2026 Masters Tournament

CFordUNC said:
I like golf, and I thoroughly enjoy the Masters, but for the life of me I cannot understand the obsession people have with lining up and waiting in line to spend thousands of dollars on Masters gear. I don’t understand it. Can’t be a status thing, as at any given point walking through the Atlanta airport it’s like shooting fish in a barrel to see someone with a Masters polo or hat. To each their own, obviously, but it’s fascinating.
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Master's gear is fairly rare outside of the states surrounding Augusta. Definitely status.
 
CFordUNC said:
I like golf, and I thoroughly enjoy the Masters, but for the life of me I cannot understand the obsession people have with lining up and waiting in line to spend thousands of dollars on Masters gear. I don’t understand it. Can’t be a status thing, as at any given point walking through the Atlanta airport it’s like shooting fish in a barrel to see someone with a Masters polo or hat. To each their own, obviously, but it’s fascinating.
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I think it’s a recent thing. I’ve been twice: once last year and once over a decade ago and I don’t remember the frenzy around the merch being nearly as much then as it is now.

I spent well over $1k total lol so I admittedly was part of the problem. I’m a big golfer and had a bunch of friends/family that I play with request stuff. I personally wouldn’t ask someone to do that but obliged them all anyway. Got myself a pullover, hat, and a bunch of random trinkets to keep around the house/in my golf bag. I usually get at least something as a memento when I go to a golf tournament, but definitely got more that time. Big part of that was definitely to flex on my golf friends (and people in the Atlanta airport) lol.
 
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As an aside, the golf thread is maybe the only thing I miss from the old ZZL. We had a pretty healthy group of golfers over there and I don’t think many of them made the transition here. Doubt their politics aligned much with this board if we’re being honest lol.
 
When I first attended the Masters as a kid, the only merch offered were green Masters' golf shirts and green/yellow/white golf towels sold at a small shop in the club house. Maybe some Masters logo golf balls. Today: wow, huge stores (with Disney World like lines) selling everything from garden gnomes to pet paraphernalia (ok, I bought a Masters bandana for my dog).
 
dcphx said:
Master's gear is fairly rare outside of the states surrounding Augusta. Definitely status.
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I live in Cary and that shit is fucking ubiquitous.

I last went in the mid-90s and my hat from then has long been retired. Thought about getting another from friends that go but honestly just find it all kinda gauche, sort of a golf dude's version of a Coach handbag.... and just like how most of the Coach bags you see are fake, most Masters gear i see here was not purchased by the bearer (but instead some buddy who dropped 1k on swag! 😉)
 
gtyellowjacket said:
You'd be sitting on the curb outside the venue in about 20 minutes.
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I watched a little in the background these past two days and don’t pay too much attention to professional golf, except for in the background and seeing highlights and who won what.

Do people not say stuff at the masters like they do other events?
 
Rock said:
I watched a little in the background these past two days and don’t pay too much attention to professional golf, except for in the background and seeing highlights and who won what.

Do people not say stuff at the masters like they do other events?
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No, they do not.

You can hear birds chirp during shots. It is a last bastion of decorum in an age of ubiquitous vulgarity.
 
Rock said:
I watched a little in the background these past two days and don’t pay too much attention to professional golf, except for in the background and seeing highlights and who won what.

Do people not say stuff at the masters like they do other events?
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It is strongly discouraged. I probably overstated. Unless you were soused or a jerk they would give you a firm but polite warning and then put you out on the curb. It is not like the other tournaments.
 
I have been to at least one round every year since 1978 or so. For the most part this is true but overstated. People do cheer and say things as the rounds tense up. You the man is frequently heard.

I happen to be one of only a few hundred people who saw every shot jack Nicklaus hit on the back 9 in '86. We picked him up on 10 and followed him all the way around. At the time he was not in contention and The crowd was pretty sparce. obviously it grew to enormous proportions after amen corner. The normal Augusta decorum completely broke down during the charge. Just before he hit the 'yes sir' putt on 17 there was a huge roar behind us on 15. Everyone knew Seve was there and we assumed he stuck it close. In the biggest break of Augusta protocol ever, a guy came running up the side of the fairway yelling 'Seve's in the water, Seve's in the water!!'. The crowd exploded. Jack drained the putt and the volume redoubled again. When they posted the bridie on the scoreboard the panel for hole 18 opened up and the guy running the scoreboard pumped his fist through the opening. Bedlam

It was the most amazing sports moment of my life and I saw Jordan hit the shot against Georgetown, Tiger win his first and last green jacket, Larry Mize chip in to beat Norman and Marvin Williams shot to beat dook a)l in person.

Still have my badge from the day which I keep in my safe.
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