3 Ways To Improve The Masters

The Masters is without doubt one of the best things in golf, but there are ways that it could be improved...

Ways To Improve The Masters
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Masters is without doubt one of the best things in golf, but there are ways that it could be improved...

3 Ways To Improve The Masters

The Masters is arguably the greatest of golf's four Majors but it isn't quite perfect.

Below, we list 3 ways to make the Masters better...

TV Coverage

Of the four Majors, the TV coverage of the Masters is by far the worst.

Each and every year we have coverage of Amen Corner and other featured holes and groups, but for us in the UK full live coverage doesn't start on the opening two days until something like 8pm.

For what is, again, arguably the greatest golf tournament, live coverage starting some six-to-eight hours after play begins simply isn't good enough.

The Field

The USPGA Championship always has the strongest field and the Open and US Opens also have big fields with various different ways to qualify.

There are various different ways to qualify for The Masters as well, but the field is by far the smallest of the four Majors, never getting above 100.

This year's field looks to be the smallest since 1997 with just 86 competitors.

Granted, it has the world's best players teeing it up but the depth of the field simply isn't there.

One qualm for me this year is that Alvaro Ortiz becomes the first Mexican in 40 years to qualify for The Masters. Yes, he won the Latin America Amateur Championship so has fully earnt the right to play, but he isn't even a pro and World Number 58 (and fellow Mexican) Abraham Ancer hasn't qualified.

That's despite Ancer finishing T12th at the Players and inside the top 40 in both of this season's WGCs. Oh, and he won the Australian Open in November, which is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious Opens!

That victory did qualify him for the Open at Royal Portrush though.

Ancer with the Australian Open trophy. (Photo by Jason McCawley/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

It seems wrong that Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam are playing whilst the World No.58 and the Australian Open champion isn't.

Another thing I'd like to see, as well as inviting more pros, would be to invite more amateurs. Currently there are six that get to play from winning various different amateur events but I would like to at least see the World No.1-ranked amateur invited as well.

The Par-3 Contest

It's a great curtain raiser but could easily be played on the Monday for those who have arrived and fancy playing in it.

However, it has become a novelty in recent years with increased TV coverage and players' WAGs and children caddying and playing.

It looks great fun to be a part of but it shouldn't be something that takes place the afternoon before The Masters, where the world's best should be focusing and practising ahead of the season's first Major.

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US Masters TV Coverage

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US Masters Tee Times 2019 – Sunday Round 4 Groups

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV