Jonathan Weiner
Like everyone else, Augusta National Golf Club officials were tuned in to Tiger Woods early this week, waiting to see if he would participate in the Masters. But they were also keeping their eyes on developments unfolding 150 miles west at the state capitol in Atlanta.
During the Georgia legislative session that ended early Tuesday morning, state lawmakers nixed closely watched legislation that would have allowed nine local pro sports teams and affiliated venues to receive mobile sportsbook licenses. Augusta National was among the potential licensees.
Though the law failed to make the cut this year, Augusta National’s inclusion on the list was a noteworthy addition, given the club’s tight hold on its brand and image. The Masters itself epitomizes this, as the famous tournament has minimal corporate sponsors and could generate millions annually if it went to market with its TV rights instead of maintaining its handshake deal with CBS Corp.
Augusta National hasn’t publicly…
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