The famous Augusta National Golf Club is home to one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. Yet, it has suffered tremendous backlash after Hurricane Helene. The hurricane brought loss of life for at least eleven, as well as severe destruction around the Augusta area to its six-year run. It flattened thousands of trees, devastating communities home to many families and small businesses. Phil Mickelson still thinks it’s in great shape. It’s in “great shape,” he confidently anticipates, for the upcoming pageantry.
Hurricane Helene made a deep impact on the Augusta landscape, as 5,000 trees were uprooted and lost during that strong storm. A large pine tree fell across the 11th fairway. It found a fairway exactly 100 yards short of where the group playing in front of Mickelson was currently teeing off. Augusta National’s maintenance team acted swiftly to remove the fallen tree shortly after it fell, ensuring minimal disruption to the course’s preparation.
Phil Mickelson noted the impressive recovery efforts. “You couldn’t tell two days later this had happened,” he remarked, highlighting the club’s efficiency in restoring the course. He further commented on the speed of the cleanup, saying, “By the time I walk off of 11 green, all the limbs of the tree have been cut off and put on the back of these carts.” His observations speak to the ongoing desire of the club to do things the right way, even in difficult physical situations.
This Saturday, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur will conduct its final round. Even after interruption from the pandemic and other recent bumps in the road, the event still offers a one-of-a-kind playing experience. Just a week later, the 89th Masters Tournament should continue that trend, from April 10-13. ESPN will provide first-round coverage of the Masters, airing from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET.
Mickelson is still hopeful for Augusta National’s future, particularly as the course gears up to host these major events. He’s convinced Hurricane Helene did significant damage, though the course’s playing surfaces were spared the worst of her wrath. He’s very sure that those problems were just really well fixed.
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