Tag: Masters survey 2023

Masters survey 2023: Augusta National is hallowed ground but where on the golf course is it most special?

Augusta National is one of golf’s great cathedrals, but these are the spots that make it extra special.

Augusta National is one of golf’s great cathedrals.

To be there is the equivalent of seeing the Sistine Chapel or visiting the Vatican. For some, it’s a religious experience.

But where on the revered course does it feel the most hallowed or special?

That was the question we posed to more than two dozen contestants of the Masters, both past and present. Some are lucky enough to change their shoes in the club’s Champions Locker Room, some won other majors or reached No. 1 in the world but they’ve all had the privilege to participate in the first men’s major of the year and identified where it is that a very special place feels a little extra special.

Masters survey 2023: Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Max Homa weigh in on the worst thing about playing Augusta National?

Some form of “nothing is bad about the place” was a popular answer.

Of all the questions in this year’s Masters player survey, “What’s the worst thing about playing Augusta National” might have produced the most common response.

Some form of “nothing is bad about the place” or when it’s over/leaving was the top answer on the board.

That included feedback from the likes of Sam Burns, Corey Conners, Adam Scott, Tony Finau, Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland and Will Zalatoris.

Jack Nicklaus found nothing to complain about the course itself, but did note the traffic around the club is no bueno, and he gets no argument here.

But those who took the question at face value – even if Augusta National is your version of a masterpiece, there’s a pimple on the Mona Lisa, right? – were able to nit-pick at the course.

So what’s the worst thing about playing Augusta National?

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Masters survey 2023: What hole (No. 12 aside) scares you the most at Augusta National?

We polled a handful of players and past champions about the scariest hole at Augusta National.

We eliminated the obvious choice – Golden Bell, the slender par-3 that has been a watery grave for many Green Jacket hopes – though Collin Morikawa was quick to point out he never said that hole was scary.

Jon Rahm cleverly asked, “Does the walk to 12 count?” and Jim Furyk voted for the dreaded third shot at 12. Sorry, Collin, 12 is take-your-par-and-run scary and that’s a fact.

The votes have been tabulated and Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 15 and 18 all have been tabbed as “scary.” Our favorite answer has to be Jack Nicklaus, who made it clear he wasn’t scared of any of them but then gave a master class on the six scary shots that must be handled to have success at Augusta National. A scary thought, indeed.

Here’s what the pros had to say about the scariest hole at Augusta National, and why it’s No. 11.

Masters surveys: Least-liked concessions | Champions Dinners | Traditions

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Masters survey 2023: What is your least favorite concession item? (Is there even such a thing?)

There is a strong divide among players on both the pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches.

We already asked Masters contestants past and present what they’d buy if they gave their caddie $20 to go to the concession stand so we know their favorites. But what one item would they not order?

We wanted to know that too, and we discovered that there is a strong divide among players on both the pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches.

Widely considered two of the most popular sandwiches sold at the toonamint, it appears just as many players wouldn’t eat them unless they came with a Green Jacket.

Other discoveries: To no surprise, Gary Player has issues with white bread, but who knew he felt this opposed to it: “I wouldn’t serve it to my dog.”

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

And who knew that Adam Scott doesn’t eat cheese or that Will Zalatoris wasn’t an egg guy?

We’ll try not to hold these character flaws against them. We’re more in the Tony Finau camp, who said, “They’re all pretty bomb. You can’t go wrong.”

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Masters survey 2023: More than two dozen pros, including Jack and Gary, were asked if they would have changed Augusta National’s 13th hole to make it longer

“The decision to go for the green in two should be a momentous one.”

After several years of rumors that the par-5 13th hole would be stretched like a rubber band to prevent players from blasting driver over the trees on the left and turning the par-5 into driver-wedge, Augusta National finally built a new back tee that will measure 545 yards in April, adding 35 yards to the iconic hole at the Masters Tournament.

The 13th ranks as one of the great risk-reward holes in golf. Going for it should be a “momentous decision,” in the words of Bobby Jones, who assisted Alister MacKenzie in its design. It originally measured 480 yards when the Masters debuted in 1934 and played to 510 yards for the 2022 Masters. But that distance is shorter than many par-4s in major championship golf these days.

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

In recent years, powerful players such as Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy have been able to blast balls over the trees that protect the dogleg-left hole, sometimes hitting it far enough around the corner to leave a short iron or even a wedge for the second shot to the green. The 13th played as the third-easiest hole on the course at the 2022 Masters, only more difficult than the two front-nine par-5s.

In 2017, Augusta National purchased a swath of land from Augusta Country Club, land that was actually part of a hole on the neighboriMastng course. Augusta Country Club was forced to reroute its layout to accommodate the land sale. In his 2022 news conference, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley said there was no timetable to use the land for a new tee but also hinted that changes to 13 could be coming.

“There’s a great quote from Bobby Jones dealing specifically with the 13th hole, which has been lengthened over time, and he said that the decision to go for the green in two should be a momentous one,” Ridley said. “And I would have to say that our observations of these great players hitting middle and even short irons into that hole is not a momentous decision.”

He added: “From our perspective, we will always do what’s necessary to maintain the integrity of our golf course.”

We asked more than two dozen pros – including past Masters champions, major winners, former World No. 1s and a World Golf Hall of Famer – if you were in charge, would you have changed the 13th hole?

Masters survey 2023: What would Max Homa, Billy Ho, Willy Z and other pros serve at the Champions Dinner?

Chicken parm. Steak and potato. Fajitas. South African Braai. Those are just a few of the suggestions.

Tuesday’s Champions Dinner at the Masters is golf’s most exclusive gathering. Debuted in 1952 by Ben Hogan, it is hosted annually by the defending champion who has the honor of setting the menu and also graciously picks up the bill.

Over the years, it’s become standard procedure to serve a favorite delicacy from the winner’s homeland. Past champions have selected everything from wiener schnitzel (Bernhard Langer, 1986) to haggis, a Scottish specialty made of minced sheep organs (Sandy Lyle 1989) to chicken panang curry (Vijay Singh in 2001) and Moreton Bay Bugs (lobster) from Australia (Adam Scott 2014). Even Jordan Spieth, in 2016, went with Texas barbecue.

In 1998, at his first of five dinners, Tiger Woods served cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches, fries and milkshakes. More recently, he’s gone a little more upscale with a sushi appetizer and chicken and steak fajitas. At long last, Scottie Scheffler announced his menu to be served on April 4, and he didn’t disappoint.

We asked more than two dozen players what they’d serve if they won the Masters and got to host the Champions Dinner as well as a handful of past champions what they’d do if they got to host it again.

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Masters survey 2023: Pimento cheese, anyone? Contestants past and present answer the question: You have $20 for concessions. What do you buy?

What’s your order?

You’re at Augusta National Golf Club for the Masters Tournament.

You give your caddie a $20 bill to go to a concession stand.

What’s your order?

That’s the question we proposed to more than two dozen pros — from Jordan Spieth to Gary Player — who have been there, done that and tasted the pimento cheese, egg salad and ice cream sandwiches and have strong opinions on how they’d spend their dough.

Many noted they’d probably have some change, but who knew Max Homa didn’t eat eggs or that Collin Morikawa uses Masters drink cups at his house. And there are some very mixed opinions on Pimento cheese. Check out their answers…and keep the change.

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Masters survey 2023: What are the personal Masters traditions of Jack, Jordan, JT, Collin and other pros?

Here’s a list of traditions unlike any other for more than two dozen pros.

No matter whether you’re a contestant or a fan, everyone seems to have their own Masters tradition.

It could be as simple as playing the Par-3 contest or skipping it across the pond at 16. But part of what makes the Masters so special to so many of us is it is the same course every year and we know it like the back of our hand and we count the days until the week of the Masters in April so that we can enjoy all the things that make the Masters matter to us. To each his own, right? Here’s a list of traditions unlike any other for more than two dozen pros.

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