Zephyr Melton from Golf.com states that the significance of The Masters itself is that “The Masters is important because, as stated above, it is one of four majors in men’s professional golf. Beyond being a major, The Masters holds additional prestige as the winner each year has a standing invitation to come back and compete in the event for the rest of their life.”

The Masters reveals itself to be an example of a professional sports tournament that focuses only on the sport, without any corporate intervention. The Masters golf tournament does not capture the same amount of viewership compared to the NFL, NBA, or even the MLB.

According to Sportico, the ratings for The Masters have grown in the last six years, with this year drawing 10.2 million viewers, which is 7% up on last year’s tournament. The 2022 Masters also recorded the highest viewership for the second round since 2016. The return of Tiger Woods after his car crash, as well as the influx of talented young stars, amplified the ratings for the historic event.

However, Corey Berning from scratchgolfshop.com asserts its unique traits, such as a locked location in Augusta, Ga., as well as the “rich set of traditions that have been developed around it, including the famed green jacket. Originally just for members of the club, it is now awarded to the winner each year in a time-honored ritual.”

This year’s Masters yielded Scottie Scheffler, ranked number one going into the tournament, as the one who shall be granted the illustrious green jacket. Being just 25, he is one of the youngest players ever to win the tournament with a score of 72. Rory McIlroy, another young talent, was just three strokes behind him to claim second place. 

Tiger Woods, who was recently involved in a debilitating car crash, claimed 47th place. Max Giles from TheCatalyst.com claims that “despite the low finish, he [Woods] put out a good showing considering what his past year has been like. The GOAT of golf is still going strong despite everything that’s been thrown his way throughout his career.”

All major golf tournaments have rules that protect the traditions of the game. One of these is that there is a limit for sponsors set at five, with no branding promoted to any degree on behalf of the players. According to Berning, This is designed to limit distractions and bring focus to the beauty of the game that’s drawn in so much of its audience.

While breaking down the results of the tournament, there is one commonality in the discourse: a focus on the performance of the players. Compared to other sports organizations, there are no sponsored or represented brands shown on the broadcast or on the equipment of players. No halftime shows or hyped commercials, just the best professionals the game of golf has to offer.

Whether it’s the morning dew on the freshly cut fairways or the crisp aroma of the magnolias, something about Masters week makes life better for golf fans. The long-awaited return to Augusta National in April finally arrived – and it delivered. The highly coveted green jacket had another level of historical significance this time around. After 150 years in the history of professional golf, Hideki Matsuyama is now the first Japanese man to win a major tournament in the United States and the first Asian-born man to win the Masters.

Matsuyama’s victory was not without drama. Going into Sunday, Matsuyama had a four-stroke lead, and, as he acknowledged afterward, the pressure was all on him. At one point, his lead was six strokes ahead of the competition. 

However, as Augusta’s reputation goes, the course will quickly humble the greatest of golfers. On the 15th hole with a four-stroke lead, Matsuyama went for the green in two strokes, which would have sealed his victory. Nevertheless, an unlucky bounce led to him getting a bogey. Normally, a bogey with a lead is not catastrophic, but Xander Schauffele was in the process of a four-birdie rally. 

For a moment, it seemed that the momentum had shifted beyond repair. Schauffele’s rally and Matsuyama’s bogey would be the beginning of the end for what would have been history. Still, fate was always on Matsuyama’s side. Not even 5 minutes after Matsuyama’s bogey, Schauffele would hit his tee shot from the 16th into a pond and end the hole with a triple bogey. It was clear at this point that history was about to happen.

Matsuyama’s victory at Augusta is a full-circle moment for the ten-year professional. In 2011, Matsuyama took the low-amateur honors. The amateur golfer that scores the lowest, compared to other amateurs, is named the low-amateur champion. Almost ten years to the day, Matsuyama was accepting a different award. An award he was arguably destined to win. 

As he walked up to receive his green jacket, Matsuyama was cementing his legacy as more than just the winner of the 85th Masters. As he strode to greet Dustin Johnson, the 2020 winner, he was etching his legacy as a pioneer. A pioneer not only for Japanese golfers but for Asian golfers as a whole. 

No matter what happens next for Matsuyama, he will forever be likened to a Neil Armstrong-esque hero for millions of young golfers across the globe. The image of him victoriously raising his arms in victory shows the beauty of golf. It is a testament that greatness is achievable by anyone who truly dedicates themselves to it. Matsuyama will not only be remembered for breaking the glass ceiling, but for doing it in a cinematic way that left no doubt that this was his moment.

Tiger Woods’ wildly successful golf career has won him a variety of coveted prizes. He’s won 81 Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) championships. Woods recently won his 5th green jacket – and the hefty cash prize of $2.07 million – by coming from behind to win the April 14 Masters Tournament.

These prizes all are to be expected of a man considered to be one of the best golfers of all time. A prize a little less predictable? The Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Donald Trump tweeted on his personal Twitter – and then retweeted using the official POTUS account – that he planned to award Tiger Woods just that.

Trump gave Woods the award May 6. Woods’ children and mother were in attendance.

“The age of Tiger gave us moments that will live forever in sporting lore,” Trump said. Trump applauded Tiger’s comeback and in remarks similar to his tweet, congratulating him on an “amazing life.”

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the most prestigious award a citizen of the United States can be given. The awards were started by President John F Kennedy in 1963 as a way to honor civilian service.

“The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation’s highest civilian honor – it’s a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better.  From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way,” Former President Barack Obama said of the award.

Woods is the 33rd athlete and 4th golfer to win the award. This is the 8th Medal of Freedom that Trump has awarded throughout his presidency. Former President Barack Obama honored 123 individuals.

Despite this award, Woods has not alway been the model U.S. citizen. Several controversies have revolved around the professional golfer.

In 2017 Woods was arrested for driving under the influence of five different drugs – including pain killers, sleep aids and an ingredient usually found in marijuana.

This came eight years after the cheating fiasco that started with Woods’ wife, Elin, learning that her husband was having an affair – a revelation that lead to Woods crashing his Escalade into a fire hydrant – and ended with Woods in therapy for a sex addiction after 15 different mistresses were identified.

Yet, Woods also has done an admirable amount of charity work. The Tiger Woods Foundation works with minorities, first-generation college students and kids at or below the poverty line to provide educational opportunities and encourage higher education. The foundation has four out of four stars on Charity Navigator.

Woods self-identifies as “Cablinasian” – a mix of Caucasian, Black, American Indian and Asian – which means that Woods stands out in the predominantly white sport of golf.

Woods has been an inspiration for children who might not feel like they look like the traditional golfer to try out the sport.

Woods has been no stranger to controversy – but neither has the President. The two both share a love of golf and will now share the rare memory of the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony.

Women’s golf has played an important part of Trask’s college experience at Jewell.

“It’s definitely kept me busy… It’s been a great experience though because it’s given me something that has led to me meeting new people and making a lot of new friends…It’s also forced me to be good at time management,” she said.

Coach Bob Cole heavily influenced Trask’s golf career.

“Coach Cole has been super supportive of my golf since I got here” said Trask. “Any time I need anything, all I have to do is ask and he will do whatever he can to help…I definitely wouldn’t have been as successful as I have been this semester without his support”.

Trask had very good things to say about the current women’s golf team.

“We have some really talented and very enthusiastic girls on the team this year,” said Trask. “I’m really excited to see where we go as a team because I can see this group of women being very successful. I hope the women continue to have the same dedication and enthusiasm after I’m gone. I really want to see them have the same success even when my name isn’t on the roster anymore.”

The women’s golf team has two more tournaments this semester at the Maryville University Fall Invite Oct. 13 in Saint Louis and the Trevecca Nazarene University Fall Invite Oct. 22 in Nashville.