The Masters is just around the corner, and fans are in for a treat when they descend on Augusta. The first major of the year will take place from April 10 to April 13, with golf's biggest names vying for the prestigious Green Jacket.
Approximately 40,000 spectators, known as patrons at Augusta, are anticipated to attend the course during the Masters. Current champion Scottie Scheffler and a red-hot Rory McIlroy are tipped as favourites to clinch the iconic tournament.
Getting to watch the action in person doesn't come cheap for those who weren't lucky enough to bag tickets in the lottery. However, patrons can take solace in the surprisingly low food and drink prices.
Golf influencer Rick Sheils gave a sneak peek at the menu during last week's Women's Amateur tournament. On his Facebook page, Sheils posted a snapshot of the price list for sandwiches, snacks, other items, and beverages.
Sandwiches start at a mere £1.16 ($1.50) for egg salad or pimento cheese, topping out at £2.32 ($3) for a Masters club or ham and cheese on rye. Interestingly, sandwiches are served in green wrappers, ensuring any discarded litter isn't easily spotted on TV.
When it comes to snacks, a muffin will set you back £1.55 ($2), slightly pricier than cookies at £1.16 ($1.50). The most expensive item on that section of the menu is the Georgia peach ice cream sandwich, priced at £2.32 ($3).
All refreshments on the menu, including soft drinks, freshly brewed coffee, and bottled water are set at £1.55 each. As is standard in the US, tax will be added to all purchases, but Shiels noted that the starting cost of the entire menu remarkably stood at £33.34 ($43).
The food prices at Augusta National stunned many onlookers, especially compared to what they're used to at UK sports events. Under Shiels' post, one fan humorously remarked: "A far cry from UK prices where it's 43 quid for a coffee and slice of carrot cake."
Echoing the sentiment, another chimed in: "Hats off Augusta National. This would never happen in the UK sadly."
Meanwhile, a third commentator added: "Can't get a drink and a snack that cheap at any of my local courses." A fourth said: "This is great to see somewhere so prestigious adopting such reasonable pricing. I wonder how this compares to other events."
Yet not everyone was hopeful about seeing similar price points elsewhere, with a fifth fan voicing their scepticism: "Every tournament should follow this model. But greed will not allow them to do so."
Aside from the food and drink at Augusta, attention will be firmly placed on McIlroy, who is vying for his first Masters victory, ending an 11-year wait for his fifth major triumph. The 35-year-old has shown strong form with wins at Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players, though he admitted to nursing a minor injury after participating in the recent Houston Open in March.
"My right elbow has been bothering me a little bit," he shared with NBC Sports. "So maybe just get some treatment on that and make sure that's ok going into Augusta.
"But I've got my coach Michael Bannon coming in tomorrow, we'll do some work and just make sure that everything's in good shape for a week's time."
He concluded: "I still feel like I've got some stuff to work on but overall, a solid week and nice to have another week to get ready and fine-tune my game going to Augusta."
