A Texas man who schemed to make money by defrauding the Augusta National Golf Club out of tickets was sentenced Monday to 28 months in prison.
A Texas man who brought his family into a scheme to make money by defrauding the Augusta National Golf Club out of tickets was sentenced Monday to 28 months in prison.
Michael Freeman, his parents and his sister pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Augusta in June 2019, admitting their roles in the scheme which the FBI lead investigator conservatively estimated brought in $530,000.
As part of their sentences, Freeman must pay $157,494, parents Diane and Steven Freeman each paid $59,000. All but $50,000, which will go to First Tee, goes to the Community Foundation of the CSRA.
Freeman’s parents and sister Christine Oliverson were each sentenced to three years probation. In addition to the prison term, Michael Freeman must serve an additional three years on supervised release.
“I’m here to be accountable and to make amends in any way I can,” Michael Freeman said.
Freeman ran the scheme for about five years starting in 2013. According to FBI Special Agent Charles McKee III, who testified at the June 2019 court hearing when the Freeman family members pleaded guilty, Freeman took advantage of the Augusta National Golf Club’s ticket lottery.
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The Augusta National Golf Club contacted the FBI in October 2017 over suspicions that someone was rigging its ticket lottery. Starting each May, anyone can sign up for Masters tickets by registering with the club – providing their name, address, email and the last four numbers of their Social Security number. If selected, the person receives a notice from the club about winning two to four tickets for one of the days of the tournament, McKee said at last year’s court hearing.
The club mails out the tickets after they are paid for online. If a ticket winner moves before the tickets are mailed, the person must file a change of address with the club and include a copy of a driver’s license and a utility bill mailed to the new home, McKee said.
Michael Freeman devised the scheme to get tickets by entering other people’s names in the lottery, McKee said. At first, he and his family used names of people they knew. Later, they expanded the operation by buying mailing lists containing names and addresses of people they didn’t know.
If there were winners, they filed fraudulent changes of address so the tickets would be sent to an address they controlled, McKee said. In cases where the change of address didn’t work and the ticket went to someone whose identity the Freemans used, Michael Freeman would write that person to say he had bought the tickets on eBay but there was a mix-up and asked the person to forward the ticket to him. A significant number of people sent the tickets to him, including one woman who went through the trash to retrieve the tickets she had tossed out, McKee said.
The FBI agent said there were four million emails involved in the scheme.
The 2021 Masters Tournament is on the schedule for April 8-11 and the official ticket application process begins on June 1.
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The 2020 Masters is set for Nov. 12-15 and if you’re lucky enough to have tickets or if you’re still interested in finding some, here’s what you need to know.
A November Masters will indeed be a tradition unlike any other.
The 2021 Masters Tournament is on the schedule for April 8-11 and the good news there is that the official ticket application process begins on June 1.
“The 2021 Masters Tournament ticket application for Practice Rounds and Daily Tourament tickets will be available beginning June 1, 2020. All tickets will be awarded through a selection process. Application deadline for Practice Rounds and Daily Tournament tickets is June 21, 2020.”
You need to create an account on masters.com before you can apply online for Masters tickets.
In case you’re wondering, you cannot trade a 2020 Masters ticket for one in 2021.
Masters tickets are coveted items and the pros know how difficult it is to gain access to Augusta National in April.
Rare is the golfer who doesn’t light up when talking about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters. The spiritual setting that warms the heart, the singular tournament that stirs the senses. The explosion of colors, the anticipation of a Sunday charge. A 12th hole that basks in beauty while serving as a devilish conquest, a green jacket that triggers dreams and lives on forever.
The gathering every April among the Georgia pines is matchless, from Augusta National Women’s Amateur to the Drive, Chip and Putt competition. While we won’t be seeing any of these events in the coming days due to the coronavirus pandemic, we think you’ll still be interested in reading about Masters traditions, the iconic holes at Augusta National and your favorite golfers who would have been in the field this month.
Golfweek surveyed 39 golfers, including 14 winners of the green jacket and 24 major champions in all, to get their views on certain features of Augusta National and the Masters. From putting to eating to predicting to offering their architectural viewpoints, we’ll roll out their takes on a variety of topics in the next 10 days.
How many ticket requests do you receive and how difficult is it to handle the allotment?
“I use this analogy a lot. My dad was an attorney so I asked him if he had a really big case and spent a lot of hours in the office, did you ever take me to the office? No, that’s a terrible idea, he said. Well, I told him the Masters is my really big case for me. It can be distracting with so many people there. I have no problem with people coming but don’t expect me to hang out. Dealing with all the people you would love to bring was so hard those first two years. It’s a stressful week. I’ll give out the tickets, but they know I get in my own world there.” – Brandt Snedeker
“Too many.” – Patton Kizzire
“You get eight and you can buy four more. People do know it’s the hardest ticket to get, so immediate family is a given. And then close friends know they can’t go every year, so you work out a little bit of a rotation. They know we have a limited amount. Still tough.” – Rickie Fowler
“More than I can count and more than I can get.” – Charles Howell III
“It could not have been any easier, because we just say no.” – Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson
Don Taylor, of Atlanta, wears a ticket from the first Masters he attended in 1951 during the 2012 Masters Tournament. Photo by Charlie Riedel/Associated Press
“Ask Sean (O’Flaherty, his agent). I separate myself from it.” – Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy
“It’s always difficult, no matter what. At the same time, that’s what makes it so special. You can’t give away as many as you want. And you know how special a ticket to the Masters is, and you know the people that get them appreciate them so much.” – 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed
“I have a decent group of people around me that don’t bombard me.” – Billy Horschel
“It’s not difficult. They only give you a certain amount and that’s it. I use them for family and that’s it.” – 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson
“A lot. It’s hard to handle. I try to get it done well ahead of time. We just can’t get a lot of them. Family gets first priority and then I let everyone else hash it out.” – 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland
“I’ve said no to people for so long now that I get less requests. Still, it’s not easy to deal with.” – 2103 Masters champion Adam Scott
“It hasn’t been difficult because you have a hard stop. You can’t go and get anymore.” – 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth
Patrons rush to get positions as the gates open for the final round of the 2007 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Photo by USA TODAY Sports
“It’s tough to give them out. But your friends know we have a limited amount, but it’s still so tough.” – 2011 PGA champion Keegan Bradley
“That’s a tough one. I don’t make any commitments until it’s closer to the tournament because people ask me a year ahead of time and I forget. But it’s tough to deal with.” – 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel
“Now that I’m in 12, 13 years of playing there, it’s less difficult. But those first few years your friends came out of the woodwork.” – 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose
“More than I get. It’s pretty tough giving out the tickets. Especially my first year, because there are so many people who were along for the ride as far as supporting you. You want to take everybody with you. It’s extremely hard to take care of. I have sort of a waiting list going.” – Tony Finau
“Oh, man. It’s hard. You get a certain amount of tickets. I delegate the whole thing to my wife, so I don’t have to get involved. She does the hard work. Right around the time the new year comes the requests start to ramp up.” – 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman
“My wife does it. You get what you get, so it’s not easy.” – 2015 PGA champion Jason Day
“Now that it’s been about five Masters in a row, it’s become a little less distracting. The first year I had a lot of requests but now everybody knows who’s getting tickets and that’s about it.” – Kevin Kisner
“Less than I used to. I’ve said no enough that people realize I can’t get them a ticket.” – 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson
A patron displays a collection of entry tickets for the Masters on his hate during the 1999 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Photo by USA TODAY Sports
“It varies. The last year was probably the most difficult as far as the most requests. But you get a limited number and that’s what you get and I think that’s great. Otherwise it would be really difficult.” – 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson
“You get quite a few. I have a list of who gets what and there isn’t enough paper for a list that long. I try to get my wife to take care of it or someone. It’s not easy.” – Luke Donald
“Used to be more. It just got to the point where I had to tell so many people I just couldn’t help them.” – Matt Kuchar
“I think my family and friends were very respectful my first year and that was it. I’ve heard stories, but it wasn’t bad for me.” – Keith Mitchell
Editor’s note: Check back each day for another Masters Survey.
Watch the full collection of official Masters films, which has a one-hour recap of every Masters from 1960 all the way up to 2018.
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You’ve waited perhaps your whole life to make the trek to Augusta, Georgia, in April but now those plans are off. Here’s an FAQ on tickets.
The 2020 Masters Tournament, originally set for April 9-12, is off for now, postponed as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
There has been some chatter that the Masters could be held in October. Or the event may not take place at all in 2020 and we’ll all just look ahead to 2021.
But what are you supposed to do if you have tickets for this year’s event?
There’s an informative Frequently Asked Questions page on the official Masters website, which was posted on March 27, 2020. The information there is subject to change at any time, so check back as needed.
What should I do with my tickets?
The Masters site informs ticket holders to hold on to them and to “secure your tickets in a safe location to be used at a future date. If the Masters Tournament is rescheduled, your existing tickets will be used for entry.”
Are my tickets still good if the 2020 Masters is rescheduled?
This is a good one to know. Your 2020 tickets will be valid if the Masters is rescheduled. The Masters website again stresses keeping your tickets in a safe location until more information is available.
Can I sell my 2020 Masters tickets?
Ah, the selling of Masters tickets. Every year, you’ll find scores of tickets and badges for sale on a variety of secondary-market ticket sites, but Masters officials repeatedly say that the Masters is the only official distributor of tickets. On the FAQ page, they remind everyone of that: “Our policies do not permit any outside sales or re-selling of our tickets/badges.”
What if the 2020 Masters is canceled?
Refunds will be issued “to those patrons who purchased tickets directly from Augusta National Golf Club.”
Can I get a refund if I bought tickets from someone other than Augusta National Golf Club?
Here’s the official Masters answer: “Refunds will be issued only to those who purchased tickets directly from Augusta National Golf Club.”
As if you had to ask that one.
If the 2020 Masters is canceled, can I buy the same tickets for 2021?
The FAQ page explains it like this: “Yes. Patrons receiving refunds will be given the opportunity to purchase the same tickets for the 2021 Masters Tournament. In order to do so, a patron must complete a 2021 ticket application during the application window which usually takes place in June.”
I don’t have 2020 tickets but I want some for 2021. How do I apply?
“Go to Masters.com and complete a ticket application during the June 2020 application window. All previous applicants and new registrants will be notified, via email, when the 2021 ticket application is available online.”
Your dream trip to Augusta National for the Masters may be cheaper than you think due to the coronavirus.
A ticket to Augusta National for the Masters is one of the most coveted and exclusive in all sports.
Tickets aren’t just difficult to acquire, they’re also expensive. If you don’t know someone, then you must take your chances via the Masters ticket lottery or the overpriced second-hand market. Either way, you’ll have to pay handsomely just to step foot on the property.
Unless there’s a pandemic, of course.
Thanks to growing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, your dream drive down Magnlolia Lane can be a reality for cheaper than you might think. A one-day badge for Thursday’s opening round is going for $1,163 on SeatGeek, half of what it would normally cost. Friday’s second round will cost you just over $1,000, with Saturday and Sunday going for around $900.
According to Yahoo! Sports, the average price of a Thursday badge was $3,616 in 2016, $3,211 in 2017 and upwards of $4,475 in 2018. Compared to the SeatGeek prices above, StubHub also shows a significant drop compared to years past.
“With fears growing about the coronavirus, and the plummeting stock market, get-in prices for the tournament are down 30 percent and at a five-year low,” said Jesse Lawrence, the founder of TicketIQ.
Monday and Tuesday practice round tickets are both under $500, with Wednesday’s pricing out at $661.
