ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) – Turf will be tread this weekend at the hallowed grounds of the Augusta National Golf Club. The Masters Tournament is teeing up for its eighty-ninth year. Local collegiate golf coaches call the shots on what you can expect.
From Thursday, April 10 – Sunday, April 13, 2025, golf enthusiasts will be glued to their seats anticipating who the next champion will be. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, seeks to retain his crown while other legendary players like Rory McIlroy, Colin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau and last year’s runner up, Ludwig Aberg, seek to steal the throne. Perhaps America’s most renowned golfer, Tiger Woods, will not be playing this year due to a recent surgery.
Live coverage of the tournament will be split this year. The first two rounds on Thursday and Friday will be hosted on ESPN and the final two on Saturday and Sunday can be viewed on CBS. A “Par 3” tournament will also take place on Wednesday, April 9.
Local collegiate coaches weighed in on the importance of the tournament.
“The Masters is important because of the rich history and tradition that the event has had over the years,” explained John Sullivan, who has been the head coach for men’s and women’s golf at Montreat College since 2014.
“The week is about elegance and mystique and beauty and precision. Golfers at the height of their game and past champions as well as top amateurs are invited to compete,” stated Ross Cash, currently in his third season as the head coach for golf at UNC Asheville.
The two Western North Carolina golf coaches predicted what you can plan on seeing this weekend.
“I expect to see some great golf shots and low scores,” Sullivan wrote.
“The Masters almost always seems to anoint the champion that is at or near the top of golf at the time,” Cash added. “Like many years past, you will see many familiar names on the top of the leaderboard.”
Each took different bets on who will reign victorious this year.
“It’s always hard to predict, but if I had to pick, I would choose Xander Schauffele.” Sullivan elaborated, “He has a good track record at Augusta and his game has been trending well lately, winning two majors last year.”
Cash disagreed with Sullivan’s assessment, stating, “The golf course rewards length off the tee. Let’s pick Bryson Dechambeau.”
Whoever the victor is, both coaches agree the tournament this year is shaping up to be a must-see spectacle. Catch the updates for The Masters Tournament with the 828 Morning Commute podcast.