Latest news with #MattThurmond
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
College coach escorted off range for wearing shorts at Augusta National: 'Pants tomorrow'
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Matt Thurmond made sure to leave his phone behind on Monday at the Masters Tournament. This isn't the Arizona State coach's first time at Augusta National, but it is the first time he's had a current player on the roster in the field. That would be Sun Devil senior Josele Ballester, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. Thurmond hadn't planned on going to the Tournament Practice Area, but when he saw former ASU player Kevin Yu on the range, he wanted to say hello. Advertisement "I went out on the range without thinking, gave him a hug," said Thurmond. "After about one shot and one quick hello, they came out and said 'I'm sorry, sir, you can't be on the range with your shorts.' " When Thurmond reunited with his phone, which was in the pocket of his pants in the car, he had texts about the incident. Word had gotten around. He eventually sent out a tweet about it. "My bad, it was a mistake I made," Thurmond said while out watching Ballester play a practice round. "I want to follow the rules here when I'm at Augusta and do everything right. Lucky to be here and appreciate everything here. I just made a mistake." Advertisement Patrons can wear shorts, of course, outside the ropes. But there's a no-shorts policy for players and coaches on the course and practice areas at Augusta National. Three years ago, Masters participant Talor Gooch, then a rookie, wore shorts while working on his putting and was approached by one of the club's pros in short order. It wasn't long before a pair of rain pants arrived. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Coach escorted off range at Augusta National: 'My bad'
Fox News
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
ASU golf coach removed from Augusta National for violating long-standing dress code rule
Augusta National Golf Club has several rules for its golfers and patrons, both stated and unwritten. Arizona State University men's golf coach Matt Thurmond learned about one of those rules the hard way this week ahead of the 2025 Masters tournament. Thurmond, who has been with the Sun Devils since 2016, was removed from the golf course during a practice session on Tuesday after he went to say hello to former ASU player Kevin Yu, who is making his Masters debut this year. The reason for his removal? Thurmond was wearing shorts on the course. "I went out on the range without thinking, gave him a hug," Thurmond said, via Golfweek. "After about one shot and one quick hello, they came out and said 'I'm sorry, sir, you can't be on the range with your shorts.'" Violating what many call the "golden rule" of Augusta National is one of the stricter rules of the storied club. While patrons are free to wear shorts, beyond the ropes where players and coaches can be, full-length pants are required. "My bad, it was a mistake I made," Thurmond later said, via Golfweek. "I want to follow the rules here when I'm at Augusta and do everything right. Lucky to be here and appreciate everything here. I just made a mistake." Thurmond is in Georgia this weekend to support ASU senior Josele Ballester, who earned his exemption to compete at the Masters after winning the U.S. Amateur in August. Wearing pants on the course is not the only rule at Augusta. No cell phones on the grounds and referring to fans as patrons are among the most known, but several golfers recently dished to Golfweek about some of the lesser known and unspoken rules. Wearing socks to dinner, not pairing the iconic green jacket with jeans, and not sitting on the range are just a few that were mentioned. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Masters golf coach escorted off Augusta course for breaking surprise golden rule
A Masters golf coach endured a problematic start to the tournament after being escorted off Augusta for breaking a surprise golden rule. Arizona State University coach Matt Thurmond is at this year's Masters alongside rising Spanish amateur star Josele Ballester, but was left red-faced after a fashion blunder forced him to separate from his player during a last-minute practice session ahead of the major. Amidst all the excitement in Georgia, Thurmond let Augusta's fierce guidelines slip his memory and turned up to the course wearing shorts - a sin of seismic proportion. Even on practice days, shorts are strictly forbidden at Augusta, something Thurmond evidently forgot, with his eyes solely focused on pre-major preparations. The golf guru was caught by officials after going over to Arizona State alumnus Kevin Yu for a quick catch-up on the practice range, where he was abruptly being reminded of the rules and booted off the premises. Thurmond has taken his removal on the bright side and will be sure not to make the same mistake in days to come. He wrote on social media: "Strolled out onto the Augusta range today with my coach badge. Got removed for wearing shorts. First bogey of the week. Celebrated with an egg salad sandwich. Pants tomorrow." Thurmond later recounted the incident in greater depth, taking responsibility for his error in a show of respect to Augusta's tradtions. "I went out on the range without thinking, gave [Yu] a hug,' he said. 'After about one shot and one quick hello, they came out and said, 'I'm sorry, sir, you can't be on the range with your shorts.' "My bad, it was a mistake I made. I want to follow the rules here when I'm at Augusta and do everything right. Lucky to be here and appreciate everything here. I just made a mistake." Thurmond will hope Ballester, 21, can make his mark on the big stage this week after earning All-American honours in his first two seasons with Arizona State.
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
College coach escorted off range for wearing shorts at Augusta National: 'Pants tomorrow'
College coach escorted off range for wearing shorts at Augusta National: 'Pants tomorrow' AUGUSTA, Ga. – Matt Thurmond made sure to leave his phone behind on Monday at the Masters Tournament. This isn't the Arizona State coach's first time at Augusta National, but it is the first time he's had a current player on the roster in the field. That would be Sun Devil senior Josele Ballester, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. Thurmond hadn't planned on going to the Tournament Practice Area, but when he saw former ASU player Kevin Yu on the range, he wanted to say hello. "I went out on the range without thinking, gave him a hug," said Thurmond. "After about one shot and one quick hello, they came out and said 'I'm sorry, sir, you can't be on the range with your shorts.' " When Thurmond reunited with his phone, which was in the pocket of his pants in the car, he had texts about the incident. Word had gotten around. He eventually sent out a tweet about it. "My bad, it was a mistake I made," Thurmond said while out watching Ballester play a practice round. "I want to follow the rules here when I'm at Augusta and do everything right. Lucky to be here and appreciate everything here. I just made a mistake." Patrons can wear shorts, of course, outside the ropes. But there's a no-shorts policy for players and coaches on the course and practice areas at Augusta National. Three years ago, Masters participant Talor Gooch, then a rookie, wore shorts while working on his putting and was approached by one of the club's pros in short order. It wasn't long before a pair of rain pants arrived.
