Playing at augusta national

For a place that has been accused of not keeping up with the times, Augusta National Golf Club always seems to be in motion. The practice area, which someone once described as the driving range you’d find in heaven, was once a gravel parking lot. The newest parking lot was once an entire neighborhood. The old media center is now the merchandise center and an underground concession stand. Year to year, hospitality mansions appear where pine trees once stood. Tiger Woods notices. The four-time Masters champion came to Augusta on a scouting mission last week and specifically wanted to see some fairly dramatic changes that were made to the par-4 fifth hole. The tees were moved back 40 yards, stretching an already demanding hole to 495, while the buried-elephant hump in the middle of the green was softened. “Every time they make a change, it seems like it’s been there for a hundred years,” Woods said Tuesday in his formal interview at the Masters. “It just … [Read more...] about Changes at Augusta National haven’t done Tiger Woods any favors

Three Southern Californians are within striking distance of winning the inaugural Augusta Women’s Amateur when the tournament moves to America’s most iconic golf course Saturday.One of them is Haley Moore of Escondido, who bogeyed her last two holes Thursday for a 1-over-par 73 but finished two rounds at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Ga., tied for eighth place. Moore is five shots off the lead of the top-ranked amateur in the world, Jennifer Kupcho, who shot 71 and stands at 5 under.Among those tied with Moore is Irvine 15-year-old Rose Zhang, who shot 72 on Thursday. Valencia 16-year-old Zoe Campos, who was tied with Kupcho at 4 under after the first round, shot 75 in the second round and is in seventh place. The top 30 from the first 36 holes qualified to be the first women ever to compete in an official tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday. All 72 players in the field will play a practice round on the course Friday. Moore, a 20-year-old senior at … [Read more...] about San Diegan Moore fulfills dream, will play competitive round at Augusta National

On Saturday, one woman will be the first to hear her name announced as a competitor on the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club.Women will walk into Amen Corner and ponder their club selection in the tricky breeze at the par-3 12th hole and traverse the Hogan Bridge to cross Rae’s Creek.They will stand in awe of the beauty of the azaleas and dogwoods that dwarf them on the 13th green.They will hear roars from the gallery that have echoed for men through the pines for more than 80 years. As they experience it, millions will be watching on television. None of this has ever happened before in competition, thus drawing the assessment of World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam that this week’s inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur is “a milestone in the game.”Women have been playing as guests at Augusta National for decades. It has been seven years since the first two women were accepted as members. But there has never been an official tournament for … [Read more...] about Inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur tees off one-of-a-kind week in golf history

A couple of weeks ago, Brooke Seay was planting mangrove trees in a Cambodian seaside village, visiting monks in ancient temples and kicking around a soccer ball with impoverished girls who played barefooted because they couldn’t afford shoes.This week, the Francis Parker School senior will be treated like golf royalty and walk the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club as one of the top amateur players in the world. She is one of 72 golfers who will compete in the inaugural Augusta Women’s Amateur.Southeast Asia ... America’s most storied and beautiful golf course in the Georgia pines. Two places on this planet that could hardly be more different. Don’t think that hasn’t occurred to the thoughtful and eloquent 18-year-old who is on her way to Stanford in the fall.“It’s deepened my perspective,” Seay said. “You realize just how lucky you are.” It is a sentiment being felt and shared by female golfers from around the world as … [Read more...] about San Diegans Moore, Seay will make history in inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur