Augusta raise media bar

THE All England Club and Augusta National have a very close relationship, with both intensely private organisations learning from each other — like each having one of their officials seated in somewhat intimidating fashion alongside players at every press conference.

However Wimbledon, with their cramped press rooms, are going to have to raise their game to match the new £45million media centre in Augusta, which resembles the interior of an antebellum mansion from Gone with the Wind.

talking of intimidating, a chip in every press accreditation card means the green-jacketed moderators at media conferences know exactly who is asking the questions.

LAST year’s Masters winner Danny Willett has lived up to his promise of selecting an archetypal Yorkshire menu for the Champions Dinner in Augusta tonight. To start, there is cottage pie with Henderson’s Relish — a Sheffield delicacy akin to Worcestershire sauce. The centrepiece, of course, is roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, with apple crumble for dessert. Willett’s wife Nicole, who gave birth to son Zachariah just before last year’s Masters, has put together a goodie bag of Yorkshire produce — including tea bags, biscuits and Henderson’s Relish — for all the past champions.

THE BBC kept footage of David Moyes’s ‘get a slap’ comment to reporter Vicki Sparks under wraps because it was regarded as a private matter. the chat took place in front of a general camera, which would mean other premier League rights holders had access to the material.