🏌️ 1500+ Jets Descend on Augusta

Good Morning. Bad weather takes over the Masters. But, the good news is that the storms defected to the South.

We now have a start time! Round 1 will tee-off at 10:30 am ET.

Gates will open at 9:30 am while the honorary starters ceremony will begin at 10:10 am.

Trivia: Rickie Fowler won this year's Par 3 contest at Augusta. How many Par 3 contest winners have gone on to win the Masters in the same week? Answer at the end of the email.

⛳ This day in history: On this date in two different years the winning score of 271 was shot, at the time a tournament record.

In 1965, Jack Nicklaus won the 29th Masters, his second, beating Gary Player and Arnold Palmer by nine shots while in 1976, Raymond Floyd won his only Masters with 271, eight shots ahead of Ben Crenshaw.

19TH HOLE
Clubhouse Conversations

The Masters 2024 is being billed as Scottie Scheffler vs the rest of the world - is it truly so?

ALBATROSS
Masters: Gate Openings and Tee Times Delayed

Round 1 of the 2024 Masters was originally scheduled for 8:00 am but will now tee-off at 10:30 am ET.

The Augusta National suffered heavy rain overnight and it continued on Thursday morning.

⛳️ Augusta Supports Rollback: Augusta National Golf Club supports the golf ball rollback spearheaded by the USGA and R&A and would prefer the Masters is never contested on a layout greater than 8,000 yards.

📌 For almost 70 years the Masters had been played on a layout that was less than 7,000 yards but this week's edition has been extended to 7,550 yards.

📌 Last December, the United States Golf Association and R&A announced in a joint statement that in an effort to reduce the effects of distance in the sport they would change how golf balls will be tested for conformity.

📌 Starting in 2028 the game's longest hitters can expect a reduction of 13-15 yards in drive distance via testing conditions that will increase from the current standard of 120 mph swing speed to 125 mph.

⛳️ Augusta Reveals Changes: ANGC chairman Fred Ridley has revealed multiple changes that Augusta will undergo in the future.

📌 The second phase of Map & Flag - Augusta's premium off-property hospitality will debut during the 2025 tournament.

📌 Underground parking will be operational at Augusta next year.

📌 A three-level state-of-the-art facility, designed to anticipate every need for players, their families, and support teams will open in 2026.

TWEET
Worth Mentioning

EAGLE
1500+ Private Jets Arrive In Augusta

Over 1,500 private jets are parked up at Augusta Regional Airport for the first Major of the year. This is nearly five-times as many planes a day than usual and generally, the airport shuts down one of its runways for 300 private jets to park up!

Most of the jets belong to golfers and their teams, as well as some of the most famous Augusta National members, with the club home to a number of billionaires and influential individuals.

💰 The Masters - A Billionaire's Favorite

A big part of the appeal for the ultra-high-net-worthers is that the tournament is held at Augusta's National Golf Club. While the list of its 300 or so members is top secret, several billionaires — including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Dirk Ziff, and Stanley Druckenmiller belong to the club.

Membership is by invitation and capped, meaning people can only join when an existing member leaves or dies. The closest most golf fans will get to the pristine greens is watching the Masters on TV.

💎 Status Symbols: There are status symbols involved with membership, specifically Augusta National's coveted green jackets. Only members and Masters winners can wear them.

💎 Patron Badges: Like nearly everything else at Augusta, these are veiled in secrecy. No one outside the club knows how many exist, but once you are offered one, you can access tickets for life.

But the one thing where billionaires and regular Masters goers can save money is on food. The tournament has famously kept its concessions prices low - you can get a sandwich for $1.50.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

Fowler Wins: Rickie Fowler won the Masters Par 3 contest after three years away from Augusta.

Norman Spotted: LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was lurking around Augusta National as a ticketed spectator before the opening round of The Masters.

Honorary Starters: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson are returning as the honorary starters at the 88th Masters, hitting the ceremonial tee shots to begin the prestigious event.

Sponsors Corner: Wyndham Clark is sporting logos of new sponsors So-Fi and T-Mobile on his Masters outfits at Augusta National.

Equipment Tweaks: Check out the new equipment in Tony Finau and Tommy Fleetwood's bags for the Masters.

Sold: Jack Nicklaus-designed Las Vegas golf course that features replica holes sold for $30.5 million.

BIRDIE
These Are The Best Custom Masters Gear In 2024

A tradition unlike any other, the Masters offers an ideal setting for golf manufacturers and players to show off their creative side - here are some of the best on show this year.

📍TaylorMade Staff Bags: TaylorMade’s 88th Masters edition staff bag sees a clean and traditional green-and-white color scheme with subtle design notes paying tribute to the ethos of the first major of the year.

📍Callaway Staff Bags: The bag’s main feature is a floral collage of pink, purple, red and orange azaleas on each side of the bag. The same can be said for the headcovers and putter covers.

📍Spieth's Nametag: This year’s Masters sees Spieth’s familiar caddie Michael Greller carrying a green-and-white version of the bag but with one standout feature. On the front of the bag is a metallic gold, flashy nametag displaying “Jordan Spieth.”

📍Hovland's Outfits: This week at Augusta National, Hovland and J.Lindeberg plan to alternate between high-contrast black shirts with pink azaleas and mono-chromed versions.

📍Thomas' FootJoys: This week in Augusta, Justin Thomas has been seen wearing a pair of Premiere Series FootJoys with a custom light pink azalea on the heel and a green-and-white gradient sole.

DRIVING RANGE
Forearm Rotation In Golf Swing

In this video, we discuss how forearm rotation can enhance your ball striking and contact by concentrating on your trail arm.

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