Sold out: want to see the Masters live? Good luck. There's a line just to get in line

At this year's Masters, like every year, someone will naively walk up to the gates of Augusta National and ask where they can purchase tickets to the tournament--only to learn they are 30 years too late. The patron list for a weekly Masters badge ($125 this year) has been full since 1972. And the waiting list to get on the list has been closed since 1978, though it was reopened briefly in July 2000 and some names were added. Tickets for practice rounds can be obtained by a random drawing of fans who apply shortly after the prior year's event (cost: $21 Monday and Tuesday, $26 Wednesday). Others have gained entry by illegally scalping tickets on the street or legally buying them from brokers. (More tickets might be available this year since the membership controversy has reduced client entertainment. The going broker rate is roughly $750-$1,000 per tournament day.) But the club forbids both practices and can deny admission to anyone--if club officials can trace the badge back to the original ticket holder, that person can permanently lose the badge. Ouch.

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