Meet the Masters’ new marker, Michael McDermott, who is living every golfer’s dream

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Move over, Jeff Knox, Michael McDermott is now driving.

McDermott, the new Masters marker, made his Masters Tournament debut Friday morning at Augusta National. For years, Knox was the man who played the weekend when an odd number of players made the cut so that a golfer wouldn’t have to play as a single.

But it’s long been rumored that Knox would he hanging it up soon, although the past couple of years a marker wasn’t needed. But when Kevin Na withdrew at the turn on Thursday, Mike Weir, who was already playing as a twosome with Na, played the second nine as a single. Now, McDermott got his chance. Here’s what you should know about him.

He’s an accomplished amateur golfer

While it’s hard to gather much intel on Masters markers — the club won’t comment — McDermott was featured by John Steinbreder in a 2018 Global Golf piece. McDermott, who lives in the Philadelphia area, played golf at St. Joseph’s University and is in the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.

He’s an accomplished amateur and was named the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Player of the Year five times from 2000 to 2008. He’s also won a couple of Crump Cups, which is widely considered the premier mid-amateur and senior golf event on the amateur calendar. At the 2003 U.S. Amateur, he also took down future PGA Tour winner J.B. Holmes.

His USGA handicap is listed as a +1.8, with his low a +3.1.

His day job

McDermott, who is 48, is the CEO of Kathmere Capital Management, which handles financial management services and is based in Wayne, Pa.

He’s decked out in Augusta National Golf Club gear

Despite being a marker, McDermott was still announced by the starter on the first tee. “Fore, please. Now driving, our marker, Michael McDermott.”

McDermott’s wearing navy blue slacks that match his hat and a green polo. He’s got the ANGC logo on his belt, shirt and cap, and he also has an ANGC stand bag, glove and headcover.

Besides holding an Augusta National membership, he’s also a member at places like Pine Valley and Merion Golf Club.

He can hit the ball a long way

Weir, who is 52, hit it 267 off the first tee, and McDermott drove about 40 yards past him, his ball coming to a rest on the left side of the fairway and nearly beyond the second fairway bunker. This reporter’s best estimate from watching in person and looking at other similar drives on the Masters hole-by-hole tracker? Let’s call it 310 yards.

“Mike Weir just got outdrove by that guy,” said one patron.

McDermott three-putted for an unofficial bogey on the first hole, missing his short par putt and scooping up his bogey try.

Patrons love the Masters marker

Knox was a cult hero around Augusta National, and pros loved to play with him and pick his brain. Patrons learned to love him, too, finding it easy to cheer for the amateur in a field competing alongside the world’s best golfers, even if his score didn’t count. He was living the dream.

On the grounds, there was a lot of interest regarding the new marker on Friday. Soon, it won’t be much of a mystery.

As one patron said to his group as they crossed the first fairway on Thursday, looking up at Weir and McDermott: “It’s not that Jeff Knox guy anymore.”