10 reasons your life will change during The Masters

The season's first Major really will change your life for four glorious days

Your life may not change quite as much... but it will definitely change from April 9th to 12th!
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Masters is a unique event blessed with behaviour-altering powers for even the most resolute of golfers. Here’s how your life may change in early April

Yes, the 52-week tour may have been in place on both sides of the Atlantic for many years, but nothing will ever stop The Masters being the real start of the season, bringing even the most fair-weather of golfers rapidly out of hibernation. Check out our full Masters 2015 coverage here... meanwhile, 10 reasons why your life will change from April 9th to 12th

1. Friday night is pub night... or not

Tempting though a jar or two with your mates down the pub may sound, as seven o’clock looms and Sky’s coverage is about to burst forth, you know you’re going to be on the phone saying, “Sorry, lads, I think I’ll give it a miss tonight.”

2. It’s Sandy time again

Most of us have little interest in Senior golf but when it comes to The Masters, suddenly the unexpected exploits of a certain revered former champion take on renewed significance. It usually only lasts one round, as in Sandy’s 2010 opening gambit of 69, 86, but in fairness, the likeable Scot has made the cut the last two years.

Come on, Sandy! Roll back the years with the 1988 champion

Come on, Sandy! Roll back the years with the 1988 champion

3. You will end up poorer

If not for the bets you have continually chased and placed live from your lounge, then because on Monday morning, you will feel inspired do one of the following: 1) Book a series of golf lessons because this is going to be ‘the year’; 2) Finally order that new set of irons you’ve been eyeing up: 3) Book a golf break somewhere suitably expensive.

4. Your wife will impress you

Never one to knowingly take an interest in the game, your other half will suddenly become golf-savvy for four days, and may even impress you with her unexpected knowledge of scores and standings, especially in the case of Adam Scott…

This man could seriously increase your other half's interest in the game

This man could seriously increase your other half's interest in the game

5. You will impress your wife

At some stage the two of you will be sitting there together just as someone’s ball lands quite close. “That was a good shot,” she’ll say. “Ah, yes,” you'll reply. “But on that hole he’ll be lucky to keep it on the green from there let alone hole it.” Cue admiring look.

6. Longing for extra time

Every other week of the year on the PGA Tour, you’ll be willing someone to break clear down the stretch so you don’t feel morally obliged to watch Jason Bohn take down Brendon Todd and Chris Kirk in a tedious four-hole play-off. In Masters week, you’ll be willing someone to birdie the last to tie, so the excitement doesn't have to end just yet.

The one event where everyone is longing for a play-off

The one event where everyone is longing for a play-off

7. Meals on the couch

Even if you’re most particular about evening meals being taken at the dining table, that will all go out of the window for four days as it just won’t be physically possible to drag yourself away from the couch. Keep it simple though, with nothing too messy.

And your home for the next four days is...

And your home for the next four days is...

8. Patrons not fans

By the end of the week you will be unable to stop yourself referring to spectators or fans as patrons, such will have been the frequency with which you have heard the word.

9. Flashback time

Throughout the four days you will get constant flashbacks to Masters past, fondly remembering where you were, who you were with and so on. Who can forget Steve Rider’s hair flapping about uncontrollably in the good old days of the BBC’s outside studio?

Steve Rider: the BBC's consummate professional

Steve Rider: the BBC's consummate professional

10. The virtual yips

Clinical trials have shown that it is possible for a mildly nervy putter to develop the full-blown yips just watching players attempt some of the more ludicrous putts at Augusta National… not really, but you know what we mean.

Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf


Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)

Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response