James Etheridge

As I have stated in the past, today is a national holiday as far as this son of Georgia is concerned. Today is Masters Sunday. A Tradition Unlike Any Other, the pundits say. And this year’s tournament, for obvious reasons, is certainly unlike any other before. It is being played in November. There will be no patrons. This is the first time since 1940 The Masters has been played at any time other than the first week in April.

The first tournament was played in March of 1934. In 1940, the dates were moved to the first full week in April, where it has been played ever since. The exceptions were 1943 through 1945, due to WWII. To aid the war effort, cattle and turkeys were raised on the grounds. I’ve known of a number of turkeys at the golf course and played with more than a few, but I cannot picture cows grazing at Amen Corner.

As beautiful as Augusta National looks on television, to actually be on the grounds is breathtaking. There are walls of huge, blooming azaleas. The fairways are pristine and manicured to the consistency of plush carpet. Along the 5th hole there are giant magnolia trees. Towering Georgia pines, whose trunks are five to six feet in diameter, line the 13th fairway. There is a majestic live oak tree beside the clubhouse, which was once an old southern mansion. There is even a palm tree on the course. It is beside the 4th green and, having been there for decades, is not one of the cold weather tolerant varieties now common in Georgia.

I must admit I am quite intrigued by seeing Augusta National in the fall, even if only on television. The thought of the leaves turning brilliant colors really jostles my senses and imagination. Those who are there this week are truly fortunate to experience what will hopefully only be a once-in-a-lifetime occurence.

Augusta National has stood the test of time. While courses that were once comparable to it are becoming obsolete or already are, it continues to challenge and humble players from generation to generation. Jordan Spieth won a green jacket in 2015 at the age of 21 and appeared to be cruising to a second consecutive one a year later. He stepped onto the 12th tee and put his tee shot into Rae’s Creek. From the drop zone, he chunked another one in the water and then airmailed the green with his next shot. He walked off the green with a quadruple-bogey 7. He really hasn’t been the same player since, although he did win the 2017 British Open.

The course has been lengthened several times and to the armchair tour pro, due to light rough and huge greens, it can still appear somewhat benign. Hogwash. Bryson DeChambeau overpowered Winged Foot in September to win the U.S. Open, a monster of a golf course set up to USGA standards. It was a safe bet to think he could do it again at The Masters. He struggled mightily the first two days and backed into making the cut on the number. So much for bringing Augusta to its knees.

Steeped in tradition, many things about The Masters will remain the same this year. The past winners gathered for The Champions Dinner, which is held each year the night before the opening practice round and hosted by the defending champion. The fact that each winner receives a lifetime exemption to play in the tournament brings two to three generations together and allows the younger players the chance to tee it up with some of the names they have only heard or read about. The players skipped the ball over the water on the 16th hole during the practice rounds as they do every year. John Rahm did it this year and made a hole-in-one. Sunday evening, defending champion Tiger Woods will slip the coveted green jacket over the shoulders of the new champion. Some traditions are unlike any other.

The 2020 Masters has been unlike any other in its history. The year 2020 has been unlike any other year in history. Please, Lord, let next year not be anything like this one. Anything at all.