The Time I Attended The Masters and Why It Still Feels Different

I attended The Masters in 2018, which I only recently realized… because for years I had been telling people it was 2015.

You see, I was cleaning out some things and found my badge, which very clearly said 2018. That was the moment I realized I had been confidently wrong for years. In my defense, my husband did attend in 2015, and somewhere along the way I just decided I had too. Maybe I pushed the timeline back because of who I was dating at the time (which I attended with), or maybe I truly just have no concept of time. Both are equally possible.

For a while, I even told people this really cute story about how we had both been at The Masters the same year and didn’t meet until years later. Like one of those invisible string theory situations. It would have been adorable. Except it wasn’t true. We were there years apart.

He loves to bring that up. Along with my love for Adam Scott. Both are fair.

The way I ended up at The Masters feels like winning the lottery.

At the time, the person I was seeing had done some work on a boat for someone who had Masters badges they weren’t going to use that year. They knew we both loved golf and offered them to us.

And not just for a day.

For the entire week.

Let me tell you something - being lucky enough to buy Masters tickets at an affordable price and attend for the whole week makes you feel like the most important person in the world. Because anyone who knows anything about Augusta knows: people do not just casually skip The Masters.

One of the moments I remember most clearly was following Adam Scott early one morning.

It was rainy. Not just a little drizzle, but the kind of steady, gray morning where most people probably stayed in bed. But you’re at Augusta, so is anything really terrible?

No. The answer is no.

I got out there early, umbrella in hand, and followed him along the course. There were only a handful of people out there that early, which made it feel even more surreal.

At one point, his tee shot landed near where I was standing.

And I’m not exaggerating when I say that’s probably the closest I’ve ever been to a professional golf moment like that. Especially considering my first tournament was the Wyndham Championship and then somehow my second was The Masters. That felt like hitting the jackpot!

And then there was Tiger Woods teeing off on the first hole. Seeing that in person is something I don’t think ever really leaves you.

Now, I would be leaving out part of the story if I didn’t mention that this trip also included breaking up with the person I was dating at the time… and then riding back home together for five plus hours.

It was, objectively, not ideal.

But honestly, that part of the story fades pretty quickly when you think about everything else. Because the main thing is this:

I was at Augusta National. And many years later met my wonderful husband who loves golf as much as I do - possibly more.

The 2018 Masters: What Was Happening That Week

The 2018 The Masters Tournament ended with Patrick Reed winning his first major championship at 15-under par. He held off a late charge from Rickie Fowler, who finished just one shot behind, and Jordan Spieth, who made a huge Sunday run with a 64.

It was one of those Sundays where the leaderboard kept shifting and you could feel the energy building across the course.

And then there was Tiger Woods, playing in his first Masters appearance in years after multiple back surgeries. The crowd around him felt different. Louder, heavier, like everyone knew they were watching something important even if he wasn’t in contention to win.

That week had everything: comeback stories, leaderboard drama, and the kind of atmosphere that only Augusta creates.

Let’s Talk About the Food (Because We Have To)

I brought a purse for one reason and one reason only.

To fill it with sandwiches.

I think I ended up with something like 18 sandwiches (per day, of course), which sounds excessive until you realize how good they are and how affordable everything is. Pimento cheese, egg salad, barbecue - it’s part of the experience.

And somehow, everything about Augusta feels intentional.

The food is simple but perfect.
The bathrooms are always clean.
The staff is incredibly kind.

It’s one of the most well-run events I’ve ever experienced, not just in golf.

The course itself is incredible. It was built on a former plant nursery, and you can feel that in the way everything is laid out and maintained.

But what really makes it different is something else entirely.

You don’t have your phone.

You actually have to be present.

You pick meeting spots. You pay attention. You watch the shots instead of watching them through a screen. You follow groups, listen to the crowd, and feel the rhythm of the course.

It’s a completely different way to experience a sporting event.

And then there’s the Green Jacket.

Seeing someone wearing it in person is something special. It’s not just a piece of clothing. It represents history, tradition, and one of the most exclusive clubs in sports.

Why It Still Stands Out

I’ve been to other tournaments since, including The Players, which holds a very special place in my life.

But Augusta is different.

It’s quieter in some ways. Louder in others. More intentional. More rooted in tradition.

And for me, it will always be tied to that week in 2018 - the rain, Adam Scott, Tiger on the first tee, way too many sandwiches, and yes… even the awkward car ride home.

In the first episode of Under Par Over Time, launching April 7, I’ll be diving deeper into the history of Augusta National and how it became one of the most iconic courses in the world.

But for now, I’ll just say this:

There’s nothing quite like The Masters. ⛳

xoxo,

Sammy Jo

Host of the Under Par Over Time Podcast, launching April 7, 2026