The Masters will host an unprecedented golf tournament

2020 is a year of firsts for all major sporting events, including the biggest tournament of the PGA with the Masters due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The event planners for the Masters scrambled after the initial lockdowns for COVID-19 started in March with the event planned for April.

While the PGA organized the possibility of postponing the event, many speculated that the event would be canceled entirely for 2020 but with meticulous planning, The Masters is finally happening. As this is one unprecedented golf event, there’s no telling which golfer will win the coveted green jacket.

The infamous golf course, Augusta National, looked completely different in fall compared to the spring greenery that visitors are used to. The iconic azaleas were green instead of the bright vibrant colors of the flowers that bloom in April along with the absence of the green hardwood-tree leaves that turned to fall colors of orange, red, and yellow.

Dustin Johnson (+800) finishes his 1st round with a birdie to shoot 65 and take a share of the lead.

Round 1 – Bogey Free Round +1200 ✅ pic.twitter.com/hVpP9DwtYM

— Bet The Greens (@betthegreens) November 13, 2020

Augusta National also changed the audience format to feature no observation stands or galleries that provided viewers a chance to see the course in its natural form. Though there was no formal audience, some of the Augusta National members watched from a safe distance including Rob Manfred (MLB commissioner), Roger Goodell NFL Commissioner), and Peyton Manning (NFL Hall of Fame quarterback).

Hosting the Masters in November also presents unique weather problems that delayed the game by three hours for the opening round. The weather is also partially to blame for the really low scores and play was suspended at 5:30 p.m. ET due to the darkness with a recent time-change.

The Masters will also be implementing its SubAir system through the golf course to circulate the air for players and other participants. Augusta National has a SubAir system that acts as a massive turf-conditioning system that provides ventilation for the golf course with an extensive subterranean system.

Watch live coverage of the second round. #themastershttps://t.co/1fUTOEDX5Z pic.twitter.com/0w4As3C5Qp

— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020

The SubAir system was invented by Augusta National’s senior director of the golf course and grounds, Marsh Benson, for the initial use for the system was to pump fresh air into the greens providing a better optimal growing environment for plants. After development and initial installation, they realized that they can reverse the system to use as a series of drainage pipes that helps to draw the moisture from the greens.

Since this innovation, nearly 500 other golf clubs have implemented similar systems meaning that more golf courses can use the SubAir system to circulate air better for players on the course.