Tuesday at the Masters
1. Most of the parking is on nice grass. Once you have parked, you walk to the closest gate.
2. If you are a PGA or LPGA member you get complimentary entrance. Each day you pick up your ticket at the North Gate. You have to sign a slip that you won’t sell your ticket. Apparently that has happened.
3. Even Augusta gets muddy when it rains and the smell by the first tee was a combination between fertilizer and crawfish. My shoes got really dirty and I’m very happy I have another pair for tomorrow.
4. I loved watching Paul Casey practice low trajectory pitches with lots of spin. Not a lot of hinge and so incredibly smooth.
5. The grass is so GREEN.
6. Sitting in the stands at the practice range is really fun. Loved to watch the players practice and what drills they are doing.
7. On the practice putting green, Rory was doing 6-footers around a hole. It looked like the goal was to make six of them in a row. Even though he missed the fifth putt twice and had to start over, I’d say his putting looks really solid.
8. Paul Casey wasn’t the only player hitting low pitches around the practice green. So did Ian Woosnam and Vijay Singh. I didn’t see anyone practicing flop shots. But Phil wasn’t around.
9. The line to the women’s restroom was non-existent.
10. You can enter the Masters lottery and win tickets for one day. On the plane on Monday I met a member from StoneTree who had won four tickets for Wednesday. He brought his son and two friends.
11. There was no trash on the ground anywhere on the grounds.
12. I bought two lemonades, three waters, three ice creams, a muffin and a bag of chips for $19. That’s unlike any sporting event I’ve ever been to in the U.S.
13. It might look hilly on TV but it’s much steeper in person. That tee shot on the 18th hole is daunting. And the 10th hole is really downhill.
14. The merchandise tent is a large building with a TSA-like labyrinth you have to go through before even entering the shopping area. Think Black Friday on steroids.
15. You can buy a Masters dog bowl. Just to give you an idea.
16. Cigars are really a nuisance in a large crowd.
17. It was very well organized and everyone was on their best behavior until there was a massive traffic jam of people and carts trying to cross in front of the 15th tee.
18. I’m excited to see more of the course and the par 3 contest tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be beautiful. ⛳️🔆😀