It is the most recognized and beloved event in golf — the Masters tournament is already underway for its annual return to Augusta, and it has one member of the Allegheny golf team buzzing.
“Masters week is my favorite week of the year,” said Carter Hassenplug, ’25. “The game’s best players all gather together to play the most prestigious golf course in the world, it doesn’t get better than this! I am very excited! As for my plans, all I know is I will be watching as much coverage as possible. We, the golf team, have a couple of practice rounds this weekend, so my phone will definitely be streaming the coverage throughout those rounds.”
Turning 90 this year, the Masters’ thrilling moments throughout its history have gripped the attention of fans and put it on the main stage of major tournaments on the PGA tour.
In 2005, legendary Tiger Woods was 16 feet away from the hole, sitting on the fringe of the 16th hole. Dealing with a massive slope on the green, he pulled out his wedge and chipped the ball well left of the hole, watching it trickle down towards the cup.
Slowing down right before falling in, the crowd went berserk, and when the ball got the extra rotation to drop for a birdie it was pandemonium. The shot is regarded as one of the greatest of all time in the game’s history.
Woods then sparked a run to deliver a massive comeback in the round, leading to his fourth Masters green jacket at the time.
He has brought more vintage moments to the game as well. At the age of 43, he became the 11th oldest player to win a major, defying the odds and winning his sixth green jacket at the 2019 Masters.
The event brought him to within one trophy of another all-time great, Jack Nicklaus, and ended Woods’ major drought of over a decade. He won the tournament not long after his fourth back surgery as well, producing a historic storyline.
“I watched it in my living room with my family, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t tear up a little bit,” Hassenplug said. “To see him come back from everything he had been through prior, it was truly incredible.”
The 15-time major champion is back to compete once again, but with the injuries he has dealt with over the last several years fans are not expecting him to be a contender.
Instead, Scottie Scheffler came in as the favorite at +400 odds, according to usatoday.com. Last year’s winner, Jon Rahm, is third in the betting odds behind Rory McIlroy. Down the list, as a dark horse, is Max Homa.
“My pick this year is Max Homa,” Hassenplug said. “He’s been my favorite golfer for the past couple of years, and I feel his game fits Augusta very well. He’s able to shape the ball in many ways and can putt the ball like no other. Plus, his game has been in pretty good form this season — all good signs for the week to come.”
Although he has not quite made it to the stage of the Masters yet, Hassenplug is putting together a stellar career at Allegheny.
He was named a First Team All-Region player last year.
Finishing first and winning the 2022-23 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships, he has a chance to repeat after placing atop the leaderboard concluding the first two rounds of this year’s tournament in the fall.
Hassenplug most recently finished in a tie for sixth in the Hershey Cup. The Gators’ next event is the Win Palmer Cup, hosted by Wittenberg University on April 15 and 16.
Gearing up for the final two rounds of the conference championships, Hassenplug and the rest of the team will compete for individual and team accolades just three days later, on April 19 and 20.
Editor’s note: this story was sent to the printer as golfers were still participating in Round 1 of the Masters tournament.
