EUREKA, Mo. — Eureka golfer Madison Pyatt has grown up on the course.
“I used to love just playing in the bunkers and seeing the difference between the greens and the rough," Madison said.
And she’s been a natural from the time she was around 3-and-a-half years old.
“I still remember the first day I taught her how to chip, she made 3 out of her first 10 chips the first time she ever chipped in her life," Madison's dad, Travis, said.
And with the driver, forget about it. She probably out-drives you.
“Her normal drive is 225-230," Travis said.
This past week at Augusta National golf course in Georgia... Madison was masterful at the home of the Masters.
From a pool that started as thousands of kids across the country, she took home the Drive, Chip and Putt championship for her 7- to 9-year-old age group on the biggest stage in golf. The winners are determined on a points basis combined from their performances in each discipline.
“I was so surprised and excited my body was just filled with joy," Madison said. “I was really nervous but my dad helped me stay calm and just talked to me normally and I got up and did what I had to do.”
"She was able to secure one drive at 199. I knew at that point there was no chance anyone was going to catch her," Travis said of his daughter's performance.
“When you think about who gets to use the players’ range at Augusta… Members don’t. The President of the United States doesn’t get to use it. It’s Masters participants, drive, chip and putt participants and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur participants only get to use that range. So it’s a very special group to get to play on heaven on earth," Travis said.
Now, Madison has memories and trophies for a lifetime… and a few more autographs to sign these days.
And while she does have big goals, it all comes back to spending time with her dad as her caddy.
“It’s indescribable. Her effort level, for a 9-year-old girl to practice 15 hours over the course of an average weekend, 2 to 3 hours every night… and to see that turn into success at such a young age, that translates into so many great things in life. I couldn’t be happier for her as a friend, I’m so proud as a father and it couldn’t have been a better experience for our entire family," Travis said.
“Probably win the women’s amateur... (get to the) LPGA," Madison said of her goals, "And most of all I just want to stay with my dad."