Gnome no more? Maybe, maybe not, Masters patterns say

Pat Donahue, common supervisor and editor of the Coastal Courier newspaper in Hinesville, Georgia, additionally would not be shocked if 2026 marks the tip of gnome mania.

“I’d like to see them come back, but I don’t think they will because of their value on the secondary markets,” stated Donahue, who was attending the Masters as a spectator however has reported on the event previously. “It might be one of those things that they’ll take a look at it and go, ‘It may be time to pull them off the shelves.’ “They’re becoming bigger than they were meant to be.”

Donahue expressed confidence in Augusta National’s decision-making in the case of Masters merchandise.

“I think they’re working on another collectible somewhere in their research and development department because they’re just that good [at marketing],” he stated.

Donahue, by the best way, is not a giant gnome fan.

“I’ve never bought one and I never will. I don’t need one,” he stated.

Katie Bennett, who’s the band director at Highland Springs Middle School in North Augusta, does not anticipate the gnome to return to Augusta National in 2027.

“This is 2026 and it’s year number 10, so I think they’re going to stop without telling anyone and then move on to something new,” she stated.

Tamara Smith disagrees along with her pal.

“My thought is yes,” she stated when requested in regards to the probability of a 2027 version of the gnome. “It’s a fan favorite, so I think they’ll be it back.”

Craig Stafford of Hinesville, Georgia, who was having fun with the Masters with Donahue, wasn’t fretting in regards to the gnome’s future.

“From the perspective of my daughters, who are 22 and 25, they would say that they (the gnomes) definitely must [return in 2027] because that’s their favorite part of the Masters,” he said. “But I’m not worried. As long as they keep the egg salad sandwich, I’m okay.”

Katelyn Dunn of Charlotte, North Carolina, did not have a gnome prediction to supply.