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Wreck dashes golf fan's plans
Posted: Wednesday April 09
By Ashlee Griggs
The Augusta Chronicle
Glen Blamey's first visit to Augusta certainly will be one he'll never forget.
"This isn't quite the way I expected to become famous in Augusta," the New Zealand resident said jokingly Wednesday from his bed at Medical College of Georgia Hospital.
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Simon James (left) and Glen Blamey, from New Zealand, were kept from the course Monday by rain. On Tuesday, their rental car was hit by a bus, sending both golf fans to the hospital. JIM BLAYLOCK/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE |
Glen Blamey's first visit to Augusta certainly will be one he'll never forget.
"This isn't quite the way I expected to become famous in Augusta," the New Zealand resident said jokingly Wednesday from his bed at Medical College of Georgia Hospital.
Armed with Masters practice round tickets for all three days, Mr. Blamey, 35, and his friend Simon James left the bed and breakfast where they were staying in Swainsboro, Ga., and were headed to Augusta National Golf Club when their vehicle was struck by a school bus at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
"We didn't see the stop sign and got hit," Mr. Blamey said. "That's really all I really remember."
Suffering from two fractured discs in his back and a fractured leg, Mr. Blamey won't make it to the Masters.
"I've been waiting to see this course since I was 14," he said with a laugh. "We finally get here, then we got rained out on Monday and hit by a bus the second day. It's awful."
Mr. James did get to go to the course Wednesday morning, but he didn't stay long. Bruised and banged up, he walked around a little and then picked up a few souvenirs for himself and Mr. Blamey.
The once-in-a-lifetime trip for the men has been filled with disappointment. It doesn't look as though they will head home Friday as planned, either. It might be awhile before Mr. Blamey is able to endure the 14-hour flight back to New Zealand.
With a young family awaiting his return home, Mr. Blamey doesn't know when he will be back in Augusta.
"It will be a good many years before I get a chance to return," he said.
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