Tony Bennett Headed to Augusta National

Posted on Thursday, May. 2, 2019, 11:11 am

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Shortly after winning the national championship last month, Virginia coach Tony Bennett mentioned to CBS commentator Jim Nantz about playing a round of golf at Augusta National, home of the Masters.

“My dad said if I ever make it to the Final Four, he’d come and play Augusta with me,” Bennett said to Nantz, who was play-by-play man for the Final Four, and is the lead commentator at the Masters each year. “So maybe you can get us on that course, alright?”

Well, without Nantz’ assistance, the Bennetts are at Augusta this week, teeing it up at one of the world’s greatest and most prestigious golf courses.

According to Wisconsin Golf, Bennett and his dad, Dick Bennett, a former coach and avid golfer, were scheduled to play Augusta National today (Thursday). The publication, which interviewed Dick Bennett, stated that the father-son duo, only the second of such to each take a team to the Final Four (John Thompson and Thompson, Jr., were the other), will play as guests of a Virginia booster, who is a member at Augusta.

Tony Bennett played the course three years ago, and at that time his father didn’t accept the invitation to join him.

Dick told Wisconsin Golf that, “I told him, at that time, ‘Tony, the only way I’d play there, let’s make a deal; if you ever go to the Final Four, and you’re invited again, I’ll play.’”

Dick said that Tony is a good golfer and a natural athlete. Dick plays with a group of friends in Wisconsin, but tries to work in some golf rounds when he visits Tony in Charlottesville, particularly in September and October.

Still, Dick Bennett wasn’t confident in his game headed to Augusta, an incredibly challenging golf course that hosts the world’s top golfers annually.

“This is one time I can say I’m honestly in over my head,” Dick Bennett told Wisconsin Golf.