Decades ago the shoe manufacturer Nike had an advertising campaign with a simple message. Usually it would be a solitary figure, running alone in the great wide open, and under it were the words: There Is No Finish Line.
Every runner got it. The message was to just keep going, make it a lifestyle, enjoy.
This is no attempt to suggest that former University of Hawaii at Hilo golfer Nick Mason has a fully stocked bag full of clubs and is happy just playing the game, like those runners were happy to just run five miles for themselves.
But there is a bit of a similarity in that Mason, 35, the three-time Hawaii State Open champion, chases No. 4 starting Friday at Mauna Lani, and he is still on the trail to earn his PGA Tour card. He hasn’t hit the finish line; there’s no stopping.
“I love playing in this tournament,” Mason said Thursday, “and I’ve played in a lot of state opens over the years. This is the nicest venue for a state tournament that you can ever imagine.”
That must serve to enhance the memories even more than just three notches on a golfer’s belt.
In 2015, Mason trailed Parker McLachlin by a stroke entering the final round, then, as if it were all planned, he collected six birdies on the front nine, finished with a 7-under 65 to get to 13-under after three rounds, then won a playoff.
For an Aloha State golfer, this tournament has been good to Mason and his usual game plan was played out perfectly in that victory. Mason is a chaser. If you give him his choice going into the final round, he would take that spot a stroke or maybe two off the lead, then spend the round tracking down the leader.
“To be honest about it, as much as I love this course and as much (fun) as it is to play here,” he said, “with all respect, the goal isn’t to win the state open — you can’t live winning state opens — the goal is to play on TV on Sunday’s, that’s my goal.”
Yes, but if you think that’s a bit extreme, to plan to get to the highest level of the sport at 35, you may have been distracted by the Rickie Fowlers and Jordan Spieths of the world. Youngsters who somehow play with ice in their veins against the world’s best.
“Sometimes it doesn’t seem fair,” Mason said, joking. “I mean, when you see these guys playing at this level at 20, making all the shots, taking in all the pressure and performing, I mean, yeah, kinda feels unfair a little bit.”
But Mason understands those players are outliers, golfing freaks, and who can explain any of that? Better to keep focused on your own game and that’s what has Mason feeling encouraged these days.
His game is better than it’s ever been, he said, and he knows first-hand that age is no major drawback, with most golfers on Tour having their best years from roughly 32 to 40 years of age.
“I saw what Dean Wilson did,” Mason said, “that’s what I’m after.”
In 2013, Mason won his second Hawaii State Open on a playoff hole when he had an opportunity to topple defending champion Dean Wilson, but Mason missed a 4-foot birdie putt for the win. He gathered himself and drained a 25-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to get the victory and the $10,000 winner’s check.
After that, Wilson fought his way onto the Tour and “made about $10 million,” Mason said, “and he is older than me, so I have a lot to play for.”
Starting now, with the last tournament of the year in Hawaii, that blends smoothly into the first PGA tournament of the new year. Endings here, beginnings, possibly, on Oahu.
That would include the Sony Open, just around the corner Jan. 8-14 at Waialae Country Club on Oahu, which was essentially Mason’s home course growing up on Ewa Beach on Oahu. Just like last year, he will try to qualify on Monday — something he will do all year around the country if need be — and then get in the field.
“That’s where I’m at, Monday qualifying, and I think if I can get in, I’ve got my shot,” he said. “Sometimes you just need that opportunity.”
Two years ago, Mason found his way into the Sony Open by qualifying on Monday and on Sunday he was in 16th place with five holes to play. He wound up tied at 46, 9-under for the week on his first experience at that level and got a check worth $18,661.50.
It’s like a knife fight out there on the Tour, everyone can play, everyone can beat you and, yes, you can make your mark if shoot very well. In 2016, he shot 68-69-68-66 and that got him his paycheck. Four rounds in 60s would be a lifetime achievement for a lot of us, it got Mason a tie for 46.
Attempts to qualify on Mondays are a long shot, but for golfers like Mason, who have been around a few years and continue to get better, Monday qualifiers are much preferable to the web.com Tour, basically the AAA version of the PGA Tour.
Money is diminished on web.com and golfers travel on their own from tournament to tournament, many of them living in vans and driving themselves around.
“That’s just cost prohibitive to me,” Mason said. “You will spend $60,000 or $70,000 a year, it’s a challenge to get in your regular practice (driving to the next tournament), all the rest adds up fast and it’s really, really hard to make any money.”
So, it makes more sense to play the state tournament you’ve won three times, collect the 10K and then move to your home course for another shot to get into the Sony.
If that happens, Mason feels he has a real shot at reaching Tour status.
“If I play well here, that will give me a little boost in confidence, but honestly, I’m feeling pretty good about that right now. But to win here and then get in the Sony and post the scores I know I can?
“That’s for me,” he said, “my path is Monday qualifiers and then get to business. It’s the Big Show or no show for me.”
And it all begins to go in motion this week at the nicest venue for a state tournament you can ever imagine.
If all goes well here, there will be no finish line, there will be a fresh start at the highest level of golf available.
Just what Nick Mason is looking for.
Tips? Questions? Email Bart at barttribuneherald@gmail.com
