The Masters Truly Is Different Than Any Other Event
By W. M. Lawson
The Masters Golf Tournament is the first Major on the PGA Golf calendar. But it is so much more than that for the folks involved and for this area.
Thursday, April 5, 2018 will mark the day that the 82nd Masters Golf Tournament will begin at the famed and hallowed Augusta National Golf Club. There are many reasons to pay attention this year. Truly, there are 15-25 dudes who have been playing well enough lately, and who have the game, to win this year. The new generation. The old guard like Phil and Tiger. All of it promises drama. But The Masters is so much more than that. Yes, even that.
If you’ve ever stepped foot on those lush green grounds, you are probably reading this with a smile (unless you are just a miserable person who was complaining while you there, as well). If it is possible for an outside area to act as a cathedral, that is the place.
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Much like a cathedral, there is a hushed reverence from all in attendance. One of the great surprises is that there are people from all over the globe, speaking all kinds of languages, smiling and nodding to each other, all with a quiet appreciation of this shared experience.
In a world and time where people spend hours of their day yelling at faceless strangers on Twitter and Facebook, it is as refreshing as a cold beverage and a pimento cheese sandwich at Amen Corner.
Then there is the inescapable and awe-inspiring beauty of the place. There is no way for me to describe it, and to do it justice with that description. Take my word for it, though.
I’ve been blessed to have lived abroad for years of my life. In that time, I saw some incredible places and things. The Cliffs of Dover. The Great Wall of China. The 12 Apostles in Australia. Cotopaxi in Ecuador. And many others.
The Augusta National ranks. It’s that beautiful.
And some might ask what does this mean for Atlanta or her sports fans. It’s simple, really. Bobby Jones was a Georgia boy. He was incredibly influential in Atlanta, and this golf course, and this tournament, was his baby.
Every April the sports world stops spinning, takes a breath, and peeks in on our little corner of the world.
The Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club is, for me, the greatest four days of sport all year-long.
The drama this year promises to be epic with so many good players playing so well coming into Thursday. Tiger and Phil played a practice round together, for freak’s sake.
But the tournament, and the venue, are more than that. It is a crystal green reflection and tableau of our little spot on this huge planet.
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For 4 days, it is Georgia looking at the world, and saying, “Hey. Y’all come on in.”