Mastering golf – and sin

It’s now early April and that means that sporting competitions move into the oft dubbed ‘business end’ of the season, where every point seems to matter that wee bit more and every mistake feels more costly. However, for those who follow golf, April means the start of the major season, and more specifically, that The Masters is just around the corner.

Hosted at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA, the event is now widely considered as the crown jewel of golf’s four major championships, with perhaps just The Open vying for its crown. It is the only major to be hosted at the same location every year and the beauty of the course is perhaps only rivalled in sport by tennis’ annual Wimbledon Championships.

An invitation-only course with a joining fee believed to be around £30,000, the easiest way to play a round at the famous venue is said to be to qualify for The Masters, perhaps emphasising how seriously the club take the prestige of golfer who plays on and the upkeep of the course. However, despite Augusta National’s picturesque golfing setting, it presents one of golf’s most brutal challenges, as many have found to their peril.