The Masters is handing out eclipse glasses ahead of Monday's 2024 solar eclipse
The Masters has unveiled the newest piece of tournament merchandise: eclipse glasses.
On Thursday, the Masters – one of professional golf's biggest events – will begin. Three days before the tournament is a much bigger cultural (and astronomical) phenomenon. A total solar eclipse will be visible across North America on Monday for the first time in seven years – and for the last time for another 20.
The path of totality – the route of the eclipse through certain geographical locations where the moon appears to completely overlap the sun – doesn't pass over the home of the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. But the tournament was prepared for the unique occasion.
ESPN reporter Marty Smith posted a photo to X that showed off a pair of custom, Masters-brand eclipse glasses.
Eclipse glasses are specialized pieces of eyewear designed to protect human eyes from looking directly at the sun. Experts warn that staring at the sun during the eclipse without these specialized glasses can lead to permanent damage to the retina.
The Masters gives out custom eclipse glasses to attendees
The tournament's custom spectacles are all green surrounding the lenses and down the arms of the glasses. Outlines of the Masters logo are tiled across the green space in a lighter green color. On the left arm of the glasses is the official, colored-in Masters logo.
Augusta National handed out Masters eclipse glasses this morning. They are the coolest eclipse glasses on earth. pic.twitter.com/EGygUUunFw
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) April 8, 2024
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Masters 2024: Eclipse glasses are latest piece of golf tournament merch
