The Masters 2024: Patrons are paying an AVERAGE of $1,350 to watch PRACTICE rounds at Augusta as golf fans scramble for a chance to see Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Co

Punters are paying more than ($1,250) £1,000 to watch practice rounds at this year’s Masters.

On secondary markets, the average price of a pass to watch the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka plot their way around Augusta National in the build-up to Thursday’s start, has hit a record high of $1,350 (£1,074).

That is up more than a quarter on last year, as the competition’s popularity shows little sign of declining.

The Masters, viewed as a bucket list event for many, limits the numbers of patrons to 40,000 per day, with a reported 2million entering the annual ticket lottery each year.

And with demand far outstripping supply, many apparently view practice days – Monday to Wednesday - as a more realistic opportunity to set foot on the famous turf.

Punters are paying more than ($1,250) £1,000 to watch practice rounds at this year’s Masters

Rory McIlroy is among the big names preparing for this year's tournament at Augusta 

The vast majority of those who will attend are from the US, with golf fans in the UK registering the most ticket purchases from overseas. British-based visitors pay an average of $1,990 (£1,580) to attend.

Cris Miller from ticket marketplace viagogo, said: ‘The Masters is the definition of a bucket list event with many patrons going great lengths to make a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Augusta National, one of the most beautiful and testing golf courses in the world.

‘Despite golf’s well-publicized off-course battles, viagogo has registered unprecedented demand for tickets in the US and internationally with golf enthusiasts desperate to attend the first major of the year and watch the best players in the world attempt to win the iconic Green Jacket.

‘Practice rounds are proving to be a popular way to access Augusta’s hallowed turf, and this can be seen by a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in the average price of these passes.

‘The scarcity of Masters tickets, allied to the unique on-course fan experience, is key to the tournament’s enduring appeal, which exists far beyond the profile of any individual golfer or rivalry.’

A reported 2million golf supporters enter the annual ticket lottery for The Masters each year