Masters notebook: Elder to be Honorary Starter at 2021 Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Each day leading up to the tournament, PGATOUR.COM staff will provide a notebook on what’s happening on the grounds of Augusta National for this unprecedented November Masters. New notes will be added throughout the day. Tiger Woods is the defending champion.

ELDER WILL BE HONORARY STARTER IN 2021

Lee Elder, the first African American to compete in the Masters 45 years ago, will join Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as an Honorary Starter for the 2021 Masters.

Elder paved the way in 1975 and then played for five consecutive Masters from 1977 through 1981 with a best finish of 17th in 1979. During his first attempt he received racial abuse and even death threats as he crossed the color divide but persevered as he had done throughout his career. The four-time PGA TOUR winner will now return to the first tee.

“The opportunity to earn an invitation to the Masters and stand at that first tee was my dream, and to have it come true in 1975 remains one of the greatest highlights of my career and life,” Elder said. “So to be invited back to the first tee one more time to join Jack and Gary for next year’s Masters means the world to me.”

Augusta National also revealed the creation of the Lee Elder Scholarships at Paine College, a Historically Black College and University located in Augusta. Two scholarships will be awarded annually, one each to a student athlete who competes on the men’s and women’s golf team.

Currently Paine College is without a women’s golf team so Augusta National will fund the creation of a women’s golf program.

“It also gives me great pride to know that my first Masters appearance continues to make a positive impact on others,” Elder said. “Throughout my career, helping young men and women achieve their dreams through education has been a cause close to my heart. I am deeply honored to share a connection with Paine College and these scholarships, which will provide life-changing opportunities for the deserving recipients.”

Fred Ridley, the Chairman of Augusta National, said these honors were just the start of what they hoped could be done to help the cause of racial injustice in America.

“The courage and commitment of Lee Elder and other trailblazers like him inspired men and women of color to pursue their rightful opportunity to compete and follow their dreams. But in reality, that opportunity is still elusive for many. We have a long way to go, and we can and we must do more,” Ridley said.

“Through this partnership, we look forward to further cultivating our relationship with Paine College, helping the school create its first women’s golf program and celebrating Lee Elder’s distinguished legacy through these scholarships.

“Mr. Elder’s participation in the Honorary Starters Ceremony next April will recognize his courageous life and commemorate all he has done in his career to help eliminate barriers and inspire Black men and women in the game of golf and beyond.”

MASTERS CHANGES CUT RULE

The Masters announced a change to the cut rule for the first time since 2013 with players within 10 strokes of the lead no longer automatically afforded weekend play at Augusta National.

Now just the low 50 players and ties will qualify for the final 36 holes. The cut was first instituted at the Masters in 1957. From 1957-1961 it was low 40 and ties. From 1962-2012 it was low 44 and ties and those within 10 strokes of the leader, and from 2013 to 2019 it was low 50 and ties and those within 10 of the lead.

COURSE CONDITIONS AND WEATHER

The agronomy team announced Monday’s course conditions as followed:

“Fairways are mowed at 3/8 inch, the second cut at 1 3/8 inch, the tees at 5/16 inch, the collars at 1/4 inch, and the greens at 1/8 inch. All mowings are subject to weather conditions and growth.”

Speaking of the weather, here is the Monday morning forecast:

"Dry conditions will continue this morning under partly cloudy skies. Expect a mix of sun and clouds this afternoon with an isolated shower possible after 2 p.m. Tropical Storm Eta is currently centered to the northwest of the Florida Keys and will slowly drift off to the west-southwest over the course of the day. Tropical moisture will spread across the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) over the next several days as Eta lingers over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

"An isolated shower will become possible after 10-11 a.m. Tuesday before increasing to a scattered coverage of showers after 1-2pm. A cold front will move into northern Georgia on Wednesday and will approach the CRSA on Thursday, producing areas of rain and the potential for isolated afternoon thunderstorms. There remains considerable differences in the model guidance Friday through the weekend, but at this time it appears the frontal boundary will stall across southern Georgia – keeping the potential for scattered showers in the forecast through the weekend."

GARCIA, NIEMANN OUT WITH COVID-19

Former Masters champion and recent Sanderson Farms Championship winner Sergio Garcia has withdrawn from the Masters due to a positive COVID-19 test.

It is the first major championship Garcia has missed since the 1999 U.S. Open, ending a run of 84 consecutive major appearances. Adam Scott, due to play his 75th consecutive major this week, now holds the longest current active streak.

Garcia joins Joaquin Niemann as players out of the Masters thanks to COVID-19. "On Saturday night after driving back from the Houston Open, I started feeling a bit of a sore throat and a cough. The symptoms stayed with me on Sunday morning so I decided to get tested for COVID-19 and so did my wife Angela,” Garcia said via statement.

“Thankfully she tested negative, but I didn’t. After 21 years of not missing a Major Championship, I will sadly miss @themasters this week. The important thing is that my family and I are feeling good. We’ll come back stronger and give the green jacket a go next April 👊🏼"

TIGER, BRYSON HIT AMEN CORNER

Tiger Woods played nine holes of practice with Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas and Fred Couples on Monday, with the foursome getting a look at Augusta National’s back nine.

DeChambeau showed glimpses of his all-out distance attack game plan with some huge drives. He needed just a wedge into the par-4 11th hole after threading the needle and pounding the ball down and over the famous rise that opens up Amen Corner. But while he hit his approach inside six feet, Woods had already sent his second shot to a foot from further back.

On the par-3 12th, with wind swirling hard, Woods hit a sublime 9-iron to the green. DeChambeau dialed back to wedge and hit his “ten-thirty” shot to right next to the flag.

But perhaps the biggest action on the famous three-hole stretch came when they reached the par-5 13th tee. DeChambeau had three attempts with driver, looking to see how far he could sling the ball up and over trees and around the right to left dogleg. His first landed in the fairway about 150 yards from the green. The second hit the trees on the left but popped out onto the grass near Raes creek, about 140 yards from the green. The third was a rocket that pierced the fairway leaving just 130 yards in. The hole is 510 yards long… so it was just a lazy 380-yard effort.

DeChambeau continued to launch rocket after rocket and had short clubs into the remaining holes including the 18th where he drove the ball over the left bunkers completely. It certainly makes for an interesting week ahead, particularly if forecast rain arrives and the course plays longer.

Woods showed glimpses of the form and knowledge that helped him to his fifth Masters win in 2019. There were unconfirmed whispers saying he mentioned that this must have been what it felt like in 1997 when he was outdriving the field by 30 yards.

WOLFF EYES MASTERS DEBUT AND BIRTHDAY SUCCESS

Matthew Wolff thought he’d be playing his first Masters around his 21st birthday but thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and postponement he had to wait until this week. The good news is now he makes his Augusta National debut having contended heavily in his first two majors, including a runner up finish at the U.S. Open.

“The most memorable Masters experience I had not being here was last year when Tiger won. He won on Sunday, which was April 14, and that was my birthday,” Wolff said of the 2019 Masters. “That was pretty cool. Obviously I can't win this Masters on my birthday, but I'm sure there will be times in the future that I will be in the Masters and one of the days will land on my birthday. I guess thanks, parents, for having me when they did. It's going to be awesome.

“As for major championship experience, I've only played in two of them, but just kind of approaching it like every other tournament. Being here it's kind of hard to do that, every single building you walk into, you see all the history and all the great players that are on the grounds this week. For me, it's just to keep my head on straight and not get too far ahead of myself and stick to what I know.”

SCOTT FORESEES DECHAMBEAU-DRIVEN RULE CHANGE

Adam Scott says the governing bodies of the sport could very well make rule changes if Bryson DeChambeau dominates the Masters this week, just not the ones many might expect.

DeChambeau’s distance has been a hot topic leading into the tournament with some fans and historians calling for the sport to respond by limiting equipment or golf balls to stop great courses being obsolete.

But while the distance debate rages on Scott believes that rule makers will attack DeChambeau on the greens first, much like they did to him. DeChambeau uses a putting technique known as arm-lock where he “locks in” the top of the grip against the inside of his arm.

Scott won the Masters using a long putter and anchored stroke, a tactic that was subsequently banned in the sport.

“I tried the arm-lock method and to be honest it was more anchored than anything I was ever doing. So I can see them taking action like they did before to me and others for sure,” Scott told the Australian AP ahead of his Masters tilt.

“Based off Bryson's results, especially if he continues the way he is going, and of course if the trend sees more and more players using it, it would be no surprise to see it banned. There’s no doubt the rule makers have had their ears pricked up with his incredible play. The reality is it’s not easy for other players to add that much muscle to your body but it is easy to change your putter.”