Flu subsides just in time

George Archer played in the 1992 Masters Tournament. He hasn't played in recent years because of back problems.File

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Special to the Augusta Chronicle

I just saw the highlights of the 1969 Masters on the Golf Channel for the first time in 25 years. I thought to myself, ``Man, I don't swing like that no more.'' I guess that's what happens after seven operations in 30 years.

That week, I was sick with the flu. I didn't have any practice rounds and didn't hit any balls. It was doubtful that I was going to play, but I was here, so I said why not. I tried to practice. I hit a practice drive on 8 but couldn't walk up that hill. So I just walked through the old driving range, into the clubhouse and to the house I was staying.

There were some friends from Gilroy, Calif., with me, and I had some friends from South America that week. They rotated in taking care of me. My wife, Donna, stayed at home with our two daughters.

I didn't feel good till Sunday because I kept waiting for the flu to get me. After the first round, where I shot a 67, I was a stroke behind Billy Casper. And going into the final round, I was still second, a shot behind Casper.

As we made the turn to go to the back nine on Sunday, I saw that I had a three-shot lead.

But then I watched Charles Coody, who I was playing behind all day, birdie 11. Then I saw him eagle 13. We didn't have a lot of scoreboards back then, so there were times you didn't know where you stood. After I bogeyed 14, I thought I was 1-down to him. Then I watched him chip close on 15 and make birdie, so I thought I was 2-down.

In the middle of the 15th fairway, I thought I needed to go for an eagle, so I hit a 4-iron that caught the bank and rolled in. I didn't see the splash, but I knew it was in from the groans.

After I dropped, I chipped back into the bank, sort of like a bump-and-run shot, and it trickled up there to about 13 feet. I made that for par. Really an unbelievable par there. Only when I walked to the 16th tee did I see that Coody had made bogey at 14, so I was only 1-down.

Then I watched him hit into the left trap on 16 and make bogey. Then I watched Coody make bogey on 17 and 18, and I parred in. After I was through, I waited behind the 18th green because Casper needed a birdie to tie.

He missed the green, and when his chip came up short, lots of people started patting me on the back.

Bob Goalby put the green jacket on me. Me being 6-foot-6, I didn't know what to expect. But the coat they gave me to wear then was so big it was a joke. It was some guy from Oklahoma's coat. He must have been 6-9, more than 300 pounds. That was ridiculous. I wear a 44 extra long, and this must have been a 49 or a 50. I certainly wasn't cramped for style, that's for sure.

Clifford Roberts asked me to have dinner with him that night, so I showered in his cabin and changed. I ate with Mr. Roberts and Tom Weiskopf and his wife. Weiskopf wasn't in that great of a mood because he lost his chance to win. And Mr. Roberts was never that much of a talker, so it was a very cut and dry dinner.

I was staying about 10 blocks from the course, and somehow I got back there. I think I walked home. It was about 9 that night, and all my friends were already pooped from celebrating my win. I missed the party.

Masters bio Go to George Archer's Masters bio   Leaderboard Final leaderboard from 1969   SI Flashback Chronicle flashback The word on Archer "Super Cool George Archer, who admitted he had never been so scared for so long, never wavered under a wild finish as he shot a steady 72 for a one-stroke victory in the 33rd Masters Golf Tournament Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club." -- Robert Eubanks in The Augusta Chronicle. ``When I went through No. 9, I saw I was 8-under and the closest guy was 5-under, but I knew this the kind of course that can reach up and grab you.'' -- The Augusta Chronicle, April 14, 1969 "Archer, who at 6-6, must be the tallest winner of a major title since Abraham Lincoln -- Archer looks a little like Gomer Pyle and some of his pals on the tour call him that. Nobody calls him cowboy because they know he isn't, even though he lives on a ranch with his wife, Donna, and two daughters." -- Dan Jenkins in Sports Illustrated "It was (Archer's) first major championship, just as it had been for (Gay) Brewer and (Bob) Goalby, and he won by battling down the stretch with a ragtag group of escapees from some distant Citrus Open on the regular professional tour" -- Dan Jenkins in Sports Illustrated

Masters Record Year Place Score Round Money 1 2 3 4 1996 INVITED 0 0 0 0 0 INVITED 1995 INVITED 0 0 0 0 0 INVITED 1994 INVITED 0 0 0 0 0 INVITED 1993 INVITED 0 0 0 0 0 INVITED 1992 51 291 74 69 76 72 $3,700 1991 WD 73 73 0 0 0 $1,500 1990 49 301 70 74 82 75 $3,400 1989 T-43 300 75 75 75 75 $3,900 1988 CUT 155 80 75 0 0 $1,500 1987 INVITED 0 0 0 0 0 INVITED 1986 CUT 155 75 80 0 0 $1,500 1985 T-53 299 73 74 79 73 $1,800 1984 T-25 288 70 74 71 73 $4,680 1983 T-12 289 71 73 71 74 $10,125 1982 T-30 296 79 74 72 71 $2,475 1981 T-11 287 74 70 72 71 $7,333 1980 CUT 147 77 70 0 0 $1,500 1979 INVITED 0 0 0 0 0 INVITED 1978 WD 81 81 0 0 0 $1,500 1977 T-19 287 74 74 69 70 $2,500 1976 CUT 153 74 79 0 0 $1,350 1975 CUT 152 80 72 0 0 $1,250 1974 WD/DQ 75 75 0 0 0 $1,200 1973 T-43 299 73 74 74 78 $1,675 1972 T-12 292 73 75 72 72 $3,100 1971 35 296 73 74 78 71 $1,675 1970 T-31 294 73 72 74 75 $1,650 1969 WIN 281 67 73 69 72 $20,000 1968 T-22 288 75 71 72 70 $1,760 1967 T-16 292 75 67 72 78 $2,100