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\n \n To date, the closest Atlanta-based realtor Scott Stallings has ever been to Augusta National is a nearby Costco.\n <\/p>\n \n Despite years of trying, he had never been able get his hands on a ticket to watch the prestigious Masters tournament at the fabled course. As a golf fan from Georgia, attending the major remained an unticked bucket list item.\n <\/p>\n \n Finally, on New Year\u2019s Eve, a breakthrough. Thanks to a letter in the post to his condo in St. Simons Island, Stallings was going to The Masters.\n <\/p>\n \n But not to watch. To compete.\n <\/p>\n \n Weeks later, some 4,600 miles (7,400 kilometers) away at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, three-time PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings was wondering why his 2023 Masters invite was taking so long to arrive.\n <\/p>\n \n A remarkable series of coincidences had led to a case of mistaken identity fit for Hollywood. If it was to be a movie script, surely the next step was for the realtor to grab his clubs and try his luck come at the Masters in April?\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI had a twinkle in my eye just playing it out in my head,\u201d Stallings admitted to CNN\u2019s Don Riddell. \u201cIt\u2019s like the golden ticket for Willy Wonka.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI have an I.D. with my name on it, the invitation with my name on it \u2013 what\u2019s to stop me from going to those gates?\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n It was a fleeting thought, however, as the realtor Stallings quickly realized how the mix-up had occurred.\n <\/p>\n \n For years, he had closely followed the career of his pro-golf namesake. If the golfer was performing particularly well at an event, \u201cStallings 2.0\u201d would often post a picture of the leaderboard to his social media to show how well \u201che\u201d was doing.\n <\/p>\n
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