With the Masters coverage beginning, I once again am sitting here wondering why in the world people make such a big deal about it. I will admit, I'll be tuning in at various points this weekend to check in on this tournament that I just don't care about. But that's simply due to me being a sheep; I want to be somewhat aware of the action that will be taking over sports chatter for the next four days.
It also should be noted that in no way, shape, or form do I consider myself a golf fan. But that's what really baffles me about the Masters; there are so many people that could not care less about the sport of golf all year, yet the Masters inexplicably gets their juices flowing. Do non-NASCAR fans tune into Daytona (or whatever the most significant race is) annually because of its significance within the "sport?" Not to my knowledge. And don't try and hit me with the "tradition unlike any other" garbage. Just within the sports world the Super Bowl, March Madness, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all undoubtedly better traditions in every aspect. Just the fact that it's one of four majors within golf kind of diminishes the ultimate prestige of it.
Many people claim the aesthetic visuals of Augusta truly set the Masters apart from any other golf event. Just Google-image it then or something. There will be thousands, maybe millions, of pictures of this scenic course that you can stare at for however long you'd like. Do you tune into Arizona Cardinals home games simply because they have the nicest turf in the NFL?
And to those of you who claim this tournament simply has a special atmosphere to it:
Atmosphere? At a golf tournament? There is no such thing as differentiated atmosphere in golf, a sport where fans are prohibited from making noise. The atmosphere is consistent: it's quiet, it's boring, and it's repellent for casual fans who are seeking to get into the sport. The atmosphere puts me to sleep, which brings me to another popular argument for casual fans tuning into the Masters:
The old "Nothing better than napping on your couch with the Masters on a Sunday" claim. If there's a movie or show on your TV that puts you to sleep, you categorize it as a terrible production. Yet somehow when it comes to the Masters, that's a major selling point. Anything worth watching should keep you awake and engaged.
And lastly, as the great Happy Gilmore once said, "Gold jacket, green jacket, who gives a shit?" For whatever reason, the champion receiving a green sport coat is an argument for the tournament's greatness. If you really get all hot and bothered about a grown man receiving championship apparel, I've got news for you: it happens in literally every other major sporting championship. In fact, the other champs receive shirts and hats. So, please inform me, what in the world is so special about the Masters for those who don't typically follow golf? Other than these Photoshops I made three years ago and have been recycling ever since:
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