Such was the number of Kerry jerseys spotted at The Masters over the weekend, it had some wondering if they were being sold at the pro shop in Augusta.
Tim Leahy, originally from Ballygologue in Listowel but now living in New Jersey, was one of those Kerry jersey-wearing spectators spotted during the TV coverage.
His cousin, John, who is from Connecticut, has a connection for tickets - the two were there in 2013 when Adam Scott claimed the green jacket. Another spare one into his possession this year and Tim flew down to Georgia.
Speaking to Jerry O'Sullivan on Radio Kerry's 'Kerry Today', Tim Leahy said the jersey garners plenty of attention on the course - he wore one in 2013 too. It's mainly people inquiring as to what the hell it is he's wearing.
He added that the dress code has been relaxed somewhat in recent times.
"As long as you have something with a collar, basically. Maybe Paul Galvin's new [Kerry] jersey wouldn't get in - even though it's pretty good - because that doesn't have a collar."
@ballsdotie two in one shot. It’s the end of days. pic.twitter.com/begdFCiHuN
— Gerry (@Gerry_Lee_) April 8, 2018
John Leahy also wore the Kingdom colours on the final day - the two sat behind former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the 18th wearing the green and gold.
John disclosed that if it was not for them both wearing their jerseys on the final day, they might not have gained access to the course.
"If it wasn't for the jerseys, we would have had a bigger problem because we had a snafu getting in with the gate," said John Leahy.
A man named Brendan Cooley, originally from Dublin, spotted their colours and helped them out.
We were in a situation where my cousin had already ticketed in and there was an issue with our badge.
There was a security issue and a man from Dublin - who was so far down the well that they don't actually build ladders that big - he took care of the situation in about 30 seconds and if it wasn't for him, none of that would have happened.
We wound up going in through a gate that we shouldn't have and we didn't know but at the time, that's where we were told to go. It turns out that a man named Brendan Cooley, who had a certain access, was able to get us through the gate.
He saw us and he knew that we had a problem. He solved a problem that we could never have solved.
Their new friend also helped them gain some behind-the-scenes access.
"Since he had special access, we got to see some things that normally people who go there never would be able to. If we didn't have the Kerry jerseys on, there would be no way that we would ever have gotten in.
"We were in awe because we were behind the scenes and the access road is really where the members go. We got access and I said, 'Sir, can we take a picture because nobody is actually going to believe this story'. He said, 'Sure. Well, if you're with me, you can cut the line'. The line is like an hour. We didn't know anything."
