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Deadspin | Masters Musings: 5 Takeaways from 2026 at Augusta National Apr 12, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy holds the Masters championship trophy during the green jacket ceremony after the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images AUGUSTA, Ga. — After spending seven days roaming virtually every yard of Augusta National Golf Club, from the historic clubhouse to hours at “Amen Corner” on the other side of the expansive property, here are five takeaways from a memorable 2026 Masters Tournament. SCHEFFLER’S FLOCK GROWING Scottie Scheffler created an enormous buzz around Augusta National on Sunday by coming out with two birdies through his first three holes to get within two of the lead early in his round. When he pumped his fist with a clutch par save on the par-3 sixth hole, it appeared a dramatic run by the world’s No. 1-ranked player might be unfolding. That charge stalled for a few hours with 11 consecutive pars, but it didn’t stop the throngs of Scheffler fans from following him and providing the loudest roars on the course. He rewarded their faith with another spark by rolling in a lengthy putt for his first birdie of the week on the par-5 15th hole, and followed it with another on No. 16. Ultimately, Scheffler’s rally fell a shot short, but he has built a tremendous following. Scheffler doesn’t have Arnie’s Army, and it wasn’t close to the mass of humanity that followed Tiger Woods and climbed trees to get a glimpse of him in his prime. But it was abundantly clear that he was the people’s choice on Sunday. Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose had strong followings as well, and Cameron Young gained some support as the top American to begin the day, but none of them drew the dedicated fan pack that Scheffler enjoyed. It was fun to see Scheffler and playing partner Haotong Li sharing a laugh walking off the 10th tee, with the Chinese star looking at Scheffler and saying, “Dude! Dude!,” followed by a comment about a fan interaction over a golf glove. KNAPP TIME? Jake Knapp’s yardage book reads “Knapptime,” and the 31-year-old might be on the precipice of becoming a breakout star on the PGA Tour. Known for his streaky ability to go really low, including a 59 in the first round of last year’s Cognizant Classic and a course-record 61 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Knapp has often struggled to put four solid rounds together. He was one of the last players to qualify for this year’s Masters when he slipped into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking on the final cutoff week last month. Playing in only his second career Masters, Knapp closed with a 70 on Sunday to snag an 11th-place finish. Not only does that stamp Knapp’s ticket back to Augusta National next year, but the former bouncer is starting to build a following with his smooth swing and Southern California swagger. Knapp also earned praise from someone who knows a thing or two about Augusta National. “I think Jake Knapp can win here. I really do,” said Fred Couples, the 1992 champion who played his practice rounds with Knapp this week. AN AUGUSTA LIKE NO OTHER? Determining how Augusta National will play is always a challenging task. This year provided an extremely rare mix of zero rain, very little wind and warm temperatures. The course had more brown spots than normal, and the famous camera-friendly azaleas weren’t in bloom. After the players struggled to find birdie opportunities on Thursday afternoon, Ireland’s Shane Lowry speculated that it might be the most difficult Masters we have seen in a while considering the forecast called for even warmer temperatures. But those conditions never materialized, despite the browned-out spots and firm greens. The fairways were hard and rolled out further than normal, leaving players with shorter shots into the green and better opportunities to spin the ball. After the course yielded a scoring average of 72.85 on Friday, the 70.63 average on Saturday was a record low for the third round of the Masters. Sunday proved to be slightly more difficult as one would expect, but the greens remained receptive for the most part. The final round scoring average was only a tick over par at 72.09. “Have you ever seen looking down the property how yellow the patron areas and how brown and purple parts of the greens and fairways are?” Spain’s Jon Rahm asked rhetorically. “It will be a long time until we see it like this. Definitely have some things in mind for future editions where it gets to this level.” DOES RORY’S SUCCESS POSE A PROBLEM? McIlroy’s quest for an historic Masters repeat was the No. 1 story all week, and deservedly so. He said that he didn’t begin 2026 with a singular drive to win consecutive Masters and that he remains motivated to accomplish new goals in his career. When pressed on what those are, McIlroy declined to provide specifics other than to say the goalposts continue to “keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.” But listening to McIlroy talk throughout the week, I’d be concerned if I were PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp. In discussing his preparation for the Masters, McIlroy said that he has been practicing for weeks at Augusta National. There were days he would drop his daughter, Poppy, at school, fly up to Augusta for a practice round and be home in time for dinner. By having a singular focus on his Augusta National prep, McIlroy did not tee it up on the PGA Tour between The Players Championship and the Masters. He went so far as to say this week, “I honestly just don’t like the three tournaments leading up to this event. I’d rather come up here.” That could not have sat well at PGA Tour headquarters, or with sponsors at the Valspar Championship, the Texas Children’s Houston Open or the Valero Texas Open. In his post-round press conference, McIlroy did provide a bit of clarity, adding that getting to a major a week early was advice he once received from none other than Jack Nicklaus. And that he doesn’t plan on taking three weeks off from competition before every major. Of course, McIlroy has earned the right to play where and when he chooses. But with his global stature in the game and the PGA Tour Enterprises being a for-profit business, it doesn’t help matters when McIlroy skips some marquee events and shares his outright distaste for other second-tier tournaments struggling to stay relevant in the current landscape. MASTERS’ MASTERY The Augusta National Golf Club and city of Augusta have developed a secret sauce that makes the Masters a truly unique experience for everyone involved. It begins with the city’s pre-planning that largely alleviates traffic jams around the golf course. There are rarely backups, parking is free and fans are stress-free entering the course. Once they get inside the gates, a fleet of volunteers make sure foot traffic continues to move throughout the course with relative ease. No one knows exactly how many tickets the Masters distributes, but even with the leaders on the back nine on Sunday it was never impossible to find a direct view of any player or hole of interest. Scheffler said this week that he finds the entire Masters experience “enjoyable,” and Couples called Augusta National “the greatest walk you could ever have.” When stepping on the AGNC property, it feels like hallowed grounds chock full of history. And the club clearly spares no expense to make sure everyone’s experience inside its gates is enjoyable. It probably helps to have the resources of a massive store that some in the press have heard generates in the neighborhood of million … per hour. –Derek Harper, Field Level Media #Deadspin #Masters #Musings #Takeaways #Augusta #National

Deadspin | Masters Musings: 5 Takeaways from 2026 at Augusta National
Deadspin | Masters Musings: 5 Takeaways from 2026 at Augusta National Apr 12, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy holds the Masters championship trophy during the green jacket ceremony after the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images AUGUSTA, Ga. — After spending seven days roaming virtually every yard of Augusta National Golf Club, from the historic clubhouse to hours at “Amen Corner” on the other side of the expansive property, here are five takeaways from a memorable 2026 Masters Tournament. SCHEFFLER’S FLOCK GROWING Scottie Scheffler created an enormous buzz around Augusta National on Sunday by coming out with two birdies through his first three holes to get within two of the lead early in his round. When he pumped his fist with a clutch par save on the par-3 sixth hole, it appeared a dramatic run by the world’s No. 1-ranked player might be unfolding. That charge stalled for a few hours with 11 consecutive pars, but it didn’t stop the throngs of Scheffler fans from following him and providing the loudest roars on the course. He rewarded their faith with another spark by rolling in a lengthy putt for his first birdie of the week on the par-5 15th hole, and followed it with another on No. 16. Ultimately, Scheffler’s rally fell a shot short, but he has built a tremendous following. Scheffler doesn’t have Arnie’s Army, and it wasn’t close to the mass of humanity that followed Tiger Woods and climbed trees to get a glimpse of him in his prime. But it was abundantly clear that he was the people’s choice on Sunday. Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose had strong followings as well, and Cameron Young gained some support as the top American to begin the day, but none of them drew the dedicated fan pack that Scheffler enjoyed. It was fun to see Scheffler and playing partner Haotong Li sharing a laugh walking off the 10th tee, with the Chinese star looking at Scheffler and saying, “Dude! Dude!,” followed by a comment about a fan interaction over a golf glove. KNAPP TIME? Jake Knapp’s yardage book reads “Knapptime,” and the 31-year-old might be on the precipice of becoming a breakout star on the PGA Tour. Known for his streaky ability to go really low, including a 59 in the first round of last year’s Cognizant Classic and a course-record 61 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Knapp has often struggled to put four solid rounds together. He was one of the last players to qualify for this year’s Masters when he slipped into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking on the final cutoff week last month. Playing in only his second career Masters, Knapp closed with a 70 on Sunday to snag an 11th-place finish. Not only does that stamp Knapp’s ticket back to Augusta National next year, but the former bouncer is starting to build a following with his smooth swing and Southern California swagger. Knapp also earned praise from someone who knows a thing or two about Augusta National. “I think Jake Knapp can win here. I really do,” said Fred Couples, the 1992 champion who played his practice rounds with Knapp this week. AN AUGUSTA LIKE NO OTHER? Determining how Augusta National will play is always a challenging task. This year provided an extremely rare mix of zero rain, very little wind and warm temperatures. The course had more brown spots than normal, and the famous camera-friendly azaleas weren’t in bloom. After the players struggled to find birdie opportunities on Thursday afternoon, Ireland’s Shane Lowry speculated that it might be the most difficult Masters we have seen in a while considering the forecast called for even warmer temperatures. But those conditions never materialized, despite the browned-out spots and firm greens. The fairways were hard and rolled out further than normal, leaving players with shorter shots into the green and better opportunities to spin the ball. After the course yielded a scoring average of 72.85 on Friday, the 70.63 average on Saturday was a record low for the third round of the Masters. Sunday proved to be slightly more difficult as one would expect, but the greens remained receptive for the most part. The final round scoring average was only a tick over par at 72.09. “Have you ever seen looking down the property how yellow the patron areas and how brown and purple parts of the greens and fairways are?” Spain’s Jon Rahm asked rhetorically. “It will be a long time until we see it like this. Definitely have some things in mind for future editions where it gets to this level.” DOES RORY’S SUCCESS POSE A PROBLEM? McIlroy’s quest for an historic Masters repeat was the No. 1 story all week, and deservedly so. He said that he didn’t begin 2026 with a singular drive to win consecutive Masters and that he remains motivated to accomplish new goals in his career. When pressed on what those are, McIlroy declined to provide specifics other than to say the goalposts continue to “keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.” But listening to McIlroy talk throughout the week, I’d be concerned if I were PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp. In discussing his preparation for the Masters, McIlroy said that he has been practicing for weeks at Augusta National. There were days he would drop his daughter, Poppy, at school, fly up to Augusta for a practice round and be home in time for dinner. By having a singular focus on his Augusta National prep, McIlroy did not tee it up on the PGA Tour between The Players Championship and the Masters. He went so far as to say this week, “I honestly just don’t like the three tournaments leading up to this event. I’d rather come up here.” That could not have sat well at PGA Tour headquarters, or with sponsors at the Valspar Championship, the Texas Children’s Houston Open or the Valero Texas Open. In his post-round press conference, McIlroy did provide a bit of clarity, adding that getting to a major a week early was advice he once received from none other than Jack Nicklaus. And that he doesn’t plan on taking three weeks off from competition before every major. Of course, McIlroy has earned the right to play where and when he chooses. But with his global stature in the game and the PGA Tour Enterprises being a for-profit business, it doesn’t help matters when McIlroy skips some marquee events and shares his outright distaste for other second-tier tournaments struggling to stay relevant in the current landscape. MASTERS’ MASTERY The Augusta National Golf Club and city of Augusta have developed a secret sauce that makes the Masters a truly unique experience for everyone involved. It begins with the city’s pre-planning that largely alleviates traffic jams around the golf course. There are rarely backups, parking is free and fans are stress-free entering the course. Once they get inside the gates, a fleet of volunteers make sure foot traffic continues to move throughout the course with relative ease. No one knows exactly how many tickets the Masters distributes, but even with the leaders on the back nine on Sunday it was never impossible to find a direct view of any player or hole of interest. Scheffler said this week that he finds the entire Masters experience “enjoyable,” and Couples called Augusta National “the greatest walk you could ever have.” When stepping on the AGNC property, it feels like hallowed grounds chock full of history. And the club clearly spares no expense to make sure everyone’s experience inside its gates is enjoyable. It probably helps to have the resources of a massive store that some in the press have heard generates in the neighborhood of million … per hour. –Derek Harper, Field Level Media #Deadspin #Masters #Musings #Takeaways #Augusta #NationalApr 12, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy holds the Masters championship trophy during the green jacket ceremony after the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

AUGUSTA, Ga. — After spending seven days roaming virtually every yard of Augusta National Golf Club, from the historic clubhouse to hours at “Amen Corner” on the other side of the expansive property, here are five takeaways from a memorable 2026 Masters Tournament.

SCHEFFLER’S FLOCK GROWING

Scottie Scheffler created an enormous buzz around Augusta National on Sunday by coming out with two birdies through his first three holes to get within two of the lead early in his round. When he pumped his fist with a clutch par save on the par-3 sixth hole, it appeared a dramatic run by the world’s No. 1-ranked player might be unfolding.

That charge stalled for a few hours with 11 consecutive pars, but it didn’t stop the throngs of Scheffler fans from following him and providing the loudest roars on the course. He rewarded their faith with another spark by rolling in a lengthy putt for his first birdie of the week on the par-5 15th hole, and followed it with another on No. 16. Ultimately, Scheffler’s rally fell a shot short, but he has built a tremendous following.

Scheffler doesn’t have Arnie’s Army, and it wasn’t close to the mass of humanity that followed Tiger Woods and climbed trees to get a glimpse of him in his prime. But it was abundantly clear that he was the people’s choice on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose had strong followings as well, and Cameron Young gained some support as the top American to begin the day, but none of them drew the dedicated fan pack that Scheffler enjoyed.

It was fun to see Scheffler and playing partner Haotong Li sharing a laugh walking off the 10th tee, with the Chinese star looking at Scheffler and saying, “Dude! Dude!,” followed by a comment about a fan interaction over a golf glove.

KNAPP TIME?

Jake Knapp’s yardage book reads “Knapptime,” and the 31-year-old might be on the precipice of becoming a breakout star on the PGA Tour. Known for his streaky ability to go really low, including a 59 in the first round of last year’s Cognizant Classic and a course-record 61 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Knapp has often struggled to put four solid rounds together.

He was one of the last players to qualify for this year’s Masters when he slipped into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking on the final cutoff week last month. Playing in only his second career Masters, Knapp closed with a 70 on Sunday to snag an 11th-place finish.

Not only does that stamp Knapp’s ticket back to Augusta National next year, but the former bouncer is starting to build a following with his smooth swing and Southern California swagger. Knapp also earned praise from someone who knows a thing or two about Augusta National.

“I think Jake Knapp can win here. I really do,” said Fred Couples, the 1992 champion who played his practice rounds with Knapp this week.

AN AUGUSTA LIKE NO OTHER?

Determining how Augusta National will play is always a challenging task. This year provided an extremely rare mix of zero rain, very little wind and warm temperatures. The course had more brown spots than normal, and the famous camera-friendly azaleas weren’t in bloom.

After the players struggled to find birdie opportunities on Thursday afternoon, Ireland’s Shane Lowry speculated that it might be the most difficult Masters we have seen in a while considering the forecast called for even warmer temperatures. But those conditions never materialized, despite the browned-out spots and firm greens.

The fairways were hard and rolled out further than normal, leaving players with shorter shots into the green and better opportunities to spin the ball. After the course yielded a scoring average of 72.85 on Friday, the 70.63 average on Saturday was a record low for the third round of the Masters.

Sunday proved to be slightly more difficult as one would expect, but the greens remained receptive for the most part. The final round scoring average was only a tick over par at 72.09.


“Have you ever seen looking down the property how yellow the patron areas and how brown and purple parts of the greens and fairways are?” Spain’s Jon Rahm asked rhetorically. “It will be a long time until we see it like this. Definitely have some things in mind for future editions where it gets to this level.”

DOES RORY’S SUCCESS POSE A PROBLEM?

McIlroy’s quest for an historic Masters repeat was the No. 1 story all week, and deservedly so. He said that he didn’t begin 2026 with a singular drive to win consecutive Masters and that he remains motivated to accomplish new goals in his career.

When pressed on what those are, McIlroy declined to provide specifics other than to say the goalposts continue to “keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.”

But listening to McIlroy talk throughout the week, I’d be concerned if I were PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp.

In discussing his preparation for the Masters, McIlroy said that he has been practicing for weeks at Augusta National. There were days he would drop his daughter, Poppy, at school, fly up to Augusta for a practice round and be home in time for dinner.

By having a singular focus on his Augusta National prep, McIlroy did not tee it up on the PGA Tour between The Players Championship and the Masters. He went so far as to say this week, “I honestly just don’t like the three tournaments leading up to this event. I’d rather come up here.”

That could not have sat well at PGA Tour headquarters, or with sponsors at the Valspar Championship, the Texas Children’s Houston Open or the Valero Texas Open.

In his post-round press conference, McIlroy did provide a bit of clarity, adding that getting to a major a week early was advice he once received from none other than Jack Nicklaus. And that he doesn’t plan on taking three weeks off from competition before every major.

Of course, McIlroy has earned the right to play where and when he chooses. But with his global stature in the game and the PGA Tour Enterprises being a for-profit business, it doesn’t help matters when McIlroy skips some marquee events and shares his outright distaste for other second-tier tournaments struggling to stay relevant in the current landscape.

MASTERS’ MASTERY

The Augusta National Golf Club and city of Augusta have developed a secret sauce that makes the Masters a truly unique experience for everyone involved.

It begins with the city’s pre-planning that largely alleviates traffic jams around the golf course. There are rarely backups, parking is free and fans are stress-free entering the course. Once they get inside the gates, a fleet of volunteers make sure foot traffic continues to move throughout the course with relative ease.

No one knows exactly how many tickets the Masters distributes, but even with the leaders on the back nine on Sunday it was never impossible to find a direct view of any player or hole of interest.

Scheffler said this week that he finds the entire Masters experience “enjoyable,” and Couples called Augusta National “the greatest walk you could ever have.”

When stepping on the AGNC property, it feels like hallowed grounds chock full of history. And the club clearly spares no expense to make sure everyone’s experience inside its gates is enjoyable.

It probably helps to have the resources of a massive store that some in the press have heard generates in the neighborhood of $1 million … per hour.

–Derek Harper, Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Masters #Musings #Takeaways #Augusta #National

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Apr 12, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy holds the Masters championship trophy during the green jacket ceremony after the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

AUGUSTA, Ga. — After spending seven days roaming virtually every yard of Augusta National Golf Club, from the historic clubhouse to hours at “Amen Corner” on the other side of the expansive property, here are five takeaways from a memorable 2026 Masters Tournament.

SCHEFFLER’S FLOCK GROWING

Scottie Scheffler created an enormous buzz around Augusta National on Sunday by coming out with two birdies through his first three holes to get within two of the lead early in his round. When he pumped his fist with a clutch par save on the par-3 sixth hole, it appeared a dramatic run by the world’s No. 1-ranked player might be unfolding.

That charge stalled for a few hours with 11 consecutive pars, but it didn’t stop the throngs of Scheffler fans from following him and providing the loudest roars on the course. He rewarded their faith with another spark by rolling in a lengthy putt for his first birdie of the week on the par-5 15th hole, and followed it with another on No. 16. Ultimately, Scheffler’s rally fell a shot short, but he has built a tremendous following.

Scheffler doesn’t have Arnie’s Army, and it wasn’t close to the mass of humanity that followed Tiger Woods and climbed trees to get a glimpse of him in his prime. But it was abundantly clear that he was the people’s choice on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose had strong followings as well, and Cameron Young gained some support as the top American to begin the day, but none of them drew the dedicated fan pack that Scheffler enjoyed.

It was fun to see Scheffler and playing partner Haotong Li sharing a laugh walking off the 10th tee, with the Chinese star looking at Scheffler and saying, “Dude! Dude!,” followed by a comment about a fan interaction over a golf glove.

KNAPP TIME?

Jake Knapp’s yardage book reads “Knapptime,” and the 31-year-old might be on the precipice of becoming a breakout star on the PGA Tour. Known for his streaky ability to go really low, including a 59 in the first round of last year’s Cognizant Classic and a course-record 61 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Knapp has often struggled to put four solid rounds together.

He was one of the last players to qualify for this year’s Masters when he slipped into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking on the final cutoff week last month. Playing in only his second career Masters, Knapp closed with a 70 on Sunday to snag an 11th-place finish.

Not only does that stamp Knapp’s ticket back to Augusta National next year, but the former bouncer is starting to build a following with his smooth swing and Southern California swagger. Knapp also earned praise from someone who knows a thing or two about Augusta National.

“I think Jake Knapp can win here. I really do,” said Fred Couples, the 1992 champion who played his practice rounds with Knapp this week.

AN AUGUSTA LIKE NO OTHER?

Determining how Augusta National will play is always a challenging task. This year provided an extremely rare mix of zero rain, very little wind and warm temperatures. The course had more brown spots than normal, and the famous camera-friendly azaleas weren’t in bloom.

After the players struggled to find birdie opportunities on Thursday afternoon, Ireland’s Shane Lowry speculated that it might be the most difficult Masters we have seen in a while considering the forecast called for even warmer temperatures. But those conditions never materialized, despite the browned-out spots and firm greens.

The fairways were hard and rolled out further than normal, leaving players with shorter shots into the green and better opportunities to spin the ball. After the course yielded a scoring average of 72.85 on Friday, the 70.63 average on Saturday was a record low for the third round of the Masters.

Sunday proved to be slightly more difficult as one would expect, but the greens remained receptive for the most part. The final round scoring average was only a tick over par at 72.09.

“Have you ever seen looking down the property how yellow the patron areas and how brown and purple parts of the greens and fairways are?” Spain’s Jon Rahm asked rhetorically. “It will be a long time until we see it like this. Definitely have some things in mind for future editions where it gets to this level.”

DOES RORY’S SUCCESS POSE A PROBLEM?

McIlroy’s quest for an historic Masters repeat was the No. 1 story all week, and deservedly so. He said that he didn’t begin 2026 with a singular drive to win consecutive Masters and that he remains motivated to accomplish new goals in his career.

When pressed on what those are, McIlroy declined to provide specifics other than to say the goalposts continue to “keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.”

But listening to McIlroy talk throughout the week, I’d be concerned if I were PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp.

In discussing his preparation for the Masters, McIlroy said that he has been practicing for weeks at Augusta National. There were days he would drop his daughter, Poppy, at school, fly up to Augusta for a practice round and be home in time for dinner.

By having a singular focus on his Augusta National prep, McIlroy did not tee it up on the PGA Tour between The Players Championship and the Masters. He went so far as to say this week, “I honestly just don’t like the three tournaments leading up to this event. I’d rather come up here.”

That could not have sat well at PGA Tour headquarters, or with sponsors at the Valspar Championship, the Texas Children’s Houston Open or the Valero Texas Open.

In his post-round press conference, McIlroy did provide a bit of clarity, adding that getting to a major a week early was advice he once received from none other than Jack Nicklaus. And that he doesn’t plan on taking three weeks off from competition before every major.

Of course, McIlroy has earned the right to play where and when he chooses. But with his global stature in the game and the PGA Tour Enterprises being a for-profit business, it doesn’t help matters when McIlroy skips some marquee events and shares his outright distaste for other second-tier tournaments struggling to stay relevant in the current landscape.

MASTERS’ MASTERY

The Augusta National Golf Club and city of Augusta have developed a secret sauce that makes the Masters a truly unique experience for everyone involved.

It begins with the city’s pre-planning that largely alleviates traffic jams around the golf course. There are rarely backups, parking is free and fans are stress-free entering the course. Once they get inside the gates, a fleet of volunteers make sure foot traffic continues to move throughout the course with relative ease.

No one knows exactly how many tickets the Masters distributes, but even with the leaders on the back nine on Sunday it was never impossible to find a direct view of any player or hole of interest.

Scheffler said this week that he finds the entire Masters experience “enjoyable,” and Couples called Augusta National “the greatest walk you could ever have.”

When stepping on the AGNC property, it feels like hallowed grounds chock full of history. And the club clearly spares no expense to make sure everyone’s experience inside its gates is enjoyable.

It probably helps to have the resources of a massive store that some in the press have heard generates in the neighborhood of $1 million … per hour.

–Derek Harper, Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (elbow) headed for rehab assignment Jun 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images The New York Yankees will send left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon on a minor league rehab assignment Saturday. Rodon, who last appeared in the majors on June 28 before hitting the IL with left elbow inflammation, will throw around 50 pitches on Saturday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. According to manager Aaron Boone, an early return for Rodon in a piggyback scenario is a distinct possibility. “I think he’s close to 50, not quite 50 pitches tomorrow, and I think we’ll definitely, probably piggyback him at some point,” Boone told reporters before the Yankees’ series opener Friday against the Atlanta Braves. “It’s just, do we have him do one more and then do the piggyback at whatever pitch count he’s at? That’s the most likely right now.” New York just did that with left-hander Max Fried, who returned earlier than expected from a bruised left elbow. When the Yankees had a rainout July 21 and a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates was arranged for July 22, they brought Fried back early to start the nightcap on a restricted pitch count. Rodon, who had surgery last October to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow, received platelet-rich plasma injections while on the IL. His season debut was delayed until May 10 due to a right hamstring issue in spring training. The 33-year-old was 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA in nine starts before being placed on the IL. In 12 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2015-21), San Francisco Giants (2022) and Yankees (2023-26), the three-time All-Star is 97-74 with a 3.72 ERA, 1,461 strikeouts and 503 walks. The Yankees did not address pitching at the trade deadline, either the starting rotation or the bullpen. New York’s rotation, currently featuring Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers and Fried, is third in MLB with a 3.48 ERA. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Yankees #LHP #Carlos #Rodon #elbow #headed #rehab #assignmentJun 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees will send left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon on a minor league rehab assignment Saturday.

Rodon, who last appeared in the majors on June 28 before hitting the IL with left elbow inflammation, will throw around 50 pitches on Saturday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

According to manager Aaron Boone, an early return for Rodon in a piggyback scenario is a distinct possibility.

“I think he’s close to 50, not quite 50 pitches tomorrow, and I think we’ll definitely, probably piggyback him at some point,” Boone told reporters before the Yankees’ series opener Friday against the Atlanta Braves. “It’s just, do we have him do one more and then do the piggyback at whatever pitch count he’s at? That’s the most likely right now.”


New York just did that with left-hander Max Fried, who returned earlier than expected from a bruised left elbow. When the Yankees had a rainout July 21 and a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates was arranged for July 22, they brought Fried back early to start the nightcap on a restricted pitch count.

Rodon, who had surgery last October to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow, received platelet-rich plasma injections while on the IL. His season debut was delayed until May 10 due to a right hamstring issue in spring training.

The 33-year-old was 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA in nine starts before being placed on the IL. In 12 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2015-21), San Francisco Giants (2022) and Yankees (2023-26), the three-time All-Star is 97-74 with a 3.72 ERA, 1,461 strikeouts and 503 walks.

The Yankees did not address pitching at the trade deadline, either the starting rotation or the bullpen. New York’s rotation, currently featuring Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers and Fried, is third in MLB with a 3.48 ERA.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Yankees #LHP #Carlos #Rodon #elbow #headed #rehab #assignment">Deadspin | Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (elbow) headed for rehab assignment Jun 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images The New York Yankees will send left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon on a minor league rehab assignment Saturday. Rodon, who last appeared in the majors on June 28 before hitting the IL with left elbow inflammation, will throw around 50 pitches on Saturday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. According to manager Aaron Boone, an early return for Rodon in a piggyback scenario is a distinct possibility. “I think he’s close to 50, not quite 50 pitches tomorrow, and I think we’ll definitely, probably piggyback him at some point,” Boone told reporters before the Yankees’ series opener Friday against the Atlanta Braves. “It’s just, do we have him do one more and then do the piggyback at whatever pitch count he’s at? That’s the most likely right now.” New York just did that with left-hander Max Fried, who returned earlier than expected from a bruised left elbow. When the Yankees had a rainout July 21 and a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates was arranged for July 22, they brought Fried back early to start the nightcap on a restricted pitch count. Rodon, who had surgery last October to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow, received platelet-rich plasma injections while on the IL. His season debut was delayed until May 10 due to a right hamstring issue in spring training. The 33-year-old was 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA in nine starts before being placed on the IL. In 12 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2015-21), San Francisco Giants (2022) and Yankees (2023-26), the three-time All-Star is 97-74 with a 3.72 ERA, 1,461 strikeouts and 503 walks. The Yankees did not address pitching at the trade deadline, either the starting rotation or the bullpen. New York’s rotation, currently featuring Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers and Fried, is third in MLB with a 3.48 ERA. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Yankees #LHP #Carlos #Rodon #elbow #headed #rehab #assignment

The first game of NFL preseason had no right to be that good. The Panthers and Cardinals gave us a Hall of Fame classic on Thursday night that came down to the final play, with rookie quarterback Haynes King rushing for a touchdown as time expired to give Carolina the win. Not only was the level of play much higher than anyone expected, but there was plenty of drama along the way.

Whenever there’s a national game like there are overreactions, especially in preseason. Let’s dive into what we’re all reacting to after Panthers-Cardinals.

No. 1: Haynes King is coming for Bryce Youngs job

There is no question Haynes King was a standout performer on Thursday night at QB, with the rookie showing poise in the pocket, an ability to move the chains, and scoring three touchdowns for the Panthers, including the game-winner.

King is third on the QB depth chart in Carolina behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett — and he could very well push Pickett for the backup job, but the idea he’ll supplant the starter is ridiculous. No matter how great that performance was, the rookie had been struggling in training camp up to this point, particularly with his decision making. So while it’s tempting to glean too much info from preseaon, we also need to pump the brakes on getting too hyped over watching King succeed against the Cardinals depth defenders.

If Carolina is able to land a long-term backup in King it will still be a massive win for them.

No. 2: Carson Beck is a superstar in the making

We had a standout performance from Carson Beck, with the rookie really showing off both the velocity of his arm in tight windows and some touch in small spaces where needed. It led to a lot of people getting so blown away with the performance that things got a little carried away, annointing Beck as a star in the making, a draft steal, and the reason the Cardinals won’t be picking a QB in 2027.

Let’s chill out on taking it this far. Beck had a really good game, but the Panthers defense was a mess in the secondary. Carolina started their deep-depth players and guys on the back-end of the roster, with the defense not even being called by coordinator Ejiro Evero. Beck still needed to make the throws, but the bulk of his yards came on busted coverage and throwing into giant gaping windows.

We’ll need to see that same level performance against a real defense before we can even begin the discussion in earnest.

No. 3: The Panthers pass defense is in trouble

This dovetails off the discussion of Carson Beck, because, as mentioned, there were a ton of mitigating factors here. Not only did Carolina start their extreme depth, but they didnt have their defensive coordinator use any situational playcalling. Instead they more or less sat in their base shell and allowed the defense to pick them apart.

Not that you ever want your team getting destroyed in the passing game, but it’s too early to panic.

No. 4: Getting too carried away with two receivers

On each side of the ball we had a receiver who turned heads and got people a little too excited, a little too quickly. Arizona’s Jalen Brooks and Carolina’s Ja’Seem Reed coninuted their good training camp reports with solid games, but people are getting a little carried away with both at this point.

Brooks is a former 7th rounder who struggled to hold a back-end roster spot with the Cowboys, and Reed is a UDFA. That doesn’t mean they won’t have success, but the talk after the game was whether or not these guys could become top-four rotation receivers.

If they make the 53 it will be a major achievement for either. That’s still the expectation here, and should be how we think about these players.

#overreactions #PanthersCardinals #Hall #Fame #banger">4 overreactions from the Panthers-Cardinals Hall of Fame banger The first game of NFL preseason had no right to be that good. The Panthers and Cardinals gave us a Hall of Fame classic on Thursday night that came down to the final play, with rookie quarterback Haynes King rushing for a touchdown as time expired to give Carolina the win. Not only was the level of play much higher than anyone expected, but there was plenty of drama along the way.Whenever there’s a national game like there are overreactions, especially in preseason. Let’s dive into what we’re all reacting to after Panthers-Cardinals.No. 1: Haynes King is coming for Bryce Youngs jobThere is no question Haynes King was a standout performer on Thursday night at QB, with the rookie showing poise in the pocket, an ability to move the chains, and scoring three touchdowns for the Panthers, including the game-winner.King is third on the QB depth chart in Carolina behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett — and he could very well push Pickett for the backup job, but the idea he’ll supplant the starter is ridiculous. No matter how great that performance was, the rookie had been struggling in training camp up to this point, particularly with his decision making. So while it’s tempting to glean too much info from preseaon, we also need to pump the brakes on getting too hyped over watching King succeed against the Cardinals depth defenders.If Carolina is able to land a long-term backup in King it will still be a massive win for them.No. 2: Carson Beck is a superstar in the makingWe had a standout performance from Carson Beck, with the rookie really showing off both the velocity of his arm in tight windows and some touch in small spaces where needed. It led to a lot of people getting so blown away with the performance that things got a little carried away, annointing Beck as a star in the making, a draft steal, and the reason the Cardinals won’t be picking a QB in 2027.Let’s chill out on taking it this far. Beck had a really good game, but the Panthers defense was a mess in the secondary. Carolina started their deep-depth players and guys on the back-end of the roster, with the defense not even being called by coordinator Ejiro Evero. Beck still needed to make the throws, but the bulk of his yards came on busted coverage and throwing into giant gaping windows.We’ll need to see that same level performance against a real defense before we can even begin the discussion in earnest.No. 3: The Panthers pass defense is in troubleThis dovetails off the discussion of Carson Beck, because, as mentioned, there were a ton of mitigating factors here. Not only did Carolina start their extreme depth, but they didnt have their defensive coordinator use any situational playcalling. Instead they more or less sat in their base shell and allowed the defense to pick them apart.Not that you ever want your team getting destroyed in the passing game, but it’s too early to panic.No. 4: Getting too carried away with two receiversOn each side of the ball we had a receiver who turned heads and got people a little too excited, a little too quickly. Arizona’s Jalen Brooks and Carolina’s Ja’Seem Reed coninuted their good training camp reports with solid games, but people are getting a little carried away with both at this point.Brooks is a former 7th rounder who struggled to hold a back-end roster spot with the Cowboys, and Reed is a UDFA. That doesn’t mean they won’t have success, but the talk after the game was whether or not these guys could become top-four rotation receivers.If they make the 53 it will be a major achievement for either. That’s still the expectation here, and should be how we think about these players. #overreactions #PanthersCardinals #Hall #Fame #banger

Ranjit Bajaj has decided against taking up the India Under-15 men’s national team manager’s role alongside head coach Bibiano Fernandes for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan in October, Minerva Academy founder-director announced on his Instagram handle.

Bajaj’s reason is that the he and Bibiano have different footballing philosophies and putting them together would not be in the team’s best interest.

Bajaj, who was approved as the team manager by the AIFF Executive Committee following the appointment of Fernandes as head coach, said he was deeply unhappy with the decision and believed the team could suffer if its key personnel were not aligned in their approach.

“People are congratulating me but I am not happy. I am very unhappy. This is the worst thing they could have done,” Bajaj said in a post on his Instagram handle.

Explaining the rationale behind his decision, Bajaj said the AIFF had appointed him and Fernandes together despite their contrasting styles and visions, though he made it clear that his decision was not a personal issue with the head coach.

“You people (AIFF) appointed me and Bibiano (Fernandes) together. I don’t have any problems with Bibiano but I have a problem because of different playing styles and different visions,” he said.

Bajaj said the difference was fundamental, with his preferred approach built around an aggressive, attacking game while Fernandes’ methods were more defensive.

“From low block defensive style to high press attacking style, getting into opposition territory and smashing them are completely different styles. It’s not about me or Bibiano. If two people are not on same page, then team suffers,” he said.

The Minerva founder also questioned the circumstances of his appointment, saying the federation had turned to him despite their differences because of his team’s success and the process behind it.

“Also you called me because you didn’t have an option. It is not as if there are world famous coaches at your disposal. So you summoned your biggest critic, biggest hater and maybe because my team (Minerva) wins,” Bajaj said.

He also suggested that Fernandes should have been given charge of the U-15 side earlier if the AIFF had intended to make him the head coach, while urging supporters to back the former India youth coach.

“Even if you guys wanted to give Bibiano the charge, you should have given it one year back. Okay, if you given him now, I request fans, we should support Bibiano,” Bajaj said.

The AIFF Executive Committee, on the recommendation of its Technical Committee, had approved Fernandes’ appointment as head coach, subject to his acceptance, for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan in October.

Bajaj had earlier volunteered on social media to take charge of the team, but had made it conditional on being allowed to appoint his own coaching staff.

The inaugural tournament will feature all 211 FIFA member associations, including India. It will be played in an 8-a-side format on smaller customised pitches, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. Each team can register 14 players, including up to two goalkeepers.

(With PTI inputs)

Published on Aug 07, 2026

#Ranjit #Bajaj #reject #role #India #manager #U15 #FIFA #World #Cup #Festival">Why did Ranjit Bajaj reject role as India manager for U-15 FIFA World Cup and Festival? Ranjit Bajaj has decided against taking up the India Under-15 men’s national team manager’s role alongside head coach Bibiano Fernandes for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan in October, Minerva Academy founder-director announced on his Instagram handle.Bajaj’s reason is that the he and Bibiano have different footballing philosophies and putting them together would not be in the team’s best interest.Bajaj, who was approved as the team manager by the AIFF Executive Committee following the appointment of Fernandes as head coach, said he was deeply unhappy with the decision and believed the team could suffer if its key personnel were not aligned in their approach.“People are congratulating me but I am not happy. I am very unhappy. This is the worst thing they could have done,” Bajaj said in a post on his Instagram handle.Explaining the rationale behind his decision, Bajaj said the AIFF had appointed him and Fernandes together despite their contrasting styles and visions, though he made it clear that his decision was not a personal issue with the head coach.“You people (AIFF) appointed me and Bibiano (Fernandes) together. I don’t have any problems with Bibiano but I have a problem because of different playing styles and different visions,” he said.Bajaj said the difference was fundamental, with his preferred approach built around an aggressive, attacking game while Fernandes’ methods were more defensive.“From low block defensive style to high press attacking style, getting into opposition territory and smashing them are completely different styles. It’s not about me or Bibiano. If two people are not on same page, then team suffers,” he said.The Minerva founder also questioned the circumstances of his appointment, saying the federation had turned to him despite their differences because of his team’s success and the process behind it.“Also you called me because you didn’t have an option. It is not as if there are world famous coaches at your disposal. So you summoned your biggest critic, biggest hater and maybe because my team (Minerva) wins,” Bajaj said.He also suggested that Fernandes should have been given charge of the U-15 side earlier if the AIFF had intended to make him the head coach, while urging supporters to back the former India youth coach.“Even if you guys wanted to give Bibiano the charge, you should have given it one year back. Okay, if you given him now, I request fans, we should support Bibiano,” Bajaj said.The AIFF Executive Committee, on the recommendation of its Technical Committee, had approved Fernandes’ appointment as head coach, subject to his acceptance, for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan in October.Bajaj had earlier volunteered on social media to take charge of the team, but had made it conditional on being allowed to appoint his own coaching staff.The inaugural tournament will feature all 211 FIFA member associations, including India. It will be played in an 8-a-side format on smaller customised pitches, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. Each team can register 14 players, including up to two goalkeepers.(With PTI inputs)Published on Aug 07, 2026 #Ranjit #Bajaj #reject #role #India #manager #U15 #FIFA #World #Cup #Festival

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