It stays the most popular ticket in golf, if not sport. The chance to really stroll spherical Augusta Nationwide and put your encyclopedic information of The Masters to the take a look at in particular person.
It’s a spectacular setting and the one males’s Main which by no means goes wherever else.
Two of our writers, Dave Tindall and Mark Townsend, have each been lucky sufficient to go to Augusta and soak up considered one of sport’s biggest experiences. They appear again on their time down Magnolia Lane.
What number of occasions have you ever been and what years?DT: 4 occasions – 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Winners: Charl Schwartzel (2011), Bubba Watson twice (2012 and 2014) and Adam Scott (2013).
MT: As soon as – when Adam Scott gained in 2013.
What was the very first thing that you just did?DT: Pinched myself. Tried to not do something flawed. Gawped on the texture of the grass and felt it (it appeared like carpet).
MT: Went straight to the observe floor as didn’t need to rush something. Two minutes later my buddy had misplaced his pockets so we needed to head again to the entry guards – genuinely thought we’d have to depart with out seeing the course.
What gap(s) shocked you?
The stone staircase at 16!
DT: The par-3 sixteenth. From the TV I believed it was just about a diagonal slope from high proper to backside left. In actual life, it was a lot flatter than that, the slope far more refined. And but, in contrast, the undulations on a lot of the holes have been much more extreme than I anticipated though everybody had instructed me to count on that. Oh, and there’s a stone staircase on the financial institution midway down that sixteenth gap. Who knew?! I’ll add within the monumental drop from the fifth inexperienced all the way down to the sixth inexperienced. It’s large. From the sixth tee on the high of the hill, gamers hit over the heads of spectators sat midway up!
The large drop all the way down to the par-3 sixth inexperienced
MT: We spent two hours on the third which was fascinating watching gamers having all kinds of various methods. Gamers have been lacking the inexperienced from in every single place whereas it appears like an open area on the TV. The 4th, off the again tee, can be an enormous slog of a gap. The sixth tee, with the patrons beneath the tee shot, was one thing which I’d additionally forgotten.
Wanting again to the tee at 4.
What gap really stood out?
DT: The width and undulation of the first fairway amazed me straight off the bat. However I’ll say the Par-5 2nd, because the view trying down the hill is breathtaking.
An instantaneous wow. Augusta’s 1st gap.
MT: Strolling not far away and seeing the eleventh inexperienced for the primary time. In all honesty I shed slightly tear. This was the second the place it really sunk in that I used to be at Augusta. The entire thing appears like a movie set however this little nook is sort of a postcard.
The image postcard view of Amen Nook.
What shot nonetheless stands out?DT: There have been so many but it surely was one I heard somewhat than noticed. This was 2012 and, whereas strolling, there was an unimaginable roar, one which one way or the other appeared even better than you’d hear for an eagle and even gap in a single. I used to be proper. I appeared up on the scoreboard quickly after and Louis Oosthuizen had simply made an albatross 2 at No.2 and was now main. Weirdly, earlier than I obtained that affirmation, he walked proper by me as I crossed the walkway at 3. He appeared as cool as a cucumber, as if he’d simply made par. And but he’d simply written himself into Masters folklore. I’ll always remember that.
MT: To cite Max Boyce, I used to be there for considered one of Augusta’s most iconic moments but it surely got here on the Friday. It was when Tiger Woods hit the pin on the fifteenth when he appeared set to take management of the match. In among the many 1000’s of patrons, a number of them pretty merry late within the afternoon, you can hear the proverbial pin drop. It was the entire build-up, seeing his yellow shirt come excessive of the hill, having the ability to hear the ball hit the pin after which the all-round disbelief. It was like watching a automotive crash which was all framed by watching all of it unfold from the financial institution that runs down the aspect of the sixteenth.
Mark’s view from the financial institution at 16 trying down to fifteen.
How a lot merch did you purchase?
DT: Not a complete splurge however obtained a deck chair, t-shirt, field of tees, suncream. To be trustworthy, something with the well-known brand on it.
MT: Not sufficient. Twelve years on I nonetheless put on the pink polo shirt that I purchased that 12 months. I additionally purchased a child blue polo that didn’t wash as nicely and shortly went out of practice. I haven’t worn it for a decade however I nonetheless have it which is odd.
What shocked you about Augusta?DT: That it was about 20 occasions higher than I believed and I already thought it will be wonderful. I bear in mind strolling all the way down to Amen Nook the place you view the eleventh inexperienced, twelfth gap and thirteenth tee and pondering I’d simply walked by way of the TV display screen. It was eerily acquainted. My senses have been going into overdrive. I couldn’t imagine I used to be there. Oh, and likewise the everlasting, on-site bathrooms. Immaculate, they usually even have an attendant on the door. So very Augusta. A pointy distinction to attempting to not slip on hay and wee when clattering round in Open Championship portaloos.
MT: The benefit of getting food and drinks. The concession stands sit, hidden away within the bushes, and you may get a beer and a sandwich each 3-4 holes and never pay a lot in any respect. All of us hear far an excessive amount of in regards to the undulations however nothing can put together you for the drop off the tip of the tenth tee.
Time for a snack – at cut price costs.
Inform us one thing that we don’t typically hear?DT: That these white cabins on the tenth the place Rory snap-hooked his drive throughout his notorious 2011 collapse are ridiculously near the tee. No surprise the commentators stated they’d by no means seen anybody in there earlier than.
MT: The accessibility is simply excellent. I bear in mind one little bottleneck down by the seventh tee and that was it. You’ll be able to hover across the clubhouse and communicate to former champions and legends. One other factor that I’ll always remember is the response when Tiger got here out for a fast 9 holes with Fred {Couples} earlier than the Champions Dinner. It’s all very chummy and acquainted.
Dave captured this pic of the late, nice, and really fashionable, Doug Sanders wandering close to the clubhouse. Liverpool bootroom vibes.
Would you suggest it?
DT: God, sure. Absolutely the No.1 in your golf bucket listing.
MT: I inform everybody that, if there may be any potential approach to go, then reap the benefits of it. You attempt to take all of it in however now it looks like a really distant reminiscence.
One of many nice views at 9, seeing how the golf green sweeps down under.
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