Apr 22

Apr 22 Journalism Student Covers Major International Golfing Tournament

Solent University Student Covers the Masters in Augusta

Don’t ask, don’t get: journalism student gets a rare opportunity to cover the Masters in Augusta - The Sporting Blog tells the full story!

Solent University, Southampton, provided a ‘once in a lifetime’ work opportunity for one of its sports journalism students, who recently returned to the UK after covering the Masters in Augusta - one of the most iconic golfing events in the world.

Securing press accreditation for the Masters is notoriously difficult. If you have it, you keep it, because as soon as you don't go to the event, it gets taken away!

Journalism student Will Hewlett at the Masters in Augusta

This year, Solent’s Sports Journalism Lecturer, Peter Auf Der Heyde, who has been covering the Masters for many years, was considering pulling out due to ill health.

Around the same time, second-year Sports Journalism student, Will Hewlett, was watching a Netflix docu-series called 'Full-Swing', which delves into the lives of professional golfers.

Will explains:

“There was an episode on the Masters, which I always loved watching with my dad, and we always said how cool it would be to go there one day.
A thought sprang to mind! One of my lecturers, Peter, had told me he'd been going for many years - when he first told me in my first year my jaw literally dropped.
So, I emailed him, saying that I knew it was a longshot, but was there any chance he could get me into the Masters or point me in the direction of someone who could?
A few days later, I was sat in The Spark doing some course work and Peter saw me, sat down and said, ‘are you serious about wanting to go, because it could actually happen?’
Well, obviously!’, I responded.”

Interested in giving his student the chance to attend in his place, Peter requested to transfer his credentials to Will.

Two weeks later, Will received the email: 'Congratulations, we would like to welcome you to the 2024 Masters'.

While at the event, Will reported for the South African publication City Press, producing articles, conducting player interviews and writing features.

He participated in press conferences alongside journalists from around the world - and even secured a short interview with golfing legend Gary Player.

Throughout the week, his lecturer, Peter, continued to offer guidance and support.

Reflecting on his experience, Will says:

"I wasn't that nervous really, I am a confident guy and the skills I’ve gained over the last two years at Solent University put me in a position where I didn’t feel out of my depth alongside the experienced journalists there.
Sitting in the press conferences watching the greats like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy was fascinating. And my first proper interview couldn't have gone any better or been any bigger.
I pulled Gary Player to the side, and he talked to me like we were friends, a really great guy, and the skills I learned from university made me feel like an experienced journalist in front of the big professional players.
It’s hard to pick out the best few moments, as it was all amazing, but maybe walking alongside Tiger Woods through 18 holes, and walking past Bubba Watson in the clubhouse and him saying 'hi' to me.”

Will’s stroke of luck didn’t end there!

On the Monday following the tournament, a few select media representatives are randomly chosen to play on the actual course where the competition took place... and Will was lucky enough to be selected.

“To play the Augusta National golf course was a surreal moment, I had sleepless nights beforehand, but after I stood at the first tee and managed to hit it fairly straight down the fairway, I relaxed.
I parred hole 11 and 16 which was a highlight.”

Keen to thank his lecturers, Will says:

"I will be forever grateful for the backing I get from the sports journalism lecturers, especially Peter and Will, who have been key to my development as a journalist and allowed me to reach new heights that I could never have imagined."

Sports Journalism Lecturer Peter Auf Der Heyde remarks:

“Will contacted me out of the blue and asked me if I could take him along to the Masters. At first I thought it was a bit cheeky of him, after all, I had to wait for about 45 years before I got to go to Augusta for the first time.
But then I thought, good for him, if you don't ask, you don't get. And as I could not go, I was happy to arrange it with Augusta.
"I have often given students the opportunity to write for City Press and knew that Will would be up for the job. And he was! The coverage was great and I am pleased for him that he had the chance to experience something like the Masters.
He certainly seemed to have made the most of it. As to him playing on the course, I can only say that I was pleased he got two pars. I got a birdie - just saying."

Sign post at the 2024 Masters in Augusta

Course Leader Will Cope added:

"We pride ourselves on exposing our students to the best opportunities, helping them to prepare for life as a sports journalist, and dealing with real life challenges, and opportunities don't come much bigger than the Masters!
It is a credit to Will that he realised what a unique chance this was, and he threw himself into it with his usual gusto.
He will be able to talk about this to future employers and I'm sure they will be hugely impressed by his determination to make the most of the opening.
It also speaks volumes of Peter's selfless approach to his craft that he thinks about how our students can profit from his misfortune."