The News-Gazette · Apr 12, 2017
Pieters' Masters performance impresses his former coach
CHAMPAIGN — Thomas Pieters finished on the first page of the Masters leaderboard. His college coach thinks it will happen again. Maybe a lot.
“I was extremely thrilled and extremely proud,” Illinois coach Mike Small said Tuesday. “I think he’s going to have some great Masters down the road.”
Pieters shared the lead after 36 holes. He fell behind in the third round but rallied on Sunday to finish tied for fourth in his first appearance at Augusta National.
How did Pieters celebrate? He came to Champaign on Sunday night to have dinner with Small. He was only in a C-U “for four or five hours,” Small said.
“He was in and out quick,” Small said. “He flew in and flew back out.”