The Masters up close

The Masters up close

Augusta, United States
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Golfers from around the world teed up for the 81st U.S. Masters tournament this week, after six-time winner Jack Nicklaus took the opening ceremonial tee shot on Thursday.

Personalities, many of a political ilk, count themselves among the members of the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, including former Senator Sam Nunn, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell. And some show up for the tournament.

. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

But before the action gets underway, there are days of preparation and socialising in the run-up to the highly anticipated event.

Players practiced putts on Monday and Tuesday mornings on freshly manicured grass. Each hole on the azalea-lined course, which was a plant nursery when it was established in 1934, is named for a shrub or plant like "Flowering Peach" and "Tea Olive."

. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst
Jordan Spieth plays a practice round.

Between holes, members munch on southern favorite pimento cheese sandwiches and sip beer or soda. Those competing are careful not to lose focus amid the snacks, banter and unusually heavy winds; if they win the tournament, they are invited back to play in it for life.

On Tuesday evening Masters champions gathered for their annual dinner, traditionally hosted by the previous year’s winner who chooses the menu.

The Par 3 competition held before the Masters was cut short on Wednesday because of stormy weather. Some superstitious players avoid that contest because no one who has won it has also won the Masters in the same year.

. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

When a winner emerges on Sunday afternoon, last year’s champion christens them in the iconic sport jacket -- an eye-catching green number bearing the Masters logo, a small outline of the U.S. and a yellow flag stick pointing to Augusta, patched on the pocket.

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Slideshow

A scoreboard - red numbers under par and green numbers over.
. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

A scoreboard - red numbers under par and green numbers over.

A Masters patron holding a beer during first round play.
. Augusta, United States. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

A Masters patron holding a beer during first round play.

A sandwich peeks out of its green plastic wrapper.
. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

A sandwich peeks out of its green plastic wrapper.

The manicured sand bunker on the 7th green.
. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

The manicured sand bunker on the 7th green.

A close-up view of the 9th fairway grass ready for Masters play.
. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

A close-up view of the 9th fairway grass ready for Masters play.

An extreme close-up showing the pink stigma of an Azalea.
. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

An extreme close-up showing the pink stigma of an Azalea.

A fallen pink dogwood flower petal lies in the pine straw along the 8th hole.
. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

A fallen pink dogwood flower petal lies in the pine straw along the 8th hole.

Close up of pine bark along the first fairway.
. Augusta, UNITED STATES. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Close up of pine bark along the first fairway.

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