23Rounder

@JonnyRoot_ Clearly a green jacket winner has better access to Augusta than an entrant but Rory can do what he did because he has earnt it. He doesn’t need to chase money or ranking points because he is already set for life. He cares about 4 events a year plus Irish open and Ryder cup.

I guess we’ll have to take Kim’s word for it, though I’m still skeptical EVERY PLAYER would get the same access as Rory McIlroy Here’s the problem though: • Without reform, some players will get more practice & familiarity. I’d argue there should be a set number the month leading up to the tournament, regardless of whether they’re a champion or not • This encourages more players to skip tournaments prior to The Masters, creating a load management-type issue in golf that’ll devalue those tournaments to broadcast partners, patrons, & sponsors. Picking up what I’m putting down?

@project_821 @Richie3Jack Rory didn’t have an unfair advantage. The advantage he has is earned because of his golf skill meaning he can pick and choose and not have to worry about rankings or prize money or getting into majors. If others play well enough they will get it too.

@23Rounder @Richie3Jack 3 rounds? That’s as much BS as saying Rory had an “unfair advantage” lol Any invited competitor is allowed to contact the club to arrange a visit. As often as they would like. From a competitor in the field…

If you think that Rory getting to play Augusta more times 3 weeks before the event gave him such a huge advantage & that's why he won...you don't know a thing about tournament golf. I can assure you that not 1 player in the field is complaining about this or thinks it was unfair

@TourSwingsTommy I don’t think regular cameras ever really show slope and contours. The 6th tee shot is a great example, it is so steep the players are hitting over hundreds of patrons and even people walking across a crosswalk but from the tee they are not visible to the players.

I feel like the Masters broadcast doesn’t fully capture Augusta’s difficulty. Most every shot these guys are hitting is off an uneven fairway lie. And they make it look easy. I wish they could set up more cameras level with the slope so we could see it better.

@QuackWTD1 @ScottFriedman3 @TheMasters From what I have read about 20K so at least half all tickets.

@23Rounder @ScottFriedman3 @TheMasters Any idea how many patrons that is? That are “originals?”

Augusta National second year General Manager, Steve Ethan has been aggressively attacking local badges this last week. In some cases wrongfully accusing them. Not a good look for @TheMasters

@QuackWTD1 @ScottFriedman3 @TheMasters My understanding is people that were buying tickets 50 years ago are still entitled to buy them. It is why tickets are so difficult for the rest of us to buy. There used to be a list you could apply for but has been closed for 50 years as I understand it

@23Rounder @ScottFriedman3 @TheMasters What’s an “original patron?” Like a season ticket holder?

@QuackWTD1 @ScottFriedman3 @TheMasters The vast majority of badges are not from the lottery. Original patrons have the right to buy them every year and they are not expensive. They are not allowed to resell them but from many reports many sell them for 10K profit each year.

@ScottFriedman3 @TheMasters Why is reselling so frowned upon? Does Augusta vet the patrons that enter the lottery?

@realQuendrith @Jack_Schwaiger Why is that not a valid reason? With the spacex merger and crazy valuation he likely now has 100M+. He probably hardly slept for the last 1.5 years.

why did you resign - key piece of info left out - because the proverbial 'spent time with family' off-ramp always has its coded layer, so what is it? (asking for clarity as to whether its AI-related as far as ethical development, or friction internal or deployment issues on readiness of build?)

Yesterday I resigned from xAI after 1.5 years. I led and built our STEM and Medicine expert tutor teams and eventually took over leadership of our Law team as well. Leaving such a brilliant and kind group of experts and leaders is what I will miss the most and it is a big part of what made this decision so difficult. What was unique about being at xAI was how close you were to the work itself. Being directly in conversations around recipes, ablations, evals, and vibe checks gives you a real understanding of what it takes to build world-class models. I’m especially thankful for all of the engineers I had the chance to work with and learn from. I have learned the limits of how far I can push myself. Now it is time to focus on my friends, my family, my wife, and new adventures. Ad astra

@acaseofthegolf1 @LouStagner Not to mention that many of the field are old and well past their best.

@LouStagner Isn’t that because players are hitting less than driver off the 1st?

Someone tell Fred Ridley on the 1st hole over the last two masters that: ➡️1.3% of drives went 325+ ➡️32.4% of drives went 274 yards or SHORTER Based on those numbers they have room to build an addition onto the Eisenhower cabin. 😎

@pTah_XV What revenue do they generate? Sportspeople are paid based on revenue generation. Netballers generate a lot more so get paid a lot more. They don’t have to play rugby. Arguably our men’s rugby players should also get less as rugby revenue is not great for men either.

Women’s RWC will be held in Australia in 3 years time. Can’t build a platform for success when Super W is a 7 week tournament and minimum pay is $4,000 abc.net.au/news/2026-04-0…

@Luke_Elvy @MattyGuyatt That isn’t a good thing though and they have changed the points system this year and it will not happen again.

@MattyGuyatt Neimann didn’t win LIV o.o.m & he won 5x!!

Players like Travis Smyth is why I’ve been so vocal about a Unified Global Tour. Good enough to play against the best in the game, but as an Aussie, pathways to the big stage are limited compared to American & Europeans. Keep an eye on the current 🇦🇺 O.O.M champion, he’s firing!

@SimonFlynnefc @Luke_Elvy Do you realise that Patrick Reed doesn’t play on LIV golf any more but has won multiple times on the European Tour this year?

@Luke_Elvy Another delusional LIV GOLF fan only 1 that has a chance is Bryson I don’t see Rahm or Patrick Reed contending

We are on the eve of Masters week & I keep going back to these 3 as my top picks. Jon Rahm Bryson DeChambeau Patrick Reed I also like where the Aussie quartet is at & would gladly lose money on the above trio to see an Australian win our 2nd Green Jacket. #TheMasters

@Stawell_Gift What terrible coverage. 7 was live and showing an interview when the Herb Hedeman invitational was run and won. What is the point of live coverage if you don’t show it? @7Sport @7SportStandby We deserved more than showing the last few hundred meters on delay

Nominations are open for the 2026 Herb Hedemann Invitational 1600m until March 20. Stawell sash & trophy; $5,000 prize pool; eligibility: 1500m under 4:00 (or equivalent 800m–5000m). Nominations close Friday March 20. val.org.au/stawell/ . #stawellgift #powercorstawellgift

@SportsGirlSL @BjornBookser Jason Day got told to change his vest at Augusta. Augusta does what it wants, a bit like Wimbledon does in tennis.

I’m just finding it funny that Jason day had to change his vest bc of a large logo. Nelly has a large logo but clearly didn’t? Maybe I’m just misunderstanding what you’re saying but I think both should be able to wear whatever they want. Regardless those who dislike the vest also dislike this shirt from her when in reality it’s bold, interesting and looks fabulous

But Jason days vest was a problem? Lol I know it’s a number vs a brand but still.

@jeffradford1212 @PaulHodowanic In the Zurich, they have often used preferred lies to let them swap for their own ball for foursomes. I would prefer they didn’t let them swap

@PaulHodowanic Will they play a Srixon or Titleist ball?

No more Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry together at the Zurich... the tournament just announced we'll have a Shane Lowry-Brooks Koepka team instead.

@SandraEckersley But the vice chancellor of Cambridge is paid 577K GBP from what I can see which is 1.1M AUD. Wouldn’t that be similar to or more than in Australia?

@23Rounder I meant vice chancellor.

All 20 Australian University Vice Chancellors are paid more than the Chancellor of Cambridge University. Why? It’s a rort. #auspol

@F1JayyUK Honestly confused by this. Isn’t the driver meant to be able control when the battery deploys?

Pretty damning from Lando this is. “Honestly some of the racing, I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis. It’s just that my battery deploys, I don’t want it to deploy, but I can’t control it. So, I overtake him, and then I have no battery left, so he just flies past. This is not racing, this is yo-yoing. Even though he [Hamilton] says it’s not, it is yo-yoing.”

@TalkBirdie_ToMe @MattFitz94 @hannahgreengolf @MarkAllenGolf @nickohern @acaseofthegolf1 Great show as always. Strongly agree that cheating bans need to be worldwide. I also think Grace and Burmeister rejected the 6 event deal and have now resigned membership although not relevant for Ryder cup.

Big @TalkBirdie_ToMe today. Matt Fitzpatrick @MattFitz94 rips slow play a new one, @hannahgreengolf wins again, and @MarkAllenGolf tells @nickohern about a story he found on Ryan French's @acaseofthegolf1 twitter page on a Tour Pro suspended for cheating returning to play. Pod here: linktr.ee/TalkBirdieToMe

@GolfloverUK @RedHarrington44 My issue is I don’t get to see a pre or post show anymore. I pay for the Liv app but get nothing. Agree this looks quality though

@RedHarrington44 The product is superb - my only critique is I felt we got a longer show both ends when it was Liv productions

I’m starting to think this production is even better than LIV’s pre and post games of the past…maybe the extra you have to pay for TNT is worth it @GolfloverUK