For a “tradition unlike any other,” the past two Masters tournaments were decidedly non-traditional.
This, of course, was a matter of necessity. In 2020, the mere act of playing the Masters was considered by some to be revolutionary. The world had sagged into the depths of a once-in-a-century pandemic, and it was a struggle to gather just those necessary to conduct a tournament. In 2021, things had improved to the point that Augusta National welcomed back patrons … but only at reduced numbers, and with specific rules pertaining to masking, distancing and proximity to players.
In 2022, though, it seems the Masters has made a conscious effort to return to its pre-pandemic form. In the new year, Augusta National will welcome the return of the Par-3 Contest — a long-time tournament staple that was canceled in each of the last two years — and, with pandemic restrictions lifted, will expand the total number of on-site media from each of the past two years.
But perhaps the most notable change to this year’s Masters was installed long before tournament week: the grandstands.
On Friday, our friends at Eureka Earth shared their latest batch of photos from high above Augusta National. For those with eagle eyes, the new images show a closer look at the course (including updates to the 11th and 15th holes), but zoom out a little bit further and you’ll see the large, green blocks of seating casting a shadow over fairways and greens.
At the past two pandemic-altered Masters, Augusta National went grandstand-free in order to promote safe distancing. Instead, fans sprawled out across the grass in every which way, relying upon folding chairs and friendly neighbors to secure a clear view of the biggest groups in play. In 2022 though, patrons will be able to grab superior sightlines from perches at Amen Corner, adjacent to the prickly 15th green and beyond.
For those watching from elsewhere, it’s unlikely you’ll notice much of a difference. Augusta National goes to painstaking lengths to ensure its galleries are unobtrusive to the eye by coloring them the same pigment as the surrounding trees and placing them next to naturally occurring mounds.
Rather, the changes will be most evident with your ears. In 2022, Augusta National’s famed roars will return to their traditional decibel level, particularly on Sunday, when thousands pack into the thoroughfares at Amen Corner and Nos. 15-18. The Masters does not traditionally share attendance information, but the grandstands would seem to indicate the course is preparing for larger crowds than graced the fairways of Augusta National in ’20 or ’21.
In the grand scheme, the grandstands are but a small piece of tournament week. But for those itching to see the Masters tournament they left behind when Tiger Woods earned his fifth green jacket in 2019, it’s something larger.
The return of a tradition.