The first major golf tournament of the season, the Masters, will be held next month with limited patrons in attendance. Augusta National will also host the second annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals for junior golfers.
The Masters annually signals a start to the golf season in the northern portion of the United States. The beauty of the flowers and the perfectly manicured green grass at Bobby Jones’ dream course never fails to impress and amaze golf fans.
Last year COVID concerns forced the Masters to be postponed until November with World No. 1 Dustin Johnson donning his first Green Jacket. Now just five months later the Masters will once again be held and culminate nearly two weeks of golf competition at Augusta National. The second annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip & Putt competition will both be held the week prior to the start of the Masters. 
In addition to winning the Masters last fall, Johnson also dominated the FedEx Cup Playoffs and was named PGA TOUR Player of the Year. He has to be the unanimous favorite to grab a second Green Jacket next month.
There will be a host of familiar names trying to snatch the title away from DJ. Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau all want to add more major titles to their resume, as well as, add a Green Jacket to their wardrobe. Jordan Spieth already has won at Augusta National and the recent resurrection of his golf game makes him a fan favorite. One more name that should be prominent on the big leaderboard on Sunday is Rory McIlroy, who is still looking to complete his first career Grand Slam and earn an invitation to the annual Champions Dinner.
The Masters is steeped in tradition, but we will see a slight twist to an old one this year. Ceremonial starters, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will be joined by the first African-American to play in the Masters, Lee Elder, for those first tee shots signaling the start of the tournament.
Amen Corner, Rae’s Creek, the Hogan Bridge, and Pimento Cheese sandwiches amid the backdrop of color from the millions of Azaleas, Dogwoods and Magnolias all play their part in this annual spectacle.
History tells us that the tournament doesn’t start until the back nine on Sunday. The two par fives on the back side, Nos. 13 and 15 offer birdie and eagle opportunities, but if a player gets too greedy Rae’s Creek has drowned many a player’s dreams of glory.
The tournament annually identifies the greatest golfers of their era, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, all won multiple Masters’ titles and all are in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
From 1949-1954 Sam Snead and Ben Hogan won five of the six Green Jackets, and from 1960-1966, either, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus or Gary Player won every Masters
The Masters is always my favorite tournament of the year. It is one of the greatest events in sports and 2021 should be yet another memorable Masters. I eagerly anticipate watching the players striding down the verdant green fairways and grinding to avoid 3-putts on the severely undulating greens.
Live streaming of this year’s Masters is available at Masters.org and will be broadcast as always on CBS.
ANWA
The Masters is always a highlight, but another tournament that has rapidly become one of my favorites is the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The first edition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, held in 2019, was one of the most significant golf events ever contested. It highlighted the best and brightest women amateur golfers from around the world, plus the ladies had the opportunity to play on the same course the Masters is competed on every year.
Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi
The 2020 tournament was a casualty of COVID, but the invitations have been sent and the field is set for the second edition of this landmark event.
The 54-hole tournament will kick off with the first two rounds being held at Champions Retreat Golf Course, Wednesday, March 31st and Thursday, April 1st. All 85 players will play a practice round on Augusta National on Friday with the top 30 players, after the first 36 holes, returning to Augusta National for the championship round on Saturday.
In 2019, we saw a wonderful battle on the final day between Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi. Kupcho fell behind Fassi on the front nine, as she was suffering with a migraine. Feeling better later in the round, she battled back with an eagle at No. 15 and a birdie at the 16th to jump ahead of Fassi for good.
This year the international field will feature players from Austria, New Zealand, Taipei, Paraguay, Denmark, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Belgium, Spain, China, France, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Argentina, England.
It is sad that once again this event is being held opposite the LPGA’s first major of 2021, the ANA Inspiration. It does, however, give women’s golf the main stage on television and in the sports media for the week.
Women’s golf has come a ‘Long Way Baby,’ not only on the LPGA, but for Women’s amateur golf, as well.
Drive, Chip & Putt
Junior golfers dream of competing in the National Finals of the Drive, Chip & Putt Competition held at Augusta National on Sunday just prior to the start of the Masters.
They must qualify through local and regional qualifiers to earn their spot at Augusta.
Both boys and girls are divided among four age groups, 7-9, 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15. The compete for longest drive, a chip shot that stops nearest to the cup and who can make a putt.
Although there will be limited fans on hand for all three events, it will not dull the anticipation and excitement of participants and golf fans alike.
Augusta National has become one of the most recognized golf courses on earth and their efforts to promote golf via these high-level events, plus their support of the Asia-Pacific Amateur and Latin America Amateur Championship have expanded golf’s reach worldwide.
