AUGUSTA, Ga. — We’re getting our first sneak preview of Augusta National in the fall.
Granted, we don’t have much. It’s still Sunday of tournament week, which means plenty of competitors haven’t yet arrived. Media members aren’t allowed in yet, TV cameras aren’t around and most golfers are respecting the club’s strict no-phone policy (more on that later).
So what do we know about how the Masters will look and feel this week? Here are a couple clues:
How ’bout that drive in?
Dylan Frittelli arrived this weekend and wasted no time getting in the Masters spirit; he posted this video driving down Magnolia Lane, dubbing the Masters theme music over top. It’s only a 13-second video, but ANGC appears to be in order. Everything looks bright, green or bright-green.
Frittelli got his hands on a couple iconic snacks, too, posting a photo of Augusta National’s pimento cheese and classic chicken sandwiches
How ’bout that Augusta green?
Remember what I mentioned a couple paragraphs ago about most players respecting Augusta National’s no-phone policy? Most have, so far. But not Ian Poulter, who posted a video to social media in which he and his caddie walk up towards the first tee as he provides his characteristic color commentary.
Much has been made of the differences at Augusta National in the fall versus its typical spot on the spring sports calendar, but according to Poulter, there isn’t much of a difference at all.
“Well, if you wondered what Augusta National looked like in November…it looks just like it does in April, to be honest!” he says.
How ’bout that Augusta orange?
It’s not exactly leaf-peeper perfection, but Augusta National is showing some subtle signs of fall in the trees. The Masters’ own Instagram account posted a series of photos showing off hints of orange behind No. 16, around Amen Corner and elsewhere.
Christian Bezuidenhout added a photo of his own, showing off some fallen leaves on the tee at No. 13:
What it looked like then…
The good folks at Eureka Earth reminded us how Augusta National looked a couple months ago with these snaps from Google Earth:
What it looks like now
Eureka’s wild plane-cam has continually captured some wild aerials, including these from late October. Take in all that green — and all that green space, too.
How will Augusta National play?
We’ve been trying to figure this one out for months, but now that players are on property we’ll finally have a better sense of the differences between a November vs. April Masters. Enter Rory McIlroy, who arrived on Saturday and told ESPN’s Bob Harig about the course’s condition:
“A lot more Bermuda [grass] in the fairways and in the surrounds of the greens,” McIlroy said. “The greens are exactly the same as they always are. But for the fairways, it just hasn’t been cold enough for the Bermuda to die off. That’s going to make things very interesting around the greens. Chipping will be a lot trickier.
“[The fairways], instead of being thin it can be a little grainy or a thicker patch. But it was soft. There were a lot of mud balls and looks like some rain during the week so that can be an issue. It’s just going to play very different. They haven’t done anything to the golf course — it’s just the way it’s playing.”
You can read that entire article here.
Augusta National is hardly its usual April fan-filled self, but there are signs of the tournament everywhere. Volunteer parking lots filled with vehicles. Covid-testing tents lining the roadways. Billy Horschel, ordering a sub in Jersey Mike’s. Chris Como stepping into the local CVS. It’s Masters Week, and we’re only beginning to see what that means.
