Augusta

After a crazy work end of the first quarter, this week with the family I escaped to Florida and the unusually hip and arty city of Sarasota (photo), situated on the gulf coast just south of Tampa and St Petersburg. There are more museums, galleries and top rated restaurants than anywhere else in Florida and this part of the United States is also renowned for its tennis. World class academies attract the best talent and as such we watched a couple of excellent women’s finals on Sunday at the Wilde Lexus USTA finals in Osprey. 60th world ranked Madison Brengle won the singles.

The family go home today but I am travelling to Atlanta this afternoon and then after a night in Buckhead, 8 of us drive out to Augusta, the home of the iconic Masters. I am fortunate to be an invited guest for Saturday’s round and we stay overnight in our house close to the course no doubt wind swept and thirsty before an early return to Atlanta, which is a good couple of hours from Augusta, before flying home to Bermuda.

I have been lucky enough to be invited to The Masters on numerous occasions but have never been, so I am excited about tomorrow, and it completes my bucket list set of attending all four majors.

I have had an each way tickle on Hideki Matsuyama but have backed Paul Casey to win outright. No cameras or phones or little else are allowed on the course which means both the Grand National and goings on at Loftus Road will pass me by.