Wednesday 5 April 2017 07:14, UK
Golf editor Keith Jackson looks at the talking points behind the scenes at the Masters, including the new state-of-the-art media centre and how Danny Willett's champions dinner menu was received.
Can Rory McIlroy finally get it done at the Masters? Will world No 1 Dustin Johnson continue his remarkable dominance this year? What will Jordan Spieth be thinking when he gets to the 12th tee?
These are the questions you would expect to be at the forefront of every journalist's mind as they pitch up at Augusta National for the 81st Masters. But this year is very different, and all because of a new building ... the new media centre.
The first order of business for the world's press this week was to register in the brand new media facility and attempt to take in the scale of the structure, and every new arrival is accompanied by the sound of jaws dropping!
Constructed in barely 10 months, this is an astonishing facility. Augusta National are famed for taking hospitality to new heights, whether you're a player, a caddie or spending the week on site in a working capacity. The new media centre takes press hospitality into a different stratosphere.
The main amphitheatre houses 350 journalists and broadcasters from around the globe, with offices downstairs for photographers and television crews. The huge glass frontage offers views of the driving range, and some players might be tempted to put a little extra effort with the driver in an attempt to reach the windows!
Everywhere you walk, there's a member of staff dusting, polishing, sweeping or simply offering you a cheery greeting, and there is always a tournament official available to answer any queries no matter how busy it may be in the grand entrance hall.
There is even a locker room furnished with showers, there's a luxurious restaurant (free food!), a never-ending supply of fresh coffee and snacks, and when Monday's tornado warning was issued, it came to light that there's a reinforced basement in case of emergency.
And, as it's a 10-15 minute stroll to get to the first fairway, where the original media centre was located, there are 20 golf carts ferrying people to and from the building through a specially-built underground tunnel.
It is quite clearly the best media facility in the world, and another in a long line of examples that, if Augusta do anything, they do it properly and then make sure it's 10 times better!
Danny Willett's choice of menu for the traditional Masters Club Dinner on Tuesday evening was largely expected by the majority of English golf fans, a Yorkshire theme with "Sunday Roast" beef as the main course.
But there was much online searching being conducted by non-British members of the media at Augusta who were a little perplexed by the starter (mini cottage pies) and one of the accompaniments for the beef - Yorkshire Pudding.
I soon found myself in the rare position of interviewee, rather than interviewer, when I was asked to explain the significance of various items on the menu, and how the menu compared with other choices from former British Masters champions.
I was delighted to spend 10 minutes on the balcony with Teddy Allen, a well-respected and versatile American sports writer and columnist as well as being genuinely one of the nicest people I have ever met.
And only for a brief moment did I think it was slightly bizarre to be here to write about golf, but find myself explaining the history of Sandy Lyle's haggis, neeps and tatties before describing the crucial process involved in producing the perfect Yorkshire Pudding!
Jordan Spieth, when asked who he fears most at the Masters:
"Yeah, Rory McIlroy. He's been there, done that. The guy is a badass. Can I say that here?"
The lengthy question posed to Rory McIlroy during his press conference:
"You admirably criticised Muirfield when it took them so long to have women members. You called it obscene and you said you really wouldn't want to have a cup of tea with them. Obviously famously you played a round of golf with Donald Trump, and among other things, he bragged about sexually assaulting women, mocked a disabled person and had a week‑long battle the Gold Star family. What's the difference?"
Ian Woosnam, who insisted last year's Masters would be his last. Now he's been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, that's inspired him to give it another crack.
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