“The first time I set foot in Augusta was unreal. It’s so different in truth and at the same time it’s so in line with what we imagine of this course and this tournament. We have the impression that we know the place very well, as if we had been there all our life. However, the mere fact of going there physically the first time, to realize the importance of the slopes, the ultra-rugged nature of the greens, is a real shock.
Chess
Very quickly, we understand better why players seek this or that area sometimes far from the flags on certain greens. Why they are aiming for such part of the fairway or trying to create such type of shot. For example, on holes 3 to 6 I had no idea how steep the greens were. They require you to create moves you couldn’t imagine before you got there. You have to learn to be both ultra-precise and ultra-cautious. It’s a real chess game that begins when you land in Augusta.
“You have to learn to be both ultra-precise and ultra-cautious. It’s a real chess game that begins when you land in Augusta. »
Mystique Amen Corner
The first thing that blew me away on my first visit was the attention to detail. Everything is literally manicured to perfection. And then you feel a strange emotion when you find yourself at the start of the 12th. There is something almost mystical about this place. You can see the start of the 13th in the background, you can hear the wind in the tall pines, it really is a very special place.
For his first Masters, in 2020, Abraham Ancer slipped into the last part on Sunday. (L. Whitton/Augusta National)
Ball at the knees
Besides, speaking of the 13th, the second shot to the green of this par 5 is much more complicated than it looks. When I watched the Masters on TV I always said to myself that taking this green in two was a joke. When in fact this second precise blow is monstrous! You can end up with a long iron in hand with the ball almost at knee level… And you mustn’t miss it because the water comes very quickly and, on the left, the forest stretches out its arms more than it doesn’t seem like it. This specific shot is in my opinion undervalued.
Chills of prestige
Finding myself at the start of 1 was a funny experience. I was nervous when nobody was there (the 2020 edition was played behind closed doors, Covid obliges). I was impressed the first time, I think everyone is. Impressed, but at the same time very excited at the idea of being part of this very exclusive club of players who have written the word Masters on their CV. It is history, the prestige of the Masters which makes this first time very impressive. »
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