Augusta. Where legends are made.

This coming week is the most prestigious event in all of sports. Every April within the golf world only means one thing, The Masters. This marks the first major of the season and brings all of the big hitters out to the big show on grass. Augusta is where legends are made.

This field is star studded as usual with names but the big story is Tiger. Can tiger put his game face on and zone out the distractions in his world, when he gets behind the ropes? He is the face of golf and now has no secrets. Let’s think about how well he did in years past when all of this was weighing solely on himself. He had a lot on his mind but somehow put all distractions aside, played his part with his black pants and red shirt and performed. This year there is much more in the open and much more to deal with. Tiger has to put his blinders on when inside the ropes, with that look of pure focus that we all are so accustom to in order to even be in contention.

It’s spectators like this that Tiger will have to zone out to stay in contention.

Augusta is such a mental golf course, emotional exhausting golf course, strategic planning and second or placement shot golf course. You must be both mentally and physically prepared for the brutal toll of Augusta. History has shown that you have to succeed in one of two things to win. Your putter has to be top notch, or you have to lead the tournament in greens in regulation. There is no room for error at Augusta with the hardest greens on the tour.

In preparation for the first major, you can try to replicate the near concrete speeds of the greens but the slopes are unlike anything else. You cannot fully prepare anywhere else for Augusta other than being there.

Par 3 Challenge is an event that is fun for everyone and has gained a national spotlight due to it’s uniqueness. We see players caddies and even kids playing with them and all of this takes place Wednesday the day before game time. But who really takes this challenge seriously? No Par 3 challenge winner has ever won at Augusta while winning the par 3 challenge in the same year. There has also been fifteen contest winners who have missed the Masters cut come Saturday, including three of the past four winners. This being said is it really a curse of the course or just something for your mind to unconsciously be thinking about while walking around God’s course?

All in all Augusta is the greatest spectacle in all of sports and all golf fans including myself can’t wait for the action to begin. Here is a television guide to catch all of the action.

Wednesday, April 9 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.	Live Coverage	ESPN
Friday, April 11 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. 11:30 - 11:45 p.m.	Live Coverage Replay of the second day telecast Highlights Show	ESPN ESPN CBS
Saturday, April 12 3:30 - 7:00 p.m.	Live Coverage	CBS
Sunday, April 13 2:30 - 7:00 p.m.	Live Coverage	CBS