‘Sad day’: Witness the demolished Augusta Hooters that John Daly once made home

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[Photo: Golf Digest US]

The Augusta, Georgia Hooters died on Monday in the US. The Washington Road institution closed back in late July and was demolished this week. Once home to Masters patrons and John Daly hocking merch, the Augusta landmark is nothing more than rubble and debris.

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The company filed for bankruptcy in March after accumulating $US376 million ($A577 million) in debt, according to USA Today, and ultimately sold over 150 restaurants. Photo and video evidence of what has happened to the 2834 Washington Road, Augusta locale has come to light, showing what now stands in its place. What is left is unfortunately very little.

 

The only thing left standing from the historic golf spot is the rock wall in front of the main dining room. And that’ll be gone, too, before long.

“If you’ve ever been in Augusta during the Masters Tournament, you’ve probably seen how popular the Hooters was,” Miguel Legoas wrote in The Augusta Chronicle. “A massive tent is put up outside for people to eat, drink, and watch golf. Multiple celebrities have also been known to make appearances, particularly pro golfer John Daly who is regularly there selling merch, signing autographs, and taking pictures with fans.”

Those days are painfully over, and now the question is: Will another chain restaurant take its place? Perhaps LongHorn Steakhouse? Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers? Maybe a pop-up Hooters to remember the good ol’ days?

No matter where Masters ticket-holders end up, this has got to be a tough day for two-time major champ Daly and his wallet. According to ESPN, Daly sold $US780,000 ($A1.1 million) worth of merch back in 2024, which included $US40 ($A61.41) hats, boxes of “Short Game” cigars for $US250 ($A383) and $US10 ($A15) autographed balls. One of Daly’s staffers joked that it was “$US1 ($A1.54) for the ball, $US9 ($A13.82) for the signature”.

Many have provided short eulogies for the Augusta Hooters online, and here are but a few of our favourites:

 

Perhaps Robert Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay” poem puts it best: “Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.”

Or maybe in this case, we should listen to the Augusta Hooters bard, John Daly: “Eat some good food, smoke, sell some s—.”

 

Daly autographs woman’s bare behind in an Augusta parking lot.