All you need to know about a Masters in November

Here are the answers to a few key questions about the Masters scheduling switch to Nov. 12-15.

Are there azaleas in November?

Augusta National was carved out of the 365-acre Fruitland Nursey, operated by the Berckmans family from 1858-1918. The nursery was known for having a wide variety of peach trees, but the Belgian family also imported and introduced a lot of other fruit and ornamental plants to the area.

Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts bought the property in 1931 and hired Alister Mackenzie to create Augusta National. The Berckmans’ home became the clubhouse. There are more than 80,000 plants of 350 varieties on the hilly landscape and each of the 18 holes is named for one that is prominent there.

Every April, bountiful azaleas in brilliant hues -- Augusta National has 30 different varieties -- share center stage with the world’s best golfers. In November, maybe not so much.

However, encore azaleas bloom three times a year, so if that’s the kind Augusta National has planted, we might be surprised. And the powers-that-be have been known to bring extra azaleas in when an early spring or late frost means the color display is less than optimal.

But the dogwoods and magnolias that are also synonymous with Augusta National, as well as wisteria, bloom in the spring, while jasmine can last until October. The camellias, which flower from early August to late spring, could provide some extra color, though. 

The Japanese maples likely will do the same – the peak fall season for leaves in Georgia is from mid-to-late October to early November. Redbud trees turn yellow in the fall, too. So, there could be color, it will just be a different look.

You can bet the folks at Augusta National have the finest horticulturists on speed dial. 

What’s the weather like in Augusta in November?

Augusta’s high temperatures are, on average, about 10 degrees lower in November than during the Masters’ traditional month of April. In 2019, the tournament week saw high temperatures that ranged from 46 to 70 degrees.

The course will likely play longer and softer in November. That’s also because the north wind – which blows into the players on the first hole – also makes three of the course’s par 5s play into the wind. That means fewer players will be able to reach Nos. 8, 13 and 15 in two shots, and doing so will be riskier. That negates some of the long hitters’ advantage.

What’s the daylight situation in November?

In 2019, the first tee time for the first two rounds was 8:30 a.m. ET, with the final one at 2 p.m. ET. Certainly the last tee time would need to be moved up in order to complete a full round each day. Thus, either play will start as soon as possible on the first two days, or two tees will be needed.

While the Masters generally doesn’t use a two-tee system to squeeze in play, it’s certainly wouldn’t be a first. In fact, in last year’s final round, two tees were used to avoid the threat of heavy afternoon rain. It was the first time in Masters history that two tees were used in the final round.

What will the field look like?

It shouldn’t be much different in November than it would’ve been this week. In his statement released Monday, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said, “We intend to invite those professionals and amateurs who would have qualified for our original April date.”

That means the 92 golfers who had already secured their spots will still be eligible to play. If the Masters decides to include others in the world top 50 on the original cutoff date of March 30, then Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Christian Bezuidenhout and Graeme McDowell would also qualify. The Original World Golf Ranking was frozen on March 15 after the first wave of PGA TOUR events were canceled.

Once the golf world resumes its schedule, players who win events between then and the Masters evidently will qualify for the 2021 Masters in its regular April slot – but not the November Masters.

"We would not be adding players to the field between now and the November event," an Augusta National spokesperson told the Golf Channel. "Those would be picked up by the 2021 tournament, per our usual qualifications."

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