With baby on the way, Quigley jets home to Florida

While Brett Quigley was playing a practice round at Augusta National on Tuesday, his wife went into labor. Quigley immediately returned to Jupiter, Fla., but hopes to be back at the Masters for his first round Thursday afternoon.

By Joe Chemycz, PGA TOUR staff

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Brett Quigley's first Masters was sure to be memorable. He just didn't know how memorable the week would turn out to be.

Quigley's wife Amy went into labor on Tuesday while he was playing a practice round with Lucas Glover and Jeff Sluman. He immediately left Augusta National and flew home to Jupiter, Fla., to be with his wife.

Quigley talked with his wife at 5:00 a.m. ET and then again around 9:00 a.m. just prior to teeing off with Jeff Sluman and Lucas Glover. After finishing play on the 11th green, Quigley "had a feeling" and turned his phone on briefly to see if there were any text messages.

"Almost immediately" his phone rang, he said. Longtime friend Jason Caron was calling to tell him that Amy's water broke and that he needed to come back home. The Quigley's first child was due April 16.

"There was no hesistation (about leaving)," Quigley said just prior to takeoff. "I told them I needed to go."

He shook hands with his playing partners, found a cart and returned to the clubhouse. The doctors told him his daughter should be born Wednesday morning, and Quigley has not withdrawn from the Masters.

"This is a very accommodating baby," he said. "Our prayers are that everything goes well and both Amy and the baby are fine. I hope to get back to Augusta tomorrow night or Thursday morning, depending on my tee time."

Quigley will play with Vijay Singh and Hideto Tanihara in Thursday's penultimate group at 2:03 p.m. ET.

"This is unbelievably good," he said. "This is my first Augusta and our first child, or should I say our first child and my first Augusta."