist surgery.

“I've been playing the same way that I played today every week,” Spieth said. I just made three putts outside of six feet today and I didn't any of the other days.”

Spieth estimated that he left more than 20 putts short this week.

“I feel like I'm playing great golf,” he said. “I don't feel like my results are showing it. All you’ve got to do when that happens is stay the course. The results end up coming. Sometimes the game takes a while to pay off.”

Most fans probably believe world No. 1-ranked Scheffler, 29, has more chances to win future Masters than Spieth, but Crenshaw says not to count out Spieth.

Crenshaw, after all, was 43 when he won his second Masters. Hey, he’s a Texan. And, like Spieth and Scheffler, a Texas Longhorn.

“I think so highly of them as individuals,” Crenshaw said. “They’re two great boys who represent the game in the right way. But they’re singular talents, both of them. I’m proud of them.”

It’s a Texas thing, y’all.

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