AUGUSTA, Ga. — For Paul Pearman, Masters week in Augusta is typically a constant celebration. This 64-year-old Augusta native has experienced many Masters weeks.
Pearman, an artist with an eclectic style, lives in a home on Lake Olmstead that resembles a museum and is often a central figure during the Masters festivities. He possesses extensive knowledge of local history, especially concerning Augusta National. As a passionate golfer, he even constructed a top-tier putting green in his backyard, complete with impressive lighting.
The lighting is so powerful, it acted like a beacon, attracting one of the world`s top golfers.
On a Friday night, Pearman returned home and switched on the green`s lights. He noticed a group of men walking across a nearby bridge and saw them stop abruptly when the green became illuminated. They turned towards his house and greeted him.
`Do you guys play golf?` he inquired.
`Hi, I`m Bryson DeChambeau,` one of the men responded from the shadowed area of the driveway.
`Nice to meet you, I`m Jack Nicklaus,` Pearman joked back.
Then, his guest stepped into the light, and Pearman realized it was indeed Bryson DeChambeau. `Oh,` Pearman admitted, `I`m not really Jack Nicklaus.`
DeChambeau, who scored a 69 on Saturday, placing him in the final group with Rory McIlroy, is only two strokes behind McIlroy. He is in contention to win his third major title and his first green jacket. His wedge play has been exceptional, leading the field in strokes gained around the green. This might be partly attributed to his practice session the previous night in an Augusta backyard.
At Pearman’s home, DeChambeau practiced with his 72-degree wedges, sending balls high into the night sky.
`It looked like a Goodyear Blimp was flying overhead and dropping golf balls onto the flags,` Pearman described.
He then selected Pearman`s `Liberace putter,` a large, clear Lucite putter with a head resembling a block of soap.
`Like those novelty items with a scorpion inside,` Pearman said. `The kind of thing you might get as employee of the month.`
Pearman rushed inside to tell his wife, Michele, to get out of her pajamas. `Get up! Bryson`s in the backyard.`
`You`re kidding me,` she replied, disbelieving.
But it was true. Michele mentioned she was immediately charmed by DeChambeau`s politeness to everyone, including her Rottweiler, Rosie. `He was so kind,` she recalled. `He introduced himself, shook my hand, and was very friendly with Rosie, who loved the attention.`
DeChambeau is known as one of golf`s most intriguing personalities. During tournaments, he often spends his evenings practicing after his rounds. He uses a launch monitor on the practice green while putting. He also has a successful YouTube channel. He frequently experiments with techniques that might seem unusual to other professionals.
Such as refining his short game with an assortment of clubs he discovered in the shed of a backyard putting green.
Pearman was curious why DeChambeau was out in Augusta late at night, finding a practice spot he didn`t know existed just moments before. DeChambeau explained he couldn`t sleep. `I understand,` Pearman responded.
Pearman`s unique personality has brought him many interesting acquaintances. In 1989, he broke Tony Alva`s Guinness World Record for the longest skateboard jump over barrels (more than 26). He holds a third-degree black belt and amateur kickboxing titles. He creates handcrafted mosaics and belt buckles, many sold to famous musicians and celebrities.
Rory Sabbatini has worn Pearman`s belt buckles during Masters rounds. Jeff Knox, the well-known Augusta National marker, wore one when he outplayed McIlroy in a 2014 round.
Consequently, Pearman is well-connected. And his backyard green is far from ordinary. Measuring 71 feet by 41 feet, this kidney-shaped green has its own drainage system. `It includes nine French drains and 15 catch basins,` Pearman detailed. `It`s likely the largest artificial green in the area.`
He added that to prevent boredom after building it, he incorporated extra undulations across the surface, which he believes caught DeChambeau`s attention.
`This is really impressive,` DeChambeau remarked to Pearman. `Usually, they are quite small and flat.`
Pearman, as an artist, has always admired DeChambeau, a golfer known for his intense energy and constant experimentation with his game and equipment. Now, Pearman has witnessed DeChambeau`s dedication firsthand. He observed a player who had already practiced extensively at Augusta National range that week spend his Friday night seeking improvements in his backyard.
And it appears he may have found some answers there.
On Saturday, Pearman and his friends watched from his `golf shed` as DeChambeau sank a 45-foot putt for birdie on the first hole. Later that evening, even more people gathered to watch DeChambeau birdie three of the last four holes, culminating in a 48-foot putt on the 18th, securing his place in the final group for Sunday and gaining crucial momentum.
`I might cry if Bryson doesn`t win tomorrow,` Michele admitted.
Paul mentioned that his biggest yard work challenge is removing clover, despite his yard being full of four-leaf clovers. Perhaps, he suggested, there`s something to that luck.
`It`s just lucky out here, man,` he concluded. `Apparently, one lesson was all it took.`
After his strong performance on Saturday, following his Friday night practice, DeChambeau was asked about avoiding burnout from his rigorous training.
`The most important thing is to relax and have a fun, enjoyable evening,` he replied. `Spending time with friends and family, just being myself… The more I can be myself, the longer I can sustain this.`
