NCSN, Veteran Golf Writer Ward Clayton
Partner On “The Road to Augusta” Podcast
For Immediate Release
North Carolina Sports Network
(last updated Jan. 29, 2026)
The North Carolina Sports Network (NCSN) announced today a partnership with veteran journalist Ward Clayton to launch “The Road to Augusta, With Ward Clayton,” a premium podcast and digital content series leading into the 2026 Masters Tournament.
Scheduled to debut in February, the weekly podcast will provide an insider’s look at the traditions, history and people that bring the Augusta golf scene to life each spring. The series will culminate during Masters week (April 11-14), with daily coverage and special feature content.
Hosted by Clayton, a Durham native and University of North Carolina graduate, the series draws upon his unmatched Masters perspective. Clayton has attended and covered 41 consecutive Masters tournaments and will welcome guests from across the golf world, including players, caddies, writers, long-time patrons and individuals with deep ties to Augusta.
North Carolina’s connection to the Masters runs deep, both historically and in the current field.
The 2026 tournament will include competitors with various ties to the Bold North State, including Bryson DeChambeau (2024 U.S. Open champion at Pinehurst), Brian Harman (sponsored by Wilmington-based MegaCorp), Michael La Sasso (Raleigh native and NCAA champion), Cameron Young (Wake Forest University), Ben Griffin (UNC), Akshay Bhatia (grew up in Wake Forest, N.C.), Ryan Gerard (UNC, Raleigh) and Max Greyserman (Duke).
Historically, the Masters’ North Carolina roots extend to original broadcaster John Derr (Dallas, N.C.), 1950s amateur standout Billy Joe Patton (Morganton), four-time champion Arnold Palmer (Wake Forest University), 1959 winner Art Wall (Duke) and 1976 champion Raymond Floyd (Fayetteville).
Additional ties include Augusta National’s bunker sand originating from the North Carolina mountains and co-founder Clifford Roberts’ long-time summers at Grandfather Mountain.
“Road to Augusta, With Ward Clayton was built as a premium, seasonal property with a clear beginning, a defined narrative arc and a natural climax during Masters week,” said Mike Waddell, CEO of Brentwood Partners LLC and co-founder of the North Carolina Sports Network. “By partnering with Ward Clayton, NCSN delivers credible, high-quality storytelling that aligns brands with tradition, excellence and one of the most respected events in sports. This is intentional content designed for partners who value association, not interruption.”
Clayton said the project represents his lifelong connection to the tournament.
“I first fell in love with the Masters through families in Durham who had attended since the 1950s, and later by attending my first Masters in 1985, while covering golf for the Durham Morning Herald,” Clayton said. “Augusta has always felt like a rite of spring — a pilgrimage. It’s not just a golf tournament, but a place, an atmosphere and a tradition that people hold close to their hearts. I look forward to sharing the stories of the players, caddies, longtime patrons and Augustans who make it so special.”
“The Road To Augusta, With Ward Clayton” is part of NCSN’s expanding original content lineup, which also includes the award-winning David Glenn Show, Bold North State Football Daily (featuring Glenn and long-time college coaches Tim Brewster and Jim Collins), Time-Out: The Tobacco Road Basketball Show (featuring Glenn and long-time college coach Kerry Keating), Court Vision (featuring Waddell and NC State basketball star Ven-Allen Lubin), Her Court (featuring women’s basketball, with host Chris Edwards), This Was Then (focused on sports history in North Carolina, with co-hosts Todd McGee and Tim Peeler) and The Old North State Tailgate. Together, these shows form the foundation of NCSN’s mission to bring fans expert coverage from those who have lived and led at the highest levels of sports.
Episodes of “The Road To Augusta, With Ward Clayton” will be featured on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, as well as on the NCSportsNetwork.com website. Fans can follow @TheNCSportsNet on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for exclusive clips, updates and behind-the-scenes moments.
About the North Carolina Sports Network
The North Carolina Sports Network is a product of Brentwood Partners LLC. Since launching in July 2023, NCSN has produced more than 2,400 videos, generated 35 million-plus impressions, surpassed 3.2 million total views, attracted more than 64,000 YouTube subscribers (top two percent in the world) and delivered 90+ on-site events through its Old North State Tailgate platform, making it the fastest-growing sports and culture media network in the state. NCSN features on-air personalities that include coaches, journalists, athletes and former sports executives, with coverage spanning college football, basketball, baseball, ACC media days, NASCAR, the PGA Tour and major community events state-wide.
About Ward Clayton
Ward Clayton is an author, editor and communications professional with more than two decades of experience. He is the owner of Clayton Communications, a producer of the 2019 documentary “Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk” and the author of “The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National.” Clayton previously served as sports editor of The Augusta Chronicle, director of editorial services for the PGA Tour and editorial director of Masters Digital. He currently resides in St. Johns, Fla.
Media Contacts
Michael Waddell
[email protected]
(804) 467-2079
Ward Clayton
[email protected]
(904) 910-7728
