Unexpected situations that occur in golf. And they take on a greater dimension When it comes to the Masters, the most aesthetically beautiful major in the eyes of in-person fans and television viewers. It happened that the tee shot Xander Schauffele on the eighth hole at Augusta during the first round, he didn’t land exactly where he intended, but he gave a spectator an experience she couldn’t buy anywhere. And that he will never forget.
On that par 5, Schauffele’s ball veered slightly to the right of the fairway and landed in a woman’s shopping bag, which she had purchased at the huge store at Augusta National; one of those classic “bags” that have a golf-themed print, the respective logos and pink sides and straps.
Schauffele and the referee approached the bag full of items while the rest of the spectators moved away. They took a look inside to determine the location of the ball in one corner of the bag and placed a golf tee on the grass to mark the spot. Schauffele then handed the bag to the woman and went back to playing.
What does the rule say? Since the merchandise bag is considered a moving obstruction, Schauffele was granted free relief to move the bag and ball, and then return the ball to that spot without incurring a penalty stroke. Finally, the player achieved par on the eighth hole and finished with positive red numbers after the first 18 holes: 70 strokes (-2).
“The ball went straight into the pocket. It was an excellent hit: that bounce would have sent me into the pine leaf and who knows if I would have had a chance to get up the hill. So thanks to the 8″ hole lady, commented Schauffele, who admitted that this is not the first time this has happened to him, although the last incident, as he clarified, dates back a long time.
At the Masters, golf gear bags are almost as common as azaleas at Augusta National Golf Club during tournament week, as spectators stock up on everything they can carry at the various stores on the course. It happens that the only opportunity to buy Masters items is at the entity chaired by Fred Ridley, and that It respects a very strict logic of rights that has been maintained since merchandising has existed. Thus, almost all the lucky “patrons” (assistants) who obtain an accreditation take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to take home some of the most coveted items in golf.
Masters makes practically everything under its own brand: from sweaters and caps to dog bandanas, garden gnomes and blankets. One of the star items is the “Pimento Cheese sandwich”. They say that the formula for this sandwich is secret, and that it combines different cheeses and peppers with mayonnaise and mustard in the right doses. No one who goes to the Masters as a spectator should say no to that delicacy, which comes with its classic transparent aqua green wrapper and has also maintained its historical value for years: just a dollar and a half. One of the many traditions that are preserved in the Masters.
