Drunk and ticketless Masters fan arrested for repeatedly attempting to sneak into Augusta
Many golf fans would give their driver and favourite iron for a ticket to watch the Masters, but one supporter’s attempts of getting into Augusta has landed them in trouble
An “intoxicated” golf fan has been arrested for trying to get in Augusta without their own ticket(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
A drunk golf fan has been arrested for attempting to infiltrate Augusta during the Masters. Passes for the legendary golf major are scarce and costly.
This week, it will rank among the most exclusive events in the USA, with merely 40,000-50,000 patrons permitted to attend each day. A four-day tournament pass is believed to cost approximately $525 (roughly £396), yet tickets are being flogged on resale sites for five-figure amounts.
Countless golf enthusiasts must enter a ballot system in an attempt to secure a pass for the major, though few are fortunate enough to obtain one. One golf supporter, Matthew Stroud, has been officially charged with trespassing after infiltrating Augusta.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Department noticed Stroud requesting the passes from spectators as they departed through the North Gate of Augusta following Monday’s practice round. His attempts to acquire a ticket were quickly spotted by Augusta security staff and local officers, who instructed him to vacate the area.
Stroud, who was also characterised as being “intoxicated” by officers, returned to the location in a frantic attempt to secure a pass. Predictably, he was once more instructed to leave the area.
However, after declining to depart the vicinity, police at the scene detained him for criminal trespassing and transported him to the Charles B. Webster Detention Centre, where he was officially charged with trespassing. He was eventually freed by officers after he paid a bail bond of $285 (£215).
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Stroud is one of millions of golf enthusiasts who have missed out on securing a ticket for the event. Series badges, which provide access to all three days as well as the practice events, are even more challenging to obtain.
Stroud will instead have to watch the event, which commences on Thursday, on the telly. He and numerous other golf fans will now be able to check the tee times of their favourite players.
Rory McIlroy will be with Cameron Young and Mason Howell for the initial two rounds. The Northern Irishman’s title defence will see him tee off at 10:31am local time (3:31pm BST) on Thursday.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will play alongside Robert MacIntyre and fellow US star Gary Woodland and will be the second last group to tee off, starting at 1.44pm local time (6.44pm BST).
Before the competition started, McIlroy made it clear he will do everything possible to become the fourth player to defend the Masters after Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo.
He said: “I know defending the Masters tournament is a pretty rare feat. It’s something I’d love to do. I’ve won it once and I feel like that will make it a bit easier for me to win again.”
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