Augusta, Ga. ? Tom Watson heard that familiar voice when he hovered over his tee shot at No. 6. “Go for it,” he whispered.

Watson heard the voice again when his 4-iron took out a big chunk of the fairway at 15. “Ohhh!” he grunted.

Bruce Edwards died early Thursday, his body ravaged by a yearlong battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. But his spirit was still intact, tagging along with his boss during the first round of the Masters. He was 49.

Watson even carried Edwards’ yardage book in his hip pocket, pulling it out as he stood over shots.

“He was with me out there,” Watson said.

Theirs was a three-decade relationship, beginning at a 1973 tournament in St. Louis when a long-haired caddie wannabe approached a long-haired young golfer who was still a year away from his first PGA Tour victory.

Edwards asked for a job. Watson said yes. And off they went, their friendship growing stronger even though one was the boss, one the employee. Job security is rare for a caddie, but the Watson-Edwards pairing was unique.

Their only major breakup came in the late 1980s, when Watson’s game was a mess. He knew he wasn’t doing his buddy any favors with all those high scores. Greg Norman offered Edwards a job, and Watson gave his blessing.

Three years later, Edwards rejoined his friend.