Just an old sweet song

The GIST: First we watched Georgia count election ballots for 96 straight hours, and now we get to watch them host the Masters for 96 hours. Anyone up for a Real Housewives of Atlanta marathon next?

Tell me about the Masters!: This tournament is one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events. Usually held in April at the legendary Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, the major that usually kicks off the men’s professional golf season was pushed back to November to close out the shortened season.

• Becoming a Masters champion is men’s golf’s greatest achievement. Not only does the champ take home a trophy and a sweet $2.07 million paycheck, but they also earn a green jacket, a lifetime invitation to the tournament, and honorary membership at the ultra-exclusive golf course.

• It’s not all sunshine and roses azaleas though. The history of the Masters is steeped in racism and sexism. For more on Augusta National’s dark past (and TBH, present) listen to this week’s episode of our podcast The GIST of It.

Who’s going to win?: The Masters can be pretty predictable, except for when they’re not. Tiger Woods won his fifth green jacket last year, and past champions include top golfers like Phil Mickelson, Jordan Speith and Sergio Garcia (who won’t be playing this year after his COVID-19 diagnosis on Monday).

• But sometimes, it just takes one good weekend of golf for a dark horse to emerge. In 2016, Theon Greyjoy look-alike Danny Willett came out of nowhere to win in only his second Masters appearance. And in 2008, Trevor Immelman became the Masters’ biggest underdog champion when he landed his first major victory just four months after having a benign tumor removed from his stomach.

• All that to say, stay on your toes! While we could see Tiger or Phil repeat or top players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson or Bryson DeChambeau win their first, it’s just as possible this year’s winner will be an unknown.