TEE-TIME TALES
MIKE KEEGAN’S AUGUSTA DIARY
■ LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman hit the headlines earlier this week after paying for his own ticket to attend the Masters, but the rebel tournament’s kingpin Yasir Al-Rumayyan was nowhere to be seen. Some wondered if the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund would head to Augusta, potentially for peace talks, but a visit failed to materialise. Last year Newcastle United director Amanda Staveley headed down Magnolia Lane as part of an attempt to ease relations between LIV and the PGA.
■ EACH year a ballot is held among media members with winners given the honour of playing a round at the course on Monday. The idea can fill some hackers with trepidation — given Augusta’s ludicrously difficult slopes and greens. This time around local TV reporter Julia Westerman was among those pulled out — and will play her first ever round of golf at one of the sport’s most iconic venues. The South Carolina journalist joked: ‘As if this month couldn’t get any crazier, I just won the media lottery to play a round at Augusta National on Monday. I am in disbelief.’
■ LOCAL children look forward to the Masters arriving in town — even if they are not golf fans. Kids in Augusta get the week of the tournament off, presumably thanks to the traffic levels in the city. The situation allows many families to take a holiday — and pick up a small fortune for renting their properties out.
■ WHILE the green jacket is the main prize, the Masters Trophy (right, held by defending champion Jon Rahm) is also up for grabs and provides a British link to proceedings. It was crafted in London, is a replica of the Augusta National clubhouse and is made up of more than 900 pieces of silver. While the original does not leave the premises, the winner picks up a sterling silver version, which is also shipped over from Britain.
■ LUDVIG ABERG’S final-round preparations did not get off to the best start thanks to his beloved Liverpool. The famously-focused Swede is a huge fan of Jurgen Klopp’s side and his caddie joked that the only thing that might put him off his game was news of the shock 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield.