augusta national known for There are many rules to follow, whether you are an adult or not. fan Whether it's a patron, a member of the media, or even one of the best golfers on the planet. I learned this firsthand at my first Masters when I was scolded for not sitting hard enough. Yes, seriously.
But some people weren't so lucky when it came to colliding with Augusta National (especially when actual running was involved). Take Tiger Woods, for example, who was publicly reprimanded by his club president upon his return from a sex scandal in 2010. It has nothing to do with Augusta National.
Another past Masters champion, Angel Cabrera, will miss his fifth consecutive Masters due to legal issues. Cabrera was convicted of assaulting, threatening and harassing his ex-partner and spent two and a half years in prison. After being released at Augusta last year, current ANGC president Fred Ridley said he would welcome the 2009 winner back if he resolved his visa issues to the United States. However, for the purpose of this list, we will stick to the most notorious breaches of some of the club's strict policies, and the penalties that were imposed.
Be aware that at Augusta National, troublemakers can turn into trailblazers. For example, Ken Green initially received an angry letter from the club both for letting children caddy for him on a par 3 and for hitting his tee shot over water on the 16th during a practice round. Of course, what was once a “crime” is now a beloved tradition. However, we recommend that you follow the rules if you go there. In fact, after publishing this, I was lucky enough to be allowed back into the gate.
crime: Hitting the second ball during a practice round
punishment: kicked out of that year's event
Backstory: Like the patron I saw running, Stranahan was kicked out of the venue before the 1948 Masters for allegedly playing two balls during a practice round. Mr. Stranahan claims he only hit multiple balls around the green where he is allowed, and he denies the charges. Either way, the current runner-up was expelled from the tournament. What if that happened today to this year's runner-up Will Zalatoris?! Golf Twitter would be ablaze. Regardless, Stranahan was cleared to return the following year after finishing T-19 and played for another 10 years, earning Low Amateur honors twice more.
(It should also be noted that there was probably more going on here. There are rumors that Stranahan had an affair with a woman who had an affair with the members. Sports Illustrated interview (Rumor has it that Stranahan didn't exactly shoot him down.) He was a fitness fanatic known for his love for women. Look at that photo! OK, obviously that was his wife. Still, a man was a man. Anyway, digging deeper into the rumor mill, the woman may have been a secretary to Augusta National co-founder and chairman Clifford Roberts. And that member may have been Roberts himself…Spicy!)
crime: He is playing (way) past his prime.
punishment: asked ordered to stop playing
Backstory: Billy Casper took this lifetime exemption a little too literally after hitting 105 shots (our E. Michael Johnson counted every stroke) in the first round of 2005 and then withdrawing without turning in a scorecard. He is the most famous past champion who has been accepted too much. Augusta National wasn't too keen on this either, but officials were even more upset that Ford showed up for years just to miss out on a spot and raise money to play. In 2001, a full 30 years (!) after his last appearance at Augusta National, at the age of 78, he took this to the extreme with an opening double bogey and withdrew, ultimately forcing him to stop playing. It was announced. Shortly after, the club decided to impose an age limit of 65 on participants, but eventually removed it. So it's still up to the players, but you better believe they'll get a boost when the club feels it's time to leave the stage.
crime: Calling the 18th gallery a “mob”
punishment: I stopped covering the Masters on CBS.
Backstory: The legendary announcer was removed from CBS coverage ahead of the 1966 tournament for using the offensive “M” word the previous year and failing to mention that a green jacket ceremony would take place after the final round. It was removed. “It looked like a crowd rushing toward the green, and Mr. Roberts was pissed,” he told the Associated Press in 1979. “Mr. Roberts said the Masters gallery was not a mob. And that was that.” Again, you did do not have I want to get on Mr. Roberts' bad side. Even someone who looks as intimidating as Mr. Whittaker in that photo.
crime: Said “bikini wax” during a TV interview
punishment: CBS Masters coverage also canceled
Back story: Like Whitaker, McCord hasn't participated in a CBS Masters broadcast since Augusta National joked in 1994 that they used bikini wax to smooth the greens. He also used the term “body bag” to refer to trouble spots on the course. Ironically, McCord's Masters broadcasting career ended that day.
crime: Writing an unauthorized book on the history of Augusta National
punishment: No longer certified by Augusta National
Backstory: Unlike David Owen, who had the club's help in writing his history of Augusta National, “The Making of the Masters,'' and had amazing playing privileges, Sampson wrote “The Masters: Augusta National.'' He played a villain in “Golf, Money, and Power.'' Georgia. ” In fact, he is the one who wrote about the possibility of a Stranahan-Roberts-Chief Justice triangle. Golf Digest's Shane Ryan wrote the following chapter on the Masters in his 2015 book “Slaying the Tiger”: After reading his book, I called Kurt Sampson and said this: I asked if he had ever been issued another media credential. I heard a small laugh on the other end of the phone. “Oh, Shane,” he said, as if I were a 19-year-old who still believed in Santa. “no.”
crime: crash green jacket ceremony
punishment: Banned from covering the tournament for one year
Back story: The veteran golf writer has been in the news a lot this year for his comments about Phil Mickelson and Saudi Arabia, but he's never been afraid to mix it up to chase down a good story. That includes a crash at the Green Jacket afterparty after Bubba Watson won in 2012. Shipnack entered the Butler cabin with members of Watson's entourage, but was ultimately removed (no media other than CBS was allowed, of course). He was banned from covering the following year's tournament, but has since been allowed to return. Security guards are watching his every move. just kidding. we think.
crime: mobile phone use
punishment: Coverage of the tournament is prohibited for one day.
Back story: If there's one thing Augusta National takes more seriously than running, it's cell phone use. (Rumor has it that a prominent coach and the wife of an even more prominent player were sent off in the first round of 2021 for forgetting that cell phone use was prohibited on the course.) And Reimer discovered this the hard way during the first round. Round of the 2011 tournament. Ryder, who was an employee of Golf Channel and Westwood One Radio, was using a cell phone outside the media complex, and security quickly arrived and removed him from the premises. He was allowed to return the next day after apologizing. That must have been a hell of an apology.
Ian Poulter/Graham McDowell
crime: Video posting from the club
punishment: wrist slap
Back story: The two Ryder Cup friends boldly posted a video of a practice round that included footage from inside the clubhouse and locker room. Let's just say it didn't last very long on Twitter. Three years later, Poulter pushed the envelope again by sharing the above selfie, but he appears to have avoided formal disciplinary action. so far.
crime: wear the hat backwards
punishment: turned the hat upside down
Back story: Like me on that hill, Fowler was a little too comfortable when he showed up to the 2011 pre-tournament press conference with his Puma cap inside out.Fowler is asked to put it back By Ron Townsend, a member of Augusta National, who was wearing a hat when he gave the explanation. Townsend said it's cool because it allows people to see his face better. just kidding! He asked again and Ricky responded. And I'd bet on Fowler's career earnings that he never makes that mistake again at Augusta National.
crime: I forgot to return the green jacket.
punishment: A tough call from Cliff Roberts
Back story: After losing in a playoff to Arnold Palmer in his first Masters defense in 1962, the player took the green jacket back to South Africa. When Cliff Roberts called him and told him that only the reigning champions were allowed to do that, the player said to Roberts, “Why don't you come get it?” bold! In the end, the two sides compromised, with the player wearing a plastic cover over his special clothing and promising not to wear it again until he returned to Augusta National for the 1963 tournament. In the end, he was able to win a few more times, so I'm glad he was allowed back on the premises.
crime: Inappropriate product placement
punishment: Report of permanent suspension from Masters
Back story: In what has to be the worst moment in Masters history, Gary's son used a special ceremonial tee shot featuring Lee Elder in 2021 to promote his golf ball deal. According to Wayne's older brother Mark, Wayne was permanently banned from the Masters despite his father being a three-time champion, nine-time major champion, and an honorary Masters starter. Is it good news for Wayne? If you want to promote your products, you can always join John Daly in the Hooters parking lot down the street.
crime: scalping ticket
punishment: banned for life and taken to court
Backstory: Indeed, clubs may be taking scalping Masters tickets even more seriously than cell phones. There are obviously too many people to name here, but we will focus on Michael Freeman, his parents, Diane and Stephen, and his sister Christine Oliverson. A Texas family pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining and selling tickets and agreed to pay more than $275,000 in restitution to the community. Michael was also sentenced to 28 months in prison. What's the lesson here?don't do drugs
crime: steal sand
punishment: Arrest, permanent banishment, and trial
Backstory: That's quite a trifecta. In 2012, Baker made the mistake of going through the ropes on the 10th hole and scooping clean Augusta National sand into his beer cup. He was soon surrounded by security guards and handcuffed. Years later, he said that although the charges were eventually dropped, the whole ordeal left him depressed and cost him $20,000 in legal fees (and more). I feel like the amount of sand is a little too much.
crime: steal water
punishment: not back
Backstory: Our fearless colleague took a sample from the pond guarding the 15th green in 1996 after winning a media lottery to play the course on the Monday after the tournament. The aim was to see how the crabs keep their water so perfect, but the test results found traces of blue food dye. Statula hasn't been officially banned, but he hasn't considered going back a quarter of a century since then. I have no choice. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices in the name of big-name journalism.
Maybe I should get this done before I go on double-secret probation like Mike. At least I'll never win the media lottery now.
