Big trees and big legends endure at Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It is simply called  "The Big Oak Tree."

Just about everyone who is anyone in golf walks under it the week of the Masters. So do other assorted millionaires and billionaires. So do friends of the well-connected, friends of friends of the well-connected, and impoverished media mopes.

The tree was planted in the 1850s, before a civil war that impacted Georgia rather significantly. It stands on the golf course side of the Augusta National clubhouse, provides great shade from the noon-day sun, and cuts a figure far more imposing than Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus.

It's just plain big.

Ropes separate the rest of the public who have Masters badges from those who are beneath the tree and others who lounge on the clubhouse's lawn patio. Captains of industry and kings of golf mingle here. Agents sidle up to CEOs.

Someone who is a judge or something on England's "Strictly Come Dancing," their version of "Dancing With the Stars," was mugging under the oak for one of Britain's sports networks. He didn't get overly boisterous, though. You don't get overly boisterous here. Which is nice.

It's not as if those on the other side of the ropes don't still get their thrills.

"I was just two feet away from him!" exclaimed a man of about 21 Tuesday, describing his close encounter with Arnold Palmer and accentuating his joy of seeing Arnie by pumping his fist.

Palmer was applauded by fans Tuesday. Why? Because he insisted "OK, I'm gonna drive" a golf cart to another area on the clubhouse grounds rather than have someone drive him.

Palmer, 82, had a scary health episode just nine days earlier, involving high blood pressure caused by a medication that was new to him. He spent a night in a Florida hospital and then went home. He seemed feisty enough here Tuesday.

Augusta likes to take pride in having fans as knowledgeable about golf as any, but people are people everywhere. They like stars. Big stars. The biggest stars.

Zach Johnson, a former Masters champion, had the putting green near the clubhouse to himself for about 10 minutes Tuesday afternoon for the hour he spent there after he had played the course's front nine holes and then had lunch. About 100 fans ringed the green, so he wasn't exactly toiling in solitude.

But then Mickelson showed up. It was as if a flock of birds wearing ball caps and pastel-colored shirts suddenly flew in.

As the three-time Masters winner walked briskly through the clubhouse patio and headed to the green, he said "How's it going?" without breaking stride to a boy of 7 or 8.  The child, named Bradley, was briefly stunned. He then bolted from his family's table and hurried off to follow Mickelson. He started to break the club's rule about not running on the course grounds, but caught himself and went into a fast walk.

Even little kids seem to become obedient once they're inside Augusta National's gates.

Not far away, three-time major-champion Padraig Harrington walked through the area under the oak without getting too much attention from anyone. Ditto Bill Haas, who won the 2011 FedExCup championship and the $10 million that came with it.

Great players? Definitely. But Augusta royalty? No.

Arnold Palmer won four green jackets, the last one 48 years ago. Yet, he remains on a pedestal here, kept there by some who are too young to have ever seen him swing a golf club.

History is taken seriously here, especially under a tree that is over 250 years old.