“Good morning, friends,” signaled the beginning of the 90th Masters tournament at Augusta National. Augusta National is a club steeped in tradition, upholding its rules for the past 93 years, being known for its low prices, extraordinary condition and exclusivity. 2026 was no different, with records being made and clubs being broken.
Diving into the rich tradition of the Masters, no event can be a smash hit without good food. Augusta doesn’t just sell basic concessions, but something special. Most of the food is renowned for its extremely cheap pricing. Compared to the typical six-dollar single hot dog found at a baseball game, that same six dollars can buy pork BBQ with a chicken sandwich on the side at Augusta. The most renowned menu item, many fans may argue, is the pimento cheese sandwich, staying at the same one-dollar, fifty-cent price since 2002 and miraculously remaining on the menu since the 1940s. And even more special, the winner of the previous year’s Masters gets to pick the menu for the next year. Rory McIlroy, now a back-to-back winner, has picked this year’s menu, choosing items like grilled elk sliders and wagyu filet mignon, and will pick next year’s too.
Fan of the masters and attendee of the last three years, Teri Burns, weighed in on the tradition. “I think the Masters has a lot of great traditions, but it started with the game of golf and will always focus on the game.” What many fans love about Augusta National is the rich golf culture and the traditions that uphold it. Two traditions that Burns talked about were the phones and food. While Burns stated, “The first year I was very nervous about not having it [my phone].” The tradition of no phones is important to “Elevate the experience and make the focus on memories and the game of golf.”
As for the food, many fans like Teri Burns love looking forward to the prices and meals found nowhere else. “My favorite tradition is hearing what the dinner menu is that the prior year’s winner selected.” Burns loves the fan favorite, “Pimento cheese sandwich for $1.50 and the peach ice cream sandwich.”
Augusta National is considered one of the hardest courses in the world, and this year was no exception, with players finding themselves shooting exceptionally high scores. Sergio Garcia, a 27-year PGA tour pro, fell victim to his rage this year, slamming his driver on the ground, then eventually breaking it against a nearby cooler on the second hole last Sunday. This act earned Garcia a warning from officials as he later stated in a social media post that his actions had “no place in our game”.
Despite the challenging conditions, many players found success this year, with Shane Lowrey being one of them, achieving his second career hole-in-one at the masters. Lowry became the first person to ever get two hole-in-ones at the Masters, unfortunately finishing in a tie for 30th place after a rough stretch on finals Sunday.
Rory McIlroy, the winner of this year’s competition, has made Masters history. With his win, he became the fourth person to ever win back-to-back Masters, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Tiger Woods 24 years ago.
Among fans, McIlroy’s win is highly attributed to his practice. McIlroy used his private jet to fly out to Augusta National for several trips before the Masters started, to get practice in. While this is a prime example of great athletic competitiveness, some bring up the ethical issues. Not all fellow competitors have the same ability to fly out to Augusta and practice before the Masters. Certain critics have brought up the negative environmental footprint associated with daily jet flights, a critique often faced by many celebrities.
At the conclusion of this season’s Masters, another year of tradition is upheld as golf fans still have most of the PGA events to look forward to. Future Masters tournaments should enjoy the same traditions and environment, hopefully with even more record-breaking achievements, as the beautiful culture of golf continues.
