- Dixie Mae Crain, 13, has been trying to qualify for the event since she was six years old.
- He finally did it this year, but his mother was on Navy duty in Bahrain.
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Dixie Mae Crain entered Sunday’s Drive, Chip and Putt national finals at Augusta National Golf Club with modest expectations. As the 13-year-old from Springtown, Texas, told reporters in the run-up to this week’s Masters: ‘I got to Augusta National. Winning is just getting there.”
The budding golfer would finish eighth in her age group on Sunday, but that wasn’t the highlight of her weekend. That would take place the night before, when she was surprised at a banquet in Augusta by the guest of honor: her mother, Sherry, a Navy chief petty officer who had been serving an 18-month deployment to Bahrain.
The revelation came during Saturday’s banquet after Mike Tirico, the announcer and MC, told the crowd that Sherry had recorded a video message to share with her family.
“Hello, Team Crain,” Sherry is seen saying as her husband Rusty, son Espen and daughter Dixie Mae tearfully watched the video. ‘Dixie, Espen and Rusty, I miss you so much.
“A quick message for Dixie Mae, girl, I want to wish you the best of luck and I want you to know that mom and dad are always proud of you,” Sherry continued.
Dixie Mae Crain (pictured) has been trying to make it to the national event since she was six years old.
Dixie Mae Crain is pictured with her father, Rusty (left) and mother, Sherry (right).
The Crain family (Dixie Mae, Rusty, Espen and Sherry) hug each other on Saturday in Augusta
‘We always tell you that never giving up and working hard can make your dreams come true. Today you are making a dream come true. Have a lot of fun at Augusta National, soak it all in and have fun with your friends. And I love you and I miss you.’
That’s when Tirico gave way to surprise.
“You can see in that video how much Mom wishes she could be here,” he told Dixie.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome Petty Officer Sherry Crain,” Tirico continued as the crowd erupted into a standing ovation.
Sherry then emerged dressed in full uniform before hugging her crying loved ones.
Sherry Crain (left) left her daughter Dixie (right) in tears with Saturday’s surprise reunion.
“I’m very proud of her,” Sherry is heard saying in the video produced during the tournament. And it’s not even that she’s made it, it’s just that she’s never given up. We always tell her that if she works hard and she never gives up, she can make something happen.’
Sherry doesn’t exaggerate her daughter’s accomplishments. Dixie attempted to qualify for the National Finals six times before succeeding on her seventh attempt this year.
“I was very, very excited,” Dixie said earlier in Houston after qualifying for Sunday’s event. ‘It’s a great opportunity to be able to do this. “It was overwhelming.”
Sunday’s winner was Karis Reid of Carmel, Indiana, although Dixie Mae certainly emerged victorious.
