Golf Fans Face Major Problem at the Masters

Every year, the Masters Tournament at Augusta National boasts one of the most iconic and picturesque scenes in all of sports and is a bucket-list destination for many sports fans across the country and the globe. But there is one hidden problem that fans face once they get there – and it seems to be worse this year.

As Alan Blinder of The New York Times points out, while the beautiful green of the Bermuda grass and pine, oak, and magnolia trees are undoubtedly pleasant to look at and look especially majestic on television, the tournament also "presents a sniffle-and-sneeze-laden assault on the senses at this time of year." 

Aside from the trees and vegetation around the golf course itself, the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America recently listed the city of Augusta at No. 12 on its list of “allergy capitals” in the United States – and it's particularly bad in the spring, the height of allergy season.

Most places across the country have some sort of allergy season and may feel unconcerned about Augusta.

However, Dr. Kathleen May, the division chief of allergy, immunology and pediatric rheumatology at the Medical College of Georgia, told the New York Times that most people are simply not prepared.

“Everyone thinks they have the worse pollen season depending on where you are because it’s a problem everywhere,” Dr. May said. “But it’s on another order of magnitude in Augusta.”

And unfortunately, it seems like things are even worse than usual for the state of Georgia. Just two weeks ago, the Atlanta allergy clinic reported its highest pollen count in 35 years of tracking.

And it sounds like the players, who have grown familiar with the atmosphere, can even tell that it's worse this year.

“I get out of my car in the morning, my eyes start watering,” top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler said this week. “It’s a little bit worse than normal years.”

For those looking to be prepared, Dr. May pointed out that some medicines work best when taken well in advance, in part because of their “priming effect.” She also said that Antihistamine sprays can help deal with the symptoms as well as nasal saline.

The scenes will undoubtedly look beautiful. But sometimes, looks can be deceiving.