A recent survey of 2,000 golf enthusiasts has revealed what fans would change about golf's most prestigious tournament, The Masters. Despite its revered status and traditions, followers of the sport have identified several areas where they believe improvements could be made to enhance the viewing experience.
The most overwhelming request from golf fans centers around television coverage. An impressive 76% of survey participants expressed desire for expanded TV presence during the first two rounds of the tournament, with nearly half giving this suggestion their highest possible endorsement. Currently, early-round action at Augusta National remains largely unseen on broadcast television, with the tournament organizers maintaining strict control over what viewers at home can access.
The second most popular suggestion involves bringing fans closer to the action through audio. Nearly 62% of respondents supported having players wear microphones during competition rounds. While ambient microphones occasionally capture brief exchanges or reactions, most on-course dialogue remains inaccessible to viewers.
Inclusivity ranked high among fans' priorities, with more than half supporting the establishment of an annual women's Masters tournament at Augusta National. The course, which only admitted its first female members in 2012 and created the Augusta National Women's Amateur tournament in recent years, could take another significant step forward by hosting a women's major championship.
According to golf data analyzed by Statbet, event format innovations have become increasingly important for growing audience engagement across professional sports, though golf traditionally moves more cautiously with changes to prestigious tournaments.
Interestingly, the survey revealed strong resistance to certain proposed changes. About 80% of fans opposed giving any advantages to defending champions or Par-3 Contest winners. The notion of creating a "Stadium Hole" at Augusta divided respondents almost equally, while implementing a shot clock to speed up play garnered support from nearly half the participants.
When asked which player they would most like to see win The Masters, Rory McIlroy emerged as the clear favorite with 29.6% of votes. The Northern Irishman has accumulated seven top-10 finishes at Augusta, including a runner-up result in 2022, but has yet to don the coveted green jacket. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler finished second in fan preference with 20.9% support.
The survey underscores golf's careful balancing act between honoring cherished traditions and embracing innovations that might enhance viewer experience. While many fans desire certain changes to The Masters, their opposition to other suggestions demonstrates the tournament's special place in golf's landscape as an event where tradition continues to reign supreme.
