Augusta National represents the pinnacle for many on the PGA Tour.
The Masters, arguably the most prestigious of golf‘s four majors, is steeped in great traditions and values.
For many associated with the sport, simply playing the 18-hole championship is what dreams are made of.
From the perfect greens to the famed azaleas and dogwoods that always appear in perfect bloom, Augusta is renowned for its well-maintained, impeccable appearance.
It just so happens to be one of the most challenging golf courses on the planet, too, ensuring that anyone who plays will leave with memories that will last a lifetime.
To many, the experience of Masters week can be overwhelming, even to those at the very top of the game.
Just ask Nick Dougherty.
The Englishman, who was a protégé of the legendary Nick Faldo, made the cut on his only appearance as a player at The Masters back in 2008.
Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of the 2025 tournament, Dougherty admitted that his first visit to Augusta left him blown away.
He also revealed the advice he received from Faldo, a three-time Masters winner, that helped bring him back down to Earth.
“What surprised me was how overwhelmed I was,” Dougherty said, recalling his first experience at Augusta.
“I was very fortunate as a youngster to have a great friendship and a mentor in Sir Nick Faldo, who obviously won it three times.
“And he was helping me prepare when I knew I’d qualified for it.
“He said, you need to go early to get over the ‘wow’ factor. He said, if you don’t do that, when you get there for Augusta for the Masters, you’ll just get steamrolled. You’ll be no good.
“I went there and I already had this expectation that was high, for what it would be like as a place to visit. Augusta National, not even about the tournament.
“This is before it. And it blew me away. In terms of the beauty of it, but also the history.”
Dougherty, who had an exceptional amateur career that saw him win numerous tournaments including the 1999 World Boys Championship before going pro, added that Augusta was everything he had imagined it was as a child.
He continued: “When you walk over the hill on 11 and you look down into a main corner for the first time with your own eyes, it’s an image you’ve seen being a little boy watching it on TV and watching these moments of these great champions.
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“And then you’re walking there. For me, that was overwhelming, almost to tears.
“I think in our sport, it takes a lot for a person to get drawn in like that.”
Dougherty went on to finish tied for 33rd place at The Masters in 2008, the year it was won by Trevor Immelman.
And while the Englishman had achieved a lifelong dream, he described himself as a ‘tourist’ on the parkland course.
“I was a complete tourist when I went on that trip,” Dougherty admitted.
“One of the most amazing things I ever got to do in my entire career was (be at Augusta) before the tournament happened.
“And of course, when The Masters comes, the competition itself and everything it stands for. Their slogan is ‘a tradition unlike any other’ – It’s true.”
Sky Sports is the home of golf in the UK. Watch live coverage of The 2025 Masters, exclusively on Sky Sports Golf and NOW from 10-13 April.
