Tag: Masters badges

Masters Survey 2024: Padraig Harrington, Gary Player, Collin Morikawa among pros sharing their funniest ticket stories

A ticket to the Masters is one of the most coveted tickets in all of sports. Few know better than Masters contestants, who are given eight badges for their family and are allowed to buy up to four more. That’s when the fun begins – trying to divvy …

A ticket to the Masters is one of the most coveted tickets in all of sports. Few know better than Masters contestants, who are given eight badges for their family and are allowed to buy up to four more.

That’s when the fun begins — trying to divvy them up for the week to family and friends. Zach Johnson carries around a spread sheet in his wallet so he can keep track of it. Will Zalatoris is another Excel spreadsheet guy to manage his ticket requests. Brian Harman has his wife handle it.

“I told her at the beginning I’m trying to win this tournament, you’re in charge,” he said.

We asked pros to name their funniest Masters ticket story and from Paddy to Gary to Collin and beyond, they didn’t disappoint.

My wife handles all that. I told her at the beginning I’m trying to win this tournament, you’re in charge so I always tell anyone who asks to text her.

Last year I had two friends come in on Thursday night. I completely forgot to leave their tickets at Will Call. I was teeing off in five minutes and took one last look at my phone. The tickets were still in my bedroom in a backpack. I gave them the code to our rental, they had to drive there, find them and I didn’t see them until the 15th hole.

My church minister from South African, who was touring America, asked me for a ticket. I made the mistake of giving him my own badge. When he came to the gates, the security guards grabbed him to question how he obtained Gary Player’s badge. Fortunately, the chairman at the time, Bill Lane from Texas who was the ultimate gentleman, took care of the matter. 

I don’t know if it is funny but it’s a cool one. I get picked up from Palm Springs by a really nice volunteer one year and we get to talking and he says it’s his dream to go to Augusta and take his son. I said, “I’ve got some tickets for this year.” The way he looked at me was everything. We stayed in contact and I got him tickets for Monday and Tuesday practice rounds.

I always say turn up and we will find you a ticket. It’s difficult to promise someone a ticket but someone who makes the effort to come from Ireland, I always found a way to get them in.

One year, I hit it straight through the 14th fairway and I’m in the crowd. This guy who I’d given a ticket to has broken free from the ring of people standing by my ball and is beside my caddie asking him what I have left? He got so excited. One of my other ticketed friends leaned over the crowd and grabbed him by the collar to bring him back in. I had one guy completely lose their mind in the excitement and another who was well aware to bring him back down to earth.

One time I had a couple tickets that came available and I offered them to a buddy of mine who is a professional wakeboarder in Orlando. He dropped everything and rented a car and drove up. It was a reality check and made me appreciate how special it is either to play in it or to go and watch it.

Our friends showed up from many states away and they brought their newborn baby. They were asked for a ticket for the baby. No forgiveness.

Not a funny one, but I keep a spreadsheet because I have one friend coming in Monday-Tuesday and another for Tuesday-Wednesday. I need it to keep track of everything.

I have over-committed and had members save me. I’m a little OCD. We are given eight, I buy the max of four. I make a spreadsheet and I keep it in my wallet. 

According to fine print on Masters badges, Augusta National isn’t liable for ‘all risk and danger arising from attendance’

Augusta National isn’t open to damages in the case of a tree falling, per small text. And that’s not the only blurb patrons need to read.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A trio of trees came crashing to the ground at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday during the second round at the 2023 Masters.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, as patrons were lucky enough to hear the crack and scatter before the three massive trunks fell to the ground.

But even if a patron were to be injured, the club attempts to absolve itself from any liability, thanks to the small print on the back of the badges all attendees must wear. It’s not dissimilar to wording often on the back of tickets for other events, but the language on the badges makes it clear, Augusta National does not assume liability.

As per the badge:

The 2023 Masters Golf Tournament Credentials Agreement (“Agreement”) is available at Tickets.Masters.com/ Agreement and is incorporated herein by reference as if fully stated. By accepting a badge, ticket or credential (collectively, “Ticket”) to the Masters Golf Tournament or practice rounds (the “Tournament”), the purchaser, holder(s) and user(s) of a Ticket (collectively “Holder”) agree to be bound by each of the terms and conditions on this Ticket, and in the Agreement, whether or not restated herein. In the event of any discrepancy between the terms on this Ticket and those in the Agreement, the Agreement shall control. …

By entering onto the grounds of ANI, Holder agrees to assume all risk and danger arising from attendance, including risks associated with COVID-19. Holder releases and holds harmless ANI, its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents and all Tournament officials and participants, from any claims of liability, including claims based on their alleged negligence, arising from the Agreement or Holder’s attendance at the Tournament, all as set forth in the Agreement.

So is Augusta National open to damages in the case of a tree falling? That depends. Injured plaintiffs can bring a claim against a golf course based on negligence or product liability, but in this case, a random set of trees falling to the ground in inclement weather likely wouldn’t constitute negligence. The course is known as one of the most immaculate in the world.

If, however, play was to resume after such an incident, and another tree was to fall on a patron, that could change the liability issue.

And that’s not the only blurb patrons in attendance need to understand. Also, electronic devices are famously prohibited.

The Ticket is a limited license, which may be revoked by ANI at any time with or without cause at the discretion of ANI. All ANI and Tournament policies, signs, verbal instructions of Tournament officials, and traditional customs of etiquette, proper attire, decorum and behavior must be observed at all times. Protests of all types are forbidden. Tournament policies are available at Masters.com, may be posted at entrances to the Tournament, and are incorporated herein by reference. …

ELECTRONIC DEVICES (INCLUDING PHONES, LAPTOPS, TABLETS, AND BEEPERS) ARE PROHIBITED ON THE GROUNDS AT ALL TIMES. ANY DEVICE BEING USED TO RECORD AND/OR TRANSMIT VOICE, VIDEO, OR DATA IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. CAMERAS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED ON TOURNAMENT DAYS. …

ANI, and such third parties it may authorize, are granted permission to use, without compensation, videotape, film, photographs or other images or likenesses of Holder. G. Images of Augusta National® Golf Club or the Masters Tournament®, or data obtained with cameras, videos, and/or audio devices or other means, cannot be used for broadcast, publication or any commercial purposes under any circumstances.

Those who don’t comply with the rules at the famed golf club are not welcome again.

For security and safety purposes, Holder consents to the reasonable inspection of Holder’s person and property, including electronic scanning, before entering and while on the grounds. Refusal of such an inspection or possession of prohibited items will result in Holder’s exclusion/removal from the grounds and the permanent loss of the Tickets. I. All disputes between any Holder and ANI must be resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution procedure set forth in the Agreement. FAILURE TO OBSERVE ANY OF THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT OR ANY TOURNAMENT POLICIES MAY RESULT IN THE HOLDER’S REMOVAL OR EXCLUSION FROM THE TOURNAMENT AND THE PERMANENT LOSS OF TICKETS.

The small type concludes with a quote from Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones, Jr., the President in Perpetuity at Augusta National Golf Club:

“In golf, customs of etiquette and decorum are just as important as rules governing play. It is appropriate for spectators to applaud successful strokes in proportion to difficulty but excessive demonstrations by a player or his partisans are not proper because of the possible effect upon other competitors. Most distressing to those who love the game of golf is the applauding or cheering of misplays or misfortunes of a player. Such occurrences have been rare at the Masters but we must eliminate them entirely if our patrons are to continue to merit their reputation as the most knowledgeable and considerate in the world.”

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Photos: See all the Masters badges from 1934 to 2023

Masters badges are perhaps the most coveted items in sports.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters badge is perhaps the most coveted item in sports.

Applications to obtain tickets can be submitted at Masters.com and can be made for practice rounds and daily tournament rounds, both of which are limited and sold in advance.

Tournament or “series” badges have been sold to people on the patron list, which is full. Considered among the hottest tickets in sports, Masters Tournament badges can command hefty prices from collectors. Paper tickets from 1934-60 are rare and hard to find in good condition.

Masters badges have been made from various materials. All include the date, price and club logo. From 1934-53, cardboard stock was used. From 1954-60, linen-type paper was used. Beginning in 1961 to today, different forms of plastic have been used.

The badges shown here include series badges, one-day passes and practice round badges from 1934 to 2023, except for 1943 to 1945, when the tournament wasn’t staged due to World War II.

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

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