Masters-Winning Caddie Once Revealed Why Driving Down Magnolia Lane Means Everything
January 28, 2017 Phil Mickelson and caddie Jim Bones Mackay on the fourth hole during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South on January 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. /CSM GOLF 2017: Farmers Insurance Open JAN 28 - ZUMAc04_ 20170128_zaf_c04_431 Copyright: xCharlesxBausx
January 28, 2017 Phil Mickelson and caddie Jim Bones Mackay on the fourth hole during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South on January 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. /CSM GOLF 2017: Farmers Insurance Open JAN 28 - ZUMAc04_ 20170128_zaf_c04_431 Copyright: xCharlesxBausx
There is one question Jim Bones Mackay says would have a unanimous answer if every player in the Masters field were injected with truth serum.
It isn't about money or about the world rankings. It's about which major they'd choose if they could only ever win one.
Mackay spent over 25 years on Phil Mickelson's bag. Three Masters wins, and more drives down Magnolia Lane than almost anyone. When he sat down on the Glue Guys podcast during Masters week in 2025, he didn't hedge.
"For everybody, it would be the Masters. For a million reasons. Obviously, it's the only Major Championship played on the same course, you know... the place just reeks of history. You can't go anywhere there thinking without, 'Tiger did this...Jean Sarah did that," he said.
PGA, Golf Herren 2014: The Players Championship MAY 09 May 9, 2014 - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, U.S: Phil Mickelson and caddie Jim Bones Mackay on 18 tee during second round golf action of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Ponte Vedra Beach FL U.S. EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20140509_zaf_cg2_052.jpg RomeoxGuzmanx csmphoto915550
PGA, Golf Herren 2014: The Players Championship MAY 09 May 9, 2014 - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, U.S: Phil Mickelson and caddie Jim Bones Mackay on 18 tee during second round golf action of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Ponte Vedra Beach FL U.S. EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20140509_zaf_cg2_052.jpg RomeoxGuzmanx csmphoto915550
The drive down Magnolia Lane is where that feeling first hits. Players turn off Washington Road, pass through the gates, and roll down that famous stretch of magnolia trees toward the clubhouse.
For most, it's the moment the week becomes real. Mackay described players as being "so amped up" to make that drive each April. Augusta has only added to it.
This year, the club installed underground parking for players. One hundred and twenty spots beneath the grounds.
"They feel like Shane, you know, pulling into the arena for a big game," Mackay said.
Why Augusta Carries a Weight No Other Major Can Match
Augusta National is the only major played on the same course year after year.
Every corner and every blade of grass holds a memory.
Mackay also said how the tournament operates as something that sets it apart. He recalled hearing that Wimbledon officials once traveled to Augusta specifically to study how the Masters was run.
Then comes Tuesday night, the Champions Dinner. The most exclusive table in golf, and no amount of money or reputation buys a seat, but only a green jacket does. "Nothing will get you in the door," Mackay said.
Every player making that drive down Magnolia Lane in April 2026 knows exactly what sits at the end of the week. A seat at that table or another year of waiting, and that is what the lane means.
Do you think any other major comes close to what Augusta means to players? Tell us in the comments below.
Read more at Daily Club Golf!
Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Kalp Thaker