AUGUSTA, Ga. — It is rare, but Masters Tournament rookie Eric Cole is hardly the first participant whose father preceded him at Augusta National Golf Club.
This is the 88th playing of the tournament, and Cole will be the 14th son to follow in his father’s footsteps. His dad, South African Bobby Cole, played in five Masters, the last one in 1978.
But none of the sons of former Masters participants who played in the tournament also had a mother who was a famous professional golfer, like Cole does.
In fact, when Cole won the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award last season, it came on the 50th anniversary that his mother, former Augustan Laura Baugh, was the LPGA Rookie of the Year.
“I think it’s kind of a cool thing with my mom winning Rookie of the Year 50 years ago, kind of the 50th anniversary of that,” Cole said. “She won it when she was probably 18 or 19 if I had to guess.”
He was correct – she was 18. Cole was 35 when he became the second-oldest to win rookie honors. Todd Hamilton was 39 when he won it in 2004.
“Different path for me. But it’s just really special,” Cole said.
Eric’s dad, who is now 75, won 13 worldwide titles and once on the PGA Tour at the 1977 Buick Open. He held the honor of being the youngest British Amateur winner for 43 years. As a pro, he had top-three finishes in the 1974 PGA Championship and 1975 British Open. His best Masters finish was a tie for 15th in 1975. He also played in 1967, 1972, 1976 and 1978.
High finishes are what Baugh was known for on the LPGA Tour.
Baugh, who turns 69 next month, started on tour in 1973 through 2000. She never won, but finished as a runner-up 10 times with a mind-boggling 70 top-10 finishes. She was among the most visible LPGA players through her TV and print ads for such products as Colgate’s Ultra Brite toothpaste and Wilson Golf.
Bobby Cole and Baugh married in 1980, divorced in 1985, remarried in 1987 and later divorced again. Their last child, Jamie Cole, is 26 and was born in the late 1990s. In all, they had seven children, starting with Eric.
Baugh and Jamie lived In Augusta from 2013 to late 2015, when Baugh ran a golf school in Evans.
Eric Cole walks the sixth fairway during a practice round for the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Network)
Being the son of two accomplished professional golfers, which one impacted his game the most?
“I’d say probably my mom,” he said. “I spent a little more time…
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