Former champion Danny Willett heads into this week's 2020 Masters Tournament with the advantage of having played at Augusta National Golf Club in the winter months, and he has warned those who have only visited in April to expect a very different course.
What is traditionally the season’s first of four Major Championships has become the third and final one of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the US PGA Championship and U.S. Open Championship having already taken place.
Willett, who recorded a memorable Masters victory in 2016, has played at the host course in both December and February in the past so has some idea of what to expect from Augusta in November.
He said: "I’ve played it in December and early February as well.
"It will be a few degrees colder and a little windier. It will obviously be a very different golf course to what people have seen in April.
"It will be interesting to see how the golf course is playing and if they can get it fast enough and firm enough, weather-permitting.
"Obviously with no patrons there this year it is going to be strange.
"Luckily I’ve played it with nobody there – I’m not sure if many guys will have done that.
"It’s a very different experience and a very different-looking golf course, something that a few guys might have to get used to."
Like Willett, Graeme McDowell, who is also a Major Champion having won the U.S. Open in 2010, has some experience of Augusta National outside of The Masters, but playing there in November is new to him too.
He said: "The only time I’ve played it outside of the tournament was when Ian Webb, who is the Northern Irish member, took me and my dad there several years back, which was one of those cool things.
“My dad played Amen Corner in level par and was like, ‘Beam me up Scotty, I’m done’.
“It’s going to be interesting. I’ve seen some of the aerial shots (of the course) the last few weeks. They have overseeded it and it’s gone from brown to green.
“I know that overseeding requires a lot of water so I’m expecting it to be soft, which is not going to be ideal for me, but I just have to have a great week with the wedges and the putter.”
