MASTERS 2026
BORED OF ONLY PRACTICING FLAT PUTTS?
IAN POULTER & GRAEME MCDOWELL The crime: Posting video from the club The punishment: Wrist slap The backstory: These two Ryder Cup pals, now playing together on LIV, boldly posted video from a practice round that included footage from in- side the clubhouse and locker room. Let's just say it didn't stay up on Twit- ter long. Poulter pushed the envelope again three years later when he shared the above selfie, but he appears to have escaped any formal disciplinary action.
FRANK STRANAHAN The crime: Hitting a second ball during a practice round The punishment: Kicked out of that year's event
The backstory: Like the patrons I saw running, Stranahan was escorted off the premises ahead of the 1948 Masters after allegedly playing two balls during a prac- tice round. Stranahan denies the charge, saying he only hit multiple balls around the green, which is permitted. Regardless, the reigning runner-up was booted from the tournament! Stranahan was allowed back the following year when he finished T-19, and he'd play the following 10 years as well, earning low-amateur honours two more times. (It should be noted that there was probably more at play here. Rumour has it that Stranahan had had a fling with a woman who had a relationship with a member. He was a fitness fanatic known for being a ladies man, and that lady may have been the secretary of Augusta National co-founder and chairman Clifford Roberts. And the member may have been Roberts himself … spicy!)
RICKIE FOWLER The crime: Wearing his hat backwards The punishment: Turned his hat around The backstory: Fowler got a bit too comfortable when he showed up to his pre-tournament press conference in 2011 with his Puma cap turned around. Fowler was asked to turn it back by Au- gusta National member Ron Townsend, but when he explained he wore his hat so people could see his face better, Townsend said it was cool. Kidding! He asked again, and Rickie obliged. And I would wager Fowler's career earnings that he's never made that mistake at Augusta National again. CLAYTON BAKER The crime: Stealing some sand The punishment: Arrested, lifetime ban and taken to court The backstory: In 2012, Baker made the mistake of slipping under the ropes on the 10th to scoop some of Augusta National's pristine sand into a beer cup. Moments later he was surrounded by security and put in handcuffs. Years later, he said the whole ordeal sent him into depression and cost him $20 000 in legal (and other) fees, even though charges were dropped. Seems a bit much for a little bit of sand.
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MIKE STACHURA The crime: Stealing some water The punishment: Hasn't been back The backstory: Our fearless co-worker took a sample from the pond guarding the 15th green in 1996 after winning the media lottery to play the course the Monday after the tournament ended. The purpose was to see how the club keeps its water looking so perfect, and lab results found traces of blue food dye. While Stachura hasn't officially been banned, he hasn't thought about going back in the quarter century since. Oh well. Sometimes you have to make sac- rifices in the name of big-J Journalism.
TICKET SCALPERS The crime: Scalping tickets The punishment: Lifetime ban and taken to court The backstory: The club might take scalping Masters tickets even more se- riously than cell phones. There are too many people to name here, but we'll focus on Michael Freeman, his par- ents, Diane and Steven, and his sister, Christine Oliverson. The Texas family plead guilty to fraudulently obtaining tickets and selling them and agreed to pay more than $275 000 in community restitution. Michael was sentenced to 28 months in prison. Don't scalp Mas- ters tickets. Ever.
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68 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
MARCH/APRIL 2026
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