Brockton Firefighter To Play The Masters

AUGUSTA, GA — All eyes at the Masters are on a Brockton firefighter who will play in the tournament following unlikely circumstances.

At 8:52 a.m. Thursday, Brockton firefighter and US Mid-Amateur champion Matt Parziale will do what he's watched others do so many times on television and tee off at Augusta National. He will play the opening round with Mike Weir of Canada and American Brendan Steele. The 30-year-old earned his invite to the tournament following his win at the US Mid-Amateur Championship.

Parziale said during his time in the Masters interview room that he understands why his story has received so much attention because if he saw this story from home, he would be all in on it as well.

The Brockton man has had a love affair with golf ever since he saw the arrival of Tiger Woods in 1997, but when forced to make a choice, he chose to give up his dream at being a professional golfer to become a firefighter like his father. The story for Parziale took an unexpected turn last October at the US Mid-Amateur Championship in Atlanta, when he pulled off the third-largest win in a 36-hold final in championship history. The victory was his first on the minor league circuit.

When Parziale isn't working on his short game, he can be found at Brockton Fire Station No. 1 - the seventh busiest station in the country, according to Brockton Fire Chief Michael Williams.

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