[Wayne_Kozun]

ANGC seems to have the ability to make fully grown pine trees appear out of nowhere.  Is it possible that the trees that fell in front of the 17th tee were recent transplants that didn't have time to establish proper roots.  If you look at the photos the root diameter doesn't seem very large.

[David_Elvins]

It looks like you can see small remnants of explosives on the roots. 


Which makes sense as very little at Augusta happens by accident and they often contrive the course set up to get a close finish.


In this case it looks like, as the wind got up, the control bunker was panicking that Rahm would fall back away from Koepka.  With no lightning in the immediate area, they fell back to “Operation Fallen Trees”.  Full credit to them for pulling it off flawlessly, with the undercover safety crew discretely clearing the area of patrons to prevent injury.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I'm not an arborist by any stretch… but nothing stands out as odd about that pine tree root system to me. Especially in areas where they get plenty of water.

[Jeff Evagues]

The trees were left of the tee. They don't appear to be in play.

[Sven Nilsen]

It looks like you can see small remnants of explosives on the roots. 


Which makes sense as very little at Augusta happens by accident and they often contrive the course set up to get a close finish.


In this case it looks like, as the wind got up, the control bunker was panicking that Rahm would fall back away from Koepka.  With no lightning in the immediate area, they fell back to “Operation Fallen Trees”.  Full credit to them for pulling it off flawlessly, with the undercover safety crew discretely clearing the area of patrons to prevent injury.

If you do a deep dive into photos of the 17th tee area pre-2010 and post-2010, it appears that these specific trees have been laying in waiting for over a decade like a couple of sleeper agents.


I'm surprised they weren't activated in 2016 or 2018, but then again, who are we to question the committee's decisions.

[John Emerson]

I'm not an arborist by any stretch… but nothing stands out as odd about that pine tree root system to me. Especially in areas where they get plenty of water.

Too much water and trees (and any other plant for that matter) will have shallow roots which could lead to the most recent scenario

[Jeff Schley]

Oh heavens, I'm glad no one was hurt.  Reports had many people hearing snapping trees then running for cover. Patron chairs were crushed. Skysports has the footage, which is very scary.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/golf/12852370/tree-falls-at-augusta-in-high-winds-lucky-nobody-was-injured

No idea when those trees were moved or if they were at all, but I'm sure can you move trees safely jumps to the top of the list as a reminder. Hope it doesn't happen again.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Too much water and trees (and any other plant for that matter) will have shallow roots which could lead to the most recent scenario

This is likely relevant and it will be causing them to worry about repeats in future.
It's also possible there was some root disease.

If they were new or recently moved you'd clearly see a solid rootball that would have been 'anchored'.

https://www.sheltertree.com/1897-36612/staking/staking/duckbill-rootball-kit.aspx

[Thomas Dai]

The ghost of Bobby Jones has reaffirmed what he once said to Alistair Cooke ….. “I don’t see any need for a tree on a golf course.”
Atb

[Michael Moore]

Here's a very thorough investigation from 1999 by my friend Hal Phillips.
 
https://www.halphillips.net/if-a-tree-falls-or-falls-ill-at-augusta-national-does-it-make-a-sound

[Kalen Braley]

Norman was spotted hoping over the fence shortly afterwards...

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