Welcome back, patrons. Welcome back, Masters in the springtime. Welcome back, all things at Augusta National that bloom this time of year and provide the backdrop for perhaps the most picturesque locale in golf.
There are new rules - masks must be worn, social distancing policies apply and there’s no eating or drinking around the roped-off spots closest to the greens - but after a one-year pandemic-caused absence, fans are back at the Masters.
“You can see it in my face,” world No. 4-ranked player Collin Morikawa said as he broke into a big smile when asked about the return of patrons. “We love it. I really miss it. It was great to see fans slowly come back over the past month, month and a half. And I know everyone, the Masters, the PGA Tour is doing their job to stay safe and make sure we are still handling everything properly.