I’m a massive Masters fan. It’s my favorite golf tournament in the world.
I’ve published more than a dozen stories on MyGolfSpy talking about how great the Masters is, and that includes this one-day itinerary that customers are still emailing me about. Just search “Masters” on our site and you’ll find a treasure trove of Masters polishes.
So, I hope, you can forgive me for talking the few Possesses traditions that are outdated, meaningless, or simply overrated.
These five traditions don’t necessarily go the way of the date driver, but they pale in comparison to the many, many wonderful aspects of the Masters.
1. Par-3 Contest
Low-hanging fruit here, but I’m on record as saying the Par-3 Contest is overrated.
I’ll preface this by saying that I appreciate the idea behind it. The afternoon is very pleasant and a great photo opportunity for families. It’s also a sweet way to include past champions. And I think customers who attend on Wednesday should go there for at least an hour to see it.
In theory, it’s really cool.
However, the overall customer experience is brutal. It’s insanely crowded. Most people can’t see anything. Each hole is interchangeable. And most players aren’t posting a score or even trying to win anything because the winner’s curse exists.
I’m glad this little event exists, but it just doesn’t do anything for me personally. I don’t need to look.
2. Pimento cheese sandwiches
Some people are extremely anti-pimento cheese sandwich. I won’t go crazy here, but it’s fair to call this an overrated tradition.
This is literally just cheddar, mayo, cream cheese and pimentos mixed together on white bread. College kids in the south eat this on Sundays at noon after waking up hungry.
It’s honestly kind of gross. Like a slice of deep dish pizza, it feels a little wrong to eat more than one.
I mean, even for a cheese lover like me… that is so much cheese without anything else happening. I’ll drop one a day just for the nostalgia factor, but I have to stop there.
Would most adults eat it off the grounds of Augusta National or their Masters watch party?
Maybe not.
There are also better sandwich options, including egg salad and the Masters Club.
3. Butler Cabin interview with the winner
Another tradition I love in theory is the presentation of the Butler Cabin where the winner receives the green jacket handed to them by the previous year’s winner.
The green jacket is probably the single greatest tradition in golf, and it’s an amazing moment when the new winner wears it for the first time – but it’s a much better moment when it happens outside in front of members and customers.
The Butler Cabin interview feels very forced and tacked on in a bad way. Have you ever tried to wear a jacket on someone else? It’s a little awkward.
Does it in complete silence while millions watch on TV? Even more awkward.
4. The field size is limited
I wrote about this a few years agobut I am a big proponent of expanding the Masters field.
I’m not saying we should get 156 golfers, but it would be nice to open the Magnolia Lane gate a little wider.
This year’s event has 91 players. And, let’s be honest, there are a lot of guys who have no chance of winning the tournament. There are past champions and amateurs who are not there to win the tournament.
Masters is, technically, the easiest degree to earn. The depth of competition is much greater in other directions.
It would be nice to expand the field to about 100-110. It would add a little more depth and a little more golf without ruining that exclusive feel to the tournament.
5. Rigidity about Masters’ words
I was trying to find a good way to articulate this (I think a writer should know how to do that) but my last overrated Masters tradition is the shaming culture around saying the term “wrong.”
The fans are the patrons. It is approximate the second cut. The front nine / back nine is the first nine AND the second nine. They are sand traps bunkers.
To be clear, I like these specific terms and I like that Masters has them. It’s kind of fun to have this unique vocabulary that’s completely separate from other golf tournaments.
What I don’t like is the strictness about the conditions. It’s like hardos who make a big deal about saying “playing golf” instead of “golfing” – the game has to be inclusive no matter how much you want to talk about it or play it.
There are people who are admonished for using the wrong word. Or to buy one of those hats with the word “PIMENTO” in big letters on it.
Hey, let all the Masters enjoy it the way they want to enjoy it. Call them fans, if you will. Wear hats, if you wish.
I know I’m more of a traditionalist. That’s how I like to play golf, but I’m not going to save how someone else wants to do it. I think the same concept should be extended to the Masters.
What are your thoughts? Are these overrated traditions of the Masters?
Let me know below in the comments.
Main photo caption: The pimento cheese sandwich is one of the few overrated Masters traditions. (Getty Images/Richard Heathcote)
