If nothing else, David Gossett got to experience the thrill of receiving a standing ovation on the 18th hole of the Masters Tournament.
All right, so the crowd's adoration was for six-time champion Jack Nicklaus completing his 41st Masters tournament. Paired with the Golden Bear on Sunday, Gossett wasn't satisfied with his initial Masters finish - 15-over-par 303 - but the 20-year-old took solace as the low amateur.
The native Tennessean did take a moment to appreciate his accomplishment while walking to the 18th green with Nicklaus.
``I tried to enjoy it with my pitiful display of golf,'' Gossett said. ``To be the only amateur to make the cut is something to hang my head high on. For (a) 20 (year-old), making the cut at the Masters, I'm pretty happy.''
A missed 7-foot birdie putt on No. 2 and an errant 4-footer for par on No. 3 exemplified his putting woes during a final-round 78. Gossett was also cruelly reminded of how unfriendly the National's greens can be on No. 17.
The 1999 U.S. Amateur champion's third shot was from 40 feet below the hole. The ball skipped past the cup and rolled down the right side of the green, coming to rest 20 feet away from the hole.
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David Gossett holds up the trophy for being the low amateur at the Masters Tournament.Ron Cockerille/Chronicle Staff
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``The greens are a little faster,'' Gossett said. ``I couldn't get anything going today.''
Meanwhile, Nicklaus was faring little better. His tee shot on No. 18 landed in the fairway bunker. It took the 60-year-old two attempts to vacate the bunker, but his third shot set him up for a 10-foot par putt.
His putt refused to drop, and Nicklaus finished with a four-day total of 303, 15-over par.
``I didn't have much enthusiasm,'' Nicklaus said. ``I didn't make anything happen. I wasn't sharp, and you have to be on this course. It's possible that was my last walk at 18. I'm not saying it was, I'm not saying it wasn't.''
It won't be the final Nicklaus-Gossett pairing, however. The two are scheduled to play together in the opening round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in June. The defending Open champion and reigning U.S. Amateur champion normally play together in the Open, but because defender Payne Stewart died in a plane crash last year, Nicklaus will step in to play with Gossett.
Gossett may not want to remember his final two rounds of 79-78, but he'll never forget his day with Nicklaus. Maybe at the U.S. Open he'll even drop the formal greetings.
`` I called him Mr. Nicklaus; he never asked me to call him Jack,'' Gossett chuckled. ``I'm not pleased with the way I played on the weekend. (The experience) is very valuable. I'll take a lot of positives away from this week.''
Nicklaus recognizes Gossett's potential but suggested his playing partner practice a little more patience. It was advice the legendary golfer conceded he must also heed. The duo also played a practice round earlier in the week.
``I feel for David,'' Nicklaus said. ``He played better in the practice round. He tries to make things happen. On this course you have to let things happen. But you learn - I can take that away as well.''
Next up for Gossett is the Big 12 tournament in two weeks. He said his experience at the Masters would weigh in favor of remaining an amateur, but he won't make that decision until after the British Open.
``I'll take note of how I play here, the (U.S.) Open and the British Open,'' Gossett said. ``I know I can play. I don't feel I'm very far from being competitive.''
Annual low-amateurs of the Master with score
2000 - David Gossett 303
1999 - Sergio Garcia 295
1998 - Joel Kribel 301
1995 - Tiger Woods 293
1994 - John Harris 305
1992 - Manny Zerman 294
1991 - Phil Mickelson 290
1990 - Chris Patton 296
1988 - Jay Sigel 300
1987 - Robert C. Lewis Jr. 309
1986 - Sam Randolph 293
1985 - Sam Randolph 290
1984 - Rick Fehr 288
1983 - Jim Hallet 297
1982 - Jodie Mudd 294
1981 - Jay Sigel 294
1980 - Jay Sigel 289
1979 - Bobby Clampett 290
1978 - Lindy Miller 286
1977 - Bill Sander 299
1976 - Curtis Strange 291
1975 - George Burns 292
1973 - Ben Crenshaw 295
1972 - Ben Crenshaw 295
1971 - Steve Melnyk 292
1970 - Charles Coe 292
1969 - Bruce Fleisher 300
1968 - Vinny Giles 288
1967 - Downing Gray 297
1966 - James A. Grant 299
1965 - Downing Gray 294
1964 - Gary Cowan 291
1963 - Labron Harris Jr. 298
1962 - Charles Coe 288
1961 - Jack Nicklaus 287
1960 - Jack Nicklaus 293
1959 - Charles Coe 288
1958 - Billy Joe Patton 288
1957 - E. Harvie Ward 288
1956 - Ken Venturi 290
1955 - E. Harvie Ward 292
1954 - Billy Joe Patton 290
1953 - Frank Stranahan 291
1952 - Charles R. Kocsis 297
1951 - Charles Coe 292
1950 - Frank Stranahan 297
1949 - Charles Coe 295
1948 - Skee Riegel 293
1947 - Frank Stranahan 283
1946 - Cary Middlecoff 293
1942 - Robert T. Jones Jr. 304
1941 - Richard Chapman 297
1940 - Charles Yates 293
1939 - Chick Harbert 296
1938 - Robert T. Jones Jr. 297
1937 - Charles Yates 301
1936 - John W. Dawson 294
1935 - Denny Shute 287
1934 - Robert T. Jones Jr. 294
Low amateur treasures final round with Nicklaus
