x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
‘Thud and then a crack’: Patrons react to trees falling at Augusta National
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Over $140 of value - Just $39.99

InsideGOLF
News

‘Thud and then a crack’: Patrons react to trees falling at Augusta National

By: Sean Zak
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
April 7, 2023
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
augusta national trees down

Security staffers were all that hung around the fallen trees shortly after play was suspended at Augusta National Friday.

Getty Images

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sergio Garcia had just played from the greenside bunker on 15. Larry Mize was sizing up a putt on 16. Play had been suspended once already at Augusta National but the golfers were getting in as many holes as they could before inclement weather arrived. 

In an instant, that’s exactly what happened. At 4:21 p.m. local time, two of the towering pine trees that have become synonymous with the world’s most famous golf club and tournament began to uproot. It had been blowing a decent bit, according to patrons in the vicinity, but suddenly a much bigger gust arrived, followed by the sound of wood splintering. The trees came from the left side of the 17th tee. They moved slowly enough, and loudly enough, to warn most everyone in the area.

“We just felt the wind pick up and then all of a sudden we heard some cracks and people yelling,” said Maria Moses, who was in the grandstand on 16.

Patrons shot up out of their chairs. Some watched and others ran. Amateur Harrison Crowe cringed from where he stood on the 16th green. Mize was crouching down to read a putt but popped up and whirled around to watch. Min Woo Lee watched in horror. His caddie Stuart Davidson covered his ears and turned away. “You hear a thud and then you hear a crack,” said Greg Janes, who was in a grandstand on the nearby 15th. “So it sounds like thunder and lightning.”

News
amen corner building
The mysterious cottage hidden in the trees at Amen Corner is the ultimate VIP retreat
By: Sean Zak

The timber slammed into the earth just beyond the tee box, across the walkway to the 17th fairway. On their way down, the trees snapped a third tree about 50 feet up. Tournament staffers raced into action. About 100 others followed, according to spectators who watched. Others began evacuating the grandstands immediately. Miraculously, no one was injured. And coincidentally, not a single player was on the 17th hole, thanks to a pace-of-play gap in the tee times. A minute later, the horn was sounded again to suspend play. 

“We thought it was lightning,” Janes’ wife Marilyn said. They had done some reporting themselves: “A guy who was standing right there said people froze and some branches scraped them.”

“Just thank God no one was hurt,” Greg added. “It was frightening.” 

About 90 minutes after the incident, Augusta National released a statement, saying, “Augusta National Golf Club can confirm that no injuries were reported from three trees that were blown over to the left of the No. 17 tee due to wind. The safety and well-being of everyone attending the Masters Tournament will always be the top priority of the Club. We will continue to closely monitor weather today and through the Tournament.”

The incident was the talk of the walk as spectators were ushered off the property. Some had no idea it happened, and just assumed the steady rain that arrived was the reason they were evacuated. Others reiterated that they thought what they heard was lightning, including numerous patrons who were as far away as the 13th green when they heard tree hitting ground. 

Because there are cameras littered across the campus during Masters week, there is some alarming footage:

Holy smokes — this angle shows how absolutely miraculous it was that nobody got hit. pic.twitter.com/oAVf5rKmlP

— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) April 7, 2023

The mood of most patrons was lightened when they heard that no one was injured. But it didn’t outweigh the look of relief for the luck that played out. It’s difficult to tell how tall a tree is until it’s laying on the ground next to you, and in this case, the pines were no shorter than 150 feet tall, perhaps 200 feet.

Within 20 minutes of that fateful gust, barely a single spectator remained in the area. Security guards continued urging any lingerers to move on, nothing to see here. An automated speaker system rang out from seemingly every corner, telling spectators to find any updates online. Maintenance staffers began raking up the debris of branches sprayed out on the turf. A lone man in an olive green jumpsuit paced around quickly, ripping a chainsaw through one of the trunks. A couple helpers had lassoed a blue rope around whatever remained standing of that third tree. This one was much skinnier and easy to manage. Within a minute it hit the ground, too.

Latest In News

2 hours ago

Justin Thomas' 'incredible' shot from rocky creek wows ESPN crew at PGA Championship

5 hours ago

2025 PGA Championship Friday TV coverage: How to watch Round 2

14 hours ago

'They were wrong': Curtis Strange takes issue with PGA rules decision

14 hours ago

Rules beef, a 500-1 leader — and how PGA Championship embraced the weird

Sean Zak

Golf.com Editor

Sean Zak is a writer at GOLF Magazine and just published his first book, which follows his travels in Scotland during the most pivotal summer in the game’s history.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
rory mcilroy marking his ball on the green

Rory McIlroy’s handmade ball markers have fascinating backstory

By: Alan Bastable
News
Rory McIlroy walks up to the Masters trophy after winning the 2025 Masters

Why 1 unseen part of Rory McIlroy's Masters celebration spoke to me

By: Josh Schrock
News
Kyle Lowry, NBA player for the Philadelphia 76ers, plays during the Pro-AM, prior to the Truist Championship

What's next for Rory McIlroy? This golf-crazed NBA champion has thoughts

By: Josh Schrock
News
Rory McIlroy

Why Rory McIlroy felt 'the worst' at this year’s Masters ... after a birdie

By: Nick Piastowski
News
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on during the Pro Am event prior to the Truist Championship 2025

Was Rory McIlroy *destined* to win the Masters? Here’s how he sees it

By: Michael Bamberger
News
rory mcilroy speaks with jimmy fallon on the tonight show in green jacket

Rory McIlroy on Champions Dinner menu, Tiger's message, daughter's joke

By: James Colgan
News
A celebratory scene turned scary at the Chevron Championship.

Major golf gets weird, Caitlin Clark's Masters review | Monday Finish

By: Dylan Dethier
News
Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy shared a meaningful embrace after McIlroy's Masters win.

Why Rory McIlroy's Masters win was 'weirdest day ever' for Shane Lowry

By: Dylan Dethier
News
he parents of Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Rosie and Gerry watch on the first green during Day Three of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club on July 17, 2021

Why Rory McIlroy’s parents missed his emotional Masters win

By: Alan Bastable
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version