Danny Willett

The Rundown- Five Things to Know About Golf’s Greatest Tradition, The Masters

The Masters is a tradition in golf. There’s a talent in holding your own in the conversation with a golfer about The Masters. That’s what we’re here for. Who says all business deals happen on the golf course?

Slow golf clap,

The Last Night’s Game Team

Five things to know about The Masters

  1. Over 94 golfers from 22 different countries will compete in this year’s Masters (Thursday – Sunday). This is the first of the four “major” golf tournaments during the PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) season. 
  2. The winner receives the iconic green jacket that is only worn by members of Augusta National, the home of The Masters. The winner is allowed to have the jacket for a calendar year. After that year, they’re only permitted to wear the jacket on the grounds of Augusta.
  3. Longtime broadcast partner of the tournament, CBS, admits they edit in melodic bird sounds during the telecast to enhance the programming to feel like a “natural paradise.” Although there's no actual tweeting at The Masters because there's a very strict no cell phone policy at the course. 
  4. Besides the sweet jacket, another perk of winning is picking the menu of the champions dinner the following year during Masters’ week. This year’s meal, chosen by last year’s winner Englishman Danny Willett, featured dishes from a traditional Sunday roast including cottage pie, English cheese and biscuits.
  5. For a tournament where the ticket prices can be through the roof, the concession prices are unusually low with drinks and sandwiches under $3 (including their famous pimento cheese sandwich). A beer will run you between $4 - $5, although it’s not available after 4 pm. What like they’re hooligans?

Overtime

  • Monday Night featured the culmination of March Madness in Phoenix as North Carolina (#1) and Gonzaga (#1) battled it out for the national championship. North Carolina prevailed in a game plagued by a surplus of fouls and bad shooting by both teams. Shout out to our bracket challenge winner, Clueless Newbie, who has never filled out a March Madness bracket before.

Sideline stat

  • Membership at Augusta National is strictly by invite only and the winner of the tournament automatically becomes a member. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore became the first women members in 2012, 80 years after the course opened.

Coaches’ corner

  • In an unpopular decision with the players, the NHL (National Hockey League) announced it will not take a break in its season to allow its players to participate in next year’s Winter Olympics. NHL players have played in the previous five Winter Olympics.
,

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up Edition

,

This weekend defending champion Jordan Spieth blew his lead to lose the Masters. To add insult to injury, he then had to put the esteemed green jacket on the winner, Danny Willett.

Speaking of bitter beer face, Kevin Durant is said to share the same sentiment in a farewell video to Kobe Bryant, whose last game of his career is on Wednesday.

Turn that frown upside down,

The Last Night’s Game Team

Boxing

  • Going out on top. Saturday night in Las Vegas Manny Pacquiao dominated his fight against Timothy Bradley, winning with a unanimous decision. This was said to be Pacquiao’s last fight but many questioned his retirement after Saturday’s stellar performance. 

MLB (Major League Baseball)

  • So close you can taste it. Los Angeles Dodgers’ rookie pitcher, Ross Stripling, almost had a dream come true on Friday night. Stripling was called up from the minor leagues and took advantage of his chance on the big league field. He pitched a shut out/no-hitter into the eighth inning when he was pulled by coach Dave Roberts. Unfortunately, the relief pitchers blew the game and the Dodgers lost to the San Francisco Giants.
  • Sweet start. Colorado Rockies' rookie shortstop Trevor Story is off to an unheard start to the season. Story has hit seven home runs in the team’s first six games. Story is the first player in baseball history to accomplish this.
  • Hello Herbert. Washington Nationals are adding a new face to their presidential race that is run on the field between innings. Former President Herbert Hoover has been nominated to join the race. Hoover joins the other racing presidents - George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft. In case you were wondering, Hoover won his inaugural race.

NBA (National Basketball Association)

  • Setting records. Golden State Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night to win their 72nd game of the season, tying the record set by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls. This was the first home loss of the year for the Spurs. The Warriors have a chance to break the record with their last game of the regular season against the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Wednesday.
  • Bon voyage. Kobe Bryant’s last game of his storied career is on Wednesday. Nike put together a tribute featuring athletes saluting Bryant. (Some people are saying Kevin Durant comes off as bitter, you be the judge.)  

NCAA Basketball (College)

  • Totally inappropriate. Louisiana Tech women’s baseball team’s head coach Tyler Summit resigned last week. Summitt, 25, is the son of Pat Summitt, legendary women’s basketball coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. Tyler resigned due to an inappropriate relationship with a player which, according to rumors, resulted in the player’s pregnancy, 

NFL (National Football League)

  • Tragic loss. Former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith and his wife were shot in an alleged road rage incident in New Orleans. Smith died from his injuries. Smith spent his career with the Saints and was part of their 2010 Super Bowl team and was to be inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame later this year.

PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association)

  • On the back nine. Defending Masters champion Jordan Spieth led the tournament for the first three days and had a five shot lead going into the last nine holes on Sunday. In a span of three holes, Spieth went from leading by five strokes to losing by three. Danny Willett took advantage of Spieth’s struggles and took the lead and finished strong to win.
  • Baby daddy. Anticipating the birth of his first child whose due date was yesterday, Willett almost did not participate in the Masters. The baby was born a week early on March 30th, paving the way for him to play in the Masters. Although his child was not born on April 10th, it still turned out to be a very special day for Willett and his wife.

Overtime

  • With the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, around the corner, the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams announced that they plan to stay on a cruise ship instead of in the Olympic Village.

Sideline stat

  • Kyle Busch swept the NASCAR races for the second weekend in a row; a feat that had not been accomplished since 1991. Busch won the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 on Friday night and then the Duck Commander 500 on Saturday.

Coaches’ Corner

  • What is a no-hitter in baseball? A no-hitter is a complete game in which the opposing team does not get on base from a hit. This doesn’t mean no one from the opposing team makes it to base (they can be walked or hit by a pitch) but no one from the opposing team actually gets to a base by hitting the ball. It’s a rare feat and only 292 pitchers have pitched a no hitter since 1876.

 

CONNECT WITH Us

 
Cart (0)