“Nervousness is greatness about to happen”
— Steph Curry AND Jackson Fogelson
BTCC junior member Jackson Fogelson showcased his talent at the prestigious National Drive, Chip, Putt (DCP) competition held at Augusta National Golf Club on the Sunday prior to the Masters Tournament in early April. As the only Minnesotan in the elite group of 80 junior qualifiers aged 7-15, Jackson’s DCP experience has left him with not only a Champions medal in the putting portion of the contest, but also a long list of special memories spent during his time at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
Here, Jackson highlights his Top 8 Moments at the 2024 Drive, Chip & Putt Nationals
1. MAKING NEW FRIENDS!
I love going to all of the tournaments and meeting new buddies! This year I got to meet kids from all over the country. We were seated with Jesse from Australia and his family for the opening ceremony dinner. We warmed up with Levi and his dad from Hawaii. All the kids were so nice and I can’t wait to see them at a future event!
Jackson with Mom Whitney and Dad Mike in Augusta, GA
The 2024 Drive, Chip, Putt National Competitors are welcomed to the iconic Augusta National Golf Club
2. THE PUTTING COMPETITION ON THE 18th GREEN AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL!
This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. So many of my favorite golfers of all-time have putted on this course to win the Masters! The green was rolling super fast and you had to be very careful or you would putt the ball way past the hole! I was really excited to win the putting portion of the competition and it was a great way to end the day.
Jackson competes in the putting contest on the 18th green
3. GETTING TO DRIVE DOWN MAGNOLIA LANE!
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- Augusta National Clubhouse
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- Magnolia Lane
4. AWARD CEREMONY WITH 1998 MASTERS CHAMPION MARK O’MEARA!
It was cool to get to meet a former Masters Champion. Everything about the day was so amazing and they made us feel so special! I can’t thank Drive, Chip and Putt and the Masters enough for the great trip!
Jackson with 1998 Masters Champion Mark O’Meara
Jackson proudly wears his Putting Champion medal
The Drive, Chip, Putt Award Winner’s Ceremony
5. GETTING TO HAVE A LOT OF MY FAMILY THERE TO WATCH ME COMPETE!
It made me feel really good to have my Mom, Dad, both sets of my Grandparents, and my Aunt and Uncle there cheering me on. They drove a long way to see me compete and it felt great to have them in my corner! I could hear them cheering each time my name was announced. A special thanks to Uncle Weston for taking all of the great pictures!
Jackson’s fan section included Mom Whitney, Dad Mike, and Grandparents Stan and Priscilla Weston and Steve and Wendi Fogelson
Jackson shares a winning moment with his Aunt Lindsy and Uncle Weston
Jackson with his caddy (and dad), Mike Fogelson
6. GETTING TO BE AT THE MASTERS ALL DAY MONDAY AND WATCH A PRACTICE ROUND!
My mom and dad and I got to attend a full day at the Masters on Monday. It was a lot of fun! We walked the entire course. We saw so many Pros playing and got to cheer them on! Our favorite part was sitting on the 16th Green and watching the Pros and their Caddies try and skip the ball across the pond and onto the green!
Using the practice facilities at Augusta National
Practicing on the iconic practice green
7. TRYING ALL THE DIFFERENT FAMOUS SANDWICHES!
The Masters food is famous and everyone talks about the Pimento Cheese and Egg Salad sandwiches. We tried those and all of the rest! My favorite was the Classic Chicken sandwich. I had at least 4 of them! It was so nice that their prices weren’t crazy.
The Famous Pimento Cheese Sandwich
8. GETTING TO SHOP IN THE AMAZING PRO SHOP AND BUYING MASTERS HEAD COVERS!
The ProShop is definitely one of the coolest things at the course! It is crazy how busy it is and how many people shop it in a day! They estimate that the proshop does $10 Million in sales per day! $70 Million for the week!!!! Wow! The one thing I had to have that I planned on buying was a matching set of head covers for my driver, woods, hybrid and putter! I was really happy to see that the prices weren’t so bad on those either!!!!
Jackson shows off his prized Masters gear back at BTCC!
Want to learn more about this extraordinary junior golfer?
- Read Jackson’s Drive, Chip Putt Nationals Bio: Jackson Fogelson
- Explore the Bemidji Pioneer feature article: Jackson Fogelson wins putting competition at Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals
- View Lakeland News interview with Jackson: Bemidji’s Jackson Fogelson to Compete in Drive, Chip and Putt Competition at Augusta National – Lakeland News
What is Drive, Chip and Putt?
Drive, Chip and Putt is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, Drive, Chip and Putt provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country.
Participants progress through local, sub-regional, and regional rounds, vying for coveted spots in the esteemed National Finals. The culmination takes place at Augusta National on the Sunday before the Masters and is broadcasted live on Golf Channel.
Learn more at: About Drive, Chip and Putt