AUGUSTA, Ga. — The wait is finally over. Day 1 of the Masters is upon us, and it’s a glorious weather day at Augusta National Golf Club. There are few better places to be in sports.
Walking the grounds at Augusta is a dream come true for any golf fan. The people-watching and eavesdropping remains one of the sneaky best parts about the experience. As we’ve done for over a decade now, our editors keep their eyes and ears open to bring our readers onto the grounds of Augusta National with our “Overheard at Augusta National” feature. We hope you enjoy half as much as we enjoyed our experience.
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A female patron is talking to a gallery guard as she waits to cross a fairway. “My highlight has been seeing Freddie Couples again. I actually saw him in an airport years ago, and I was with my friend and she was nervous to say anything, but I went up to him. I sat and chatted with him and Freddie said, ‘Can I buy you a beer?’ He was the nicest, we sat there and chatted for awhile. “How many people can say Freddie bought them a beer? I couldn’t wait to tell my husband. He’s standing right over there by the way.”
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Adam Glanzman
A patron to his group of friends all with top-100 logos, about an unnamed high-end new country club: “They made a rich guy’s hangout is what they did. It has a 6-diamond spa. I mean, he was taking pictures of all the finishes so he could send them to his wife as they finish their new house.” A minute later: “Yeah, we’ll get our 650K back … you just have to wait eight years.”
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Gallery guard to a group of patrons hoping to cross 8 fairway: “It’s a new rule this year guys: We can’t open the ropes to let you through until the guys hit their second shots, and if a group is not on the tee box.” Patron turned around to her friend: “Is that a good or a bad thing?” Her friend: “Depends if you ever want to move.”
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A security guard, telling a joke to two patrons as they await players to walk past. “Two green beans in the parking lot. One of them gets hit, so they take him to the hospital. “They wait around and talk to the doctor. The doctor says: ‘He’s going to be alright, but he’s going to be a vegetable for the rest of his life.’ ” The two chuckle nervously and politely.
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Patron with an ANGC hat is approached by another patron: “I’ll give you $500 right now for that hat.” The patron: “I was offered $1,000 last night at dinner and turned it down.”
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Walking up to the line for merchandise: “I don’t really get the whole gnome thing. But I’m definitely getting one.”
J.D. Cuban
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Patron to his friend: “Well, back when I was at a Duke…” Another guy nearby under his breath: “Shut the f— up.”
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A fist-fight broke out between two brothers, ending with one of them on the ground. The man on the ground shouted: “You’re gonna end up in jail.” The apparent punch thrower countered: “That’s my brother.”
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An Augusta green jacket when asked how his week’s gone so far: “I’ve been helping over at the Players Service Building all week. It’s like Berckman’s for the players. They’re all enjoying themselves.”
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Man to his friend while waiting on the merch line: “How much do you think they make this week? It has to be a couple mil right?” “His friend: ‘You mean in the next hour?’ ”
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A patron to his friend as Xander Schauffele walked up to the second green. “Oh there’s Scheffler. I love him man. I love the way he handled getting arrested last year, just hamming it up with the cops.” Another patron nearby overhears: “He has that way wrong.”
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This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
