GOLF DIGEST PRESENTS THE 2009 MASTERS PREVIEW

March 27, 2009

PLUS, TIGER’S RETURN AND A FAREWELL TO JOHN UPDIKE.

April 2009 Issue on newsstands now

MASTERS PREVIEW (page 26 – flip side)

Q: What percent did Augusta’s hotel revenue increase in April 2007 compared to an average month in the city?

Q: For the first time in 28 years, what is different about the length of Augusta National for the 2009 Masters?

Inside Golf Digest’s first–ever “Flip Cover,” the 2009 Masters Preview is full of facts and features to get you ready for the first major of the season. Highlights from the issue include:

First Impressions — NBC News personality Tom Brokaw continues a tradition started by Golf Digest in 1985 when the magazine invited writer Dan Jenkins to Augusta National to write about his first time experiencing the Masters. Brokaw joins a list of writers and artists, including George Plimpton, Bruce McCall and Vincent Laforet, as he pens a note to Chairman Payne.

Viewers Guide — The 2009 Viewers Guide offers fans everything they need to know about the tournament. From a full 18–hole aerial photograph layout to the rules for scalping tickets, you’ll be more than ready to watch or, if you’re lucky, attend the Masters.

Adjusting the Volume — The great debate about Hootie’s course changes continue through the years so senior writer Jaime Diaz offers the green jackets two changes to make the Masters more exciting.

My Shot — What do legendary football coach Lou Holtz and Jack Nicklaus have in common? They both were on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1986, but only Jack’s version made newsstands after his sixth Masters win.

A: 265 to $11.8 million

A: It’s shorter than the year before…by 10 yards.

TIGER’S RETURN (page 86)

In honor of the 10 months Tiger has been gone from golf, contributing writer Steve Rushin offers up 10 reasons to celebrate Tiger’s return. According to Rushin, the mock turtleneck may be looking forward to seeing Tiger more than anyone else.

JOHN UPDIKE, GOLFER (page 114)

The Pulitzer Prize–winning writer loved the game of golf and over the years wrote a number of essays for Golf Digest. Contributing editor David Owen reflects on Updike the golfer and shares some of his most popular excerpts from the magazine.