Masters Fan With Cancer Gets His Wish

Thanks to Liquid Kaos for this fantastic Wayne Coffey story in the NY Daily News on Raymond Finerty, lifelong golf fan suffering from cancer and headed to the Masters.

It's part of a dying wish trip arranged by the Dream Foundation, Genentech and the Shivas Irons Society.

Finerty plays golf once a week or so on his home course, Mill Pond, in Medford, L.I., with a group of Irishmen called Mac’s Golf Club. He once shot a 79, says his short game is what he does best and can’t even imagine what it is going to be like to be on the grounds of Augusta National.

“It’s like going to Mecca,” he says.

Comments

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

Terrible desease made all the worse by the knowledge that it could have been prevented.

Hope he has a great day. Who knows, it may even end with an irish win!

[johnnnycz]

Good story. Hope he has a great time down thar!

As for The Toonamint itself...I blew that prediction of Ogilvy winning. Turns out he didn't get in the field (MC in his last two outings with a pencil/scorecard in the pocket).

Something about the 50-60 top players in the world not getting automatic invites does make one wonder though but the Lords of Augusta like to keep it a small party so to speak.

I'm mentally getting ready to explain all over again to my students/clients how the Masters has the weakest field out of the 4 majors...but no one really listens. Happens every year.

[digsouth]

Mr. Finerty, you have a jam up time at Augusta! I hope and pray it is the first of years of your wishes coming true.

Johnnny, not only is it the weakest field, but those who think that ''4''.''four'',''quatro'' majors is ''the right number'', and who serve no weight to the REAL major, with THE TOUGHEST, STRONGEST FIELD, the LARGEST PURSE, played at the SAME COURSE, and with 40 YEARS OF HISTORY to draw on- talking about the FIFTH MAJOR- THE PLAYER'S CHAMPIONSHIP.

iF 40 YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH HISTORY TO GIVE MERIT, THEN ALL of The Masters winners,prior to 1974 need not claim any praise for their victory at Augusta, since the Tournament simply does not have enough pedigree yet- Sorry Ben, Arnie, and all.

I did not mean to get going on this: my apologies to Mr. Finerty, who is going to one of the most prestigious tournaments in golf, with the finest hole, IMHO, (#16) enjoy yourself, and best wishes.

[Cheeks]

If anything, the Players has taken a step back in recent years IMHO. I like the event and agree it is a great test, but it is becoming forgotten.

[digsouth]

The Open went thru a similar ''forgotten'' stage.

[Golden Bell]

The Players is up there with the PGA. Make them 4A and 4B. But no need to shout, digsouth.

And hey, Jack now has 23 majors!

[digsouth]

Golden Bell; As I have noted many times--- I use caps as italics are not available. And YES, I agree- no need to shout.


4A and 4B..... hmmmmm I say let's have 5 and that's that. They all have gone thru periods of less popularity, just before the contemporary reportage. (is that a word?)

[DTF]

"THE SAME COURSE".....is a big fly in the ointment, digger.

[digsouth]

OK, Del..... I have been exposed. Still, does ''for a real long time'' count?

[OWGR Fan]

@johnnycz... The top 50 in the world rankings by a certain cutoff date do get into the Masters. For Ogilvy and others its really simple. You want to be there play better.

[johnnnycz]

Hear you OWGR...Ogilvy had some form early in the season, then fizzled out.

In the name of strengthening the field, the folks down Magnolia Lane may as well give him a special last minute invite...but only because he plays rather briskly and wouldn't hold up play much. He's got a better chance to win than Olazabal or say Crenshaw or even....(dare I say it as a native Canuck?Oh of course I will)... Weirsy.. He's done. I hope I'm wrong, but stats don't lie. Ugly!

[F. X. Flinn]

when the other majors give the Players winner a 5 year exemption into their events, then you'll know it's a major. As far as I can tell, the win-that-tournament-and-you-can-play-ours-for-5-years exemption is shared only among the the Open, the USGA Open, the Masters and the PGA.

Great story by Wayne!