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If It’s April It Must Be The Masters

It’s April once again; which means Masters time again. Heralding the official beginning of Spring (at least in my world) and start of the Golf Season for those of us in northern climes, the Masters brings with it an anticipation of great things. While I missed the first Masters ever televised, we didn’t get a television set until a year later in 1957 ( three channels, black and white, and the remote consisted of my father’s voice telling one of us kids to get up and turn the channel), I have watched most of them over the past 50 years.

Published

18 years ago

Apr 4, 2008

Eric Schuster

It’s April once again; which means Masters time again.

Heralding the official beginning of Spring (at least in my world) and start of the Golf Season for those of us in northern climes, the Masters brings with it an anticipation of great things. While I missed the first Masters ever televised, we didn’t get a television set until a year later in 1957 (three channels, black and white, and the remote consisted of my father’s voice telling one of us kids to get up and turn the channel), I have watched most of them over the past 50 years.

For years the course never changed, as regular as the return of Robin red breast and the sounds of cardinals at daybreak. The only major played over the same 18 holes every year, Augusta National, whose reverential place in history increased with each passing year. It was instilled in me that one genuflected upon entering those hallowed grounds. All the greats returned every year to chase that green jacket, which seemed a bizarre color for a piece of serious clothing. Yet none of the principals minded the color, at least not out loud. I’ve always wondered how you match your socks to that coat. Time changed the names of those golfers whose greatness unfolded over four days in early April. Yet the golf course, it’s founder, and the tournament remained constant. The litany of stars changed over the years, but the mystique evolved and expanded.

In the beginning, television covered only the closing 4 holes, providing the common man a glimpse of the shrine. The remaining holes were left to the imagination, constructed, or rather conjured upon the written page, by the eloquence of men such as Herbert Warren Wind, yet still shielded from view. We learned the difficulty of Amen Corner. The 14th hole occupied space as a bridge to get from that prayer filled difficult 3 hole stretch to the drama intense closing holes. It was years before the veil was lifted and the entire back nine came to life. The idea that those on the grounds were to be called "patrons" and got to see the entire course left me to become one of the unwashed masses huddled around illuminated vacuum tubes catching glimpses of royalty. Funny now that I think about it, but that image is probably truer today than it was in those days what with the financial status of todays even average tour player.

Eventually the grand poobahs of green jacketdom, allowed us to see all 18 holes. To think the front nine is actually rather memorable and important in determining the eventual wearer of the green came as a surprise. I had always heard that the Masters doesn’t begin until the back nine on Sunday. I took it to mean the only important holes were the ones I could watch on TV. Sigh, another childhood fantasy crushed like a grape by the huge shoe of reality. Turns out this is a literal truth, the entire back nine provides a familiar canvas upon which historic achievement is depicted. How often I have sat rivited, unable even to munch a snack, as tension filled shot follows tension filled shot. As often as not creating not only a hero, but also a remarkably tragic character. Shakespeare, were he physically present would appreciate the stage as much as the drama which unfolds.

I do remember not having to listen to the schmaltzy music and reverential tones of Jim Nance welcoming us to the Shrine of Jones and Roberts. I never had the urge to purge my most recent meal in those days. It was some time before I realized, that while I was getting on in years my digestive tract was more sensitive to auditory stimuli and not what I was eating each April. Canned sanctity is truly annoying, a cheapening detraction from the honest allure.

And so we are back: April, the Masters, spring, a man’s fancy turns to golf ( the preferred method of public self abuse). I will buck up and brace myself to ignore the media pablum and once again enter the grounds of Augusta National prepared to suffer the trials and tribulations of my favorite players. I shall also enjoy the inevitable underdog who elevates his game to challenge the legend and mystique of history. Perhaps, like Larry Mize and Bob Goalby, he will become a champion. Or perhaps, like Roberto De Vincenzo and Greg Norman, he shall become legendarily tragic in defeat. That is after all, part of the magic of the house that Jones built.

News

5 Things we Learned: Thursday at the U.S.. Women’s Open

Published

1 hour ago

Jun 5, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Gone are the days when the U.S. Women’s Open was held at Scenic Hills or Churchill Valley. Fine courses that they are (or were, as Churchill Valley went bankrupt a decade ago) there is something to be said for the venue. Not all Women’s Open playings need to take place on Men’s Open venues, but some should. This week in Los Angeles, the Women’s Open visits Riviera Country Club for the first time. Down the road, we will visit Inverness, Oakmont, Interlachen, Oak Hill, Chicago Golf, and Merion. That is quite the murderer’s row (1927 Yankees reference) of golf clubs.

What can we expect from the 2026 tournament? Greatness and uncertainty. Unlike the PGA Tour, which visits Riviera each February, the LPGA does not, so the women will not have nearly the body of work over the George C. Thomas layout. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe they’ll play #10 smarter than the men do. Maybe they’ll figure some things out that their male counterparts can not. For today, we’ll try to find five things to learn, and share them with you.

First, this ain’t your momma’s U.S. Open course

How do we know? Well, so far, only one previous champion currently sits inside the top thirty. That would be Minjee Lee, the 2022 winner at Southern (NC) Pines. Lee made par on her first nine holes, the inward side at Riviera. She dropped birdie putts on the first and ninth holes (ten and eighteen for her day) and tallied another seven pars, for 69. She sits three shots off Jennifer Kupcho’s opening 66. Don’t worry about Kupcho; we’ll get to her. After Lee, defending champion Maja Stark ranks T30 at even par, joined by three other, former winners.

What Minjee did, is the sort of thing that wins U.S. Open titles. She guided her ship safely past swells, and made a move when the waters calmed. The fewer the bogeys, the more likely Minjee figures in the outcome on Sunday evening in Pacific Palisades. Off the tee, Lee was unmatched. She hit 14 of 14 fairways. Her iron play was a bit loose in comparison. She putted for birdie on 12 of 18 holes, which meant that her recovery short game was on point. Lee was ten yards longer on measured driving holes than the field average, and was below the field average (a good thing) in putting.

Second, the amateurs beat a loud drum

Three of the world’s top amateur golfer posted 70, placing them four off the lead, in a tie for 14th place. Canada’s Aphrodite Deng, Spain’s Paula Francisco Llaño, and Colombia’s Maria José Marin, showed the professional world that their game is strong. Both Deng and Francisco Llaño collected five birdies on the day. Should they match that output on day two, and minimize the foozles, they’ll be the topic of conversation on Saturday morning. Marin, the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion and an NCAA team semifinalist last week, played a game similar to Minjee Lee: few mistakes and few taken risks.

The last amateur to post the low medal score for 72 holes was Jenny Chuasiriporn in 1998. She lost a playoff to Se Ri Pak, who matched her plus-six effort at Blackwolf Run. The last amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open was Catherine Lacoste in 1967. The amateurs are stronger than they’ve ever been, but the professionals have not allowed them to close the gap. A victory by one of the college set would be a cannon shot heard round the world. Could it happen? Absolutely. Is it likely? Not at all.

Third, let’s talk Kupcho

Jennifer Kupcho won the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She won three times on tour in 2022, including the Chevron, a major title. She won a fourth event in 2025, but has not established the winning credentials projected on her after 2022’s marvelous coming-out.

Kupcho hails from Colorado, and spent four years in the Carolina Piedmont, at Wake Forest Universtiy. Neither of those locales cries out I’ll be at home at Riviera, but here we are, after a seven-birdie performance. Kupcho posted birdie on each of her first three holes, and added four more (against two bogeys) to assume a one-shot advantage over Korea’s Sei Young Kim.

Kupcho drove the ball decently, approached moderately well, but putted lights out on Thursday. Her 26 putts were tied for best in show on day one. There might just be something about the putting surfaces at Riviera that aligns with Kupcho’s vibe. If that is the case, just get the ball on the green, anywhere, and let the flatstick do the lifting.

Fourth, how young is Sei Young?

Sei (pronounced “So”) Young Kim won a dozen times from 2015 to 2020. She took time off from winning until 2025, shen she captured a thirteenth LPGA title. Like Kupcho, Kim has hardware from one major event, the 2020 Women’s PGA Championship. How to explain the five years away from victory? No idea. When Sei Young was in contention during the prime of her career, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

What to expect over the next three days at Riviera? Anyone’s guess. It might be the 2015-2020 Sei Young, or it could be the 2021-2025 version. Kim began her day with birdies at 10 and 11, then settled into a stretch of pars before her solitary bogey at the 4th (her 13th) hole. Kim regained her composure and reeled in three birdies to close the front nine. Her four-under performance trails Kupcho alone, and there is a real chance that Sei Young will produce a second score in the 60s and take a bit of control of the tournament.

Fifth, we’re giddy for Gaby

Although I cannot place my finger on why, it seems that each year, Gaby Lopez pops up on the U.S. Open leaderboard. She hasn’t figure out how to remain in contention, but here we are, in 2026, and Lopez is once again in the mix. The three-time champion on the LPGA circuit had a stunning first nine holes, turning in minus-five. She reached six deep at her tenth hole, but then gave three shots back coming home. Which Gaby will show up on Friday, and for how long? If back-nine Gaby can somehow channel front-nine Gaby, all outcomes are within reach. If the loose play continues, Lopez’ wiki page will add one more T41 to her majors column.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open

Published

2 days ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX Tour Photographer made the trip from the Memorial Tournament across the country to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

4 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums