The Devil Went Down to Georgia

…And rained out most of Monday at the Masters.

The gates opened at 8 a.m., and they shut it all down by 11:25 a.m.

Fairway Lies

• We’re lucky to have tickets for both Monday and Tuesday. Back in 2017, my wife and I had a similar rain-shortened day—but only had one-day passes. So today, while disappointing, comes with the silver lining of another chance tomorrow. For our family of four, that’s a classic fairway lie.

• The food! People rave about the Masters concessions every year, and it’s well-earned. Even in the rain, the quality and value are a perfect center-cut drive. The kids and my wife were all-in on the blueberry muffin, while my vote goes to the BBQ Pork Sandwich and the new Crow’s Nest beer.

• Even just a few hours at Augusta National is a little slice of heaven. The entire operation is world-class. Not many places would just give the food away when the cash registers went down at the concessions. Free food for everyone! That tells you everything you need to know.

First Cut Lie

• The Masters Shop hard to leave there with a light bag—the shop is expensive, but undeniably fun. Scoring some iconic gear is a must, but doing it while managing two kids, jostling through crowds, and feeling the pressure to move fast? That’s a first cut kind of lie, playable and grateful to be there, even if the receipts say otherwise.

Pine Straw Lie

• Only 6 to 10 golfers made it onto the course before the horn blew, with another 15 or so hitting balls on the range. We spent most of our time in the shop and eating at Amen Corner, so we didn’t catch much actual golf. The one highlight: a smooth tee shot off 10, from Keegan Bradley, aka the real Captain America. Not the viewing experience we hoped for—but still Augusta.

Lying in Rae’s Creek

• The real story of the day was the weather. I can’t overstate how gutting a rained-out Masters day is, especially for fans who only had Monday tickets. You wait months, maybe years, for the experience… and get handed a soaking disappointment. It feels like watching your ball slowly roll into Rae’s Creek—helpless and heartbreaking.

A Few Extra Notes

• I originally planned but was unable to provide a weekend golf report. I was traveling and squeezed in my own Saturday round. That said, between Brian Harman winning in San Antonio and Bryson, Rahm, Sergio, Cam Smith, and others playing well on the LIV side, maybe it’s a sign we’ll have a great Masters leaderboard by Sunday.

• I played the first round of my club’s annual match play on Saturday. Competitive golf—no matter how low-stakes—is a different animal. My driver has been solid during casual rounds, but in the match? I sliced five tee shots out of play. Despite the chaos, I won 2&1—thanks to a well-struck, but lucky to go in 35-footer for bogey on 17 to close it out. I was doing my best to blow a 3-up lead with three to play, so I’ll take the putt and run.

The Next Loop

Tomorrow looks perfect. The weather forecast is spectacular, and I’m excited to bring a more golf-focused report after a full day on the grounds.

Until then… as always…play it as it lies