Masters 2026: How I became a shop-a-holic at Augusta National
Our social media editor spent a fair amount of time—and money—buying Masters merchandise
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters merchandise demand is very real, and I just experienced it first-hand. This is my third time at Augusta National and outside of the Open Championship it’s the tournament I look forward to working the most, for obvious reasons.
Growing up in the England, the Masters was my favorite tournament, but Augusta National always felt like a place I’d never get to, so each time I’m asked to cover the tournament, it's a “pinch me moment. ” It’s funny, the more I come back, the more merch requests I get, and this year was no different. I like to get my shopping done and out the way as early as possible, so I can focus on what I'm there to do, cover the Masters.
Monday morning at 7:30, I took a stroll from the media center, across the first hole, behind two green, past the famous 16th green all the way up to the South store. It’s about a 20-minute walk, but I figured it might be the quicker option to the larger, but often crowded, North store. But when I made it up the hill, I met what’s best described as a cordial stampede of patrons along with a sign that read “Merchandise store line temporarily paused” with lines exceeding an hour in wait time.
News quickly spread and almost simultaneously another queue started to form. It was a line waiting for the real line, crazy scenes for any time of the day, let alone 8 a. m.