Masters diary Tuesday

Shane Lowry of Ireland and Laurie Canter of England crossing Nelson Bridge, near the No. 13 tee, during practice round 2 prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday, April 08, 2025.

Lowry not greedy about aces

Shane Lowry can complete the ultimate hole-in-one collection if he aces the iconic 12th this week.

But after making hole-in-ones at the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, the 16th at Augusta National and the seventh at Pebble Beach earlier this year, he doesn’t want to tempt fate on the 155-yard beauty known as Golden Bell.

“I'll take four pars here on the 12th this week,” Lowry said with a chuckle. “I don't need any hole-in-ones.”

He admits that acing the 12th would complete a dream foursome but he already feels he’s had his share of good fortune in golf.

“I've been very lucky,” he said. “I always said I've been very fortunate to achieve what I have in golf. The Irish Open or The Open in Portrush, Ryder Cups, those hole-in-ones on iconic holes, I've been very lucky. So, yeah.”

While he’s made just two birdies in 30 attempts at the 12th, he’s also had just eight bogeys and only one double-bogey.

Don’t mention the trees

You won’t see before and after coverage of Augusta National’s tree loss on your TV screens but it’s clear Hurricane Helene has transformed the Masters venue.

The club has not said exactly how many trees were taken out by last October’s storm but their loss has opened up vistas that will surprise many.

“I played Augusta Country Club (this winter) and looked over at Augusta National and thought, ‘Oh wow,’” Larry Mize told the Augusta Chronicle. “I couldn’t believe how visible it was. Now, looking the other direction, it’s also wide open.

Three-time champion Nick Faldo was also surprised by the changes he saw on his arrival, especially the fact that he could see the fifth hole from behind the 18th green, almost 900 yards away

“We could never see that up there,” said Faldo. “I think that’s probably quite nice. It might even add more colour with the patrons out there.”

Host broadcaster CBS has no plans to show before-and-after images highlighting the tree loss, which is notable behind the 11th green, left of the fifth and sixth, around the 16th and between the first and ninth fairways.

“We’re covering the tournament the way it is presented to us and the way the club would like to present it,” CBS’ lead producer, Sellers Shy, said in a pre-Masters teleconference. “So (before-and-after shots are) not in the cards.”

While some of the very tall pines were irreplaceable, many trees may have been replaced, according to locals.

“When you see on (Interstate 20) full of full-grown pine trees, there is only one place they can be going,” said Jacob LeClair from North Augusta. “It’s the only game in town.”

New lockers for the pros

Huge changes take place at Augusta National every year with new buildings popping up from time to time

Work  starts after every Masters and it’s difficult to spot what’s new and what’s been there for years.

While there is a locker room in the clubhouse, where Rory McIlroy still changes his shoes, most players use the caddie shack building next to the Tournament Practice Area (a.k.a. the driving range) as their de facto clubhouse.

But next year, there will be a new players’ locker room near (or perhaps replacing) this facility.

“It will feature a three-level state-of-the-art facility, designed to anticipate every need for the players, their families and support teams,” club chairman Fred Ridley said this week.

The Champions Locker Room will remain where it has always been, upstairs in the main clubhouse.

Mower city

If you’re due to mow the lawn this weekend, to might be tempting to try for the Augusta National look.

Finding a mower capable of doing the job might require a raid on your local golf club.

The club released its mowing data early on Tuesday, “subject to weather conditions and growth”and they are beyond the capabilities of what most of us have in the garden shed.

Tees are cut at 5/16ths of an inch; fairways at 3/8ths; second cut at 1 3/8ths; collars: 1/4 inch; greens surrounds: 5/16ths; greens: 1/8th.