Hurricane Helen caused chaos in the southeastern United States last fall, ousting countless families and ruining countless communities.
The person caught in the Crossfire was Augusta National, where many trees fell upon extensive damage.
Nevertheless, returning in January, Augusta Head Fred Ridley provided an update on how the course progressed through the storm.
“[The golf course is] In spectacular state,” Ridley said.
“We did a slight damage to the course and had the playing surface itself, but we managed to get it back, but I don't think we'll see any difference in the Master's condition this year.”
To find out, Augusta had to trade four greens ahead of this year's Masters Tournament.
Rory McIlroy revealed the news ahead of this week's Texas Children's Houston Open.
“We have four greens that we've redoed this year,” McIlroy said.
“You look at them and see if there is a new hole position they give you, something like that.”
McIlroy visited Augusta on Monday and flew off to Houston for this week's tournament.
“I'm trying to use those trips to get familiar with the location, the club from the tee and see if they changed the greenery,” McIlroy said.
“Otherwise, honestly, for me it's good to practice without people and for me it puts pressure from the beginning of the week. There's a lot of obligation. There's a big commitment, whether it's a par-3 tournament from the media on Wednesday.
One green Augusta had to change was the famous par 3, 16th place, Tiger Woods Probably the most famous tip-in In the history of golf. Surprisingly, the shot marks its 20th anniversary this year at the Masters Tournament. Live forever in Masters' lore, “Did you see something like that in your life?!” by CBS broadcaster Verne Lundquist. Unfortunately, however, Lundquist is not part of the Masters TV broadcast this year. He retired after the 2024 edition by calling golf on the 16th hole, but he helped create the most. Incredible memes of the year.
Nevertheless, the presence, or lack of Randkist, is more pronounced for golf fans than the changes the club made on the 16th green.
“The loss of a few trees is definitely notable, but in that respect, they had to redo that green, and that's exactly the same,” McIlroy said of 16.
“The holes will regenerate. It's about the same except that there are probably few green shades of green, due to some of the trees that are lost.”
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
