Aiken’s Kevin Kisner hopes cramming for Masters exam will pay off

When Aiken’s Kevin Kisner knew his lifelong dream of playing in the Masters was going to become a reality, he immediately knew who he had to call.

Enter Jeff Knox, the man most well-known as the amateur member of Augusta National Golf Club who serves as a “marker” when the Masters needs him on tournament weekends. Kisner has known Knox since Kisner was playing at the University of Georgia and Knox, a fellow former Bulldog, hosted the team for its annual round at Augusta National. If the Masters cut line leaves the tournament with an odd number of players on the weekend, Knox plays in the first group on the final two days so no player will have to play alone.

Two years ago, Knox beat Rory McIlroy by one stroke while playing from the same tees, so he’s a good man to know when you’re cramming for your first Masters. Kisner met Knox at the course in February for marathon study sessions. The pair played two days, nine holes each day, and the nines averaged three-and-a-half hours, Kisner said.

“I wore him out. He’s probably sick of me,” Kisner said. “He was as nice a gentleman as he could be with me, and he was happy to spend as much time. We’d let a couple groups go through and stand around on the greens and hit chips and putts.”

This week, Kisner continued his education by playing 18 holes with 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson on Sunday.

“He showed me a lot because we play the same type of game,” Kisner said.

Monday’s playing partner was 1987 Masters winner and Augusta resident Larry Mize. After waiting so long for this chance, Kisner clearly is leaving nothing to chance.

The 32-year-old turned pro in 2006 and didn’t earn his PGA Tour card until 2011. After failing to retain the card in 2011 or 2012, he played his way back onto the PGA Tour with a 13^th-place money finish on the 2013 Web.com Tour. The 2015 season was his breakout year, opening the door to the world’s most famous golf tournament, which just happens to be just down the road from his hometown.

His dream officially will be realized at 11:05 a.m. Thursday when he tees off with Adam Scott and Brooks Koepka.

“I hope that if I can get off to a good start that I can get into contention on Sunday,” he said. “Those first few holes, if I can make a couple birdies and get on a roll, it’ll be a good day.”

Kisner played Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest at Augusta in the same group as fellow South Carolinian Bill Haas, who is playing in his seventh Masters and coming off his best finish, a tie for 12^th last year. Haas tied for 26^th in his first Masters in 2010.

“I remember being happy to be here, proud to be here but also wanting to do well,” Haas said. “I don’t ever remember saying, ‘I made bogey, but that’s OK because I’m at Augusta,’ and I don’t think (Kisner) has that mentality at all. If you’re here, you’ve earned your right here and you’re good enough to win this thing. I think he needs to have that mentality, and I think he does.”

Kisner is ranked No. 22 in the world coming into this year’s Masters. He picked up his first PGA Tour win in November at The RSM Classic to jump-start his 2015-2016 season. He qualified for the Masters by earning a spot in last season’s Tour Championship, and he also finished second in the Players Championship last season, losing a playoff with Rickie Fowler.

“He’s playing so good that my advice is stay out of his own way,” Haas said. “Just go play golf and his good golf will be good enough. He could win here easily even though this is his first.”

The Par 3 was a family affair for Kisner. His wife Brittany and 22-month-old daughter Kate caddied for him, and he walked to the ninth green with Kate atop his shoulders as dozens of family and friends waited behind the green to take pictures after his round was complete.

“This is as cool as it gets here,” he said.

Kisner’s home is being remodeled, so he and Brittany currently are staying with his parents in Aiken, and the family saw no reason to change the living arrangements this week since the house is less than a 30-minute drive from the course.

“We’re just normal at home. We’re not talking golf the whole time so we’re trying to be good,” said mom Christy Kisner. “We’ve tried to keep it low key, trying to make it like it’s every other tournament, but it’s special.”

The familiar surroundings have helped Kisner keep an even keel in his first Masters, he said.

“I’m sure I’ll be nervous on the first tee tomorrow, but once it gets going, it’s a golf tournament,” he said. “It’s all about getting it in the hole and it’s a math contest. I need to figure out my best way to get it in the hole and go from there.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 8:41 PM with the headline "Aiken’s Kevin Kisner hopes cramming for Masters exam will pay off."