GOLF: At the Masters, Augusta National's oak tree is where the golf does its deals

AUGUSTA, Georgia — Standing tall since the 1850s, long before Augusta National Golf Club became the iconic venue it is today, the Big Oak Tree has grown into more than just a tree. Every April, during Masters week, it transforms into the unofficial center of all things related to the tournament.

Located between the Augusta National clubhouse and the first tee, this sprawling live oak serves as the gathering place for past champions, executives, celebrities, and dealmakers alike. Beneath its vast canopy, conversations flow, stories are shared, and business is done. It’s a spot where the history of the game and the business of golf come together.

Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo described the Big Oak Tree as "the spot" in golf. "Everybody congregates, everybody knows what you mean when you say 'I'll see you under the oak tree.' It's a very cool social spot to mingle and tell stories."

Among the prominent figures seen in its shade this week are former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, women's golf legend Annika Sorenstam, and amateur golfer Kai Trump, granddaughter of President Donald Trump. Their presence speaks to the tree’s importance far beyond the fairways of Augusta National.

Even amid the hustle and bustle of Masters week, laser-focused players like world number one Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Rory McIlroy can be spotted under the oak tree, briefly escaping the intensity of competition before heading to the first tee through a sea of patrons.

A Hub for Deal-Making

For those in the golf business, the Big Oak Tree offers more than just a social gathering spot; it also serves as a starting point for the season’s deal-making.

Ted Brady, the manager of Masters debutant Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark, likens the tree to a picturesque office where deals begin to take shape. “A lot of players’ deals are year-end, so conversations start here and continue throughout the season,” Brady explained. “And you know that if you stand under this tree, you're talking to the right person."

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, who is hard to miss with his six-foot-six frame and bald head, described the appeal of the oak tree as both practical and indescribably special. "It’s visceral, it’s spiritual, it’s also shade on sunny days,” Van Pelt said. "I’m just a cable TV host, but I know that many important things are happening here, or at least that’s where the seeds are planted, waiting to grow."

A Symbol of Reunion and Trust

Chris Heck, president of business operations for LIV Golf, was spotted under the oak tree on Wednesday before the tournament began. With a full schedule of meetings lined up, he emphasized the dual role the tree plays: both a site for business and a place of connection.

"There's absolutely work being done, but it's also a point of reunion," Heck said. "You connect with people, you’re friends with people, and when people trust each other, that’s when deals happen — and relationships last a lifetime."

Heck did not shy away from acknowledging the oak tree’s broader significance in the world of sports business. “The one thing synonymous with business in sport is the oak tree on the first tee.”

Whether for business, networking, or simply soaking in the atmosphere of Masters week, the Big Oak Tree remains an iconic landmark at Augusta National, playing an integral role in the social and commercial heartbeat of the event.

-Reporting by Frank Pingue, editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters