Teen golfer places at Augusta National Golf Club

By the time he was old enough to walk, Carson James had a golf club in his hand. Now 13, he’s achieved a milestone he says he will continue to build upon. Carson placed third in his age division during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals that took place April 2 at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia.

“I was able to display my talents in driving, chipping and putting in golf,” Carson said. “These are fundamentals of the game. If you are able to do these, especially getting your chipping and putting down, you can do anything.”

While placing third in the Boys 12-13 age division is important to Carson, what he will remember most is the experience of playing on the same course as the worldrenowned Masters Tournament. Past winners of the MastersTournamentinclude golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan.

“Driving up Magnolia Lane was the most memorable part of the finals,” Carson said. “It is the road that leads to the front of the clubhouse. The only people that drive that road are players. It made me feel like I had accomplished something that I have been working on forever. Magnolia trees line the drive and cover the road. It looks super cool.”

The Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals puts the basic skills of the best amateur golfers in the nation to the test. Carson was required to earn his invitation by advancing through local, sub-regional and regional qualifiers. These qualifiers ensure the best young golfers in the sport are represented in Augusta. The Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals are nationally televised by the Golf Channel.

“I had to go through one stage of local qualifiers where they took the top two,” Carson said. “Then we went through sub-regional qualifiers, where they took the top two again. Then you go through a regional qualifier where they only take the winner. After that, you get to go to the finals.”

Competitors at the qualifiers and finals are judged on their driving, chipping and putting abilities. These are basic skills within the game. Driving is the skill golfers use to move the ball far distances. It is usually the first shot played on a hole and typically uses full, powerful swings.

Players spend years working on what they refer to as the “short game.” These skills include putting and chipping. Putting is employed by the player to move the ball when close to the hole. A golf club known as a putter is specifically designed for this task.

Chip shots are used when close to the hole, but still too far away to putt. The shot spends little time in the air and primarily moves along the ground. Chipping is considered one of the most technical aspects of the game. Many factors must be evaluated by the player to place the ball at the desired location.

“I try to do everything (during practice). But some days I focus more on one thing, like chipping or putting,” Carson said. “Chipping is my biggest strength. I have to figure out whether the ball will land uphill or downhill, and base my decisions off that. It’s usually like 10 to 15 yards, but I can hit chip from farther distances. I bring a lot of creativity into chipping.”

The competition was scored on the combination of three drives, three chips and three putts. Points are awarded based on each shot, with the winner of each division determined by the competitor with the most points received between all three skills.

The Drive, Chip and Putt competition began in 2013 as a joint initiative between the MastersTournament,United States Golf Association and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. The competition is open to boys and girls ages 7 to 15, broken down by age groups and gender. Nearly 80 golfers competed, representing 29 states and two Canadian provinces.

“There were thousands of kids who tried to get there,” Chris James, Carson’s father, said. “There were three rounds of qualifying before anyone got to the finals.”

Mr. James is one of the many coaches who help Carson improve his game. As a competitive golfer, Carson is following in his father’s footsteps. Mr. James had an illustrious collegiate golf career, playing four years for the University of Oklahoma.

Among other awards and titles, Mr. James received the Ben Hogan Award in 2000. The Ben Hogan Award is presented annually at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Golf Championships to the outstanding scholar-athlete in men’s collegiate golf in any division.

To stay at the top of the game, Carson finds time to practice every day. Sometimes this is only an hour in the evening, but some sessions havebeenknowntolast an entire day if time allows. During golf season and the summer months, Carson’s family finds time to take him to competitions up to three times a month.

“I have been playing golf almostmywholelife,”Carson said. “I like golf because it is relaxing. It gives me time to focus on myself.”

Carson’s hometown is Prosper, Texas where he attends Rogers Middle School. Carson will be in the eighth grade this fall. His parents are Chris and Mikka James. Carson, a Chickasaw citizen, receives his Chickasaw heritage from his father’s side of the family. He wants to play golf at the University of Oklahoma.

“Playing at Augusta National felt pretty cool,” Carson said. “I definitely want to get to the level of playing there again in my professional career. It will take a lot of work, but I will get there.”