Kiss Augusta Goodbye; Sock Ditches Golf For London

Jack Sock won’t be swinging golf clubs next week.

Instead, after a tremendous run to the Rolex Paris Masters title, which sent the American soaring up the Emirates ATP Race To London standings and into the final qualifying spot for the Nitto ATP Finals, Sock will be swinging his racquet at The O2 in London from 12-19 November.

The 25-year-old was supposed to accompany friend and Paris semi-finalist John Isner to Augusta National Golf Club, a famous golf course that is the home of The Masters, near Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. But with Sock’s London qualification, he will no longer be able to make the trip — the tennis racquets will stay out while the golf clubs remain in their bag.

“I had a golf trip with Isner next week in Augusta, which would have been pretty special,” Sock said. “But I’ll look forward to seeing him at his wedding in a couple months.”

The American duo did not get the rare tee time the way one might think. Jay Berger, who is Sock’s coach, has a son, Daniel Berger, who is a professional golfer. Berger finished 10th at The Masters in 2016. The round of golf at the historic club did not come courtesy of him.

Isner is getting married to longtime girlfriend Madison McKinley, whose father is a member at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club, and helped Isner and Sock get a chance to play there.

“Big thanks to John’s fiancée’s father. Madison’s dad is a member at Augusta so that was how we were going to be able to play,” Sock said. “It was going to be fun. Obviously it was a win-win. It would’ve been fun, him and I playing today to battle it out for who doesn’t go to Augusta, but I’ll see him at his wedding in December, so that’ll be fun.”