Austin High School Alumni – Austin, Texas

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The clouds had been building in the distance and, as if on cue, that first long low rumble of thunder enveloped the Augusta National clubhouse and the 18th green just as Ben Crenshaw got to to his tee shot. He had pull-hooked his 3-wood off the tee and was, as usual, scratching his head.

He looked up and saw longtime caddie Carl Jackson standing behind the green and lofted one pretty third shot to the green. It went long, but then slowly started to trickle back toward the hole. That’s the kind of shot you hit when you know this course intimately and, well, after 44 years, Ben knew he had this one.

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BEN CRENSHAW: Last ride at Augusta National | Masters memories throughout the years | WATCH: Interview following last round

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Two putts later, Ben and Carl were embracing on the green. Carl couldn’t carry the bag this week — he wasn’t up to it — so his little brother Bud stepped in. But there he was at 18 – all 6-foot-5 of him – in his white Masters jumpsuit waiting for his old friend.

It was a long, sweet hug that was punctuated by a second rumble of thunder and a few drops of rain.

Ben Crenshaw hugs caddie and longtime friend Carl Jackson on No. 18 after playing in his final Masters. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

And, yes, there were tears. You just couldn’t see them.

“I love you,’’ Ben said.

“I love you too,” Carl said.

A few feet away, Ben’s oldest daughter Katherine was wiping away the tears that had been coming for a while. She’s so like her dad – emotional, caring, perceptive.

The rumbles, she said, were only fitting. “We just knew there were other spectators in the area, too, looking down. You couldn’t write a better finish.”

The rain held off – it was the Clifford Roberts bubble, Ben said – and Ben, his wife Julie and Carl walked off arm-in-arm.

Friday was bittersweet. Ben closed a chapter in his life just as young Jordan Spieth, a fellow Texas Longhorn and good friend, seemed poised to be writing his first.

But it wasn’t just Ben. Carl, his caddie since 1976, was bowing out too. And Team Crenshaw – about 100 family members and close friends – were there to watch that final round.

“It was a walk in the park,’’ said Ben’s older brother Charlie, who had been blinking back tears much of the day. “It was fun. It was emotional. And I’m glad my brother played well.’’

Ben followed Thursday’s 91 – his highest round ever and ironically the day’s high temperature – with a solid 85 that was filled with some pretty darn good shots, the 50th birdie of his career and a standing ovation at pretty much every hole.

“I feel like I’ve won the tournament,’’ Ben said. “The people, I just will never forget that as long as I live.’’

Neither will Julie, Katherine and her sisters Claire and Anna Riley, who were all waiting behind the 18th green with defending champ Bubba Watson, Nick Price and a good number of members of Team Crenshaw. Chairman Billy Payne was there to shake his and Carl’s hands.

Ben Crenshaw hugs his wife Julie as Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National, looks on behind the 18th green. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Monday Ben was talking about just enjoying the week and embracing the moment. He was ready. He knew he would tear up at times in the final round, but he wasn’t going to lose it. And he was right.

A moment here or there, a thought from the past as he moved from hole to hole. And he was humbled by the reaction of the patrons.

“You know, really, though, typical of not only myself but all the champions here, people have a great affection for the people who have won here,’’ he said. “It’s palpable. You can feel it.

“I can remember last year when Craig Stadler went out and Fuzzy Zoeller went out the year before; those are tough decisions for all of us to step down, but my God, it was way past time for me. But this place, as you all know, has just meant the world to me, all of us. It’s a place I’m most comfortable.’’

Augusta National touched his heart before he ever stepped onto the grounds in 1972. And from that moment, he immersed himself in the history and the nuances of the course. He allowed himself to learn by instinct and feel – to believe and trust in things not seen over 18 magnificent holes, but rather felt. He was so in tune with the course that he often saw things – ghosts if you will – that served as warnings or harbingers of things to come.

Like at the 12th hole Friday when he was crossing the Hogan Bridge and saw a red‑tailed hawk on the ground right next to the green. He flashed immediately to his old late Texas friend and legend Ben Hogan.

Ben chuckled. “And I have a decent putt at a birdie, which I had about four birdie putts for the whole ‑‑ and (playing partner) Jason Dufner said, “Ben Hogan’s watching. You’d better make that putt.”

And of course I choked, choked on it and missed it. It was just surreal. It was really a neat moment.  But that’s kind of the way this place is. It’s got some revelations about it; that it’s rich in lore and always will be.’’

And Ben is – and always will be — part of that lore.

Who doesn’t love Ben? Who isn’t reminded, just by watching him play, what this great game is all about? Who isn’t touched by his humility, grace and love for Augusta National, Bobby Jones? Who isn’t humbled and in awe of his amazing knowledge of golf history?

For 44 years, he’s been one of those must-see players for Augusta’s patrons and players.  In the beginning they were intrigued by his floppy blond hair, his charisma and that amazing putting stroke. That gave way to a partnership with a kindred, soulful spirit in Carl and two amazing decades filled with heartbreak, a green jacket coronation and a mystical, mesmerizing week that captured everyone’s heart.

Ben Crenshaw and Carl Jackson at Augusta National in 1984. This was the site of the first of two Masters victories. (David Cannon/Getty Images)

And now? It’s hardly over.

“This has been a way of life for the Crenshaws for so long,’’ Charlie said. “We go to so many tournaments in the state of Texas, but we cannot wait to get to this one. And for us, the world stops for a week.’’

It still will. Just in a different way.

Ben won’t be competing – and face it, he hasn’t been competitive here in years – but he will be back talking about surreal moments and looking for the best place to sit and watch the tournament unfold with Julie and his family. He’ll preside over the Champions Dinner every Tuesday night and hold court with reporters about anything and everything Augusta National, Jones and golf course architecture.

Thursday night, the family kept it light. Julie told him to go out and enjoy himself, to have fun. The girls wrote him little notes.

Like Ben, they knew it was time. They had already planned a party for Friday night – flying in barbeque from Austin’s famous Salt Lick, the same BBQ he flew in for the 1996 Champions Dinner after he won in 1995.

The storm, by the way, never hit. Just those rumbles. Clifford Roberts’ Bubble.

And, it has to be noted, Ben – and all of Team Crenshaw – ended the day thinking how cool it would be if Ben’s final Masters might also be Speith’s first major victory.

“Wow, that would be something,’’ Ben said. “I’m looking forward to the next two days because I think most everybody knows, Jordan is capable, entirely capable; and it’s keeping his emotions in check.  He’s obviously in a real hot streak, very confident, very bold. He knows what he’s doing.

“He’s a great scorer.  God, can he score. But if he doesn’t get ahead of himself this week; and I think he’s mature enough that certainly it seems to me that he won’t get that way. I’ve got to pull for my Longhorn.’’

Ben had already stepped back and had his eye toward the future. And maybe another slice of Masters lore.

Just one more thing to love about Ben.