What’s it like to attend The Masters for the first time? “I shed a little tear”
It remains the hottest ticket in golf, if not sport. The possibility to actually walk round Augusta National and put your encyclopedic knowledge of The Masters to the test in person.
It’s a spectacular setting and the only men’s Major which never goes anywhere else.
Two of our writers, Dave Tindall and Mark Townsend, have both been fortunate enough to visit Augusta and take in one of sport’s greatest experiences. They look back on their time down Magnolia Lane.
How many times have you been and what years?
DT: Four times – 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Winners: Charl Schwartzel (2011), Bubba Watson twice (2012 and 2014) and Adam Scott (2013).
MT: Once – when Adam Scott won in 2013.
What was the first thing that you did?
DT: Pinched myself. Tried not to do anything wrong. Gawped at the texture of the grass and felt it (it looked like carpet).
MT: Went straight to the practice ground as didn’t want to rush anything. Two minutes later my friend had lost his wallet so we had to head back to the entry guards – genuinely thought we might have to leave without seeing the course.
What hole(s) surprised you?
DT: The par-3 16th. From the TV I thought it was virtually a diagonal slope from top right to bottom left. In real life, it was much flatter than that, the slope much more subtle. And yet, by contrast, the undulations on most of the holes were far more severe than I expected even though everyone had told me to expect that. Oh, and there is a stone staircase on the bank halfway down that 16th hole. Who knew?! I’ll add in the enormous drop from the 5th green down to the 6th green. It’s massive. From the 6th tee at the top of the hill, players hit over the heads of spectators sat halfway up!
MT: We spent two hours on the 3rd which was fascinating watching players having all sorts of different strategies. Players were missing the green from everywhere whereas it looks like an open field on the TV. The 4th, off the back tee, is also a huge slog of a hole. The 6th tee, with the patrons underneath the tee shot, was something which I’d also forgotten.
What hole truly stood out?
DT: The width and undulation of the 1st fairway amazed me straight off the bat. But I’ll say the Par-5 2nd, as the view looking down the hill is breathtaking.
MT: Walking round the corner and seeing the 11th green for the first time. In all honesty I shed a little tear. This was the moment where it truly sunk in that I was at Augusta. The whole thing looks like a film set but this little corner is like a postcard.
What shot still stands out?
DT: There were so many but it was one I heard rather than saw. This was 2012 and, while walking, there was an incredible roar, one that somehow seemed even greater than you’d hear for an eagle or even hole in one. I was right. I looked up at the scoreboard soon after and Louis Oosthuizen had just made an albatross 2 at No.2 and was now leading. Weirdly, before I got that confirmation, he walked right by me as I crossed the walkway at 3. He looked as cool as a cucumber, as if he’d just made par. And yet he’d just written himself into Masters folklore. I’ll never forget that.
MT: To quote Max Boyce, I was there for one of Augusta’s most iconic moments but it came on the Friday. It was when Tiger Woods hit the pin at the 15th when he seemed set to take control of the tournament. In among the thousands of patrons, a lot of them fairly merry late in the afternoon, you could hear the proverbial pin drop. It was the whole build-up, seeing his yellow shirt come over the top of the hill, being able to hear the ball hit the pin and then the all-round disbelief. It was like watching a car crash which was all framed by watching it all unfold from the bank that runs down the side of the 16th.
How much merch did you buy?
DT: Not a total splurge but got a deck chair, t-shirt, box of tees, suncream. To be honest, anything with the famous logo on it.
MT: Not enough. Twelve years on I still wear the pink polo shirt that I bought that year. I also bought a baby blue polo that didn’t wash as well and soon went out of shape. I haven’t worn it for a decade but I still have it which is odd.
What surprised you about Augusta?
DT: That it was about 20 times better than I thought and I already thought it would be amazing. I remember strolling down to Amen Corner where you view the 11th green, 12th hole and 13th tee and thinking I’d just walked through the TV screen. It was eerily familiar. My senses were going into overdrive. I couldn’t believe I was there. Oh, and also the permanent, on-site toilets. Immaculate, and they even have an attendant on the door. So very Augusta. A sharp contrast to trying not to slip on hay and wee when clattering around in Open Championship portaloos.
MT: The ease of getting food and drink. The concession stands sit, hidden away in the trees, and you can get a beer and a sandwich every 3-4 holes and not pay much at all. We all hear far too much about the undulations but nothing can prepare you for the drop off the end of the 10th tee.
Tell us something that we don’t often hear?
DT: That those white cabins at the 10th where Rory snap-hooked his drive during his infamous 2011 collapse are ridiculously close to the tee. No wonder the commentators said they’d never seen anyone in there before.
MT: The accessibility is just outstanding. I remember one little bottleneck down by the 7th tee and that was it. You can hover around the clubhouse and speak to former champions and legends. Another thing that I’ll never forget is the reaction when Tiger came out for a quick nine holes with Fred Couples before the Champions Dinner. It’s all very chummy and familiar.
Would you recommend it?
DT: God, yes. The absolute No.1 on your golf bucket list.
MT: I tell everyone that, if there is any possible way to go, then take advantage of it. You try to take it all in but now it seems like a very distant memory.
READ MORE: The Top 10 contenders to win the 89th Masters at Augusta National – our verdict