AUGUSTA, Ga. – There are no patrons allowed at this year’s Masters Tournament, a November major long-delayed because of a global pandemic.
But there were spectators Thursday at Augusta National. A hundred or so people followed defending champion Tiger Woods in the opening round, a bunch that included media and special guests, including NFL commissioner and Augusta National member Roger Goodell, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.
But spectators are not patrons. And appreciative applause is not a roar.
When Woods nearly aced the par-3 16th, his seventh hole of the first round, there was no explosion.