ESPN host Scott Van Pelt talks with The Post’s Justin Terranova about the privilege of covering the Masters, a favorite Tiger Woods story and why he is in disbelief of Patrick Reed.
Q: What is it like having the Masters as part of your yearly schedule?
A: Very little that we do feels overwhelming to me because it’s just sports, but it’s just one of those iconic places where you go in, sit down and what you are meant to do, well it feels a little big. You have to defuse that so you can do your job. It’s definitely one of the coolest things I get to do, and it’s the week I look forward to the most of the year.
Q: What is your go-to Masters story?
A: The first one I ever covered was ’97. I remember vividly Saturday night when Tiger had absolutely destroyed Colin Montgomerie. We were standing near the old media center and as he got on his cart and I asked him, “What are you doing?” And he just smiled and said, “I don’t know, man.” He was in the middle of authoring one of the truly seminal moments in the history of the game. That exchange was a reminder he was a kid and he really didn’t know what he was doing, he couldn’t have imagined it.
Q: What are his chances to win another green jacket?
A: I don’t know how after 14 years you do it again there. I’d love if he was part of the storyline on the weekend. It’s just hard for me to picture that given how many players show up with the same excitement and belief, although none of them have four jackets. I hope he competes, but I don’t think he is going to win.
Q: How do you think Patrick Reed handled all the attention that came with winning last year?
A: In terms of who likes him and who said this or that, he doesn’t give a s–t. He legitimately doesn’t care. A lot of people say they don’t care, but they clearly do. I admire that ability, but I don’t have it. … That’s an unusual thing for me and I don’t understand it because that’s not me. I’d have a hard time if all these people who didn’t know me were judging me and having all these thoughts about me.
Q: Between Reed, the Ryder Cup drama and some other things, like Matt Kuchar and his caddie, does it seem like it’s been a controversial year for the sport?
A: The Kuchar thing was just a bad miss. He just needed to give the guy more money, even though he agreed to it. Then social media turns one of the more likable dudes on Tour to some bum, which is totally unfair. It’s just bulls–t. These social media campaigns become, “Let’s make Matt Kuchar the world’s biggest a–hole.” It’s a joke. He’s the furthest thing from that.