AUGUSTA, Ga. — It hardly seems imaginable, but Jim Herman said he was “more nervous’’ standing on the first tee at Augusta National for his first Masters on Thursday morning than he was Sunday in Houston while trying to hang on and win his first PGA Tour event.
Herman, the 38-year-old journeyman former assistant pro at Trump National Bedminster, played alongside Steven Bowditch of Australia in the first tee time of this Masters and shot a 3-over-par 75.
The start to his round was magical, with birdies on the first two holes, including a chip-in on No. 1. The only disappointment for Herman was a bogey on No. 18 after his approach shot went long of the green.
“It really didn’t set in until I was upon it,’’ Herman said of his emotions on the first tee. “Walking from practice putting green to the first tee, getting the crowd and everything started to amp up, my nerves really started kicking in. I was definitely more nervous today than I was last Sunday.’’
Herman said his experience “exceeded expectations.’’
“It was a wonderful, wonderful day,’’ he said. “I can’t tell you the ovations that I’ve been getting all week. It’s just unreal. It’s an honor to be playing out here.’’
Herman’s week has included playing alongside Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III in Wednesday’s Par-3 Contest and scores of fellow pros congratulating him for his life-changing victory at the Shell Houston Open.
“I don’t know if it was true or not, but at the Par-3, Phil got a great ovation and Davis got a great ovation and it seemed like I got one that was louder,’’ Herman said. “That’s impossible. Phil is a three-time champion here and Davis is a major champion and Ryder Cup captain. I just won the Shell Houston Open and I’m getting a bigger applause.’’
Herman wowed the crowd and calmed his nerves with his fast start.
“I just striped a drive at the Masters, first one off,’’ Herman said. “Hit a really good iron shot, just trickled off [the green], and look at that: just a pitch-in on the first hole at the Masters. No. 2 sets up nicely. I hit a good drive, hybrid on the green, and two putts and here we are, 2‑under through two.’’
Herman said he “hit a few loose shots’’ on Nos. 3, 5 an 6 and “really let it go there,’’ before gathering himself the rest of the way until the blemish on No. 18.
“I’m not out of it,’’ he said. “I feel really good going into [Friday]. We’ll regroup, go get some work on my driver and my putter. On the greens, I was a little tentative on a lot of my birdie putts. It’s easy to be that way. The greens are so fast. I just didn’t have the speeds down yet.’’
Herman said he has not spoken to Donald Trump since his win in Houston, though his former boss and financial backer had taken time during his run for president to email and tweet him congratulations.
“He’s doing what he’s doing with politics now,’’ Herman said. “But I know him as the owner of Trump National Bedminster and his other golf courses. He’s a good friend of mine. I don’t get much into politics. I just like playing golf with him.’’