Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Did you hear the name Michael McDermott at the 2023 Masters and wondering who the “marker” is? No worries. We’re here to help.
It was an eventful first round for Mike Weir at the 2023 Masters.
He was part of a twosome with Kevin Na, who struggled and eventually withdrew, leaving Weir to play the rest of his round solo, which must have been pretty cool.
That won’t be the case in Round 2, because he’ll be playing with someone named Michael McDermott, whose score won’t count. Why? Let’s explain:
A marker? What's that? Not like a thing that draws, right?
Right. So at Augusta, a member of the club is deemed the official “marker.” If there’s an odd number of players who are teeing off on a given day, the marker might be asked to play to keep up the pace with a golfer.
The marker’s score doesn’t count, but we’ve heard of the marker playing better than some of the pros out there.
Augusta National member Michael McDermott will play as a marker in the 10:36 a.m. tee time alongside Mike Weir today. Here’s hoping Weir walks off when they’re done and says, “He beat me. Straight up. Pay him. Pay that man his money.”
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) April 7, 2023
Wait, I've heard about this. Wasn't there a famous marker who's played a lot?
Masters Leaderboard: Live leaderboard, Schedule, Tee times
Yes! That would be Jeff Knox. He was famous for playing in multiple Masters and sometimes outscoring the pro he was playing with.
But now it's Michael McDermott?
Sure is. From the Augusta Chronicle:
Quietly, in the same way he moved around Augusta National Golf Club for nearly two decades, the Jeff Knox era has ended in the Masters Tournament.
There will be no fanfare or farewell to the Augusta National member who had served as the club’s noncompeting marker since 2002.
According to a family source, Knox, 59, was informed by the club that he wouldn’t be called on this year if needed.
Now, it’s reportedly McDermott.
Are fans excited?
YES! It’s a very fun thing to think about: Watching the tourney and then PLAYING IN IT!
cool video of Jeff Knox and Michael McDermott walking onto the first tee at Augusta pic.twitter.com/2WQQZuFX1m
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) April 7, 2023
Jeff Knox crawled so Michael McDermott could fly
— Patrick Flynn (@insulinshots) April 7, 2023
We truly have a new Jeff Knox
Michael McDermott has the best job in all of sports https://t.co/2pvxBPMdV7
— Chris Hudgison (@ChrisHudgison) April 7, 2023
