Patrons of the masters share their favorite memories

In 2024, I spent a day in Master with my dad and sister. The wrote about what the experience meant to me and I received many messages from other customers who had similar fond memories of their time at Augusta National. This year, I wanted to help share these stories.

Over the past few weeks, my email has been inundated with deeply personal Master memories. We have published these stories throughout the Master’s week.

To everyone who wrote and shared their favorite memories from attending the Masters: thank you very, very much! You brought this project to life.

A defender’s tiramisu to the rescue

My dream of pursuing Masters had finally come true. It was Sunday and Rory McIlroy was in contention to win his first Masters and complete the career Grand Slam. I woke up to my 4.30am alarm with a pit in my stomach – a mixture of nerves, excitement, a few too many glasses of wine at the Partridge Inn the night before and a genuine concern about how McIlroy would perform that day.

We gave ourselves 15 minutes to get out the door. Without water. I threw him an Advil, got dressed and headed out the door. Augusta National was waiting. The four of us piled into the rental car and within minutes found ourselves parked. Black black. Waves of people joined the queue in an orderly and polite manner. There was a buzz in the air. It was a pleasure to participate in the conversation along the way:

“I can’t believe I’m here.”

“Best day ever.”

“Oh shoot, my leftover tiramisu from last night is still in my backpack.”

I laughed at the last one and glanced over. She caught my eye and smiled. We started talking to pass the time. Spirits were high. An hour passed. We all watched the sun rise over the vine covered walls of the protective entrance, the warmth began to embrace us. The birds are chirping happily. Thirty minutes to go.

We were maybe 15 rows ahead when a commotion broke out a few rows ahead. Someone had fainted.

“He needs sugar,” she said as he began to rise from the hallowed ground, a look of confusion on his face. He still hadn’t realized what had happened. Confusion turned to embarrassment as he realized he had passed out. It was a tiramisu girl to the rescue. She asked his friends if he would like a tiramisu to bring him back to life. By then, paramedics had arrived. Everyone was fine.

My mind started to spin. I haven’t had a drop of water today, let alone a bite of food, I thought. Excitement aside, I’m not feeling so good. I’m not entirely comfortable in tightly packed crowds. Maybe I’m next. Maybe I won’t even enter.

Then, of course, my vision began to narrow and my body began to feel weak. I had fainted once before, many years ago, but this was different. Everything was at stake this time.

“I think I’m going to pass out,” I said to my friend next to me.

He laughed awkwardly.

“No, I’m serious—I think I’m going to pass out.”

This time he sat down.

“Do you want me to ask her for tiramisu?” – he asked half jokingly.

“Yes,” I said.

He returned a moment later with a delivery container of heavenly pick-me-up (apparently a direct translation from the Italian – couldn’t be more appropriate). I started shoveling the sweet and creamy mixture into my mouth. Within seconds, a wave of relief. I was back.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Masters Tournament.”

We were inside.

I called my dad from one of the free phones in the country and was really speechless. I had to call as soon as I spoke to tell him where I was and how incredible the whole scene was. I wish he could be there with me. It was very exciting.

Ultimately it showed me how moments bring us together, no matter what they are. The Masters has always held a special place in my heart, ever since I was a young aspiring golfer watching on TV every year with my dad, without fail. The four of us friends who experienced that Sunday together have cemented a bond that will never be broken.

What followed was a tradition unlike any other and truly the best day ever. – Mark Quinlan

At Amen Corner, I think of Dad

I grew up in Augusta and have been going to the Masters most of my life. I would go on tour and practice sporadic rounds with mum and dad. In 2001, my father got four tickets for the tour. I had to work that week but he left me an extra ticket if I could come down early and meet them. I have never been able to do that. My mom, dad and uncle sat at Amen Corner that day and watched everyone come in. My father died that summer of a stroke at age 45. We were on the waiting list for series badges and in 2010 my mom started getting two annual tickets to the tournament.

Since then, my mother and I sit at Amen Corner in his memory. Every time I go I think about him and how much he loved this tour. He is actually buried in a cemetery about a drive away from Amen Corner. Every time I go, it’s almost like I’m watching it with him.

The Masters is always a special time for my family. Most locals rent out their homes and go away for spring break during the tour. My dad was an accountant and I played sports (and loved golf), so we were always in town and I loved going to tournaments. I have attached a picture from my wedding of the grooms cake from my wedding and a picture of my mum and dad. – Nick KoiaAugusta, Ga.

An exciting day at Augusta National

My father was a teaching professional and in the 90’s and early 00’s owned an indoor simulator facility. It was one of the few in our area at the time and he was often booked by large companies to take a unit of simulators on various tours to set up in hospitality houses. He did that for a few years at Augusta and unfortunately I never made it.

He became ill in 2017 and passed away in 2019, just before Tiger won his fifth Masters. Fast forward a few years and I was lucky enough to be invited to participate in the Tuesday practice round with some friends.

I felt a wide range of emotions throughout the day. Finally experiencing something I wish I had had to do with my dad was a little overwhelming, but the most meaningful experience was going to the phone and calling my mom to say hello and spend a few minutes talking about my dad. It is something I will never forget.

The whole place is so magical and you feel like you are floating as you walk around. It evokes so many different emotions and because golf is often such a special game for families. It’s hard not to romanticize what Augusta National means to those who pass the game down through the generations.

For much of my childhood, I resented golf and especially the Masters for taking my dad away from me. His job meant he was very busy, so I associated golf with his absence.

But the older I got, the more I fell in love with the sport and the Masters. And I began to understand why my father loved her so much. And eventually it became our shared passion. We grew closer, became golf buddies and best friends. – Shaun BissonPetrolia, Ontario

Masters Sunday living in a notebook

I watched the final round of the 2025 Masters with my dad. We bumped into Scott Van Pelt from the top on Sunday morning. As a fellow broadcaster working in sports media, it was special to have the opportunity to meet him in person for the first time. He was familiar with my career background thanks to a few quick Zoom interactions over the years on the Pardon My Take podcast, but chatting with him for 10 minutes at Augusta National made it that much more special. Being able to get career advice from one of the best to ever do it in our business telling me to keep pushing to get where I want to go was an incredible feeling and having my dad there hearing it first hand was great.

Going to the Masters with my dad last year was the most special sporting event I’ve ever been to. I’m extremely fortunate to have been to the Final Four, the World Series and so many other events with him, but this one stood above the rest. I think a big reason why this is the case is because of how unique the entire Masters experience is. We won the lottery… for Sunday! The no phone rule created a lot more anticipation for both of us since we didn’t quite know what we were in for. The property, the cheap concessions, the fact that celebrities roam and mingle with the rest of the patrons, just everything was different. All of this makes the Masters experience unlike anything else you’ll enjoy at a sporting event.

Oh yeah, that finish on Sunday was pretty special too.

Since the no-phone rule at Augusta is a real thing, I brought a mini notebook to Augusta National to document every little detail during this once-in-a-lifetime day. Before going to the course, I filled it with tips from previous clients, a gift shop wish list from friends and family, and other notes. Once we were in the field, I jotted down every important event of the day. We only have one picture to show for it, but having all the details in that notebook will forever be part of the experience, too. – Jake Marsh, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A job prize and a trip to Augusta National

I was lucky enough to take part in the Friday round of the Masters 2023 and it was a day I will never forget. Perhaps even harder to believe how it turned out. I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and had won an award through my work, which usually paid for an all-expense paid weekend trip with colleagues to a nice warm place, including events, dinners and excursions. “Unfortunately” for me, I won the award during Covid so the trip was canceled and I was given a large amount of “reward points” to use on an employee recognition/reward site.

I had always seen great trips and experiences there, but never knew how one would accumulate enough points to cash them out. After much waiting and searching every day, the Masters One Day ticket was finally back on the platform, so I cashed in almost all my points for this opportunity, knowing I could use it anytime over the next few years. My girlfriend and I planned the trip for over a year. We spent a few days in Augusta, both before and after my tour day, just taking in the surroundings and all that the city had to offer. I’ll always remember grabbing a coffee and walking the second nine before the crowds filled in, just taking in the course and the views, then walking to the first tee just in time to see Phill Mickelson tee off. I’m just glad I took the advice and got the goods taken care of early and shipped before the trees and rain cut the day short. Now I’m just dreaming of the day I can go back. – Jim KnutsonMilwaukee, Wis.

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