Keegan Bradley’s answer to the question of his favorite building or room at Augusta National might be the best answer of this year’s entire Golfweek Masters Survey.
“This is going to sound strange but there are these secret bathrooms on the course,” he said. “There’s one behind 11 tee and one as you are walking down 13 to the left. It’s a nice moment to get out of the scene for a second, take a breath, it’s very calming. I like to do that.”
Strange, indeed. Forget for a moment that he picked a place that technically may be neither a building or a room, but who knew the club had “secret bathrooms.”
The rest of the answers are a bit more what you’d suspect, although more votes for the caddie building than expected. The locker room got its share of votes, including from Kevin Streelman, who liked to grab a coffee and sit on the balcony overlooking the famed Tree and first tee. “It’s pure,” Steve Stricker said of the locker room. But count Tony Finau and Justin Thomas among the pros who long for the day that they can get the first-class upgrade to the prestige of the Champions locker room, of which Padraig Harrington said, “there’s only one room to be at Augusta National and I’ve never been there.” Gary Player, a three-time Masters champion, has and he confirmed it’s everything it’s cracked up to be, saying it has “an ambiance like no other.”
Although the Black Knight gets topped for best humble brag by Zach Johnson, who proclaimed, his favorite spot at Augusta National is Butler Cabin. “Ideally on Sunday night,” said the 2007 Masters champ, “is pretty good.” That answer is tough to beat.
Brian Harman
The locker room is the coolest place.
Billy Horschel
The caddie building is tough to beat. A lot of different characters down there, a little more relaxed and the food is really good there.
Collin Morikawa
Right now, it’s the locker room. Hopefully someday it will be the champions locker room.
Gary Player
Any room that’s got President Eisenhower or Bobby Jones in it. Though the Champions Locker Room has an ambiance like no other.
Gary Woodland
The clubhouse is cool. Player dining is nice and quiet.
Harris English
I love the lockerroom. It’s our safe place, get out of the chaos, room on the side that we can eat in and looks over No. 1 tee and see everybody out there.
Jason Day
I don’t even use the locker room. I just walk across the street from my bus.
Justin Thomas
The Champions Locker room but I haven’t earned the right to be there yet.
Keegan Bradley
This is going to sound strange but there are these secret bathrooms on the course. There’s one behind 11 tee and one as you are walking down 13 to the left. It’s a nice moment to get out of the scene for a second, take a breath, it’s very calming. I like to do that.
Kevin Streelman
The locker room is pretty special. Seeing Jack and Gary and Tiger walking around. It’s a place of solitude. There’s a little back area with a balcony and a few seats and I grab a coffee and you’re looking down at the tree and the first tee.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Family dining.
Matt Kuchar
The caddie house. It feels like Augusta but comfortable, low key and relaxed. Guys in their jumpsuits. Every player feels like they can take a reprieve when they step inside the caddie house.
Padraig Harrington
I wish it was the Champion’s Locker. There’s only one room to be at Augusta National and I’ve never been there.
Steve Stricker
I imagine if I had won there it would the Champions locker room. But I do love the locker room for the rest of us. It’s pure.
Tony Finau
Not yet but it’s going to be the Champions locker room when I get there.
Will Zalatoris
The phone room in player dining in the locker room. We are able to bring our phones in but if you need to make a call you go in this room. There have been times, especially if there is a rain delay, when there is a line to go in that room.
Zach Johnson
Butler Cabin, ideally on Sunday night is pretty good. The Tuesday dinner up above is the best.