Voice over: Michael Robles
Written: Ryne Dennis, Athens Banner-Herald
On Saturday morning, three roped off areas surrounded where trees fell at hole No. 17 on Friday at Augusta National Golf Club during the 2023 Masters. Damage was visible between the professional and members tee boxes, where long marks in the ground ran parallel to each other.
Gone were the roots and dirt that were dug up from the pines that crashed down onto patron chairs lining the tee box. An absorbent compound used along patron walkways filled the holes where two of the trees stood. Pine straw covered the now-empty location of a third tree.
There were no injuries in the incident, Augusta National confirmed in a statement.
When gates opened Saturday, patrons flocked to the spot, more to watch players resume their second round of play than reflect on yesterday’s stunning scenario.
“We’re not concerned at all,” said Devon Alton of Toronto as he set up chairs along the tee box. “We’re going to stay right here. We’re pretty confident about it. When you’re here, you’re here to watch some great golf and you don’t care too much about that stuff.”
Patrons walk through the area where three trees fell near the 17th hole on Friday at Augusta National Golf Club.
Augusta National grounds crew began cutting the trees within a half hour of their fall. Fifteen hours, and a few markings later, it was almost like it never occurred.
Alton and friend Sarah Greco made the drive from Canada to be on the grounds. After seeing the moment on television, they were fascinated on Saturday by the cleanup.
“We were saying, ‘It’s going to be like we’ll come here and not know that anything had happened,'” said Greco. “They’ll clean it up so quickly. It’s impressive.”
Areas where trees fell near the 17th hole on Friday were filled with absorbent compound and roped off on Saturday as patrons returned to Augusta National.
Patron Masters badges claim no liability for injury on the course and patrons assume “all risk and danger arising from attendance.”
With little concern about other trees coming down, patrons hurried to set up their chairs in the rain when the gates opened at 8 a.m.
“We knew we were coming here today, we were kind of like, ‘Oh that’s really scary,’ but you’re concerned about the safety of people,” said Monica Bitrick of Aiken, South Carolina. “We’ll see what happens here today. We’re (not worried), we’ve got the life insurance and the beneficiaries are ready to go. So we’re set.”
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24 Comments
That is insane i ddint realize the cleanup was that quick, thanks for the video
Awesome clean up. The grounds crewshould be commended on their expert duty and detail.
How did only those trees fall ?? Any one know??
It is a miracle that no one was hit by the trees. I have been to Augusta twice and I have never even thought about what would happen if a tree fell during a match. I have witnessed employees picking up pine combs when they fall on the course to keep the fairways nice and pretty.
Good seeing you post again
A tree came down in my yard and wrote off my two vehicles. That wasn't fun!
Sadly I know someone who died getting hit by a tree on a golf course when a thunderstorm struck. Glad to see no one was hurt at the Masters.
They sadly need to go take out a lot of trees, think about it some if not most had been little trees when the course was formed from an old orchid. There are gonna be a ton more that will fall like this.
How handsomely when the participants assume all dangers and ricks🤔
My dad would totally say my will and beneficiaries are all set up so I’m good 😂
because of my aquaintances with people who work for the ATP I almost got tickets if I were there and almost got hit, I would have just asled for a free sandwich
Wind and rain knock down trees its apart of life, you cant cut down every tree to prevent something like this its just an act of nature.
Yes, I can believe that Augusta cleaned up the trees so the tournament could resume. What's the point of your question?
What is your point Mrs. or Mr. I bet TMZ would not hire you. You need to go help brother with your sawsaw. Just kidding, butf??
That GA red clay do not hold any tree well ,so be careful out there
What’s really amazing is the amateur video and photos of the downed trees. No cell phones or cameras allowed??
Amazing how fast people and organizations can get along, come together and act when they want to.
The Trees are called 'Widow Makers', FYI . 🌳👉👆☝
I was hit on the head while cutting wood with a child stepping on a log that dislodged a small tree that came up and hit me in the head. After I asked the wife several times what happened & why do I have a paycheck she took me to the hospital for a concussion.
Amazing noone got hit. Pretty easy job for a georgia tree cutter company to knock out in a couple hours. It sucks that ppl immediately jump on the sue wagon like this guy. Trees fall when the wind blows. It's been happening for thousands of years. Common sense
Well done USA. I live in South Africa. Here we would have a judicial enquiry and suspend the tournament. Basically, the tournament would never get finished. That’s the country I live in. It’s full of sh1t.
I haven't heard of anyone being hit by a tree rather being injured by their own stupidity. So sad, Fig Garden shut down.
My daughter was at her daycare when a branch broke off from a diseased tree in the adjacent park. She broke her neck and her leg. She was in a Halo for several months. Come to find out the city had been asked for years to remove the diseased trees but did nothing. Not surprisingly the tree was removed and "accidently" disposed of within 24 hours despite requests from authorities to preserve the evidence. The broken fence was immediately repaired as well.
As a Georgia resident, I'll just say that pines are aweful things. Just to get them that tall requires TONS of maintenance to make them safe.