Tag: 2021 Masters

Augusta-area sheriff’s office on lookout for fake Masters tickets

Ahead of the 2021 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, there are warnings about fake tickets.

The secondary ticket market might be more active than normal as Masters Week arrives and more golf fans than normal lack access to the exclusive tournament.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about scams and fake tickets this year, due to the limited number of patrons allowed into the tournament. Usually, ticket scalpers set up along Washington Road leading up to the tournament, but this year it has remained fairly empty, just like in November.

In January, Augusta National Golf Club announced it would allow a limited number of patrons in this April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic postponed the 2020 Masters to November, when it was contested without fans in attendance.

Capt. Scott Gay said they won’t let their guard down.

“I think people will try anything to gain access into the Augusta National Golf Club,” he said. “There are a number of security features in place to prevent fake or invalid credentials from entering the property.”

Golf fans during a practice round prior to the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (File photo)

Georgia law prohibits the buying or selling of tickets within 2,700 feet of a venue.The boundaries from Augusta National extend from around Taco Bell on Washington Road to Calhoun Expressway and from Surrey Center on Berckmans Road to just past the fire station on Alexander Drive.

The distance is measured from the golf course, not the parking lots.

Although Augusta National is the only authorized seller of Masters tickets, the sheriff’s office enforces state law and not the golf club’s policy, Gay said.

“The only people that can sell Augusta National tickets, by policy, is the Augusta National. They are taking a risk if they buy it second-handedly, it’s a huge risk,” Gay said.

Gay said they had no security problems in November and expects another quiet Masters Week this year. In 2019, the sheriff’s office made no ticket scalping arrests.

Gay said people should report any fake credentials or tickets to local authorities, so they can investigate and see how they are being transmitted and disseminated. He said people need to be aware of potential scams.

“If it’s too good to be true, it’s probably a scam,” he said. “Don’t fall for something that is too good to be true.”

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Masters: Dustin Johnson’s menu for the Champions Dinner

Dustin Johnson has released the menu for the 2021 Masters Champions Dinner.

One of the coolest traditions at the Masters, which is an event that is filled with cool traditions, is the annual Champions Dinner.

Held every year on the Tuesday evening before the start of the tournament, it gathers previous winners together for an evening to celebrate the previous year’s champion, who gets to pick the menu and act as the host.

Dustin Johnson, who is currently ranked No. 1 on the world, won last November’s Masters and just posted the menu for this year’s Champions Dinner.

The pigs in a blanket appetizer is a nice touch in case either of his kids crashes the party.

Of course, the release on April 1 has a few sources asking if this is indeed the actual menu, but it was released on DJ’s personal account.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNILIF_pYRI/

No joke — right, Dustin?

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Masters: ESPN golf analysts on Tiger Woods’ absence, Dustin Johnson’s defense and stories from the gift shop

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, Curtis Strange and Andy North on Tiger Woods’ absence, Dustin Johnson’s defense and stories from the Masters shop.

Curtis Strange remembers a quiet atmosphere while walking the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club last fall.

“It was completely different from start to finish,” said the two-time major champion and ESPN golf analyst about the November Masters, won by Dustin Johnson. “When we went on air and the red light came on, we tried to act as normal as possible, and I think we did a good job because it was the start of the Masters, but it was different.”

It’s difficult to remember what “normal” life was before the COVID-19 pandemic. From a golf perspective, fans are getting a bit of a refresher with the build up to next week’s Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.

“Without patrons, it lost a lot of its soul, there’s no question about that,” said ESPN’s golf and SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt. “I do think it will feel far more familiar and ‘normal’ this next week, even as so many things we typically do won’t.”

As the first men’s major championship of the season returns to its spring position on the schedule, Strange, Van Pelt and Andy North joined a group of reporters on a conference call to preview the event and discuss what changes they expect to see in this year’s tournament compared to the fall.

Tiger and DJ

You can’t talk about, or even think about, Augusta National or the Masters for long without the 2019 champion, Tiger Woods, coming up.

The five-time Masters champ is still recovering — now at home — from a February car crash near Los Angeles after hosting the Genesis Invitational.  Woods’ fractures from the crash are on the upper and lower parts of both the fibula and tibia, where a rod was inserted to stabilize the area. Screws and pins were used to treat other injuries in the ankle and foot, while doctors sliced muscle in the area to relieve pressure and swelling in the area (a safeguard against infection).

“I think (at Augusta), more than any other place they play, you think of Tiger. So much of his career sprang through that lens. From that bookend in ’97 hugging his father to ’19 hugging his children in essentially the same spot. You can’t help but think about him,” said Van Pelt. “I think because he’s won there and Tuesday with the Champions Dinner, you get together with that very small group and trade the stories and what have you, that his presence will be sorely missed.”

Dustin Johnson: How he uses a short memory and mental island

The conversation moved from the 2019 to the 2020 champion, Dustin Johnson, and his chances of defending his title just five months later.

“There’s not much that bothers him,” said Strange. “As I was talking to Butch Harmon yesterday, he said, ‘You know, he hasn’t played great the last three times out, no worry. No worries at all.’”

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The Masters shop

Entering the Masters shop and leaving with a loaded bag is a rite of passage for anyone who’s been lucky enough to take a trip down Magnolia Lane.

North, a two-time major winner who’s best finish at Augusta was a T-12 in 1979, said he doesn’t go in the shop, “but my wife sure does.”

“Every year she comes back with more stuff than I can even imagine,” said North with a laugh. “But it is pretty cool. That logo is a pretty darn famous logo. From a gift standpoint, if you’re giving that to somebody, they usually appreciate it.”

Strange’s oldest son and daughter-in-law are in town this week, and he’s refusing to even look at his credit card statement. Van Pelt once left an entire bag of gear in an overheard compartment of an airplane. Everybody’s got a story from the shop.

“You just think you’ve got to be done. Who else could I need something for? Then every year, you’re like, ‘that’s a handsome quarter zip. Mom kind of likes that visor,’” explained Van Pelt, who spent $200-plus on ball markers to give away to friends and family.

“It’s every year. It’s a tradition unlike any other.”

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Dustin Johnson Spider Limited Commemorative Edition putter

To celebrate Dustin Johnson’s win at Augusta National, TaylorMade is selling exact replicas of his Spider Tour putter.

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Dustin Johnson’s putt rolled across the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club and stopped about a foot short of the hole, leaving him a tap-in late on an autumn Sunday afternoon. It was November 15, 2020, and making that putt would have been great, but I reality it didn’t matter. Holing the short next putt and scoring 4 under for the day gave the American a total of 20 under at the 2020 Masters, good enough for a five-shot win over Australia’s Cameron Smith.

To celebrate his victory, TaylorMade is releasing the Dustin Johnson Spider Limited Commemorative Edition putter for $499. It is available now available for preorder ($499) and will be available for purchase on April 9.

Dustin Johnson Spider Limited Commemorative Edition putter
Like Johnson’s own putter, the limited edition club has no alignment aids or sight lines. (TaylorMade)

The putter is a replica of the club Johnson used last November at the Masters. It is 35 inches long and only available in a right-hand version. It has a black crown no alignment aids of sightlines, a short slant hosel and a Counter Core SuperStroke GT 1.0 grip. In the sole, there are two 9-gram weights placed in the heel and toe. The face is destined with a TaylorMade’s Pure Roll insert. The soleplate has been given a commemorative black and green logo in the center.

Dustin Johnson Spider Limited Commemorative Edition putter
The limited-edition putter has a special green emblem on the soleplate. (TaylorMade)

Each Dustin Johnson Spider Limited Commemorative Edition putter will come in a commemorative box.

Dustin Johnson withdraws from 2021 Valero Texas Open ahead of Masters title defense

Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the 2021 Valero Texas Open ahead of his Masters title defense.

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is taking the week off before going to Augusta National to defend his Masters title.

Johnson withdrew from the 2021 Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio in Texas on Monday, and will be replaced in the field by Ryan Brehm. Johnson last appeared in the event in 2015, finishing T-6. He most recently went 1-1-1 and failed to qualify for the Round of 16 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

Brehm has two Korn Ferry Tour wins in his career and is coming off a T-11 at the Puerto Rico Open last month and a T-34 last weekend at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship.

Tournament officials also announced that Saturday’s third round on April 3 is sold out. Due to high demand, there remains a limited amount of general admission tickets available for Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

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Masters: Shoes Nike players will be wearing at Augusta National in 2021

See the Nike footwear, designed using recycled materials, that players like Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau and Jason Day will wear at the Masters.

While Nike’s most iconic golfer, Tiger Woods, is not going to be competing next week at the 2021 Masters, plenty of other big-name players who wear Nike footwear are going to be in the field. Golfers like Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau, Jason Day and others will be at Augusta National Golf Club trying to win the year’s first men’s major championship.

While Nike is not officially making any Masters-themed footwear, the company does have new colorways that will be featured by its athletes starting next week. Collectively, they are being called Nike’s Masters NRG Pack, but individually they are the Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 NRG, Air Max 90 G NRG and the Air Zoom Infinity Tour NRG.

The uppers in all the shoes are made from 100 percent recycled canvas, which gives them a raw, rougher look and feel. The lace loops and the canvas on the tongue are also made from 100 percent recycled materials.

Exclusive: Brooks Koepka reveals details of knee surgery, Masters plans 

Brooks Koepka had surgery on his right knee earlier this week, he confirmed to Golfweek on Sunday night. 

Brooks Koepka had surgery on his right knee earlier this week and is undecided if he will compete in the Masters in two weeks, he confirmed to Golfweek on Sunday night.

The world No. 12 has been benched since March 7, the day he announced his withdrawal from the Players Championship with what he described as a sprain suffered while with his family in Florida. Koepka offered a little more detail about the injury to Golfweek, writing in a text message that he suffered “a right knee cap dislocation and ligament damage.”

The surgery took place on Tuesday, March 16, in California. He is currently undergoing physical therapy on the West Coast as part of his recovery.

Asked how long the surgery lasted, Koepka replied: “Not sure. I was asleep.”

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The first round of the Masters is just 18 days away, but Koepka admitted that a final decision on whether he will compete could be out of his hands.

“Whatever my body says, I’m going to listen,” he wrote.

The four-time major winner finished T7 at Augusta National in November and was T2 in 2019.

The right knee issue is the latest frustration for the 30-year-old, coming after a left knee injury sustained while slipping at the CJ Cup in South Korea in 2019. Compensating for that ailment led to a labrum injury in his left hip. More recently, he complained of stiffness in his neck.

Koepka won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, his eighth victory on the PGA Tour, and tied for second in the WGC-Workday Championship. He has not competed since.

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Brooks Koepka’s knee injury puts Masters start in doubt

The knee injury that forced Brooks Koepka’s withdrawal from the Players Championship could jeopardize his participation in the 2021 Masters.

The knee injury that forced Brooks Koepka’s withdrawal from the Players Championship on Sunday night could jeopardize his participation in the Masters next month.

Koepka told Golfweek on Wednesday afternoon that he sprained his right knee and will have further orthopedic consultations next week to determine the best course of action. Asked if he would return to action in time for the Masters, which begins in 29 days, Koepka would only say he will await results of the tests before committing to a schedule.

“No timeframe as of right now,” he said. “We will know more after the consultation.”

The four-time major winner declined to detail the extent of his injury or how he sustained it. “An accident happened while I was with my family over the weekend,” he said. “We are doing everything possible to make sure we are back as soon as possible.”

The injury is the latest in a lengthy list of physical frustrations for the 30-year-old. He was benched for three months after injuring his left knee slipping at the CJ Cup in South Korea in 2019. Compensating for that knee led to a labrum injury in his left hip, and more recently he has complained of stiffness in his neck.

Despite the ailments, Koepka has rediscovered his form in recent weeks. He won the Waste Management Phoenix Open last month — his eighth victory on the PGA Tour — and tied for second in the WGC-Workday Championship two weeks ago. An injury-free Koepka would have been considered among the favorites at Augusta National, having finished T7 last year and T2 in 2019.

Pushed on how frustrating the injuries have been, Koepka was succinct and upbeat: “I’ll be back.”

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Masters attendance plans keep codependent city of Augusta on edge heading into April

The announcement that the 2021 Masters would allow only limited attendance in April has cast a somber mood over the city of Augusta.

The Masters gets underway in 45 days, and still Augusta National Golf Club hasn’t made public how many patrons will be allowed to attend the season’s first major when it returns to its traditional April date as a rite of spring.

Cameron Wiebe, the general manager of Champions Retreat down the road in nearby Evans, Georgia, host site for the first two rounds of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur the week before the Masters, says the local community still hopes the Masters will breathe life into the Augusta economy.

How much did a patron-less Masters hurt local businesses? Wiebe says it was “significant” before elaborating that the corporate hospitality that the club typically hosts when Augusta becomes the center of the sporting universe for one week was all but non-existent in November and was consistent with the rest of the clubs in town. A foursome at Champions Retreat during Masters week typically goes for $3,000 and includes caddie and cart, all-you-can-consume food and beverage until 5 p.m. and a $50 merchandise credit for each player. (Wiebe said other private clubs in the area open the gates that week too: Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, South Carolina, charges $3,000 for a foursome, Augusta Country Club $2,500 – F&B not included – and Sage Valley doesn’t officially open up “but if you give them $3,600 you can get a time.”)

“The November Masters was a 5-percent Masters,” he said, referring to the typical revenue earned that week. “We’re hoping for a 30-percent Masters in April, and for 2022 the world here would hope for a 75-plus-percent Masters.”

The announcement in January that the Masters would be played in front of a limited audience once again cast a somber mood over the city. The hope is that Augusta National will allow 30 percent to 50 percent of its usual capacity in April. This is purely based on anecdotal evidence, but a high percentage of locals have reported being informed they won’t be allocated tickets this year. It has led some to believe Augusta National is trying to support the local community by offering tickets primarily to out-of-towners who will occupy hotels and spend dollars at local establishments that are used to making a killing that week.

There is more availability for Champions Retreat’s luxurious rental units than usual, but some groups, corporations and individuals that are expecting to have Masters access are planning to come back, entertain and, as Wiebe put it, “live it up again.”

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 04: Tickets scalpers look for badges along Washington Road in front of Augusta National Golf Club before the Masters on April 4, 2010 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Tickets scalpers look for badges along Washington Road in front of Augusta National Golf Club before the Masters on April 4, 2010 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

And while attendance will be limited, it still has produced enough demand to jack up prices, a Masters tradition unlike any other for local businesses. A room at The Partridge Inn, a longtime social epicenter of Masters week and part of the Hilton family of hotels, is priced at an average of $959 per night during the tournament compared to $110 per night for Thursday-Sunday this week.

Still, the current headwinds have been a big blow for the city, and the reduced attendance this year won’t go unnoticed.

“This second wave of limited Masters revenue is going to hurt, and it will show itself at some point,” Wiebe said.

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Rory McIlroy on Tiger Woods’ latest back surgery: ‘He should be back for the Masters’

Tiger Woods has undergone another back surgery, the golf world has learned. Rory McIlroy had some insight, including a possible return date.

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According to Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods underwent his latest surgical procedure to his troublesome back on Dec. 23 and should be ready to play in the Masters.

Meeting with reporters ahead of the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, McIlroy offered an upbeat assessment.

“In his words, it was a small procedure,” said McIlroy, who is making his first start of 2021. “Obviously, any time you’re being cut into, you try to avoid that as much as you can. But he was back on his feet the next day, so I don’t think we can read too much into it.

“I think they were just trying to clean a couple bits up.”

Woods announced Tuesday on Twitter that the latest surgery (a microdiscectomy procedure) removed a pressurized disc fragment that was causing nerve damage. It was Woods’ fifth surgery on his back; he’s also had four surgeries to his left knee.

In his statement, Woods said he would not playing next week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego or his own tournament next month, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club north of Los Angeles.

“Obviously he won’t be playing for the next couple of months,” McIlroy said. “But he should be back for the Masters, if not before that.

“I think he’ll be just fine.”

Speaking to Golfweek on Tuesday, Golf Channel analyst Notah Begay, a longtime friend of Woods and a former teammate at Stanford, said the 15-time major champion and 82-time PGA Tour winner was “doing great.”

“I just exchanged texts with him a little while ago and he’s doing great,” Begay said. “He was out on the course hitting golf balls. He wasn’t ripping drivers. He was just getting a feel for the game after the surgery and seeing just how everything is. This surgery relieved a lot of discomfort.”

Begay said he hoped Woods would play at least twice before the Masters if he is able to get his body and golf game in shape. Possibilities for Woods? The World Golf Championships tournament that has been relocated from Mexico to the Concession Golf Club near Tampa, Fla. (Feb. 25-28); the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando (March 4-7); The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (March 11-14); the Honda Classic near his home in southeast Florida (March 18-21); and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas (March 24-28).

The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia is April 8-11.

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