By Mark Suchy || Layout Assistant
The grass is greener in Augusta, Georgia. No, actually, look at the picture above. The grass is 100% greener in Augusta.
The honored tradition of The Masters is unlike any other in sports. Early April for many regions in the United States brings 50-degree weather, rain, and bulbs on plants. But in Augusta, the flowers are already in full bloom, the sunshine is bright, and the best golfers in the world are playing the best course in the world.
Watching The Masters on a Thursday and Friday during Zoom classes is easier than watching the NCAA tournament because of the relaxed nature of golf. You feel comfortable taking your eyes off the screen because of the pace at which the game is played. If an incredible shot is hit (like Tommy Fleetwood’s hole-in-one this past Thursday), then it will surely be replayed.
When Saturday and Sunday come around, the leaderboard is changing fast, the chase for the green jacket is heating up, and the golf is at its highest level.
While Tiger Woods was absent from this year’s tournament, I promise that if you didn’t watch, you still missed an electric tournament.
The game is filled with young stars. Justin Thomas is more precise with a golf club inside of 150 yards than I am with a baseball inside of 20 yards. Dustin Johnson can hit a golf ball around his house without swinging over the top. Bryson DeChambeau smashes drives over 350 yards, swinging his golf club up to 140 miles per hour. The players are better than they have ever been, and their shot-making is simply incredible.
In addition to tuning in during class, watching The Masters is also the best way to enjoy a nap. Sundays can be a great day to catch up on some much-needed rest. Why not fall asleep to Jordan Speith chipping in from 45 yards? You get to wake up to the calm blue skies and the reassuring green grass, which simply pleases the eye.
Golf at The Masters is also incredibly relatable. Just the other day, I managed to squander a four-stroke lead on the last hole by hitting in the water, then getting stuck in the bunker, then skulling the ball over the green, then finally three-putting. At most courses, this never happens to the pro players, but on the 12th hole at Augusta, they become just like us!
The 12th hole is an incredibly game-changing hole that you just have to see to believe—players commonly record 10’s and 12’s on their scorecards after hitting into the water several times, as the sloped greens lead directly to a pond in front, while a picturesque stone-footbridge is directly behind. The two bunkers in front and behind the hole create an iconic scene in golf.
With 12th hole adventures, young talent, and electric shots happening on a beautiful spring day, there is simply nothing like The Masters.
Sophomore Mark Suchy is a layout assistant. His email is msuchy@fandm.edu.