Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
SportsPulse: The beef between the two golf stars was mostly harmless, but it was beef nonetheless. Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio stops by to give his opinion on whether or not things could flare up at the Masters.
SportsPulse: The beef between the two golf stars was mostly harmless, but it was beef nonetheless. Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio stops by to give his opinion on whether or not things could flare up at the Masters.
Excitement for the first fall Masters is building as Augusta National Golf Club takes center stage in November for the first time.
Excitement for the first fall Masters is building as Augusta National Golf Club is set to take center stage in November for the first time.
The annual April event was moved seven months down the calendar out of concerns for COVID-19. As such, patrons will be be allowed on site.
“Given the circumstances brought about by the pandemic, the delivery of quality content is as important as ever to the storytelling of the Masters Tournament,” Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, said in a statement posted on Masters.com. “While we will dearly miss our patrons at Augusta National this fall, we are excited to showcase what promises to be a truly memorable Masters in a variety of ways for viewers around the world.”
But the viewing experience is getting bigger and better.
Long-time broadcast partner CBS will team up with ESPN to provide 18 hours of live television coverage over the four-day event, Nov. 12-15.
The telecast will also be available on Masters.com and the official Masters app. But, wait. There’s more.
Returning in 2020 is Featured Groups coverage as well as Amen Corner and holes 15 and 16. New this year is coverage of Nos. 4, 5 and 6.
“Every Shot, Every Hole” is back after debuting a year ago, allowing viewers instant access to every single golf shot hit all week. That is now being supplemented by “My Group,” which allows viewers to build a their own personalized feed of every shot from their favorite players.
Warm up the flat screen, get your tablet turned on and launch the app on your phone. Basically get your hands on any screen you can find and get ready for the ultimate multi-screen experience.
Note: All times listed are ET.
Morning Drive: 8 – 9 a.m., Golf Channel.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Golf Channel.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 7 – 9 p.m., Golf Channel.
Morning Drive: 8 – 9 a.m., Golf Channel.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Golf Channel.
Tuesday at the Masters: Noon – 2p.m., ESPN+.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 7 – 9 p.m., Golf Channel.
Morning Drive: 8 – 9 a.m., Golf Channel.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Golf Channel.
Wednesday at the Masters: Noon – 2 p.m., ESPN and ESPN+.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 6 – 9 p.m., Golf Channel.
SportsCenter at the Masters: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., ESPN.
Morning Drive: 7 – 8 a.m., Golf Channel.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Golf Channel.
First round: 1 – 5:30 p.m., ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Masters.com, Masters app.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Golf Channel.
First round replay: 8 – 11 p.m., ESPN.
Featured groups: 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Starts five minutes before the groups tee off. Coverage will feature two morning groups and two afternoon groups on ESPN+, Masters.com and the Masters app.
Amen Corner, Nos. 11, 12, 13: 7:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Hole Nos. 4, 5, 6: 7:55 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Hole Nos. 15, 16: 8:15 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
First round replay: 2:55 – 6 a.m., ESPN2.
Morning Drive: 7 – 8 a.m., Golf Channel.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Golf Channel.
Second round: 1 – 5:30 p.m., ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Masters.com, Masters app.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Golf Channel.
Second round replay: 8 – 11 p.m., ESPN.
Featured groups: 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Starts five minutes before the groups tee off. Coverage will feature two morning groups and two afternoon groups on ESPN+, Masters.com and the Masters app.
Amen Corner, Nos. 11, 12, 13: 7:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Hole Nos. 4, 5, 6: 7:55 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Hole Nos. 15, 16: 8:15 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Second round replay: 3 – 6 a.m., ESPN2.
Morning Drive: 8 – 9 a.m., Golf Channel.
ESPN College GameDay, 9 a.m. – noon, ESPN. The GameDay set will overlook Ike’s Pond and 9th green of the Par 3 course.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Golf Channel.
Third round: 1 – 5 p.m., CBS, Masters.com, Masters app.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 5 – 7 p.m., Golf Channel.
Featured groups, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starts five minutes before the groups tee off. Coverage will feature two morning groups and two afternoon groups on ESPN+, Masters.com and the Masters app.
Amen Corner, Nos. 11, 12, 13: 10:10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Hole Nos. 4, 5, 6, 10:45 a.m. – 4 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Hole Nos. 15, 16: 11:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 7 – 10 a.m., Golf Channel.
Final round: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., CBS, Masters.com, Masters app.
Golf Central Live From the Masters: 3 – 5 p.m., Golf Channel.
Featured groups: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Starts five minutes before the groups tee off. Coverage will feature two morning groups and two afternoon groups on ESPN+, Masters.com and the Masters app.
Amen Corner, Nos. 11, 12, 13: 8:10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Hole Nos. 4, 5, 6: 8:45 a.m. – 2 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
Hole Nos. 15, 16: 9:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., ESPN+, Masters.com, Masters app.
A simulated Masters leaderboard on Masters.com will have live scoring.
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The SEC scheduled a college football game for the weekend of the Masters.
It’s the luck of the draw, right? It’s how the computer spit out the schedule?
Just pure dumb luck that the Alabama at LSU college football game is now scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14? The same weekend as the Masters.
No way the executives at a certain TV network patched in on that SEC conference call, just to suggest that, “Hey, Nov. 14 sure looks like a good day for a certain matchup?”
But we’re not conspiracy theorists over here. We’re just connecting the dots.
The SEC released its revised 10-game, conference-only college football schedule Monday and most of the conspiracy theories being bandied about on social media are about who Alabama doesn’t have to play, who LSU doesn’t have to play or who Missouri does have to play.
But take a moment and imagine that CBS double-header: Third round of the Masters, immediately followed by one of the premier college football games of the year. There’s already plenty of chatter on the message boards about the two-fer. The football game would have to be at night, but we hear that Tiger Stadium looks pretty good for night games.
Here’s guessing that ‘Bama diehard Justin Thomas will be the first one to find a TV that night, too.
We should take a half step back because there’s no guarantee there will be any college football this fall in the SEC – or Big 12 or ACC or anywhere else for that matter. The COVID pandemic has already led the Big Ten and Pac 12 as well as a few other leagues to call off football altogether in 2020. It may come to it that the other conferences follow suit.
But for now, it’s easy to imagine what a day that would be. Is it too early to start making the popcorn?
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The 2020 Masters in November might not have patrons in attendance, Augusta’s mayor predicted.
Mayor Hardie Davis said a patron-less Masters Tournament is likely when the rescheduled event is held in November.
“The PGA Championship begins at Harding Park without fans, and that’s likely what will probably happen in Augusta,” Davis said of the tournament that started Thursday in San Francisco without fans.
Should patrons be allowed to attend, Davis said the club likely has the resources to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“Augusta National can do it better than anybody, and they have the wherewithal to test all patrons who show up at and the course and if you have a fever, they can tell you to go get in the car,” the mayor said.
The golf club postponed this year’s Masters Tournament events from April 9-12 to Nov. 9-15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Locally and regionally, the virus’ spread has escalated rapidly since the state of Georgia allowed businesses and other public venues to reopen in June. Gov. Brian Kemp has ordered local governments not to mandate the wearing of face coverings, although many cities, including Augusta, are requiring them.
Augusta added 1,460 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks, bringing the Richmond County total Wednesday to 3,921, which is just under 2% of the population.
Davis, who is not affiliated with the club, said it will look out for the safety and well-being of all but refused to say whether he wants patrons to attend.
“They’re very thoughtful,” he said of the Augusta National. “They’re going to take those necessary precautions to ensure the health, welfare and safety of not just the competitors but also this city. My preference is to see some golf.”
The club has not announced any change of plans and had no additional comment Thursday.
City officials have bemoaned the loss of sales tax revenue, hotel-motel and other tourism-related taxes from the rescheduled tournament, but so far had expected the revenue to be partially recovered in November.
The regional economic juggernaut creates thousands of jobs and thousands more area homeowners rent their homes to visiting patrons.
Revenue from a single 1% sales tax for Augusta capital projects typically peaks at around $4 million in April, outpacing December.
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The PGA Tour’s revised 2019-20 schedule features just three major championships.
The PGA Tour’s revised 2019-20 schedule features just one major championship, the PGA Championship at Harding Park.
The COVID pandemic caused major upheaval across the Tour’s schedule, including a 91-break starting with the second round of the Players Championship.
These changes moved the PGA Championship to August. Following that, there will be just four tournaments, including the season-ending Tour Championship on Labor Day weekend.
The U.S. Open is in September but technically it’s on the 2020-21 schedule, as is the Masters Tournament, which is usually the first major of the year, but in 2020, it’ll be the last, in November.
The Open Championship. meanwhile, was canceled, giving golf fans just three majors in 2020.
New dates: Aug. 6-9
Original dates: May 14-17
Location: TPC Harding Park, San Francisco
New dates: Sept. 17-20
Original dates: June 18-21
Location: Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, New York
The USGA seriously considered staging the U.S. Open in December at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, but that plan was abandoned when the R&A canceled the Open Championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby freeing a slot from Sept. 17-20 that was tentatively being held in case the Open was rescheduled.
New dates: Nov. 12-15
Original dates: April 9-12
Location: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
“We hope the anticipation of staging the Masters Tournament in the fall brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and all those who love the sport,” said Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.
Canceled. The 149th Open was one of the victims of the schedule upheaval, as the R&A announced April 6 that the event will not be held in 2020. Royal St. George’s will still serve as host of the 149th Open but will have to wait for July 2021. This allows for the 150th playing to still be at St. Andrews, but it will be in 2022 instead of 2021.
Original dates: July 16-19.
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A closer look at a photo taken in 2019 in the Champions Locker Room reveals a special message on a cocktail napkin.
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Sunday was supposed to be the final round of the Masters. But, of course, those plans were put on hold — along with the rest of the sports world — amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, golf fans enjoyed the re-airing of the 2019 Masters where Tiger Woods ended his 11-year major-less drought to earn the green jacket.
During Sunday’s telecast, Tiger reminisced on the win in an interview with Jim Nantz. He looked back on how the win represented the first time his kids got a chance to see Peak Tiger in action. The official Masters Twitter account also offered a look back on Tiger’s win with some behind-the-scenes photos.
But one photo, in particular, stood out. … a note from Phil Mickelson.
The Masters account shared a series of photos from the Champions Locker Room last year, and evidently, Phil had a note scribbled on a cocktail napkin waiting for Tiger after the round.
An unprecedented peek inside the Champions Locker Room, during the intimate moments immediately following Tiger's Masters victory. #MastersRewind pic.twitter.com/j3YDwVzSG9
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2020
It’s better for their rivalry if you read that note with an ironic tone, but I think Phil was being genuine there.
As far as napkin notes go, that was a great gesture.
Pimento and cheese sandwich. Egg salad. Butter pecan ice cream. Which concession item that fans eat do the pros say they would buy?
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.
“Butter pecan ice cream. It’s pretty good. I’ve never felt any ice cream is bad, but there’s just some that’s better than others.” – Six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus
“Couple bottles of Screaming Eagle 2005. Great wine.” – 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell
“The chocolate cookies are so good. They bring them out after lunch, they are so good. So good.” – Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy
“They have quite a few things that are really good there. But the chowder is really, really good. Tastes a bit better when you eat it in the Champions Locker Room. And the shrimp cocktail is amazing.” – 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett
“The simple stuff is so good. I always look forward to a cheeseburger after the round. They make such a good cheeseburger there.” – Matt Kuchar
“One meal or one thing? I always get their jumbo lump crabmeat. It’s unbelievable. No matter what I’m eating, there’s always a side of that, too. It’s just so good. I don’t know where they get it from but it’s unbelievable. I have it with every meal.” – Brandt Snedeker
“Oh, man, that’s a tough question. I think the right answer would be something from the wine cellar, so let me see the wine list.” – Nick Watney
“My go to there is the bison burger. It’s pretty damn good. And a peach cobbler.” – 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott
“I always eat at the caddie’s shed and I get that chicken sandwich that the patrons get because it’s so good. You have no idea how good it is until you’ve had it.” – Bill Haas
“Wow, that’s a tough one. They have such great comfort food. The hamburgers are great, the tuna melts are great. Everything seems to taste better there. I don’t know why. And out on the golf course, the egg salad sandwich is the best. I probably eat two a day and I’m there for seven days. My caddie knows to have them in the bag. And the Augusta National chocolate that has appeared the past few years is out of this world.” – 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman
“All the food is really good there. I’d go with one of the classics, the Pimento cheese sandwich. Always hits the spot.” – 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia
“They have great steaks. And the wine cellar is so good there, so I can pair the steak with some great wine.” – 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth
“Everything is so good there. So let’s go with that. I’ll broaden my list.” – Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer
“Fried chicken. It’s off the charts.” – 2015 PGA champion Jason Day
“The junior club is phenomenal.” – Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson
“You have to go with one of their staples – Pimento and cheese. It’s awesome. It’s the best.” – 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed
“It’s all good. But the fried chicken is so good. And the fried oysters. I’m not a big oyster fan, but their fried oysters are really good.” – 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson
“They always have the Taste of the Masters where they have barbeque, egg salad and pimento cheese and you have a little bit of all three of them. It’s top of the line there.” – Kevin Kinser
“I hang out in the caddie area and that fried chicken is amazing. It is amazing.” – Paul Casey
“The fried chicken is unbelievable.” – Patrick Cantlay
“I really love the fried chicken there. It’s amazing.” – Kevin Na
“The pulled pork sandwich. That’s pretty phenomenal.” – Luke Donald
“The bacon at Augusta National is so good. I learned that from Phil Mickelson. You can’t get enough of it.” – 2011 PGA champion Keegan Bradley
“All the food there is so good. But I always get a chicken sandwich on the course. I always have someone go get me one. They’re great.” – 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland
“Everything is awesome there. But my go-to in the grill is the egg salad BLT. It’s great. I’ve never been a big egg salad guy and only eat it when I’m at Augusta National. Bacon’s good on just about everything.” – Rickie Fowler
“Their breakfast there is so great. You can order anything. Their entire breakfast is so great, it’s so awesome.” – Patton Kizzire
“Their breakfasts are the greatest. The over-easy eggs are fantastic. Anything they do with breakfast is fine with me.” – Tony Finau
“The chicken fried steak, because it’s really, really, really good.” – 1998 Masters champion Mark O’Meara
“I just love the New York strip with a sweet potato. It is just so beautiful.” – 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel
“The crab Quesada. It’s so good I ordered it four out of the five days I was there, and it’s not healthy and I needed to eat healthy that week.” – Keith Mitchell
“Half a club sandwich and clam chowder. Both are so, so good.” – 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk
“I’d get two pulled-pork barbeque sliders and one pimento and cheese. It is the best.” – Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson
“Everything is pretty good there. I take that back. Everything there is great.” – Billy Horschel
Editor’s note: Check back each day for another Masters Survey.
WATCH EVERY MASTERS TOURNAMENT – SUBSCRIBE TO ESPN+
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.
We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.
Editor’s note: CBS will replay the 2019 Masters from 12:30-6 p.m. Sunday. Even if you were lucky enough to land badges for the 2020 Masters, the coronavirus pandemic denied you an opportunity to enjoy Augusta National fare – including the famed …
[jwplayer rwtnNBkO]
Editor’s note: CBS will replay the 2019 Masters from 12:30-6 p.m. Sunday.
Even if you were lucky enough to land badges for the 2020 Masters, the coronavirus pandemic denied you an opportunity to enjoy Augusta National fare — including the famed pimento-cheese sandwiches.
Not to worry. We’ve got a pimento-inspired recipe that will make you feel like you’re sitting among the azaleas on Masters Sunday.
Check out these Masters-inspired recipes that Belvedere Vodka brand ambassador Brian Stewart and sportscaster and food blogger Jaymee Sire created.
Stewart and Sire create fried pimento cheese balls in an ode to the classic sandwiches at Augusta National. Spoiler alert: these contain a lot of cheese.
The duo also makes a flowering peach cocktail which includes vodka, peach tea and lemon juice.
The full list of ingredients and instructions to both recipes can be found below and in the video above.
Fried Pimento Cheese Balls (aka Golden Bells)
Written by: Jaymee Sire
Ingredients:
Notes
Instructions
Flowering Peach Cocktail
By: Brian Stewart
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Pros like all the help they can get at the Masters at Augusta National. Here are the traits the pros would love to add to their skill set.
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.
“Ben Crenshaw’s putting. I don’t think I have to explain that.” – 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson
“Tiger’s experience.” – 2015 PGA champion Jason Day
“I would take Dustin Johnson’s or Rory McIlroy’s driving, as long and as straight as they hit it.” – Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson
“Rory’s driver. It is just enough better than mine that it would make a huge difference on that golf course.” – 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose
“Jordan’s Spieth putting. It’s so good. So, so good. Some days when you play with him it’s something to see.” – 2011PGA champion Keegan Bradley
“I’d like to play from Rory’s drives. That would be pretty good.” – 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth
“Corey Pavin’s mental game and his fight. For a guy who didn’t hit it very long, to win as many tournaments as he did, his mental toughness was so good.” – Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson
“Tiger Woods’ iron game, because he’s one of the greatest iron players that’s ever lived and that course favors someone who is a great second-shot player. Someone who can control the ball and put it in the right quadrants.” – Billy Horschel
“I’d take Tiger’s putter in those early 2000s.” – 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson
“Rory McIlroy’s driving or Bubba Watson’s driving. They’re both among the leaders in strokes gained off the tee and I’m one of the worst.” – Kevin Na
“I’d rather just take my game and go win.” – Rickie Fowler
“Rory McIlroy’s driving. He can hit it right to left and left to right and he hits it so long and finds the fairway.” – Tony Finau
“I’d would have to take Phil’s short game. It’s ridiculous.” – Two-time Masters champion Adam Scott
“Tiger’s iron play. That’s what’s kept me back all these years because you basically play tentatively at times. His iron play is special. It’s so good. Best iron play I’ve ever seen, so if I have that, let’s go.” – Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy
“Dustin Johnson’s length off the tee. To have that length with my short game would be really, really good.” – 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed
“Rory McIlroy’s driver. If I had that I could still be a little bit dangerous.” – 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman
“Bubba Watson’s driving. It’s awesome. It’s tailor-made for that place and it’s such an advantage for him. It’s a huge weapon for him.” – Matt Kuchar
“Rory’s driving. It’s exceptional. The speed he has and the accuracy, yeah, with that golf course, the places he gets to would make it a little more simple for me.” – 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett
“I would take somebody who bombs it, like Rory. If I could do that, I’d have a chance to win every time if I had that driving ability.” – Kevin Kisner
“Bubba Watson’s length, because I’m short as hell.” – 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk
“Rory McIlroy’s driving ability. It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?” – Paul Casey
“Phil Mickelson’s course knowledge, his experience. That would be a huge addition to the bag.” – Keith Mitchell
“For a bunch of years it was Tiger’s everything. And I mean everything. I’d still take his iron play. But right now, I’d love to have Rory McIlroy’s driving. I just love watching him hit the driver. His driving is spectacular.” – Bill Haas
“Rory McIlroy’s driving is pretty good, but I’d take every part of Tiger Woods’ game. Can I do that?” – Patton Kizzire
“Rory McIlroy’s driver. It’s so good. Yes, give me that. I’ll gladly take that.” – Charles Howell III
“I would let Bubba drive it around for me for the week.” – 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell
“Rory’s driver. It’s the best.” – 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson
“When Rory’s driving it really well, that’s the single biggest weapon in the game that anyone has going, especially on a major-championship track.” – Patrick Cantlay
“All of Tiger’s game. The way he plots his way around the golf course is underappreciated. He is so great there. And his putter on that golf course, it’s a joke. He gets there and sees the course and feels it.” – 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland
Editor’s note: Check back each day for another Masters Survey.
WATCH EVERY MASTERS TOURNAMENT – SUBSCRIBE TO ESPN+
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.
We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.
Golf pros are asked whom among them would win a Drive, Chip and Putt championship.
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.
“Tiger Woods because he’s Tiger Woods.” – 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson
“That’s an awesome question. Tough one, too. Well, Phil Mickelson’s dropping bombs and he can putt and chip the hell out of the ball, so if he’s hitting bombs like he says he is, I’ll take Phil.” – 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland
“Oh, my goodness. There are so many that could win. I’m going to go with Bubba Watson, because he just wins at Augusta.” – 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott
“That’s a good one. I would have to say probably a guy like Jon Rahm. He drives it quite well, he chips and putts quite well. Obviously Rory would have a good chance. Dustin Johnson, Brooks would be right there. I’d go with one of those guys.” – 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia
“I think I have a good shot. I have some length. I like chipping, I like putting. And I have an advantage. I’ve been in one in Orlando. I was 11.” – Tony Finau
“Ooh. That would be pretty good to see. You’ve got Rory, DJ and Brooks for the driving. I’d like my chances in the chipping and putting. You got Tiger up there, as well. A bunch of other guys. It would be interesting.” – 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett
“Jason Day would win. Because he’s long, he’s a phenomenal putter and he’s got an underrated chipping game.” – Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson
“I’d go with Rory because he hits it so long and so straight, and he can chip and putt.” – Luke Donald
“Justin Thomas. He’s so good at all three. I mean really good.” – Nick Watney
“Me.” – 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson
“Tiger Woods in 2000 would never get beat.” – Kevin Na
“That’s a tough one. I’d hang in there with the chip and the putt but I couldn’t hang in the driving. So I’ll go with Justin Thomas – great driver of the ball, really good chipper, very good putter.” – Brandt Snedeker
“Jason Day would be pretty good at that.” – 2011 PGA champion Keegan Bradley
“Cameron Champ because he’d win the driving contest, hands down. If he would just get one good chip and putt, there’s your winner.” – Keith Mitchell
“Ooh. Bubba. He’s got great hands and he’s a great fast-green putter. And he can let it rip.” – 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose
“I’ll take Rory there. He’s long and he’s a great chipper of the ball. And when he’s putting well, he’s really good.” – 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell
“Dustin Johnson because he’s pretty good at all of those things. He gets credit for his driving, but his chipping and putting is top drawer. And Tiger’s not exactly bad, because he’s the best touch putter we’ve seen the past 25 years.” – Paul Casey
“Justin Thomas, because he’s great at all three of them.” – Kevin Kisner
“It would have to be someone who hits it really far, because everyone chips and putts it really good. I’ll go with Rory.” – Patrick Cantlay
“Oh, wow. It wouldn’t be me because I get too nervous, so I’m out. Right now, I’d go Tiger Woods. He’s tops in putting, his chipping has always been phenomenal and man, as smooth as he’s swinging that driver, he’d give you points there.” – Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson
“It has to be Phil Mickelson. It has to be. All he has to do is get one drive in play and then chipping and putting, he knows that place so well and his hands are so good. He’d be tough to beat.” – Matt Kuchar
“Now that would be great to see. I’d give Justin Thomas a go. Overall, he’s pretty decent.” – 2015 PGA champion Jason Day
“There are so many great all-around players, so there are so many great candidates. But I’d have to go with Justin Thomas or Rory McIlroy.” – 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman
“Rory. He’s a really good chipper and he’s the best driver in the game.” – 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson
“Bubba Watson. He hits it long, he has really good touch around the greens and he has really great die speed with his putter so even if he doesn’t make a putt it will be a tap-in.” – Billy Horschel
“Jon Rahm would be right up there. Long, great short game. Xander Schauffele, because I love watching him play and he has no weakness. Rory McIlroy, he’s so good.” – Bill Haas
“Jordan Spieth. I’ve never seen a guy chip and putt better and he drives it far enough so he’d score high enough to win it all.” – Charles Howell III
Editor’s note: Check back each day for another Masters Survey.
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