Professional golfer Chris Gotterup made his first trip to Augusta National Golf Club last week, accompanied by his father and brother, as preparation for his debut at the Masters Tournament. Having previously declined invitations to the venue, Gotterup arranged a tee time through a club member and toured the property. He shared insights on the course's surprises compared to television broadcasts.
Chris Gotterup, who had turned down prior invitations to Augusta National because he wanted to visit only for an official competition, finally stepped onto the grounds last week. The 25-year-old PGA Tour player, fresh off multiple recent victories that elevated him to World No. 6, arranged the visit with assistance from a contact who connected him with a local green jacket member. Under club rules, guests like Gotterup and his two family members were required to play alongside a member, and they completed a full round on the main course as well as the par-3 course.
Gotterup described the experience as awe-inspiring, noting several differences from what viewers see on television. "Much tighter than TV gives it credit for," he said of the chute off the 18th tee. He found the slopes more dramatic from the outset, with the first green appearing "much more severe," demanding a precise tee shot and approach to reach the correct section. The par-5 second hole, which looks massive on TV due to surrounding spectators during tournament play, appeared smaller and differently framed amid the expansive green grass during their visit.
Among his highlights, Gotterup praised the seventh hole for its simplicity and visual appeal. "It’s just so simple, but you just have to hit a good tee ball and you have to hit the right shot coming into the green," he explained. "Visually when you step on the tee box you’re like, wow, this hole is really cool looking." He noted that holes like the seventh might be overlooked compared to more famous ones such as 12, 13, and 18.
As a natural fader, Gotterup plans to adjust his practice for holes that favor a draw, including the second, 10th, and 13th. During the visit, he purchased hats and small items like playing cards from the pro shop for his family and girlfriend. This outing marked a special shared experience for Gotterup and his relatives, who had never played the course before. Ahead of his Masters appearance, Gotterup enters this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, reflecting on his rapid rise from outside the top 200 in the world rankings a year ago.
