AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — AP photographer Matt Slocum knows his way around the bucolic Augusta National Golf Club during the week of the Masters — it’s a difficult task with all the regulations that help preserve the aura of the tournament. So, when he saw the light and clouds combining for a perfect backdrop, he knew exactly where he should go to take some tee shots. He also knew how to stay ahead of the patrons to get to his perfect spot. Here’s what he had to say about making this extraordinary image.
The Masters is one of the most revered tournaments of professional golf — it’s also one of the toughest for photographers and golfers. One of golf’s four majors, it’s full of history and tradition; rules and etiquette; joy and pain for both us and them.
Photographers are not allowed “inside the ropes” at the Masters — patrons are kept from the playing areas such as fairways and greens by ropes that mark the course. Being on the players’ side of the ropes give photographers better sight lines and ease of movement. But The Associated Press is lucky to have a good mix of photographers and editors onsite to help cover the tournament. We work together under the direction of David J. Phillip. With his vast Masters knowledge and experience, he guides us around the course as the day progresses and golfers charge up the leaderboard. Teamwork and communication are vital when covering this tournament. It’s tough to navigate the course quickly. You learn the hard way which crosswalks to avoid at peak times. Photographers that work together and are organized will have more success and less frustration overall.
Election 2024: Biden and the Democrats raised far less in April than Trump and the GOP
Tim McGraw is 57! Wife Faith Hill shares hilarious Yellowstone
Lady Louise Windsor dons a high
As US spotlights those missing or dead in Native communities, prosecutors work to solve their cases
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Texas police officer dies after being injured when a tornado struck his home
I didn't want Hugh Grant to be in Four Weddings and a Funeral, writer Richard Curtis admits
Texas floods: Rescue works underway as forecasters predict more rainfall
Thailand welcomes the return of trafficked antiquities from New York's Metropolitan Museum
Pictured: The remarkable floating 'capsule resort' in Thailand that you can only reach by boat
UK court rules that extension of UK police powers to intervene in protests is unlawful
Cubs hit three home runs and stifle late Brewers rally in series