Prices For Masters Tickets Drop With Tiger Out

Despite some strong performances in 2013, Golf’s biggest attraction can’t seem to avoid the injury bug that’s plagued him over the past five years. A pinched nerve is the latest condition curtailing Tiger’s PGA prowl. On Tuesday, Woods, 38, announced that he had undergone a successful micro discectomy to help alleviate the pain he’s felt for months. The procedure will keep the World’s number 1 player out of next week’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National. It’s the first time Tiger will miss the event he’s so soundly dominated the previous 19 years.

Revealed via Twitter on April Fools Day, Woods’ announcement was no laughing matter for those holding Masters tickets and planning to be in attendance to watch the legend in action. This disappointment was reflected in event ticket prices in the hours following Tiger’s tweet. Average ticket prices for Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, typically the marquee days, fell 17% and 19% respectively. Fans can now get in for an average of $1,000.70 on Saturday and $1,227.44 on Sunday – drop offs of 45.87% and 20.93% from last year’s Masters when Woods finished tied for 4th on the leaderboard.

Fans looking to get in for all four days didn’t get any price relief. Despite Woods’ absence, the average price held steady at $3,786.67 for a 4-day badge. As is typically the case, the best value can be found on practice round tickets. Fans can check out Monday’s rehearsal for an average price of just $$353.86. They can attend Tuesday and Wednesday for an average of $516.80 and $823.06 respectively.

The first of the four major championships in professional golf, The Masters is always scheduled for the first full week in April in Augusta, Georgia. Tiger Woods has had tremendous success throughout his career at the Masters. He’s played in every Masters since 1995, capturing four green jackets – traditionally awarded to the Masters champion – and thirteen top-10 finishes in that time. Woods plans to rehab and return to the tour later in 2014 to resume his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major victories. Currently, Woods has 14. Here's a breakdown of all ticket prices for the event: