For the vast majority of golf enthusiasts, securing a ticket to the PGA Tour's most esteemed tournament, the Masters, is a dream that feels as elusive as striking gold in a lottery. However, this year, there is a flicker of hope for one particularly special child from Prince Edward Island, Canada, who may just get the chance to witness this iconic event firsthand.

Meet eight-year-old Maverick Bishop, a young boy currently residing in Toronto with his mother and baby sister, as he anxiously awaits a donor heart for a life-saving transplant. Despite the trials and tribulations he has faced at such a tender age, Maverick's passion for sports, including golf, remains unwavering.

His father, Woody Bishop, shared with Steve Bruce, the host of Mainstreet P.E.I., that Maverick lives and breathes sports. From the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed, if he can have a ping-pong paddle in his hand or a tennis racket he just loves sports, Woody enthused. Golf is one of those sports that he can do, because he gets tired very easily. You can ride in a cart right to your ball without a lot of limitations. This sentiment underscores how sports provide not just enjoyment, but also an adaptable way for Maverick to engage physically despite his condition.

The Masters is not merely another golf tournament; it is held annually at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia and stands as one of the four major championships of the PGA Tour. Winning this tournament is considered one of the most formidable challenges in professional golf, making the opportunity to attend the event all the more coveted.

Woody Bishop, who is also the general manager at the Glasgow Hills Golf Course in New Glasgow, P.E.I., is acutely aware of how difficult it is to secure tickets for the Masters in person. Each year, fans must enter a lottery to get their names drawn for a chance to acquire tickets. Although the club does not disclose the number of applicants or the available passes, it is estimated that the odds of winning a single-day ticket hover around a mere 0.55 percent. Woody has tried for years without successuntil a stroke of luck came his way this past week.

While scrolling through social media one evening, Woody stumbled upon a tweet from professional golfer An Byeong-hun, known as Ben An, who is currently ranked 35th on the PGA Tour and is participating in the Masters this week. The tweet read: I have two weekly tickets left for the Masters. Like this tweet and comment your favorite golfer. Ill announce two winners in exactly an hour from now. Good luck!

Excitedly, Woody replied with a picture of Maverick alongside his favorite golfer. After that, Woody went to sleep, not expecting much. When he awoke, however, his phone was inundated with notifications, totaling an astonishing 254.

As it turned out, Ans original post was intended as an April Fools' joke. However, after seeing Woodys heartfelt reply, the generous golfer decided to offer two practice-round tickets for Maverick and his father. Woody quickly reached out to An via private message to confirm the legitimacy of the offerand to his delight, it was real.

Although the kind gesture moved Woody deeply, there remained a significant hurdle: Maverick's ability to travel. He has been on the transplant list since September, and the call for a new heart could come at any moment. Consequently, Woody had to inform An that they would have to decline the immediate invitation.

Understanding their situation, An graciously extended his offer for the father and son to attend the Masters in 2026, expressing hope that by that time, Maverick will have a strong heart to walk the course. Its emotional even talking about it, Woody reflected on the offer. Theres nothing easy about what were going through, but when you have something that can lift his spirits, like [being named] honorary coach of the Charlottetown Islanders or a trip to Augusta thats some pretty big motivational things we can use during the tough times.

As the Bishop family navigates this challenging chapter, their primary focus remains on Maverick's health and the pursuit of a suitable heart for him. Were willing to wait as long as we have to to get the right heart for Maverick, Woody shared with determination. Hopefully that day will come soon.