Masters 2026: Rare drone video shows how perfectly crispy Augusta National is in the summer

The 2026 Masters tournament was one for the ages. Rory McIlroy took home his second consecutive green jacket with Scottie Scheffler nipping at his heels. The leaderboard and drama surpassed most golf fans’ wildest dreams, but those who hoped for carnage were left a little disappointed.

The burnt, oil-slick greens from the hot and dry forecast never materialized as we watched shot after shot stick hole high and the leaderboard surge to double digits under par. The reality is, the Augusta National we sickos yearned for doesn’t exist in April. As this incredible summer flyover of August National reveals, however, the year’s hottest months are when Augusta National truly bears its teeth.

RELATED: Original Augusta National gnome sells for … nearly $30k?! If you’re fan of fried-to-a-crisp links golf, this is like looking upon the face of God himself … and equally unattainable. Augusta National is closed annually between May and October, meaning that we like almost certainly never see the Masters played in conditions even closely resembling those shown in this 2015 video.

It took a once-in-century global pandemic to see what fall foliage at ANGC looks like, so we don’t suggest holding your breath. Still though, the brief clip provides a basically unprecedented look at the world’s best-kept, and most secretive, golf course. For the rest, you’ll simply have to use your imagination.