Masters week arrives with a buzz

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A stream of people young and older walked on a path along the driving range at Augusta National, most of them carrying bags from the golf shop, some of them taking home a prized trophy.

To their right were Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, smashing drivers into the horizon, one fueled by protein shakes and the other by his own brand of coffee. More surprising was a Brooks Koepka sighting, considering he had surgery less than three weeks ago.

More than the first major of the year, the annual trip to Augusta has become a 10-day celebration at the home of the Masters.

It started with 82 of the best women amateurs from around the world, practicing on Friday and then competing on Saturday

in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

On Sunday, the practice area and 18th green was buzzing with 80 kids from 30 states, Canada and France, ages 7 to 17 in the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals. Sam Udovich of Minnesota won the his age division (boys’ 12-13), which he thought was pretty cool. Sweeter yet was professional Justin Thomas coming over to give him props.

“He just came over and said, ‘Hey, great job, congratulations.’ He was going to tee off in like two minutes, so it was great for him to say congratulations,” Udovich said.

Next to the first tee, one man had one hand on a merchandise bag and the other on his son’s shoulder as they watched Brendon Todd and Brian Harman rip tee shots.

“Save that bounce for the tournament,” Todd said to his fellow former

Georgia Bulldog.

By late afternoon, the focus shifted to the 88 players in the Masters and their pursuit of a green jacket. Thomas, the No. 2 player in the Official World Golf Ranking who captured The Players Championship three weeks ago, is among the favorites. So is Jon Rahm, now with nothing but winning on his mind after his wife gave birth to their first child Friday.

Dustin Johnson is the reigning champion of a Masters that either feels like a long time ago or like yesterday. By the calendar, he won 140 days ago on Nov. 15, the first autumn Masters because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the colors of azaleas that were popping with colors, it can feel like November never happened.

“Now this looks like Augusta,” Match Play winner Billy Horschel said when he teed off.