Texas Tech cheerleader Aaliyah Kikumoto, aka Masters Girl, is back at Augusta National after her trip to The Masters last year made her an internet star after she was spotted by camera at the 16th hole, social media took note, and the rest was history.
Masters Girl was officially on the radar of the OutKick Culture Department, she was landing modeling deals, receiving marriage proposals in her DMs - the whole nine yards. All of the attention that comes with a viral moment on one of the biggest stages.
Masters Girl Aaliyah Kikumoto became a star at the 2023 Masters Tournament. / Instagram / Kikumoto Archive
Well it turns out her return trip out to this year's tournament was anything but smooth. We've got lost luggage, a lost Masters Girl, and one hell of an email from Charles Kikumoto - a big fan of OutKick and the father of Masters Girl.
Charles reached out to all of us in the OCD, and I, being the only one on late yesterday afternoon, responded. Here's what the Kikumotos went through to make it back out to The Masters and some of what they've gotten into since their arrival, straight from Charles.
Happy Masters Weekend and Happy Moving Day,
Joe - You might be back in Toledo but I know your heart is still in Augusta. Stories are being told down here about the Augusta scramble with team Joe pulling off a -4 :)
Per usual it's been an adventure, none of my buddies believe me, but ya'll at OutKick might get a KICKout of this and I've got receipts.
Lost luggage
After landing in very casual clothes, American still had my luggage in Denver or maybe in India (nobody really knew). I normally travel with the next day goods but since I've got to bring home 300 hats for other people I had a checked bag. I told the nice man at American Airlines at 11pm Thursday that I was supposed to be at a country club now and then at the Masters Friday morning and I'm in sweats. He told me to keep my receipt for clothing and submit them. We'll see if a trip to the Master golf shop the next day gets paid with some essential clothing....What do y'all think?
Friday on the Course / Coach Saban
While at the course on Friday it is truly heaven even with the swirling winds. While watching Aberg and Spieth tee off on 10, both players hit it left and are in danger of going into the woods. I hustle down the left side (speed walking not running) only to find myself next to Coach Saban right by the cabins and not another soul within a couple hundred yards. After a brief "Roll Tide," I felt like I needed to do 200 push ups and go run a mile backwards for missing a block or something. He is the real deal and even on the golf course demands respect. He seems to be enjoying a lot of golf in retirement and will be missed in college football (by many but not all!).
Gracious Grace
We then head over to 16 tee and look to my left and see none other than Grace Charis within an arm's reach. We spoke for several moments and shared some fun stories. She is a sweetheart and very kind.
AA Lost Masters Girl
As you can imagine there are no direct flights from Lubbock to Augusta so our daughter had to fly from Lubbock to Dallas to Charlotte to Augusta and was supposed to land just before midnight on Friday night - also on American Airlines. Her flight in Dallas gets delayed with issues (not weather related) so she misses her flight to Augusta. She gets a text (below) that she is rebooked from Charlotte to Augusta on Sunday versus being there as originally booked on Friday night (pic below). I pull up maps and see that it is about 2.5 - 3 hour drive from Augusta to Charlotte. So i hop in my car at 10pm last night and get to Charlotte at 12:30am this morning right around the time she landed. We were given a bed bug and breakfast hotel option and $12 meal voucher. If anything were open at 1am at the airport not even $12 could buy a bottle water in this inflationary economy. We decided to just drive back to Augusta and got in at 4am this morning and wanted to take any other poor souls that were in the same situation with us. I almost yelled at the airport anyone need a ride to the Masters??? So it is Saturday morning and Masters Girl is now here on Augusta grounds and with a couple hours of sleep we can't complain.
Rebooking of Masters Girl's flight. via Mr. Kikumoto / submitted
Happy Gilmore 2
While soaking up the Masters moment yesterday, I hear a "Fore Please, Now Driving, Will Zalatoris" I also see a man told to turn his hat around since it is on backwards. With the upcoming sequel I can imagine Shooter's entrance being something like "Fore Please, Shooter McGavin Now Driving" with a golf clap. Then Happy's entrance being more of an NFL or UFC entrance with cheerleaders, backflips, smoke, mascot, marching band, fireworks, etc. (with thunderstruck or Hey Song playing in the background). The Kikumoto family has some experience in this pregame stuff…especially AJ and her Denver Nugget cheerleading days.
Speaking of the only thing missing from our adventures this trip is Masters Girl Mom who is holding down the fort at home with the other reality show and circus with 5 kiddos - Keeping up with the Kikumotos
Masters Girl and family in Tiger Woods red from Augusta National in 2022. via Mr. Kikumoto / submitted
Have a great Masters day!!!
Talk about an electric update from an electric guy. The Kikumoto family is pure entertainment. In a follow-up exchange, Charles caught me up on how they spent their day on Saturday.
They thoroughly enjoyed being back at Augusta with the other Masters patrons and spent a good part of the day following Ludvig Aberg around.
Are we in for a repeat performance from last year?
That's entirely up to the camera crew. Masters Girl is prepared for the moment should it return. Either way, it sounds like they've all had a great time minus the travel headaches.
Masters Girl in Augusta for The Masters. via Mr. Kikumoto / submitted
Masters Girl Aaliyah Kikumoto and her father, Charles, are back at The Masters. via Mr. Kikumoto / submitted
Aaliyah and Charles Kikumoto at The Masters. via Mr. Kikumoto / submitted
