The day the lights went down on the Masters

Moments later, at the end of a media interview, a helpful writer lent Villegas his glasses to check out the progress of the eclipse.

“Let me see. Is it getting better? Oh, yeah, about a quarter. It looks pretty good,” he said.

Despite its conceit that it is at the center of everything on Masters week, Augusta wasn’t in the path of totality as far as this eclipse was concerned. By shortly after 3 p.m. the show peaked with about three-quarters of the sun obscured. The grounds were daylight deprived just enough that the floodlights flicked on at the practice range. Sunlight bent in strange ways, the shadows cast by the trees taking on curious arcing shapes.

“Yeah, this is timed up pretty good — get to watch the end of the world at Augusta National, right?” said former Georgia Bulldog player Brian Harman.

The villagers, meanwhile, remained calm, going about their business appreciating the earthbound glories of Augusta National. Only stopping briefly, here and there, to glance at the proceedings in the heavens.

To the relief of all the sun did return, and the Masters was once again bathed in full light. And we were reminded just how much this place loves the brightness.

Yeah, this is timed up pretty good; get to watch the end of the world at Augusta National, right? (Laughing).

No, last time we were in a playoff event seven years ago, and same thing happened. We were on the golf course then too. So, yeah, both eclipses I guess my last seven years will be on the golf course getting ready for a golf tournament.

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