The week of the Masters Tournament will introduce a new tradition in 2026. After more than a decade of turning the Hooters restaurant on Washington Road into a pilgrimage site for fans, John Daly will move to a new location to sell his merchandise and sign autographs during the first Major of the year.
The two-time major winner will set up his usual headquarters at the Top Dawg Tavern, located on the north side of Washington Road, approximately a kilometre, perhaps slightly less, from the entrance of the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters. There, he will maintain his classic direct contact with fans throughout the tournament week.
The move is prompted by the permanent closure of the Hooters that for years was inseparable from Daly‘s presence in Augusta. The restaurant closed its doors last July as part of a corporate bankruptcy process that affected more than 30 locations in the United States, and the Washington Road building was demolished in November.
According to local broadcaster WRDW Channel 12, the Top Dawg Tavern will host the charismatic golfer during the Masters days, which will take place from 9 to 12 April, keeping alive one of the most recognisable scenes of the big week of golf, although now in a new setting.
