Welcome to Augusta National, where exciting events have unfolded on Friday. Let’s delve into the highlights.
Fred Couples: Twitter Clapbacks and Ticket Talks
One notable aspect of Fred Couples is his fearlessness in engaging on Twitter. It’s quite unexpected for a 64-year-old to indulge in online banter, but it’s refreshing to witness Couples’ occasional snarky comments on social media. Plus, as an uncontroversial figure in the golfing world, his online remarks never fail to surprise me.
Recently, Greg Norman’s son, Greg Jr., mentioned that his father had to purchase a ticket to attend the Masters this year. Considering Norman’s estimated net worth of $400 million and the average price of daily badges at $2,200, it’s safe to say that money wasn’t the issue. It appears to be more of a matter of principle, as Norman claimed he wasn’t invited to Augusta National in 2023.
I must admit, I’m not entirely shocked by Norman’s situation. The PGA Tour and Augusta National are close acquaintances. In layman’s terms, LIV Golf, where Norman is associated, is akin to the PGA Tour’s ex-boyfriend. It’s unlikely you would invite your pal’s ex-boyfriend to your birthday party, right?
Couples, seizing the opportunity, extended a slightly backhanded invitation to Norman after hearing about his claimed ticket struggles. Interestingly enough, Masters competitors receive 15 tickets for friends and family, so it’s peculiar that none of them were able to secure one for their commissioner. If such a situation repeats itself in 2025, I’m confident Couples can pull a few strings.
It’s worth noting that Norman Jr. responded with a clap back while I was working on this article. He referenced their earlier encounter in the Skills Challenge, taking the discussion all the way back. Reminds me of a classic scenario where you bring up a time from your elementary school days when you outperformed your friend who eventually went on to attend an Ivy League school.
Tiger Woods: A Record-Breaking Streak
Tiger Woods has once again etched his name in the record books! The legendary 82-time PGA Tour champion now holds the solo record for the most consecutive cuts made at the Masters. To put things into perspective, 17 of this week’s Masters competitors weren’t even born yet when Tiger last missed a cut at Augusta National in 1996. Yet, here he is, consistently making it through to the weekend.
I couldn’t help but dig into pop culture trends from 1996—the same year Tiger missed the cut—to gain some context. Here are a few fun facts from that time:
- Hotmail was just invented.
- “Independence Day” became the highest-grossing movie.
- “Macarena” dominated the airwaves as the song of the year.
- Troy Aikman led the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory.
Can you imagine driving away from Augusta National, having shot back-to-back 75s to miss the cut, with “Macarena” playing on the radio? What a nightmare that would be.
Caitlin Clark: A Masters Fan
Allow me to share my newfound admiration for Caitlin Clark. Some may call me a bandwagon fan, and perhaps rightfully so, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching her excel in basketball this year. Since I know she’s a golf enthusiast, I occasionally browse her social media updates. I couldn’t help but wonder if she’s been following the Masters this week. To my delight, it turns out she has.
Prior to delving into the golf-related content she enjoyed on Twitter, take a moment to appreciate her swing.
One of the posts she liked highlighted Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley mentioning her in a press conference. Ridley addressed the state of women’s golf coverage, the LPGA Tour, and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur compared to women’s college basketball coverage. He also touched on why a player like Caitlin Clark seems to capture the audience’s attention.
Ridley’s comments on Clark were as follows:
“It’s just the way she plays, the way Caitlin plays the game—her passion, her energy—it really captures the imagination of the fans. We hope to see more players like her, not only in golf but also among the young women who play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Amateur athletes have a certain appeal, even with all the changes in rules, NIL, and the transfer portal. Particularly the young ones.”
If the chairman of Augusta National is using Clark as an example, she must be doing something right.
It’s evident that Clark has been closely following the Masters this week, as she “liked” various golf-related tweets. There’s even a humorous tweet by Kyle Porter suggesting that the only person who may prevent Scottie Scheffler from winning another green jacket is his wife, Meredith, going into labor during the tournament.
Clark showed appreciation by “liking” a wholesome photo of Jack and Barbara Nicklaus during the ceremonial first tee shots. And, of course, she acknowledged Bryson DeChambeau’s unique antics on the course by “liking” a tweet capturing his encounter with a directions sign on the 13th hole.
If Caitlin Clark is reading this, I would love to know who your favorite players are. Feel free to join me on the Scoop anytime!
Max Homa: Reflective Journaling
Max Homa delivered an incredible and thought-provoking press conference after his second round on Friday. Alongside his compelling insights about teeing it up with Tiger, his discussion on journaling caught my attention.
Homa shared his recent journal entry, emphasizing the importance of accepting oneself without striving to be better than what one already is. He acknowledged that striving for endless improvement doesn’t yield desired results and has shifted his focus toward embracing the journey.
He said, “I always write things I’m grateful for in there to start. It’s something that keeps you kind of grounded. I put mental goals in for the day, particularly on tournament days. Other times, it might be practice-related—things to be aware of. I jot down little sayings here and there. Writing things down makes them more tangible. So, I’m trying to be more disciplined with it.”
Perhaps I should begin journaling myself. In the spirit of Homa leading the way, I’ll share a short exercise here. I’m grateful for the mouthwatering pulled pork barbecue sandwich, the delightful Georgia peach ice cream sandwich, and the savory bacon at Augusta National. (Can you tell I haven’t had dinner yet?) My mental goals for tomorrow include not getting overwhelmed in the merchandise center and remaining patient if my sister shows less interest in golf than I’d like.
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