The most special major awaits not only Niemann and Tiger: details and traditions of the masters of Augusta

The second weekend of April is marked on all world golf calendars. At this date, historically, the most important of the four majors : The Masters of Augusta. This tournament wrapped in history, privileges and flowers. The one who distributes millionaire prizes and who, year after year, has the best on his legendary ground. For this 2022 all the spotlight is on Tiger Woods, who returns to the PGA after 14 months without competition.

The legend of Augusta can be explained by many factors. The first undoubtedly its sporting importance. The tournament which is played permanently at the Augusta National Golf Club, this field which has a straight line of 300 meters guarded by dozens of magnolias and which in its entire area has more than 80,000 plants It is a golfer’s paradise. A place of pilgrimage that tinges you gold (or green in this case) forever.

Winning there not only gives you the automatic invitation to play the tournament for life , plus one for the next five years to compete in the other three majors. The most important thing about conquering Augusta is being able to don the coveted green jacket. One that can only be used by champions and that you can’t even take home. This one remains in the club’s locker room, always guarded, to show it only within the limits of the room.

And it is that this field, with its emblematic folded azaleas, is a place full of traditions. Others of them, undoubtedly the champion’s dinner. Each year, the winner of the previous edition shares a meal with the former monarchs of the Masters. For this year 2022, Hideki Matsuyama chose a menu including sushi, nigiri, wagyu beef and Japanese strawberry cake .

But in addition to being able to be part of all these traditions, Augusta gives away one of the biggest purses in the PGA. Matsuyama for example when winning last year he took the sum of 2.07 million dollars , while five-year-old Jon Rahm took home nearly $400,000. A total of US$11.5 million is distributed.

For this edition, the tournament had many stellar groups. Thursday and Friday you can see Jon Rahm shares holes with Will Zalatoris and Patrick Cantlay . Or Bryson de Chambeu walking with Cameron Smith and Paul Casey through the colorful passages caused by the pink and white flowers of Augusta.

The defending champion will take the field alongside Justin Thomas and James Piot, while the new world number one will take the field accompanied by Adam Scott and Tony Finau. Another group that also deserves mention is the Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel and Collin Morikawa .

Of course, two champions will not be in this edition: Trevor Immelman and Phil Mickelson, the latter will be absent from the course where he won in 2004, 2006 and 2010 after taking a break from golf after starting scathing comments ahead of PGA Tour in pursuit of potential alternative circuit , run by the Saudi government. It will be the first time he has been absent in 28 years.

But the main spotlight will necessarily be with Tiger and his return after 14 months without competition after the serious accident he suffered in February 2021. Whoever will be involved, whether we like it or not, in the round that Joaquín is doing Niemann. The two share a start in the first two days of the tournament a fact that will undoubtedly make the Chilean have thousands of people watching his match.

Something that doesn’t complicate Joaco. “It will be a good experience to play with Tiger. Anyway, I came here to compete and it doesn’t matter what happens with the grandstand or with him. Anyway, it will be very nice to play with him.” the national golfer said in the hours leading up to the start of the tournament.

And it is that Woods is an eminence in the tournament. Since the first edition in 1934, only one player has been able to conquer Augusta more times than him: Jack Niclkaus. The “Golden Bear” won in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986, having one more than the “Tiger”.

Of course, the caption Tiger wrote in 1997 was unique. His victory caused catharsis in the African-American people, since no golfer of color had won any of the four major tournaments. And it just happened in a place hitherto targeted for its segregation.

Finally, one of the most eye-catching things this week is the new shoe the former number one will have to wear to compete. Due to the injuries he still carries from the accident and the hilly nature of the Georgian countryside, he had to leave his signature Nike to use Footjoys which contain a smaller rigid inner tube. “Due to the number of screws, nails and plates in my leg, I need more stability. My mobility is limited and I don’t know if it will improve. Of course, I will feel better with time, the doctors say. Nike has also done a great job and we will continue” says who will be the main actor of this Augusta.