Augusta, GA
Keeping up with the Joneses who helped design Augusta National's classic back nine
AUGUSTA, GA. – I was standing behind the 18th green watching Tiger Woods finish when a gentleman noticed my jacket, which bore the logo of the 2016 Ryder Cup contested at Hazeltine National in Chaska.
He introduced himself as Robert Trent Jones Jr., son of the famous golf course designer and a renowned course architect himself.
His father designed Hazeltine National and helped legendary Masters founder Bobby Jones alter holes on the back nine at Augusta National to produce the thrilling stretch we see every year at the Masters.
Jones Sr. is widely credited with adding ponds to the 11th and 16th holes. Jones Jr. said his father also helped shape the 12th hole, the most famous par-3 in golf.
“My father told Bobby that World War I and trench warfare were over,” Jones Jr. said. “And that we learned in World War II that aerial warfare was now what mattered.”
So Augusta National added ponds, making the back nine more beautiful and forcing players to hit spectacular, high-flying shots.
Jones Jr. designed Edinburgh Golf Course in Brooklyn Park, as well as many courses around the world. His company’s website is rtj2.com.
• The first pairing on Sunday includes 61-year-old Vijay Singh, who is wearing a popular sneaker brand that does not make golf shoes. Comfort is everything when you get older.
• Each of the past 27 Masters winners were within four shots of the lead heading into the final round. If that trend holds, the winner would be Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Ludvig Aberg or Bryson DeChambeau.
• Morikawa is set up for a third straight top-10 finish at Augusta.
• Aberg is trying to become the first player to win the Masters in their major championship debut.
• I wrote my third-round column on the classy leaders heading into Sunday, and my sidebar on the difficulties of playing the course, through the eyes of Erik van Rooyen and his caddie.
• Check back at Startribune.com for three online pieces available tonight and Sunday morning, plus coverage of the final round and my follow-up piece on Tuesday.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Dream Center is seeing more families turn to its food pantry this summer as children lose access to school lunches.
Organizations like the Augusta Dream Center see a surge in families who relied on school lunches during the academic year, according to Hallie Kohan, assistant director.
“We see a lot more families that have young kids who are in need that simply don’t have those meals they are normally getting,” Kohan said. “We see an influx of families that come through.”
Demand is up, but the food supply is not keeping pace.
“Right now we are having some food distribution issues so while we are seeing an increase in families, we are seeing a decrease in the amount of food coming through our doors,” Kohan said.
The center is asking the community to host food drives or donate kid-friendly items such as mac and cheese and oatmeal.
Every Sunday the Dream Center opens its doors for a hot meal, serving as many as 120 people.
“Families can come in and get their hot meal. They sit down, it’s dignified, it’s a diner,” Kohan said. “It’s a welcoming experience for kids to come in and not feel like they are in need.”
No paperwork is required to receive help.
“Just because you think someone is in a great situation, in today’s economy you never know,” Kohan said. “It could be your neighbor, mom, or best friend.”
The Augusta Dream Center food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Hot meals are served Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Construction continues on the James Brown Linear Park in downtown Augusta, with ceiling tiles now installed inside the park structures.
The tiles feature designs showcasing the Godfather of Soul from different years in his career.
According to the city, the completed park will include an interactive water feature that will “dance” to Brown’s greatest hits. A statue of the music icon will return to a new stage at the park.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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