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It’s that time of year again. As the calendar turns to April and the azaleas start to bloom it reminds us that it’s time for the Masters. The annual tournament in Augusta, GA is golf’s most prestigious event, with players from all over the world trying to win the coveted green jacket April 3-9th.
The week starts on Monday and Tuesday with practice rounds followed by the always popular Par 3 Contest on Wednesday April 5th. This is a relaxing day where you often see wives, children and grandchildren of tournament participants and past champions acting as caddies, and it’s not uncommon to see them take a putt or chip. The nine-hole layout allows for plenty of entertainment for those participating as well as those watching on TV. For you trivia buffs, no winner of the Par 3 Contest has ever won the actual tournament in the same year.
Another highlight that takes place before the actual tournament begins is The Champions Dinner. This special event occurs on the Tuesday of Masters week and features a menu chosen by last year’s champion that is served to a guest list made up of previous champions, with the menu typically featuring favorite dishes or foods from their native country. Seeing each year’s unique menu has become a popular event and one of great fanfare. This year, Scottie Scheffler, the champion from 2022, will be serving cheeseburger sliders, firecracker shrimp, ribeye steak, blackened redfish, and a warm chocolate chip cookie skillet for dessert – among other specialty items.
Players can qualify for the Masters several ways, including past champions, winners of other major tournaments, as well as overall world golf rankings. The 2023 field contains 20 past champions, including notable names like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, and Jose Maria Olazabal. Among the favorites for 2023 are Scottie Scheffler, last year’s champion, as well as other big names such as Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Dustin Johnson, to name a few.
Once the real golf starts on Thursday, it’s four days of non-stop action with many ups and downs for the participants. And while we will all look for the big names at the top of the leaderboard, don’t be surprised to see some unexpected ones as well. Inevitably, there’s bound to be some surprises – but what will not be a surprise is the excitement that comes from watching the best golfers compete at one of the most famous and beautiful golf courses in the world.