Masters Tournament 2025 (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***)

[Holy Moses]

1 hour ago, Carlman said:

This past year was the first I didn’t delete the masters app because the shot by shot rounds are great pass times, and now if they’re really going to have all range sessions on there?? A dream as someone who throws those on almost daily in the background.

 

Masters continually improves its product every year it’s really commendable. 

It’s incredible what you can do with media and production and facilities when you have $70 million worth of merch sales at ridiculous margins in a week

[ANimz]

On 4/2/2025 at 11:29 AM, Pops99 said:

Great thread as always, Matty.

 

And you absolutely sum up my feelings with this line here: "For me, the only downside of Masters week is when the final putt drops and the reality that we have another 51 weeks to wait for that feeling again sets in"

 

That post-Masters depression is real. 

Especially when the annual rejection letter hits.

[chillybilly]

No belligerence intended but what is JT coming back from? 

He's won 2 majors, 15 Tour events, 8 world events and is just 31 years old.

 

The 'news' that CBS won't show any hurricane damage is as surprising as the news that the sun will rise in the east. The obsequious excuses from CBS producers are hilarious in their eggshell-treading caution.

 

Although the hurricane is of interest - and relevance - to millions affected by Helene - The Masters on TV is a series of botanical beauty shots punctuated by some golf. And that's why many people love it even if they don't love golf. ANGC know this of course. Hell, when those trees fell during the tournament they had chainsaw crews there in literal seconds. I half expected them to parachute in.

[Hawkeye77]

31 minutes ago, chillybilly said:

No belligerence intended but what is JT coming back from? 

He's won 2 majors, 15 Tour events, 8 world events and is just 31 years old.

 

The 'news' that CBS won't show any hurricane damage is as surprising as the news that the sun will rise in the east. The obsequious excuses from CBS producers are hilarious in their eggshell-treading caution.

 

He hasn't won since 2022 and his results have been relatively poor for his level of accomplishment - bit of a slump.

 

I wouldn't get too wrapped cup in the hurricane damage bit - that's pretty much the same news story with many faces putting out clickbait and complaining for no reason (look at most of the sources - usual suspects) - the club doesn't want to waste time on a lot of before and after - sounds like a good idea and with all that happened in that area I doubt people affected by the hurricane want to be reminded or see how a well financed private golf club was able to effectuate repairs and so forth and look wonderful - really wouldn't be a good look but some morons are making it an issue in their little "articles" to complain that it's stuck up Augusta not wanting to admit they had damage or the course might look bad if they showed pics of the damage, so really dumb stuff from dumb "writers". It's not "eggshell-treading caution" --- it's AN not wanting a story made out of something that isn't worth making a story out of.  

 

 

Edited April 4 by Hawkeye77

[chillybilly]

24 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

I wouldn't get too wrapped cup in the hurricane damage bit - that's pretty much the same news story with many faces putting out clickbait and complaining for no reason (look at most of the sources - usual suspects) - the club doesn't want to waste time on a lot of before and after - sounds like a good idea and with all that happened in that area I doubt people affected by the hurricane want to be reminded or see how a well financed private golf club was able to effectuate repairs and so forth and look wonderful - really wouldn't be a good look but some morons are making it an issue in their little "articles" to complain that it's stuck up Augusta not wanting to admit they had damage or the course might look bad if they showed pics of the damage, so really dumb stuff from dumb "writers".  It's not "eggshell-treading caution" --- it's AN not wanting a story made out of something that isn't worth making a story out of.  

 

 

 

To repeat/clarify: I never expected them to show the damage and will sleep just fine without it (not least because it's available elsewhere) but historic buildings and sites eg lighthouses or piers damaged or ruined by natural disasters tend to serve as symbols for the wider devastation beyond, affluence of club membership notwithstanding. The 'usual suspects' have included many in the golf media whose intent is not to criticize. Indeed, these are the writers who tend to praise every blade of grass and pimiento cheese sandwich on the property. They seek to present the story from ANGC's viewpoint and, on the most relevant and objective levels, to show how the golf course on which the tournament is contested has changed. Because it has. Surely that has news value? It certainly does when they move tees and make other voluntary changes.

 

How much time would a couple of still photos take? 20 seconds out of 72,000 seconds of airtime?

 

The club not wanting a story and the worthiness of the story are two very different things.

Edited April 4 by chillybilly

[Hawkeye77]

5 minutes ago, chillybilly said:

 

To repeat/clarify: I never expected them to show the damage and will sleep just fine without it (not least because it's available elsewhere) but historic buildings and sites eg lighthouses or piers damaged or ruined by natural disasters tend to serve as symbols for the wider devastation beyond, affluence of club membership notwithstanding. The 'usual suspects' have included many in the golf media whose intent is not to criticize. Indeed, these are the writers who tend to praise every blade of grass and pimiento cheese sandwich on the property. They seek to present the story from ANGC's viewpoint and, on the most relevant and objective levels, to show how the golf course on which the tournament is contested has changed. Because it has. Surely that has news value? It certainly does when they move tees and make other voluntary changes.

 

How much time would a couple of still photos take? 20 seconds out of 72,000 seconds of airtime?

 

The club not wanting a story and the worthiness of the story are two very different things.

 

No, it's many in golf media that want to criticize, read some of the pieces, and they are not by and large noted or credible golf writers.  I think you're a bit out there with the hyperbole. Some are simply reporting, the disreputable are using it as an excuse to take shots at the club. 

 

Nothing prevents any writer from doing a before and after piece - how many went down there to do real reporting the past several months?  Likely none outside the Augusta area.  

 

But this isn't about the "public's right to see" this or that bunch of trees that were lying on the ground, or this or that building that was damaged and so forth and CBS has no obligation to make any part of the tournament about that --- again, see having some respect for the people that lived through the hurricane in the area.  Why do you need to see that?

[Hawkeye77]

Here's some good perspective from the Chairman.  By January it was looking forward and "lost a few trees" (paraphrase) - again, good perspective and now last year's story. 

 

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/43443801/fred-ridley-augusta-national-recovered-well-helene

Edited April 4 by Hawkeye77

[chillybilly]

27 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

 

But this isn't about the "public's right to see" this or that bunch of trees that were lying on the ground, or this or that building that was damaged and so forth and CBS has no obligation to make any part of the tournament about that --- again, see having some respect for the people that lived through the hurricane in the area.  Why do you need to see that?

 

You're employing several straw men here. I asserted nothing about the right to see. I didn't say I 'needed' to see it. In fact, I said I'd already seen it. 

 

I maintain that

-a Cat 4-5 hurricane causing extensive damage to much of the Southeast is newsworthy and that historic, familiar gathering sites such as sporting venues, especially one that is large, open acreage, are often employed as avatars for natural disasters.

-since golf is played on a golf course and the golf course changes due to weather it is newsworthy, just as it is newsworthy when tees are moved, fairways are reshaped and even - gasp - trees are intentionally removed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4 by chillybilly

[bladehunter]

I’m curious to see how many trees were lost. There’s no way the course isn’t remarkably different, unless they planted mature trees in their place.  You can drive by any patch of forest here ( I’m an hour north of Augusta ) and the amount of old growth trees down inside the patches of woods is crazy. To the eye it looks like 30 % or more down in every patch of woods here.   I have 8 acres of “ timber “ myself according to the usda census , and I’ve counted roughly 63 trees down in those 8 acres. Then I had 11 total down out in fields or our yard. That’s roughly 75 huge trees in 50 acres for me. Using that estimate. Augusta is looking at 100 plus trees lost.  Especially since tall pines are most of what they have.  Most of mine are oaks. Some hickory. One pecan , and around 6 pines. 

[Hawkeye77]

1 minute ago, chillybilly said:

 

You're employing several straw men here. I asserted nothing about the right to see. I didn't say I 'needed' to see it. In fact, I said I'd already seen it. 

 

I maintain that

-a Cat 4-5 hurricane causing extensive damage to much of the Southeast is newsworthy and that historic, familiar gathering sites such as sporting venues are often employed as avatars for natural disasters.

-since golf is played on a golf course and the golf course changes due to weather it is newsworthy, just as it is newsworthy when tees are moved, fairways are reshaped and even - gasp - trees are intentionally removed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No I didn't employ a single straw man, haha, but you're using the "you are using straw men" straw man argument, lol.  Well played. 😀

 

I maintain you want to have it both ways.  You say you don't really care and never expected them to show it, but yet they should show it.  

 

The hurricane was newsworthy last year - we can I guess agree to disagree on the detail that we believe Augusta National should provide on what was or wasn't damaged on the course and how it was addressed - in the grand scheme of things, IMO, it's not that big of a deal and they set that tone in January.  Where was all the demand for more info and reporting and so forth from the hurricane until the past day or so?  Non-existent.  Now the tourney is here and somebody needs to write about something or take the something somebody else wrote and, as these things now go in the name of "journalism", have it copied over and over and over all over the place.

 

Honestly, who cares which particular trees were down? What building may have been damaged? I've mentioned it a few times and it's pretty clear this plays into the Club's thinking - you really think the folks in the August area want a story about how AN overcame the hurricane and made it look all pretty again?  Kind of a lack of perspective.  They fixed stuff and moved on -- several months ago.

 

I suggest we both tune in to the Chairman's address next week and see what he says about it - maybe that will fill in some blanks.

 

 

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

Just now, bladehunter said:

I’m curious to see how many trees were lost. There’s no way the course isn’t remarkably different, unless they planted mature trees in their place.  You can drive by any patch of forest here ( I’m an hour north of Augusta ) and the amount of old growth trees down inside the patches of woods is crazy. To the eye it looks like 30 % or more down in every patch of woods here.   I have 8 acres of “ timber “ myself according to the usda census , and I’ve counted roughly 63 trees down in those 8 acres. Then I had 11 total down out in fields or our yard. That’s roughly 75 huge trees in 50 acres for me. Using that estimate. Augusta is looking at 100 plus trees lost.  Especially since tall pines are most of what they have.  Most of mine are oaks. Some hickory. One pecan , and around 6 pines. 

 

Hey, I'm curious from an Masters-ophile point of view, don't get me wrong, but not enough I'm going to criticize the Club or CBS for not showing a bunch of before and after as if they have an obligation to do it or make the Club surviving a hurricane a story - and not suggesting you are.  You're down there so probably have the best perspective of anyone here on what happened.

 

I'm guessing given the vast numbers of trees there the trees lost may not be all that noticeable (but I've only been there once, haha) or in the long run may even be somewhat beneficial so I'd love to read an article about how or whether any real differences were made that related to design.  They're trees, not like they are sacred (I'm not a Druid).  

[chillybilly]

3 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

No I didn't employ a single straw man, haha, but you're using the "you are using straw men" straw man argument, lol.  Well played. 😀

 

I maintain you want to have it both ways.  You say you don't really care and never expected them to show it, but yet they should show it.  

 

The hurricane was newsworthy last year - we can I guess agree to disagree on the detail that we believe Augusta National should provide on what was or wasn't damaged on the course and how it was addressed - in the grand scheme of things, IMO, it's not that big of a deal and they set that tone in January.  Where was all the demand for more info and reporting and so forth from the hurricane until the past day or so?  Non-existent.  Now the tourney is here and somebody needs to write about something or take the something somebody else wrote and, as these things now go in the name of "journalism", have it copied over and over and over all over the place.

 

Honestly, who cares which particular trees were down? What building may have been damaged? I've mentioned it a few times and it's pretty clear this plays into the Club's thinking - you really think the folks in the August area want a story about how AN overcame the hurricane and made it look all pretty again?  Kind of a lack of perspective.  They fixed stuff and moved on -- several months ago.

 

I suggest we both tune in to the Chairman's address next week and see what he says about it - maybe that will fill in some blanks.

 

 

 

 

 

Ascribing words and motives to me that aren't mine then criticizing them is the very definition of a straw man.

 

Perhaps I have the intellectual capacity to grasp and even sympathize with two or more points of view. I'm not sure where the 'choose a side' stuff comes from because that is neither my sentiment nor my intent. 

 

Who cares? I care. As a viewer, a player, a person who's visited the site. As do others. Not from an exploitative, leering standpoint, merely from a golf standpoint. 

 

I have no idea what the people of Augusta might want or not want nor am I attempting mass clairvoyance. Again, you invent a conclusion or a viewpoint then attribute it to me with some thinly veiled ad hominem tossed in.

 

 

Edited April 4 by chillybilly

[bladehunter]

18 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

Hey, I'm curious from an Masters-ophile point of view, don't get me wrong, but not enough I'm going to criticize the Club or CBS for not showing a bunch of before and after as if they have an obligation to do it or make the Club surviving a hurricane a story - and not suggesting you are.  You're down there so probably have the best perspective of anyone here on what happened.

 

I'm guessing given the vast numbers of trees there the trees lost may not be all that noticeable (but I've only been there once, haha) or in the long run may even be somewhat beneficial so I'd love to read an article about how or whether any real differences were made that related to design.  They're trees, not like they are sacred (I'm not a Druid).  

I have no dog in the media fight. They’ll do whatever  makes a $.  And if Augusta says no , that means they won’t , to keep from losing a $ next year.  
 

I just mean sheer volume .  I have a hard time imagining that those tall pines didn’t suffer same or worse as my town. They’ll bend somewhat. But the leverage on the roots are much more that that of oaks. And the root system isn’t as deep. My imagination says that we’re going to see some new escape routes from the trees. Or some holes with 1-5 trees left standing on one side.  Something noticeable like that.   It’s sheer and utter destruction all around me. It’s 6 months later and we have giant trucks with giant topless box trailers and cranes with grapple claws running 12 hours a day picking up debris. They’re placing it on govt owned sites and using huge mulchers. It’s been said that there’s enough free mulch to last 20 years for all of the southeast. Landscape supply companies have gone out of business.  Because they literally will load your truck with all the mulch you want for free. 
 

the media has downplayed all of this the entire time. Worst disaster outside of a coastal town direct hurricane in  150 years and we’re all just cleaning it up ourselves. There is no govt response outside of the debris trucks I mentioned.  And you have to get it to the roadside for that pickup. They won’t  come on your property  .
 

  I’ve been running a chainsaw every Saturday evening and Sunday evening for 6 months. We aren’t even close to cleaned up. I barely have the 5 big trees in the yard limbed .  And brush piles made .  And I have equipment to grab and pile it up . So it’s not just by hand. It’s crazy. 

[Hawkeye77]

5 hours ago, chillybilly said:

 

Ascribing words and motives to me that aren't mine then criticizing them is the very definition of a straw man.

 

Again, you invent a conclusion or a viewpoint then attribute it to me with some thinly veiled ad hominem tossed in.

 

 

 

Not at all, and no "ad hominems" intended, suggested or implied - let's keep it to what it is and let's see what the Chairman wants to share next week.  

Edited April 4 by Hawkeye77

[RSinSG]

It never ceases to amaze me how WRX threads can so easily get derailed.

 

In that spirit- I’ll be getting out my favorite pimento cheese sandwich recipe for the one time a year that I pretend it’s not that bad.

[Hawkeye77]

6 minutes ago, RSinSG said:

It never ceases to amaze me how WRX threads can so easily get derailed.

 

In that spirit- I’ll be getting out my favorite pimento cheese sandwich recipe for the one time a year that I pretend it’s not that bad.

 

I love them! 

 

Wrap them in green cling film (as they say across the pond) and take a little paper lunch bag with two or three of them off to the course for pre-viewing golf.  

 

But my insides can only take so much of the heavy dose of cheese and mayo, lol, so Masters week is it for me during the year.

 

Haha, and trees down and damage at the course where the Masters is being played is part of the story this year, nothing wrong with exploring points of view. 😉

 

And you must use Duke's Mayo - if not, we can derail into mayo choices! 

Edited April 4 by Hawkeye77

[Titleist99]

51 minutes ago, RSinSG said:

It never ceases to amaze me how WRX threads can so easily get derailed.

 

 

Because everyone thinks that their opinion is right and that should be the final word on any given subject. Most are narrow minded and have no sense of debate.

 

No one is right all the time unless you're a member of GOLFWRX. 🤣

[bladehunter]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

I love them! 

 

Wrap them in green cling film (as they say across the pond) and take a little paper lunch bag with two or three of them off to the course for pre-viewing golf.  

 

But my insides can only take so much of the heavy dose of cheese and mayo, lol, so Masters week is it for me during the year.

 

Haha, and trees down and damage at the course where the Masters is being played is part of the story this year, nothing wrong with exploring points of view. 😉

 

And you must use Duke's Mayo - if not, we can derail into mayo choices! 

If you don’t eat dukes.   Well ….. you know what Rickie Bobby said?  Right ? 🤣.  A joke people. A joke. You can eat your sweet Mayo and carry your fanny pack. You do you.  

[sloansav62]

1 hour ago, bladehunter said:

If you don’t eat dukes.   Well ….. you know what Rickie Bobby said?  Right ? 🤣.  A joke people. A joke. You can eat your sweet Mayo and carry your fanny pack. You do you.  

Finally have Dukes in the grocery stores near me. #rickiebobbytruth

[Duct Tape]

5 hours ago, bladehunter said:

I’m curious to see how many trees were lost. There’s no way the course isn’t remarkably different, unless they planted mature trees in their place.  You can drive by any patch of forest here ( I’m an hour north of Augusta ) and the amount of old growth trees down inside the patches of woods is crazy. To the eye it looks like 30 % or more down in every patch of woods here.   I have 8 acres of “ timber “ myself according to the usda census , and I’ve counted roughly 63 trees down in those 8 acres. Then I had 11 total down out in fields or our yard. That’s roughly 75 huge trees in 50 acres for me. Using that estimate. Augusta is looking at 100 plus trees lost.  Especially since tall pines are most of what they have.  Most of mine are oaks. Some hickory. One pecan , and around 6 pines. 

White Oak?   🤓.  Quartersawn? 

 

Now if you’d had walnut I’d be there with my chainsaw and trailer to “help”.   My favorite woodworking wood. 

[Duct Tape]

3 hours ago, RSinSG said:

It never ceases to amaze me how WRX threads can so easily get derailed.

 

In that spirit- I’ll be getting out my favorite pimento cheese sandwich recipe for the one time a year that I pretend it’s not that bad.

Save yourself the trouble, it’s bad.  Trust me.  🤓🏌🏼‍♀️

[bladehunter]

7 minutes ago, Duct Tape said:

White Oak?   🤓.  Quartersawn? 

 

Now if you’d had walnut I’d be there with my chainsaw and trailer to “help”.   My favorite woodworking wood. 

Yes sir. I’ll have some white oak.  In fact I have some 2x12 white oak  planks , 16 footers , drying now.  At the rate I’m going I’ll need 4 lifetimes to use any of it.  We definitely won’t waste any good logs. You can never telll till you cut into one what you have though.  Black ants are bad here to hollow them out.  

[notsohard]

If you google enough, you'll find a 4 minute drone footage of some of the course damage, I believe by Talksport. 

PR stunt I hear, doesn't look bad. Apparently front 9 got hit with most damage. TV viewing may have different  angles this year. Whatever, the course layout is the same, and it is the Masters. 

 

[Hawkeye77]

Just got back from walking my first nine of the season. About 42 degrees, magazines I locked in my trunk in the early to mid 70s had things less shaggy than our greens but it was wonderful. 
 

Then I come here …..

 

People worried about derailing and “debating”, haha, and wood and mayonnaise still the topics! So I guess we’ll carry on then - wife has fresh Duke’s on the grocery list and I’ve got firewood at the ready for this evening and will snuggle up and watch some match play. 
 

Shoulder not perfect but better than last year, so that’s a relief and I’m already planning my hooky for later next week when we hit some 60s for golf and making sure office commitments are compatible with streaming (what’s the topic?) ………. the Masters!

Which I always imagine being said by Pat Summerall.

 

 

[Duct Tape]

2 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Just got back from walking my first nine of the season. About 42 degrees, magazines I locked in my trunk in the early to mid 70s had things less shaggy than our greens but it was wonderful. 
 

Then I come here …..

 

People worried about derailing and “debating”, haha, and wood and mayonnaise still the topics! So I guess we’ll carry on then - wife has fresh Duke’s on the grocery list and I’ve got firewood at the ready for this evening and will snuggle up and watch some match play. 
 

Shoulder not perfect but better than last year, so that’s a relief and I’m already planning my hooky for later next week when we hit some 60s for golf and making sure office commitments are compatible with streaming (what’s the topic?) ………. the Masters!

Which I always imagine being said by Pat Summerall.

 

 

Wood, mayo, …..     BBQ would be next if Big Stu were still around. 
 

All fair game until the real show ramps up early next week H77.   Or during rain delays. 

[bladehunter]

3 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Just got back from walking my first nine of the season. About 42 degrees, magazines I locked in my trunk in the early to mid 70s had things less shaggy than our greens but it was wonderful. 
 

Then I come here …..

 

People worried about derailing and “debating”, haha, and wood and mayonnaise still the topics! So I guess we’ll carry on then - wife has fresh Duke’s on the grocery list and I’ve got firewood at the ready for this evening and will snuggle up and watch some match play. 
 

Shoulder not perfect but better than last year, so that’s a relief and I’m already planning my hooky for later next week when we hit some 60s for golf and making sure office commitments are compatible with streaming (what’s the topic?) ………. the Masters!

Which I always imagine being said by Pat Summerall.

 

 

Man.  It’s already 80 and humid here. Although supposed to turn cool next week I think. Back down in the 60s for a high. Today was downright sticky. I just came inside , I hit balls till I couldn’t see anymore and I’m sweaty like I been working out. And I wasn’t hitting full shots.  Air is thick.  Insects are hatching. I want spring !  Not summer yet !  🤣

[Hawkeye77]

Just now, bladehunter said:

Man.  It’s already 80 and humid here. Although supposed to turn cool next week I think. Back down in the 60s for a high. Today was downright sticky. I just came inside , I hit balls till I couldn’t see anymore and I’m sweaty like I been working out. And I wasn’t hitting full shots.  Air is thick.  Insects are hatching. I want spring !  Not summer yet !  🤣

I had on an ultralight wool quarter zip, a light wool sweater and a light sleeved vest zip up looking thing and a stocking cap! 55 and sunny Sunday - I’m looking forward to a few extra yards because of the “heat”, lol. 

[Hawkeye77]

23 minutes ago, Duct Tape said:

Wood, mayo, …..     BBQ would be next if Big Stu were still around. 
 

All fair game until the real show ramps up early next week H77.   Or during rain delays. 

I miss Big Stu and BBQ will be part of all things Masters next week!

[dmbolp]

Got my Azalea Cocktail pack

 

 

[Duct Tape]

12 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Man.  It’s already 80 and humid here. Although supposed to turn cool next week I think. Back down in the 60s for a high. Today was downright sticky. I just came inside , I hit balls till I couldn’t see anymore and I’m sweaty like I been working out. And I wasn’t hitting full shots.  Air is thick.  Insects are hatching. I want spring !  Not summer yet !  🤣

Snowing here………..     Sigh.