Golf icon’s 29-year tradition of visiting Hooters before Masters cruelly ended by demolition
An infamous tradition at The Masters involving a nearby Hooters is now over after the restaurant was demolished.
Every year, golf fans across the world eagerly await Jim Nantz's iconic phrase "Hello friends, welcome to this tradition unlike any other," signalling the start of The Masters.
The legendary golf tournament at Augusta National is beloved for the strict rules that surround it, but there is one strange annual tradition that appeared to completely go against this traditional perception.
Each year, golf cult hero John Daly would arrive in Augusta in his RV and meet with fans outside a Hooters restaurant that became famous for the event.
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However, ahead of the 2026 Masters its been revealed that Daly's annual meeting has been moved because the iconic Augusta Hooters has been demolished after the company filed for bankruptcy.
The tradition has been running since 1997, with Daly using the opportunity to make some serious money by selling merchandise to fans, with The Sun reporting he made £588,000 in 2024, more than many of the players actually competing in The Masters.
But this year Daly has relocated after the Hooters, previously located on Washington Road, was knocked down in November, having shut down in July.
Instead, Daly will host his meet and greet at TopGolf, a driving range chain located five miles from Augusta National.
Announcing the move, he wrote: “This week has always been about the fans as much as the golf, and I’ve spent a lot of great nights hanging out with them over the years.
“This time we’re bringing that energy to Topgolf, where people can grab a drink, take some swings and just have a good time together.
“I’m looking forward to kicking back, meeting some folks and keeping the party going after the rounds.”
Although some may assume that the meet-up was just a way for Daly, who still competes on the PGA Tour Champions, to make some money following his Masters win in 1993, it is actually a beloved part of the annual golf competition.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Sportswriter Lauren Beasley claimed that Daly's cultural impact and popularity during Masters week cannot be underestimated.
She claimed: “There have been years where I’ve seen the fans lined up longer to see Daly than they would to get anywhere near the course.
“Daly has so much personality. Unlike so many pro golfers, he always felt personable and accessible… real and raw.
“He would sign anything, have pictures taken with anyone. And that Hooters wasn’t just a restaurant. It felt like one of the last open-air pressure valves of that old Augusta ecosystem.”
Topics: Golf
Ben McCrum