Augusta National is a place of tradition, and those traditions are sacred. For one week each year, fans become patrons, rough becomes the second cut, and pimento cheese becomes our favorite type of sandwich.
Among these many traditions is one that is truly unique to the Masters — the chairs. If you arrive early to the grounds, you can place your chair at a prime viewing spot, and it will be protected all day. No one will move it, and it will still be there even if you decide to take a walk around the course for the afternoon. Your place is saved for the day.
But this year, that tradition is on hiatus. With Covid precautions still in place, the green coats have decided the chair tradition will not be in place this year.
“That’s strictly in response to the health issues that we perceive, and we believe are valid,” said Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.
However, Ridley did say that they are hopeful they can bring back the classic tradition next year as long as it is safe to do so.
“That is a great tradition,” he said. “We would expect that it would return in 2022.”
