The Masters

Hey y’all. Today is the last day of The Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. It’s the most prestigious golf tournament in the world and it’s sure to be a cracking day of golf. Those of you that stereotype golf as an ‘expensive walk in the countryside’ should watch today’s actions (or at least the highlights) and I guarantee you’ll find yourself totally immersed in the tension and quality on show.

There’s plenty of traditions that should be continued to be celebrated. Traditions like the previous year’s winner handing over the prestigious green jacket to the most recent winner. It has to be my favorite tradition. It must be an amazing experience to be congratulated by someone who has gone through the same experience as you and appreciates the occasion. Another tradition is that the previous year’s winner always hosts and decides what grub’s on the menu at The Champions Dinner. It’s a dinner that includes all the previous winners (who are still alive) since it was first established in 1934. From an outside point of view you would imagine the menus to be all extravagant but they are the complete opposite. Tiger Woods had cheeseburgers and milkshakes, Nick Faldo had fish and chips and Sandy Lyle offered some of the most prestigious sporting icons a hearty serving of haggis…What a treat that is.

But within its rich history the competition has many controversies  surrounding it. Unbelievably up until 2012 there had never been a woman member at the club and they also didn’t admit their first African-American member until 1990, some 25 years after The Civil Right’s Act of 1964.  These backwards rules are not always publicized and are  sometimes put on the back burner behind the luscious scenery and celebrated traditions.

Although these controversial issues take something away from the tournament its undoubtedly one of the most impressive shows on earth and today is its the final day. Rory McIlroy (pretty much Britain’s only real hope) is paired with the top dog, Mr Tiger Woods. Give it a watch if you can.

Cheers

Jack