The Masters came and went quickly with David Johnson’s championship fast fading into memory and Hideki Matsyuma making history as the first Japanese to win the coveted green jacket. And we were all there for it! Here are just some of the lessons we took away from this year’s event as we gear up for the 2022 Augusta National.
Better, Faster, Stronger
The fairways sure did run fast this year – offering up challenging conditions worthy of a major championship. The players were keeping us on the edge all throughout the game, from a difficult opening round to a nail-biting finish.
Just as we thought that Matsuyama had the championship in the bag, he made a bad shot over the green and into the water at par-5 15th. Then hit a bogey at the 16th from a difficult distance. Those could have been easier shots in lovely fall weather so that was far too nerve-racking to watch. Looking back, it was such a well-deserved win for Matsuyama who prevailed on unwelcoming fairways with stunning precision.
Going Global
With Matsuyama’s win, we can expect the game to expand even further. Big ups to the Masters and Augusta National for their efforts to bring the love of the sport around the world with amateur tours.
Notably, this year’s champion won the Asia-Pacific Amateur tour twice before earning a spot in the Masters. And on Sunday, Matsuyama became the 7th player from the amateur ranks of the tournament to win the green jacket.
This is a significant achievement that bolsters confidence among golfers in Asia and Latin America which the Masters can use to encourage new players to take up the game and join their tournaments.
Bigger Crowds Needed
The big allure of the Masters is the presence of roaring fans. Though there were no structured grandstands, it was still nice to see pockets of masked spectators on the course. Eventually, bigger crowds will return to witness the action in the next US Masters.
Needless to say, we need to pack the grandstands in 2022! By this time next year, we could expect everyone in the country to be immunized from Covid and thus safe to travel.
It’s never too early to reserve your spot for the 2022 US Masters and witness the action on-ground! Book now – limited slots available.