They call The Masters "a tradition unlike any other". While not many are willing to argue to the contrary, we here at JoeSportsFan.com want to make sure that none of the notable aspects of said "tradition" are denied a sliver of credit for making The Masters what it has become - one of the more captivating television events on the sports calendar. 



And nothing is more of a yearly tradition at Augusta National than the presence of "It's in the Hole" Guy - the overzealous and particularly vocal fan who has been celebrated as deserved on these pages.  Rest assured, this past weekend, he showed up in force, and by "he" we mean not just one, but many versions of "It's in the Hole" Guy. 

It's true that he only emerges for a brief moment after each swing, but just know that said moment has a profound impact on nearly every shot throughout the tournament.

Let's take an audio tour through just some of his many voices...

The Lone Soldier
Seconds before a key putt, the crowd is quiet and each of his competitors is cocked and ready to shout out their trademark phrase the moment the face of the putter touches the ball. But for him the game has simply slowed down, so much so that he can see the instant the ball is struck moments before it even happens. And when it does, his highly tuned senses trigger a verbal explosion so singular that Jim Nantz has no choice but to acknowledge it on the air. Rest assured, when the player whose putt just dropped, tips his hat to the crowd, he's saying thanks to the Lone Soldier...



The Fairway Dreamer
In the midst of the player's backswing he decides, "screw it, this guy is 300 yards away and there is about a 2% chance he drains it, but I'm yelling it anyway." Stunned at his combination of brashness and optimism, the people around him clumsily follow suit but not before the TV mics have been cut leaving his as the sole voice who urged the ball to its destination.  One of these days that ball will land in the cup from a similar distance and, when it does, they'll all be crediting the Fairway Dreamer's voice with providing the motivation it needed.  So quick, so succinct, so inspiring...

 

Team 16th Hole
Verne Lundquist has had a long weekend of calling golf on CBS and no one could blame him for beginning to run out of steam. But it's at that moment that the collective team of "In the Hole" Guys scattered strategically around the 16th green work their magic, not only to be heard on TV satisfying their own personal desires, but also to provide the ultimate adrenaline shot to a blue collar worker like Lundquist. The shear excitement of hearing multiple people accurately predict this shot going down before it fell energized Verne for the remainder of the tournament. You're welcome, CBS...




The Forgotten Voice
He uncorks his line at the perfect moment, but this time, rather than his competition in the field, it is the one inside the studio who overpowers his dreams of hearing his own voice when rewatching the DVR at home.  It took a man with a microphone and a desire to blather on about Fred Couples' bogey to overshadow him.  But strip it all away and listen a second time to the true sounds of the game and you can hear the Forgotten Voice in the background urging that ball to go to its home...

 

The Intimidator
Some may say that a golf ball has a mind of its own.  If true that means that said mind can be coaxed into doing whatever someone wants the golf ball to do...if the right tone is taken.  The Intimidator lives by a simple code: "Let the sound of his voice explain to the golf ball that bad things will happen to it if it doesn't heed his command".  After all, if The Intimidator screams "get in the hole" and the ball rims out, then he's left sounding foolish in front of the millions watching at home.  Trust us when we say that the Titleist does not want that.  (listen for the slow motion instant replay to drive home to the menacing tone)...

 

The Masters truly is a tradition unlike any other - for all kinds of reasons.