Episode Details

The North Carolina Sports Network’s new show, ROAD TO AUGUSTA, hosted by Durham native Ward Clayton, former Augusta Chronicle sports editor and longtime golf author. Clayton explains how he became fascinated with Augusta after first attending the Masters in 1985 with Durham friends from the Whitfield family, and says the series will explore not just the tournament but the wider culture of Augusta—restaurants, local golf, Washington Road, patron tips, and what the community is like beyond Masters week. He recounts learning golf through Durham’s Hillandale municipal course and nearby lit par-three courses, credits local newspapers and the Herald-Sun Papers golf tournament for sparking his interest in journalism and storytelling, and shares a golf story involving Dean Smith and Mack Brown at Finley. Clayton says his most meaningful Masters memory is the annual reunion-like relationships and meeting new people, mentions longtime patron Lou Miller bringing first-timers, and promotes his book The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National while discussing caddie influence through figures like Iron Man Avery, Willie Peterson, and Carl Jackson, plus a recent example of caddie psychology with Rory McIlroy, plus a look ahead to future interviews with longtime Augusta Chronicle Masters writer David Weston—nicknamed ‘the Ghost’—and referencing influential Masters writers such as Herbert Warren Wind, Dan Jenkins, Furman Bisher, Rick Reilly, David Barrett, and David Owen.00:00 Welcome to Road to Augusta (and a little NC barbecue talk)01:41 Reset & official show intro: Why Ward is telling Augusta’s story03:20 Ward’s golf roots in Durham: Hillandale and the junior program04:24 First rounds & par-3 night golf in Durham05:32 Falling in love with journalism: Durham papers and the Herald-Sun tournament07:27 Covering Tobacco Road + Dean Smith’s competitive golf stories10:30 Why golf makes for the best storytelling (mindset, pressure, writing)11:46 The call to Augusta: Becoming sports editor & Masters coverage at the Chronicle14:36 First steps on Augusta National: the ‘AstroTurf’ grass and no-phones magic17:12 Augusta beyond the ropes: food, vibes, Washington Road & what’s changed17:52 Road to Augusta preview: Pinehurst parallels, series timeline & guests22:46 Quick-hit Q&A: favorite golfer to cover and favorite Masters moment24:57 CBS’ Broadcast & the Electric Masters Finish25:22 Augusta Spectators Gone Wild: Remembering ’86 Jack Nicklaus25:56 Pimento Cheese, Chicken Sandwiches & Pro Shop Must-Buys28:26 A Seminal Masters Memory: The People You Only See at Augusta30:15 Legendary Caddies: The Hidden Cornerstone of Augusta National33:13 Off-Camera Banter: Golf Movies, Access, and Media War Stories38:17 Building the Show: Recording the ‘Road to Augusta’ Hook40:39 Episode Tease: Augusta’s ‘Ghosts’ and Guest David WestonWelcome to the North Carolina Sports Network!Your home for all things sports in the Bold North State — from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, PGA TOUR, and NASCAR to the heart of ACC and college athletics.🎥 Stories. 🎙️ Podcasts. 📊 Analysis.Covering the legends, the rising stars, and everything in between.👇 Subscribe & follow:🌐 ncsportsnetwork.com🎧 Podcasts: Spotify, Apple & more📲 @TheNCSportsNet on all platforms#NCsports #BoldNorthState