The Masters theme song has become internationally recognisable even by non-golf fans.
So who is the mastermind (see what I did there?) behind this treacly tune? Dave Loggins, a singer-songwriter who is a third cousin of Kenny Loggins, the man behind the Caddyshack theme song and other hits.
The Masters theme song’s official title is “Augusta.” But you probably don’t know Dave wrote words to accompany arguably the most famous TV sports anthem. And if you thought the instrumental version was cheesy, wait until you get a load of the lyrics!
Well, it’s springtime in the valley on Magnolia Lane
It’s the Augusta National and the master of the game
Who’ll wear that green coat on Sunday afternoon?
Who’ll walk the 18th fairway singing this tune?
Augusta, your dogwoods and pines
They play on my mind like a song
Augusta, it’s you that I love
And it’s you that I’ll miss when I’m gone.
It’s Watson, Byron Nelson, Demaret, Player and Snead
It’s Amen Corner and it’s Hogan’s perfect swing
It’s Sarazen’s double eagle at the 15 in ’35
And the spirit of Clifford Roberts that keeps it alive
Augusta, your dogwoods and pines
They play on my mind like a song
Augusta, it’s you that I love
And it’s you that I miss when I’m gone.
It’s the legions of Arnie’s Army and the Golden Bear’s throngs And the wooden-shafted legend of Bobby Jones.
It’s basically a Jim Nantz opening monologue. Absolutely MAJESTIC stuff.
So how did it come to be? Loggins got a tee time at Augusta National in 1981, and instead of writing some boring story about how much the experience meant to him, he did something much more useful by writing a song that has been played countless times over the past four decades.
“I stopped for a minute, looked up at the pine trees and the wind down there was just different in some regards,” Loggins told the Associated Press in a 2019 interview. “Spiritually it was different. That course was just a piece of art. I looked over at some dogwoods and, man, I just started writing the song in my head which is what I do when I get inspired. “I had the first verse before I even got off the course.”
Hot damn, Dave. Now you’re just showing off.
Even more impressive is that Loggins won over CBS executive producer Frank “The Ayatollah” Chirkinian (actual nickname), who used it for the 1982 tournament and it’s been a staple of the broadcast since. Talk about a guy who knew what he was doing.
