I’m a big Autumn leaves guy so I’m jacked about The Masters rescheduled for November 12 – 15.
Here are my top 5 reasons why I’m looking forward to the Autumn Masters:
1. It Will Probably Be a Once in a Lifetime Event
Unless we have another global pandemic or calamity soon, I’m not sure we’ll ever see the Masters played in any other month besides April. From a sports perspective, I’m predicting my two favorite memories from the Covid-19 crisis will be watching the Autumn Masters and Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance”. Still not sure where Joe Exotic and The Tiger King will fall in my memory bank, but I sincerely hope it fades quickly, especially Joe’s mullet and that guy with the bad choppers and crappy tattoos. Anyway, I can’t wait to see Jack and Gary hit the ceremonial first tee shot with an Autumn backdrop to kick off the November Masters.
2. The World of Golf Needs A Joyous Celebration at Augusta National
After months of uncertainty, infection charts, misery for many families and a battered economy, we’re going to need something to uplift our spirits. The Masters is a quintessential American celebration of golf and I think it will help us get back to some sense of normalcy. Golfers, in particular, will relish this phenomenal celebration of the game of golf. As a golfer, I was giddy when I heard the Masters was not cancelled, but rescheduled. Finally, some freakin’ good news, I thought.
3. A Chance to See Augusta National With A Completely Different Look
I absolutely, positively love the azaleas and dogwoods, but I’m intrigued by the look of the fairways being framed by trees with leaves tinged with gold, orange and yellow. Instead of brightly blooming azaleas we’ll get to see Augusta National in all its Autumn glory. There will be no shortage of ornamental plants, either. Augusta National was carved out of the 365-acre Fruitland Nursery and there are more than 80,000 plants and 350 varieties on the rolling landscape. Keep your eye out for the leaves on the Japanese maples and Redbud trees.
4. Watch Players Play on A Different Grass with Unpredictable Weather
It’s going to be a different surface as the fairways will be overseeded. Not sure who that favors, but it will certainly give an engaging different element to the competition. Let’s see, the Golden Bear has bagged six Green Jackets, let’s reveiw what he has to say. Jack Nicklaus recently explained the November Augusta National conditions to Golf Magazine this way: “…They’re going to have to figure out how to get the overseed in and get it cut short and get it crisp so they can play golf shots. That would be the most difficult thing to have in November. I think they’ll try to dry up the fairways. I think the golf course will play relatively short in November.” He adds, “The Greens will be fine. As a matter of fact, the greens will probably be better in November, because they should be drier. They’ll be able to get the greens firmer.”
5. It will Help Kick-Off a 2021 PGA Tour Season
COVID-19 pretty much demolished the 2020 season as it did for other sports and hopefully the Autumn Masters will help kick-off a great 2021 PGA Tour season. I watch lots of televised golf and, man, I’ve missed watching live golf on television. I mean, I can watch black and white footage of Ben Hogan all day long, but I’m worn out on some of these replays of Dow Finsterwald and Homero Blancas. I’m not just enamored with watching the majors and Ryder Cup on T.V., either. There’s nothing, and I mean nothing, I like better than downing a couple of brewskis followed by an epic snooze while dozing off during the Valero Texas Open or the John Deere Classic.
