When it comes to sharing knowledge about Augusta National along with some fun facts about the Masters tournament, Twitter’s Michael Wolf could be as close to an encyclopedia as it gets. Along with being a lover of golf history and course architecture, Michael is an experienced traveler and player agent, and President of 288 Sports.

Bill Gates’ bar tab

Masters Fun Fact: when Augusta member @BillGates made an ace on the 9th hole of the club’s par 3 course, the ensuing bar tab was reportedly $22,000. By tradition, the other members playing in his group also split the tab. So the ace cost Warren Buffett $5,500.

— Michael Wolf (@bamabearcat) April 5, 2021

I have a feeling Bill and his friends didn’t even notice the final number on their credit cards

Would you like the big mansion or the really big mansion?

Masters Fun Fact: Ed Dudley, Augusta National’s first club professional, wasn’t paid a salary. But he was allowed to keep the earnings from selling merchandise at the Masters. Pretty sure JJ Weaver and Tony Sessa would take that deal today! pic.twitter.com/MCTUj69KjG

— Michael Wolf (@bamabearcat) March 12, 2021

No, seriously it’ll fit

Masters Fun Fact: while you’re watching the players hit balls on the range this afternoon, keep in mind there’s a tunnel underneath it large enough to drive 18 wheelers through. I’m not kidding. pic.twitter.com/iaLE5UCVpu

— Michael Wolf (@bamabearcat) April 7, 2021

Dress for the job you want – not the one you have

Masters Fun Fact: this is your annual reminder that Payne Stewart once played in the Par 3 contest while wearing a tuxedo pic.twitter.com/Dtj5bt0dy1

— Michael Wolf (@bamabearcat) April 7, 2021

Wax on, wax off

Masters Fun Fact: the courtesy cars are cleaned every day while the players are out on the golf course pic.twitter.com/aapy4b8vFN

— Michael Wolf (@bamabearcat) April 6, 2021

Hopefully, nobody writes anything negative about Bryson

Masters Fun Fact: It’s a 364yd carry from the front of the practice range tee to the windows of the press room pic.twitter.com/qGtSPOX3bP

— Michael Wolf (@bamabearcat) April 4, 2021

Bryson DeChambeau’s swing speed has dominated talk in golf over the past year, but the 27-year-old believes golf has only touched the surface in terms of how athletic players could become.

Speaking before this week’s Masters, Bryson’s creative mind was at work where he talked about how he sees the future of golf dominated by giants reaching a swing speed of 145mph.

“The massive gains will be in athletes, once you get somebody out here that’s a 7-foot-tall human being and they are able to swing a golf club at 145 miles an hour effortlessly. That’s when things get a little interesting. “That’s when I’m going to become obsolete, potentially even.”

Bryson currently leads the tour for swing speed with an average of 133mph, so a 12mph increase would be significant and likely lead to regular drives of over 400-yards.

As for his approach to the game, the Californian is adamant that his style is making the game more inclusive and spoke about how he receives several messages from college kids asking for advice on how to improve their strength and speed to help their game.

“I’ve had numerous college kids DM me on Instagram and ask me: ‘How do I get stronger? How do I get faster? So you’re already starting to see it through — from collegiate level all the way to junior golf level.

It won’t stop; there’s just no way it will stop. It’s good for the game, too. You’re making it more inclusive to everybody when you’re doing that.”

DeChambeau tees off in his opening round at the Masters today at 1.36 PM ET.

 

 

The opening major of the year is upon us and the GolfWRX staff have had their say on who they think will don the green jacket come Sunday evening.

Also, if you want to see what a professional statistician is saying, check out Richie Hunt’s “The 23 players who can win the Masters,” but if you’d like Masters picks from the rest of us, read on!

Brian Knudson

Win: Adam Scott – The 2013 Masters Champion hasn’t been on fire, but the tall Australian hasn’t missed a cut in the 2021 season. He knows Augusta National, loves the course, and has years of experience to guide him to a second green jacket. His wedge game has also been sneaky good this year.

Place: Scottie Scheffler – Scheffler has been playing some really solid golf the past month, and I think that trend continues this week. He is long enough to play with some of the big hitters and typically hits a consistent draw off the tee. If he can keep the putter rolling true we could see him battling for a jacket on Sunday!

Player I’m fading: Jordan Spieth – I absolutely loved seeing Jordan win last week; it was long overdue! He has been on fire since early February but this is the Masters and everything is a little different. Only two players, Phil Mickelson and Sandy Lyle, have ever won the Masters after winning the week before. I hope he proves me wrong this week!

Ryan Barath

Win: Dustin Johnson – The big man is as consistent as they come, and although his form hasn’t been red hot lately, it has still looked good. With that in mind, heading to Augusta just six months after winning the same event has to be a boost, and I expect he will end up on top.

Place: Bubba Watson – To me, Bubba is a big “vibes” guy, and he loves Augusta National. It inspires creativity and requires golfers to hit it both ways – something he is quite keen on. He played well at the WGC match play recently and we can’t forget that he is still one of the longest players on tour, which plays right into his hand.

Player I’m fading: Adam Scott – This pick is either going to look brilliant or make me look like a complete fool. He is a former champion and has had a great start to the season, but Adam lives and dies by his putter, and I just don’t see it all coming together this week. For many reasons, I hope I’m wrong, but the only way to melt wax is to fly close to the sun, and picking Adam here could have me falling back to earth come Sunday.

Gianni Magliocco

Win: Bryson DeChambeau – It’s only a matter of time before Bryson figures it all out at Augusta, and there’s plenty of signs that this will be the year he does just that. He’ll have learned an awful lot from November, and on a fast and firm course, he’s going to have nothing into these par 5s all week. Besides that, he also ranks top of the field for Strokes Gained: Total over his past 12 rounds. It’s Bryson’s time to shine at Augusta.

Place: Jason Day – There was a time that a win for Jason Day at Augusta seemed like a question of when not if, but the Aussie’s back issues have led to it being very much a question of if these days. However, the Players Championship was Day’s best strokes gained performance Tee to Green since 2015 and that is enough to convince me he can content here.

Player I’m fading: Dustin Johnson – DJ is the favorite and defending champion, but his recent form is concerning. Over his previous 12 rounds, Johnson ranks 51st for Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 77th on the greens. Combine that with the difficulty of going back-to-back at Augusta, and it makes him an easy fade this week.

Ben Alberstadt

Win: Xander Schauffele – “He’s due” is never a great argument, but he’s due for a major. Third in total strokes gained: total among players in the field, Xander will have gotten things dialed following a missed cut at The Players. Plenty comfortable at ANGC as demonstrated by top-20 finishes his past two tries.

Place: Scottie Scheffler – After something of a coming-out party at the WGC, Scheffler is poised to make a major splash.

Player I’m fading: Jon Rahm – Reverse nappie factor will be in effect. Hard to bet on a guy who hasn’t picked up a club in a week and will only get one full day of practice.

We will be doing plenty of coverage leading up to Thursday tee-off, so stay tuned to the front page, social, and the forums for updates and info.