Inside Golf went inside the grounds at Augusta National, with Editor Rob Willis conducting an exclusive interview with Warren Smith, host of the Fox Sports coverage of the 2025 US Masters.
THE hype is real around the 2025 US Masters, as the best players in the world assemble for the first of this year’s four major championships.
In the build up to the Masters, with round one now less than two days away, Inside Golf went ‘Inside’ Augusta National, with Editor Rob Willis chatting to Warren Smith the host of the Fox Sports telecast.
For the first time, the only place to watch the Masters live is on Kayo Sports and Foxtel, and Smith, who is on site and working alongside media personality and former tournament professional Paul Gow, is excited to be able to relay the atmosphere and excitement to viewers watching back home, with a focus on tracking the fortunes of the Australian contingent.
“It’s a special place,” Smith said in an exclusive interview from the grounds of Augusta. “The colours are amazing, the flowers, the azaleas, the dogwood, the ridiculously green fairways, the white bunkers, and the fans are already here in their 10’s of thousands.
“They also have a patron first philosophy and try to make the experience as good as they possibly can. And they excel at that,” he said.
As for the course itself, at this his second visit after also being on course for Fox Sports and Kayo in 2024, while Smith and Gow will do their best to detail the unique aspects of the course, he explains that perhaps it has to be seen to be believed.
“It’s a great cliché, you’d never believe how hilly it is but it’s the truest thing ever,” Smith expressed.
“For example, you stand on 10 and say I can’t believe how downhill that hole is. You could put on some skis and ski down it.”
Since arriving at the tournament site, Smith has taken the opportunity to catch up with the Australians, former champion Adam Scott and the four other Aussies looking to join him as a Masters champion.
A first-time father less than two weeks ago, Cam Smith is catching up on his sleep, was keen to talk NRL with Warren who also heads up the Fox Sports NRL commentary team, while also speaking positively about where his game is at.
“Cam was very pumped about the Broncos, he’s very keen on their chances in the NRL,” Warren said.
“But he is in a good space with his game, he seems pretty relaxed and he’s confident about his chances. He likes the track, he’s had five top 10’s in eight tournaments here.
“Cam, Min Woo and Jason Day played (a practice round) together today. Min Woo had to cough up the cash, the two boys beat him.”
Coming into the tournament following a recent victory, Smith was also quick to talk up Min Woo who comes into the event with plenty of confidence
“They’ve been saying if he wins one, the lid might come off. This is another level, but the course sets up for him, he hits it so far and if he has a good week with the driver, he’s some sort of prospect.”
The only Australian winner back in 2013, Adam Scott has enjoyed a career resurgence over the last 12 to 18 months, perhaps due in part to some help he’s receiving from longtime friend and the 2008 Masters champion South African Trevor Immelman.
In exploring the practice areas at Augusta on Tuesday, Smith caught a glimpse of the pair hard at work ahead of Thursday’s first round.
“Scottie was working closely with Trevor Immelman on the putting green today. I saw Trevor keeping a close eye on what he was doing.”
As for Cam Davis, Smith and the Fox team hadn’t spotted the talented Sydneysider as of the Tuesday afternoon, however despite some indifferent form in recent times, Smith offered a reminder that the course sets up well and that Davis was in contention for a long while in 2024.
“He finished 12th last year. A bit like Cam (Smith) he just never really got it going on the weekend last year. But he does come in having missed four cuts in a row. “
Excellent insights, with more sure to come from the Fox Sports team during the lead-up and the four days of the 2025 Masters championships.
Every round of the Masters is live and exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel, the only place to see all four golf majors LIVE in 2025.
An amateur standout, winning the NSW Amateur and Australian Medal in 1988, before going down in the final of the 1990 Australian Amateur Championship, Rob Willis turned professional in 1992, playing the Australasian and Asian Tours, with his highlight being his victory in the 1995 Dubai Creek Open and third placing at the European Tour's Dubai Dessert Classic. A former Editor of Golf Australia Magazine, Willis, who ventured away from golf for a period to be the media manager for the NRL's Cronulla Sharks, has been a contributor to PGA Australia's PGA Magazine for over a decade and for Inside Golf since its first edition back in 2005. 
