Bloom time
The early spring has dulled some of the color of the flowers that adorn Augusta National, though one pro says it’s “still pretty gorgeous out there,”
Toned down: Bill Haas walks down the par-3 No. 6 hole Monday along a hillside normally ablaze in azalea flowers at this time of year. But most of the azaleas at Augusta National have bloomed because of the warm spring weather. “(It’s) still pretty gorgeous out there,” Webb Simpson said.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The grass of Augusta National is a brilliant green. But after a warm winter and an early spring, the signature azaleas and other flowers are losing their colorful blooms with the Masters set to begin this week.
At Amen Corner, for example, the 13th hole is named Azalea after the shrub with the pink, red and white blossoms. But there were only a few splashes of pink Monday on the slope behind the green.
“Usually during this tournament, like this green right here (No. 13), this would be just solid blooms,” spectator Jimmy Smith, 65, of Vine Grove, Ky., said during Monday’s practice round. “It’s this warm weather.”
Was Webb Simpson, who is in the field this week, disappointed that the background for his first Masters won’t be quite so colorful?
“Maybe more so for my wife,” Simpson said. “(It’s) still pretty gorgeous out there.”
Weather worries:
The putting greens at the Masters really suck — technologically speaking.
All 18 greens have the underground Subair system, which uses pipes and pumps to suck water out of the grass. So while the Weather Channel says there is a 50% chance of thundershowers for Rounds 1 and 2 on Thursday and Friday, that doesn’t mean greens will be mushy and susceptible to low scoring.
“Not really around here because of the Subair. They can really pull a lot of the moisture out of it,” Charles Howell III said Monday after a practice round.
“So I don’t think it makes much of a difference. Unless it happens, say, right before play, etc. But if you give these guys any time at all, they can get that moisture out of here.”
Membership privileges:
In the shade of the tall pines at Amen Corner on Monday, the buzz wasn’t about whether Augusta National Golf Club should admit its first female member. Instead, spectators soaked up the beauty of the course, despite some disappointment that the azaleas looked past full bloom after a warm winter.
The issue about women and Augusta has returned to the conversation. In January, Virginia Rometty became president and CEO of IBM, a Masters sponsor. The last four CEOS of IBM have been offered member- ships to Augusta National. Whether Rometty gets a members-only green jacket remains to be seen. The Masters and IBM weren’t commenting.
Billy Payne, the Masters chairman, is scheduled to have his annual news conference Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the course was the star Monday.
“For me, it’s more the course. I just love Amen Corner, the beauty of it,” said Les Dunlap, 55, of San Diego.
His take on the female members dispute: “I try not to follow it, but when I do hear about it, I respect their right as a private club to make a decision.”
His wife, Gayle, 52, likewise views the course as “something to behold.” Her view on the issue of no female members? “I just hope they will continue to ask themselves, ‘Why not?’ ” she said.