No VIPs at Amen Corner shows how the Masters flattens America's celebrity caste system

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rip Hamilton and Ryan Fitzpatrick are headed into the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. One is a three-time NBA All-Star and world champion, the other a 17-year NFL veteran. No badge will get them where they want to go.It’s an unlikely duo, but before the two famous athletes can complete their mission, they must begin at dawn at Augusta National Golf Club. They desire to be the first car in the lot, in hopes of being the first patrons to place their Masters folding chairs on the course. They trek from one hole to the next, plopping down seats, buying more, and doing it all over again. Championship rings do not earn them those coveted on-course vantage points. A 3:30 a.m. morning alarm did.“It’s survival of the fittest,” Hamilton says. “It feels like you’re becoming a Marine.”Advertisement