The perfection of the Masters

How the most unique sporting events continues to impress

By Joey Priano

April 20, 2025 – When people think about the most popular sporting events in the United States, popular answers are the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, and March Madness. However, one of the most notaries events each year is The Masters at Augusta National golf course. This pristine event captures the hearts of patrons every year, as one of the most perfect sporting events around.

When thinking about the traditions of the Masters, it is interesting how the event can stay the continually prestigious and perfect, while never getting boring. When talking to Al Priano, who attended the Masters this year, I asked him about how they continually make patrons happy while attending. He replied, “Best traditions I would say would be the par three contest where players in the tournament bring their significant other, their children, or their best friend to come and walk with them. Another great tradition would be the caddie uniforms that they wear all weekend for the tournament. They are a staple piece for bringing the tradition. As well as their food and beverage sales which have stayed low to keep consumers happy and influences them to buy while out on the course” Something as simple as food prices is something that is so minimal but is considered in order to make the event successful. 

After learning how the Masters is kept so entertaining, I was curious to learn about how the event compared to other golf events around the country. Alex Haney, a soon-to-be college graduate from Kent State, got a job as an event manager on the PGA Tour, and he only had the best things to say about the way that Augusta publicizes the tournament, while also making it fair for all of the golfers. “Augusta makes the holes longer to make it more of a challenge for the golfers even though new technology is making players hit the ball further and further it seems every year. Also, to make it convenient for everyone, adding the Masters app to watch while on the go has definitely added more interest in the game and tradition that is unlike anything else in golf”. While golf in itself is a properly kept game, nothing compares to the high level of intensity to keep perfection like the Masters. 

However, throughout everything, none of it would be possible without the extremely dedicated and hard working staff behind the scenes. Augusta is widely thought of as one of the best kept golf courses in the country. With this in mind, I asked Carson Gregg, a Golf Management major who worked each of the last 3 years at Augusta, what it is like to be a part of something so important as the Masters. “Pretty much as soon as the Masters tournament is done the staff is already preparing for next year. They think of different merchandise they can sell and different strategies to make the tournament run more smoothly. They hire people who are in the golf field to help them with the busy work week as there are many people to show up for the event. Their staff arrive one week prior to the tournament to learn how to run their part of the operation which can include merchandising or being on range duty. The employees are usually working 14 hours a day to make sure everything is in order to make the master’s a tradition unlike any other.” Regardless of what part there is to play at the Masters, creating an environment where you are able to get away and watch a sport that is so widely regarded as impossible to master, and watch all of the best players in the world compete for the coveted green jacket is something so unique to this tournament. 

The always remembered traditions of the fans only being allowed to be referred to as patrons, the extremely strict rule of no phones allowed at all, and the players dinner, with the winner deciding the menu, are just a few of the traditions that although they get talked about, do not earn enough respect for how impressively managed it is. Gregg also commented, “Everything that goes on here is for a reason. No matter what part of the day, no matter what the task is, it will be done with an attitude that no other sport has. There is not banter, no hate, and no room for anything other than the upmost respect for both the patrons and players.” 

Whether the final of the Masters is exciting or not, you will always know that it will be run with the intent to last forever. No sport is absolutely perfect, but the Masters make a hard case for having the best event in sports.