Leaving a family vacation early is hard, but if I have to do so I will happily travel to Augusta, Georgia for The Masters.
Upon arrival in Augusta yesterday evening it felt strange given we were here just five short months ago for the 2020 (November) Masters. My body-clock was a little out of kilter as I am accustomed to one-year windows between Masters tournaments. Anyhow, it was quickly set right when I bumped into a few CBS colleagues upon check-in and our Covid-19 entry tests.
I had my PCR test and tested into the “Masters CBS bubble”.
I checked into my room, unpacked and lay down on the bed and did what most golfers would do… Watch the ANA Inspiration on The Golf Channel. Yes, I am a certifiable “Golf Nerd”. (I guess that is why the guys at Travis Mathew sent me a hat with “Golf Nerd” on the front of it. Incidentally you can find then at travismathew.com.)
Golf on TV quickly turned into “The Crown” on Netflix and I eventually fell asleep.
I tend to sleep without the hotel shades drawn so I woke up at sunrise. It was a chilly morning but the Georgia skies were clear and bright. I cruised around on Twitter and Instagram for a bit and then got word that I was Covid NEGATIVE. That was my cue to grab a morning cappuccino.
Coffee in hand I took a walk along the Augusta Riverwalk. It was serene and majestic and my soul took rest. I must admit it is nice to get to a PGA TOUR event and not just travel between the hotel and the golf course – there are so many beautiful places to see around the USA and the gently flowing Savannah River is certainly one.
I eventually made my way back to the hotel and saw a number of moms and dads and their kids who have qualified for The Drive Chip and Putt National Finals tomorrow (Sunday). You could sense their excitement as they were boarding buses and cars to head to Augusta National to check it out.
I will take a trip to the course a little later.
As always I am excited and have much anticipation as to what the Alistair Mackenzie gem holds in store. Suffice it to say, the weather has been great and the forecast for the week looks spectacular. I can confidently profess that the 2021 Masters will be completely different to the 2020 Fall edition.
Here’s to an incredible week!
/mi
