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Adam Schupak

2024 Masters Survey: From Tiger Woods to Phil Mickelson to Bernhard Langer, who did players ask for a practice round and what did they learn about Augusta National?

Nick Price recalls joining up with 73-year-old Sam Snead - and being outdriven twice. Gary Woodland changed his strategy off the tee at Augusta National’s 18th thanks to a tip from fellow Kansas guy Tom Watson. Matt Kuchar always practices on Wednesday before the Par-3 Contest thanks to advice from Phil Mickelson, who alerted him to the different way the grass is cut each day.

From Mickelson to Tiger Woods to Bernhard Langer - yes, Bernie, of all the possible Green Jacket guys popped up most - winners of the Masters have been opening their notebooks and dishing from their years of experience during practice rounds to the next generation.

One of the cool things to note each year is which legends of the game get asked by rookies and amateur champs if they can join them for a practice round or sometimes simply fortuitously slip into a game. Here’s who some of the pros have called on to lend a hand in efforts to learn the famed Alister MacKenzie layout and some of the tips passed down along the way. 

Billy Horschel

Billy Horschel and Vijay Singh. (Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Vijay Singh and Lucas Glover.

Brian Harman

Brian Harman and Zach Johnson. (Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Zach Johnson. He has such a good short game and just the way he uses the hills to his advantage when he gets out of position is interesting.

Cameron Young

Bubba Watson and Cameron Young walk on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

My first year I was too shy to ask anyone, but I played with Bubba Watson. He played with such freedom.

Gary Player

Gary Player and Vivienne Player at Wimbledon at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 9, 2016 in London, England. (Photo: Adam Davy/Press Association/Pool/Getty Images)

Most of the advice I received and took came from my late wife, Vivienne. She was a talented golfer herself and knew the swing well.

Gary Woodland

Tom Watson looks out from the clubhouse balcony during the first round of the 2023 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports)

Tom Watson, Kansas guy. I asked him for a practice round and he just helped me with places where to miss it and pointed out where he got in trouble. I cut a perfect driver on 18 and he's like, "No, Nicklaus hit 3-wood, you need to hit 3-wood." I hit 3-wood all week and I played the hole in 2 under. I was like, yeah, this guy knows what he's talking about.

Harris English

Bernhard Langer and caddie Terry Holt on the first fairway during the first round of the 2021 Masters. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

I love playing with Bernhard Langer. He has this persona of being stern and robotic but he's awesome to play with and very helpful. We got lucky to join up with him last year and I loved playing with him. He knows the place like the back of his hand. I'll definitely reach out to him because he's super engaging and one of the nicest guys I've ever been around.

Jason Day

Jordan Spieth and Jason Day. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

I never really asked anyone, but I played some with Jordan Spieth. Everyone knows where to go but he had an actual plan for each pin. 

Justin Thomas

Jeff Knox plays a shot on the 11th hole during the final round of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

Jeff Knox (a member and frequent marker during the tournament). My first multiple Masters playing those rounds with him was extremely helpful.

Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson. (Photo: Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson. He has this scrapbook where he writes down notes. He showed me that certain putts go the opposite direction and when the pin on 2 is on the back left, lay it up short right. That was really helpful.

Kevin Streelman

Kevin Streelman hits a shot as Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples look on during a practice round for the 2016 Masters.

Phil and Freddie. They were great. They showed me the crazy breaks around the short game area. Bernhard Langer went out of his way to share his knowledge.

Lucas Glover

Davis Love III plays a shot on the 11th fairway during a practice round prior to the 2016 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

Davis Love and Fred Couples. I didn't ask too many questions. I didn't want to annoy them but I watched the shots they practiced and what they paid attention to.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Matthew Fitzpatrick, Martin Kaymer and Bernhard Langer walk during a practice round prior to the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

Bernhard Langer. He keeps lots of notes like myself.

Matt Kuchar

Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson. (Photo: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports)

Phil Mickelson. The differences in chipping and putting around the greens. He taught me to go out Wednesday because there's areas that get cut differently on Tuesday than Wednesday and Wednesday from Thursday. Certain areas that you putt from and others you chip from and was awesome to have Phil's level of input.

Nick Price

Sam Snead at his first Masters Tournament in 1937. (Photo: Augusta National/Getty Images)

I played nine holes with Sam Snead in 1985, and it was the most entertaining nine holes I ever had. He was 73 at the time and outdrove me on two holes.

Padraig Harrington

Padraig Harrington shakes hands with Bernhard Langer. (Photo: David Berding/Getty Images)

Bernhard Langer.

Rickie Fowler

Phil Mickelson shares a laugh with Rickie Fowler during a practice round ahead of the 2019 Masters. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports)

Phil Mickelson. The amount of knowledge he has around there is crazy. He's got it all written down in a notebook. 

Steve Stricker

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker on the 14th hole during the final round of the 2023 PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. (Photo: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

I went around with Tiger a few times. He showed me how the ball tends to go on the greens. Same with Freddie. We played a few times. I picked their brains knowing they've always played well there.

Tony Finau

Vijay Singh and Ernie Els wait on the second green during the first round of the 2009 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

I played with Vijay Singh and Ernie Els a couple of times before I played in my first one. The funny thing was they had contradictory opinions on several occasions of which way the greens broke.

Viktor Hovland

Bernhard Langer and Viktor Hovland walk on the No. 12 green at Augusta National Golf Club at the 2019 Masters.

I played with Bernhard Langer in 2019 when I was an amateur. Watching him go about his business was pretty cool.

Will Zalatoris

Will Zalatoris, Bernhard Langer and amateur Joe Long walk off the 18th green during the second round of the 2021 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

I haven't played with many of the vets in practice rounds but I did play with Bernhard Langer in my first Masters. Seeing him operate with (caddie) Terry and knowing some of the breaks in the greens were very impressive. He would play shots off a hill that I wasn't even considering. Watching a guy who's played there for 40 years shoot 73 and I shot 71, his score was way more impressive than mine.

Zach Johnson

Mark O’Meara plays a shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the 2014 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports)

As a rookie, they paired me with Mark O'Meara. I felt like I outplayed him by 10 shots and I didn't sniff the cut. He beat me by five shots. He knew where to miss it and how to putt the greens and I didn't. That was the best experience I could ever have. After that, I talked to Mo a bunch. I also benefited from talking to Ben Crenshaw and playing practice rounds with Tiger. 

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