Thousands in the gallery were hushed as the boiler-suited figure stood over his putt. They'd watched the stars all day. Nicklaus, Garcia, Montgomery, now this unknown from New Zealand.
The putt was for par, pretty straight, about a metre. With all the confidence a 19 handicapper from Titahi Bay can
muster on the final green of Augusta National's par three course, he drained it, dead centre.
It's the most unforgettable shot in Ken Douglas' thoroughly undistinguished golf career and for the former president of the Council of Trade Unions a moment to cherish.
Douglas, a friend of Michael Campbell and president of the Titahi Bay Golf Club, north of Wellington, where the US Open champion learned to play the game, relieved Campbell's regular caddie, Michael Waite, for the light-hearted par three competition the day before the Masters.
The tradition of the par three tournament is that the player's caddie putts on the final green. Campbell hit his tee shot 8m above the hole. Douglas two-putted down a slippery slope like a seasoned pro.
"It was no problem. We actually had a bigger crowd watch me one day at Titahi Bay," Douglas insisted afterwards, tongue firmly in cheek.
The boss was impressed too.
"All the people watching but then he's used to performing in front of crowds. I had four-time major winner Ray Floyd as my partner today and Ken putted better than him," Campbell said.
But what about his overall performance on the bag?
"Well he struggled to keep up and his club selection was hopeless. Michael Waite has his job for the next 10 years. But it was a lot of fun.
"I've known Ken since I was 7 years old. He's done so much for so many New Zealanders. I just wanted to give him something back."
The long-time union official and member of the Marxist-aligned Socialist Unity party recognises the irony of him playing a role at Augusta National, a club run by some of the richest men in the world. But Douglas isn't in the slightest bit embarrassed.
"It's marvellous. This is heaven."
