Augusta National is a golf club striving for perfection, a place where everything seems possible to resolve.
But against the forces of nature, one has nothing to say.
Hurricane Helene struck with full force at the end of September last year, and the city of Augusta was one of those severely affected. The venerable golf course, host of the Masters since 1934, did not entirely escape either.
There is a considerable amount of trees that have disappeared out on the course, but overall, you will still get into serious trouble if you hit the ball into the woods, says world number one and reigning champion Scottie Scheffler.
The differences from last year are clearly visible in several places where it is more open between the holes and also into the neighboring course, Augusta Country Club, which previously lay completely hidden behind a dense tree wall.
It's only a few trees that are gone where it will really make a difference (game-wise), such trees that are in play, says Scheffler.
Four greens also had to be renovated after the hurricane, and the course is – hardly surprisingly – restored to perfect condition just in time for this year's first major.
The Masters begins on Thursday.
Corrected: In an earlier version, it was written as "storm" and not "hurricane".
