2023-04-10 10:22:42
Ice-cool on course, Rahm submits to 'wave of emotion'
Masters champion Jon Rahm said he had felt a "wave of emotion" after securing the green jacket with a four-stroke victory at Augusta National on Sunday.
Rahm had been ice-cool on the course as he overtook third-round leader Brooks Koepka and then held onto his lead on the back nine, where so many Masters dreams have been dashed.
But once victory was secured on the 18th green, the steely determination gave way to the inevitable feelings of joy and pride -- both personal and national.
"Obviously we all dream of things like this as players, and you try to visualize what it's going to be like and what it's going to feel like," Rahm said.
"And when I hit that third shot onto the green, and I could tell it was close by the crowd's reaction, just the wave of emotion of so many things just overtook me. Never thought I was going to cry by winning a golf tournament, but I got very close on that 18th hole.
"A lot of it was because of what it means to me, and to Spanish golf. It's Spain's 10th major, I'm the fourth (Spanish) player to win the Masters, and it is my second major win, right, it's pretty incredible," added the 2021 US Open winner.
"To play the way I did on Sunday, only one bogey in difficult conditions and coming in with a margin of (four shots) is hard to explain. A lot of pride, and I am really proud of myself and what I did."
Adding to the emotion was the knowledge that his victory had come on what would have been the late Spanish great Seve Ballesteros's 66th birthday and the 40th anniversary of his second Masters triumph.
"This one was for Seve. He was up there helping, and help he did," said Rahm.
But on the immaculate fairways and greens of a course which had dried out after two days of rain interruptions, there was little sign of feelings bubbling inside the 28-year-old.
For those in awe of his steely demeanor, Rahm said his heart certainly had been pounding.
"What is going on on the outside is not always a reflection of the inside," he said.
"I was calm. I never got frustrated. I never really felt like anything was out of control. But obviously, you're nervous. There's tension out there."
A bogey on the ninth hole, just as Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson were making a charge, certainly sent his pulse racing.
"(That) made those 10, 11, and 12 holes harder. Again, I might have looked calm, but I was definitely, nervous out there. I'm glad that's the way it looked. That's what you strive for, right? You don't want to panic, and I never panicked. I felt comfortable with my game, and I had a plan to execute, and that's all I can do," he said.
'Humbling feeling'
On the tour, Rahm has a reputation as a battler, as a player whose head won't drop even when things go against him and he didn't dispute that description.
"We put in a lot of effort to try to beat the best guys in the world. So maybe that level of intensity and that determination is what you see, and that's why I'm characterized as a fighter. I'm never going to give up," he said.
Rahm became the first European to win both the US Open and the Masters, an achievement he wasn't aware of until it was put to him in his news conference.
"Out of all the accomplishments and the many great players that have come before me, to be the first to do something like that, it's a very humbling feeling," he said.
"I still can't believe I'm the first. That is a pretty good duo of majors."
2023-04-10 07:45:21
Final scores on Sunday after the final round of the 87th Masters at Augusta National (par 72):
276 - Jon Rahm (ESP) 65-69-73-69
280 - Phil Mickelson (USA) 71-69-75-65, Brooks Koepka (USA) 65-67-73-75
281 - Jordan Spieth (USA) 69-70-76-66, Russell Henley (USA) 73-67-71-70, Patrick Reed (USA) 71-70-72-68
282 - Cameron Young (USA) 67-72-75-68, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 65-73-70-74
283 - Sahith Theegala (USA) 73-70-73-67
284 - Scottie Scheffler (USA) 68-75-71-70, Xander Schauffele (USA) 68-74-71-71, Collin Morikawa (USA) 69-69-74-72, Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 70-72-72-70
285 - Gary Woodland (USA) 68-72-73-72, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 71-71-68-75
286 - Sam Bennett (USA) 68-68-76-74, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 71-70-70-75, Im Sung-Jae (KOR) 71-76-67-72, Joohyung Kim (KOR) 70-72-74-70, Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 71-69-74-72, Shane Lowry (IRL) 68-72-73-73, Justin Rose (ENG) 69-71-73-73
287 - Lee Kyung-Hoon (KOR) 74-67-74-72, Chris Kirk (USA) 70-74-72-71, Keegan Bradley (USA) 70-72-74-71288 - Tony Finau (USA) 69-74-73-72, Scott Stallings (USA) 70-77-69-72, Ryan Fox (NZL) 70-71-74-73
289 - Harold Varner III (USA) 72-71-76-70, Kim Si-Woo (KOR) 73-72-72-72, Mackenzie Hughes (CAN) 76-69-74-70, Sam Burns (USA) 68-71-78-72
291 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 72-71-74-74292 - Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 71-73-72-76, Zach Johnson (USA) 75-70-74-73, Talor Gooch (USA) 72-74-73-73, Cameron Smith (AUS) 70-72-75-75, JT Poston (USA) 74-72-76-70
293 - Taylor Moore (USA) 73-72-70-78, Abraham Ancer (MEX) 72-71-74-76, Adam Scott (AUS) 68-74-77-74, Jason Day (AUS) 67-72-74-80
294 - Guillermo Pereira (CHI) 74-70-77-73, Harris English (USA) 71-71-77-75, Max Homa (USA) 71-73-72-78295 - Seamus Power (IRL) 73-72-73-77, Sepp Straka (AUT) 70-73-74-78296 - Thomas Pieters (BEL) 74-73-72-77, Dustin Johnson (USA) 71-72-78-75297 - Fred Couples (USA) 71-74-76-76, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-73-73-77
300 - Billy Horschel (USA) 73-74-74-79302 - Keith Mitchell (USA) 75-71-77-79
DNF: Tiger Woods (USA), Kevin Na (USA), Will Zalatoris (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)
2023-04-10 07:03:37Rahm wins Masters crown to reclaim World No 1 spotFULL STORY!2023-04-10 06:24:48
Spain's Rahm follows Ballesteros with Masters glory
Jon Rahm was nearly in tears after winning an emotional triumph at the Masters on Sunday, what would have been the 66th birthday of his idol Seve Ballesteros.
Rahm overcame a four-stroke deficit at the start of a marathon 40-hole final day at Augusta National to defeat Americans Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson by four shots for his second major title, a victory that returns him to world number one.
"This one was for Seve," Rahm said.
"He was up there helping, and help he did."
The 28-year-old Spaniard said he felt bolstered by the spirit of the late Ballesteros, who won his second Masters title 40 years ago.
"For me to get it done on the 40th anniversary of his win, his birthday, on Easter Sunday, it's incredibly meaningful," Rahm said.
Rahm achieved what he called a "true honor" in becoming the fourth Spaniard to grab the green jacket after Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal and Ballesteros, who died of brain cancer in 2011 at age 54.
"Rest in peace Seve," Rahm said to close his victory ceremony.
Rahm won the green jacket and took a record top prize of $3.24 million from a record $18 million purse.
Olazabal greeted Rahm with an emotional embrace just off the 18th green moments after the triumph was complete.
"He said he hopes it's the first of many more," Rahm said.
"We both mentioned something about Seve, and if he had given us 10 more seconds, I think we would have both ended up crying."
Rahm's methodical precision shotmaking down the bogey-free back nine delivered the triumph, a contrast to his emotional mood after the victory.
"I might have looked calm, but I was definitely nervous out there," Rahm said.
"I never panicked. I felt comfortable with my game. I never got frustrated. I never felt like anything was out of control. But there was tension out there."
Rahm rescued a poor shot off the 18th tee for a closing par in much the same manner Ballesteros was known for doing.
"To finish it off the way I did -- an unusual par, very much a Seve par -- it was in a non-purposeful way a testament to him," Rahm said.
"He was pulling for me."Rahm held firm with a final-round three-under par 69 to finish on 12-under par 276 with four-time major winner Koepka and six-time major winner Mickelson sharing second on 280 and fellow Americans Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Russell Henley on 281.
Rahm, who also won the 2021 US Open, became the first European golfer to own that title and a Masters.
"To be the first to do something like that, it's a very humbling feeling," Rahm said.
Rahm, who won three prior PGA Tour titles this year, overtook 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler atop the rankings after the American shared 10th on 284.
Koepka, whose lead was trimmed from four shots to two just after the third-round restart Sunday morning, fired a closing 75. He surrendered the lead to Rahm with a bogey at the sixth -- part of a 6-over 19-hole stretch -- and never recovered.
"Some days you have it, some days you don't, and today wasn't one of those," Koepka said.
"Tried to give it a run there at the end, but just wasn't good enough."
Rahm's five-foot birdie at the par-5 13th, four-foot birdie at 14 and four closing pars foiled 52-year-old Mickelson's bid to break his own mark as the oldest major champion.
Mickelson encouraged
Three-time Masters champion Mickelson birdied five of the last seven holes to shoot 65, the lowest Masters round ever for a player over 50.
"Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, but it was really a lot of fun for me to play at this level again," said Mickelson. "
It's encouraging for me going forward the rest of the year."
He had a chance to match the greatest last-round comeback in major history -- Paul Lawrie's 1999 British Open rally from 10 adrift.
But the US left-hander settled for being the oldest player to finish in the top-five at a Masters.
- AFP
2023-04-10 06:19:12
2023-04-10 06:18:48
Spain's Jon Rahm wins 2023 Masters
Spain's Jon Rahm won the Masters on Sunday by four strokes after shooting a three-under-par final round 69 at Augusta National to end 12 under-par overall.
Americans Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson tied for second place ending eight-under overall as Rahm clinched a victory that returns him to golf's world number-one ranking.
Rahm began the final round two strokes behind Koepka but took the lead on the sixth hole when Koepka bogeyed, and he never looked back while his rival faded out of contention.
The victory was the 28-year-old Rahm's second in a major following his triumph at the US Open in 2021, and he became the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters, following in the footsteps of Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.
His win came on what would have been the 66th birthday of his idol Ballesteros, who won the Masters 40 years ago.
- AFP
2023-04-10 06:17:32
Past 10 winners of the Masters after this year's tournament at Augusta National:
2023: Jon Rahm (ESP)
2022: Scottie Scheffler (USA)
2021: Hideki Matsuyama (JPN)
2020: Dustin Johnson (USA)
2019: Tiger Woods (USA)
2018: Patrick Reed (USA)
2017: Sergio Garcia (ESP)
2016: Danny Willett (ENG)
2015: Jordan Spieth (USA)
2014: Bubba Watson (USA)
2023-04-10 06:16:20
2023-04-10 06:15:02
2023-04-10 06:14:40
2023-04-10 06:13:45
2023-04-10 06:13:24
2023-04-10 06:11:49
Rahm grabs two-stroke Masters lead as back-nine battle begins
Jon Rahm seized a two-stroke lead over US stars Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka midway into Sunday's final round of the Masters as a dramatic back-nine shootout loomed at Augusta National.
Rahm birdied the par-4 third and par-5 eighth holes but made bogey at nine to reach the turn at 10-under for the tournament while Koepka made bogeys at the par-3 fourth and sixth and the ninth to stumble two back after leading by two through 54 holes.
When Rahm missed a six-foot par putt at the ninth, the stage was set for a dramatic fight down the stretch for the green jacket in windy conditions under the Georgia pines as leaders stumbled while challengers caught fire.
The Masters champion will pocket a record top prize of $3.24 million from a record $18 million purse.
Spain's Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion with three PGA Tour titles this year, chased his first Masters win on what would have been the 66th birthday of his idol, the late Seve Ballesteros, who won the Masters 40 years ago.
"I'd like to think he's up there watching and pulling for me," Rahm said.
"If there's somebody who would have enough charisma to give me any help, it would be him."
World number three Rahm could become the fourth Spaniard to grab the green jacket after Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.
Rahm also would overtake defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler as world number one with a victory if the American finishes outside the top four. Scheffler was 4-under overall with four holes to play in a share of 14th.
Koepka, a four-time major winner, led on 11-under 205 after 54 holes with Rahm two back after both concluded one-over 73 third rounds Sunday morning. Heavy rains Saturday had halted play due to puddling on greens.
In the final round, Rahm sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the third to reach 10-under and Koepka found a bunker at the par-3 fourth then missed a nine-foot par putt, leaving the two level for the lead.
Koepka missed the green at the par-3 sixth and a poor chip 22 feet beyond the hole led to a bogey that put Rahm into the lead and the Spaniard dropped his approach inches from the hole at the par-5 eighth to set up a birdie that lifted him to 11-under.On the day, Koepka had gone 19 holes without a birdie after sitting on a four-stroke edge overnight.
Koepka, coming off a LIV Golf victory last week in Orlando, has won all three prior times when leading a major after 54 holes.
A marathon 30-hole Sunday was on tap for the final duo. Neither Rahm nor Koepka, who played 12 morning holes, had a back-nine birdie on the first try, giving hope to a world-class field in pursuit.
The greatest last-round Masters comeback to win was eight strokes by Jack Burke in 1956, but several were in contention to break that mark.
Three-time major winner Spieth, who began the round 10 off the pace, reeled off three straight birdies starting at eight, two more at 14 and 15 and another at 17 to share second with Koepka on 8-under.
Six-time major winner and three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, trying to break his own major age win mark at 52, birdied the par-3 12th, par-5 13th and 15th and 17 to reach 7-under and share fourth with US countryman Russell Henley.On 6-under were Americans Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed.
Koepka, Reed and Mickelson gave Saudi-backed upstart series LIV Golf three top contenders.
They were among top PGA Tour stars lured last year with record $25 million purses from 54-hole events, sparking the PGA to ban LIV players from its tournaments even as majors allow LIV golfers to compete.
Injured Tiger withdraws
Tiger Woods, limping on a soggy layout Saturday, withdrew Sunday from the Masters with a foot injury.
"I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis," Woods tweeted.
The 15-time major winner, still nagged by severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash, withdrew from his Bahamas invitational last December with the foot injury.
- AFP
2023-04-09 22:16:21
2023-04-09 21:11:47
Five Facts for the Final Round
1. One Man To Beat: Everyone is chasing Brooks Koepka. Koepka holds a two-stroke lead heading into the final round. He will play in the final pairing alongside Spaniard Jon Rahm.
2. Making A Move: Norway’s Viktor Hovland had the hottest stretch of the day in the third-round play Sunday to climb into contention. He made five straight birdies beginning at the 11th hole on his way to a 2-under 70. It’s just the third time since WWII that someone has birdied Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Hovland is three strokes behind Koepka.
3. Big Comebacks Do Happen: The Masters has had some remarkable comebacks over the final 18 holes. Jack Burke Jr. was eight shots back to start the final round in 1956 before winning. Nick Faldo famously wiped out Greg Norman’s six-stroke lead in 1996. If history is any guide, Patrick Cantlay (five behind), 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Henley (six behind) still have a chance.
4. Figuring Out The Renovated 13th: Both Rahm and Koepka have played the par-5 13th hole, which was lengthened this year by 35 yards, in even par for three rounds. Only two Masters winners have played the hole in even or worse in the year they won – Danny Willett (1-over in 2016) and Sergio Garcia (even par in 2017).
5. What Happened To Tiger?: Woods officially withdrew before play resumed Sunday morning. In a Twitter post, Woods said he aggravated the plantar fasciitis that had bothered him before.
- Courtesy of the official Masters website
2023-04-09 21:07:13
2023-04-09 18:18:07
Koepka clings to Masters lead over Rahm as Hovland charges
Brooks Koepka clung to a two-stroke lead over Jon Rahm after Sunday's completion of the storm-hit third round of the Masters, setting the stage for a closing drama at rain-softened Augusta National.
Koepka and Rahm each fired a one-over par 73 in the third round to leave American Koepka on 11-under 205 after 54 holes and Rahm two back on 207 -- neither managing a back-nine birdie.
Adding to the tension was a run by ninth-ranked Viktor Hovland, five consecutive birdies starting at the par-4 11th lifting the Norwegian to third on 208 and in the hunt for his first major crown after shooting 70.
A marathon last-day battle was poised to unfold under the towering Georgia pines with Koepka chasing his fifth major title, Spain's third-ranked Rahm seeking his second and Hovland his first -- all hunting a first green jacket.
An additional sub-plot to the final day duel is that Koepka plays in the Saudi-backed upstart LIV Golf League while Rahm and Hovland have stayed loyal to the PGA Tour.
Heavy rain forced a suspension of play Saturday, water puddling on the famed undulating greens, with Koepka in the overnight lead on 13-under and Rahm four adrift.
Rahm began Sunday morning by sinking a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-4 seventh hole while Koepka curled an 11-foot par putt beyond the hole, his first stumble after 29 holes in a row without a bogey.
The two-shot swing halved Koepka's overnight edge to two shots. Both birdied the par-5 eighth, but Koepka missed an eight-foot par putt to bogey the par-3 12th, and Rahm lipped out on a six-foot par putt at the par-5 13th, falling two adrift again.
Rahm missed a 10-foot par putt at the par-3 16th, but Koepka lipped out from three feet at 17 for his first three-putt bogey of the week and each parred 18.
Koepka, who has won all three prior times when leading a major after 54 holes, appeared set for a 30-hole last-day duel with Rahm and Hovland."Drier out there but windier and colder," fourth-ranked American Patrick Cantlay said after a third-round 68 to stand on 210. "It's still pretty hard."Clear conditions with gusty winds were expected, with final-round twosomes planned off split tees in order to complete the year's first major tournament before sundown.
Koepka, a winner of last week's Orlando LIV event, has battled back from 2021 knee surgery to again threaten in majors after winning the 2017 and 2018 US Opens and 2018 and 2019 PGA Championships. Breakaway LIV Golf lured several big names from the PGA Tour last year with a record $25 million purses from 54-hole events, sparking the PGA to ban LIV players from its events. The PGA-LIV fight is set for a court date early next year.
Major tournaments allow LIV players who qualify to compete, setting up PGA-LIV showdowns this year on golf's grandest stages.
In the meantime, LIV events do not bring players Official World Golf Rankings points. That's part of why Koepka has fallen to 118th in the world and would be the lowest-rated Masters champion since the system began in 1986.
The Masters champion will pocket a record top prize of $3.24 million from a record $18 million purse, less than the $4 million Koepka won in Orlando.
Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion who already has three PGA triumphs this year, is trying to win his first Masters exactly 40 years after his idol, Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros, won his second Masters.
Injured Tiger withdraws
Tiger Woods, who was limping as he made back-to-back double bogeys before play was halted Saturday, withdrew from the Masters on Sunday morning with a foot injury.
"I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis," Woods tweeted.
The 15-time major winner, still nagged by pain from severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash, had been forced to withdraw from his Hero World Challenge event in the Bahamas last December due to the foot injury, but returned to share 45th in his PGA event at Riviera in February.
Woods matched the Masters record of Fred Couples and Gary Player with 23 consecutive made cuts.
- AFP
2023-04-09 17:45:35
2023-04-09 17:31:38
2023-04-09 15:39:56
2023-04-09 15:30:31
2023-04-09 14:29:24
Facing marathon, Woods withdraws from Masters
Five-time winner Tiger Woods, who limped through the start of a rain-halted third round of the Masters, pulled out of the tournament with a fitness issue, organizers said on Sunday.
"Due to injury, Tiger Woods has officially withdrawn from the Masters after completing seven holes of his third round," a statement from Augusta National said.
The tournament is aiming to finish the rain-impacted third round on Sunday morning before proceeding to the decisive final round at Augusta National.
Woods is still recovering from severe leg injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash.
He made his return at last year's Masters, where he shared 47th and spoke of walking 72 holes on the hilly layout as a victory of sorts.
For Woods, who has talked about playing in pain and who operates a minimal tournament schedule, the weather enforced changes meant he would have attempted to play 29 holes on Sunday in order to finish.
Woods had battled to make the cut on Saturday morning, playing in cold and wet conditions and limping at times. He eventually made it into the final two rounds after the cut-line rose to three-over par 147.
By making the cut, Woods matched the Masters record of Fred Couples and Gary Player with 23 consecutive made cuts.
But Woods, who hasn't missed a Masters cut since 1996 when he was playing as an amateur, made a dreadful start to his third round.
Starting on the 10th hole, Woods made two bogeys before double bogeys on the par-5 15th and par-3 16th left him bottom of the leaderboard on nine over overall.
Woods had shared 45th at his PGA event at Riviera in February in his most recent prior start. - AFP
2023-04-09 13:31:16
2023-04-09 13:21:35
Big news! 2023-04-09 06:39:57
Koepka has eyes on Masters prize as hectic, marathon Sunday looms
American Brooks Koepka has his fifth major title in his sights as he heads into what will be a hectic final day showdown with Spain's Jon Rahm at the rain-affected Masters.
Koepka has a four-stroke lead over Rahm but has a marathon day ahead of him with the leading pair still having 30 holes to complete after Saturday's third round was cut short due to rain.
Should the Floridian triumph it will be his first major since the PGA Championship at Bethpage in 2019 and since he left the PGA Tour for the breakaway, Saudi-backed, LIV Golf series.
The prospect of a LIV player putting on the green jacket is an uncomfortable one for the American golf establishment but creates a fascinating subplot to what is so often a day of drama.
The third round will resume Sunday at 8:30 a.m. with the final 18 holes expected to begin four hours later off the first and 10th tees in pairings.
With puddles forming on the greens and players battling hard against weather more akin to a British Open, organizers had little choice but to end Saturday's action early.
In wet, cold and windy conditions, players huddled under umbrellas in between shots and Tiger Woods wore a woollen hat over the top of his baseball cap.
The weather forecast for Sunday is positive, however, with temperatures expected to rise to above 15.5 C and much less chance of rain.
In round three, Rahm and Koepka both made birdies on the par-5 second but bogeys on the par-3 fourth and par-four fifth from the Spaniard left Koepka with his four-shot gap.
Koepka, at 13-under-par, was on the green at the seventh hole with an 11-foot par putt when play was halted while Rahm, on 9-under, had a nine-foot birdie putt.
With the 32-year-old's performances in the LIV Golf League, including last week's win at Orlando, not counting towards the Official World Golf Rankings, he is placed at 118th in the world.
That ranking more reflects the bitter nature of the conflict between LIV and the PGA Tour, who unlike the rebels have places on the board of the rankings body.
Koepka's formal ranking would make him the lowest-ranked player to win the Masters since the rankings system was introduced in 1986.
The current holder of that distinction is Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who was ranked 69th when he won the green jacket in 2009.
The winner on Sunday will collect a Masters record prize of $3.24 million unless it is amateur Sam Bennett, who plays on the college circuit for Texas A&M.
Bennett will start on Sunday in third place on the leaderboard, having bogeyed the par-5 second, seven strokes off the lead as he bids to become the first amateur to win the Masters.
Patrick Cantlay handled the challenging conditions well as he rose up the leaderboard with three straight birdies from the second hole and he was five-under overall through the 13th hole.
England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the reigning US Open champion, was one of three players level with Cantlay on five under after making three birdies before play was stopped.
Veteran Phil Mickelson, also on the LIV tour, produced a superb long, curling putt on the par-3 sixth for his second birdie of the day to briefly reach six-under but followed that with successive bogeys.
Tiger Woods had to battle to avoid the cut but the 15-time major winner may have wished he had failed after a nightmare start to his third round.
Woods, starting on the 10th hole, made two bogeys before double bogeys on the par-5 15th and par-3 16th left him bottom of the leaderboard on six-over overall.
By making the cut, Woods matched the record of Fred Couples and Gary Player with 23 consecutive made cuts at the Masters.
Woods hasn't missed a Masters cut since 1996 when he was playing as an amateur. - AFP
2023-04-09 06:33:56
THE LEADERBOARD AS IT STANDS:
-13: Koepka (6)
-9: Rahm (6)
-6: Bennett -a- (6)
-5: Cantlay (13), Fitzpatrick (11), Morikawa (7), Hovland (7)
-4: Rose (9), Henley (9), Mickelson (9), Niemann (9), Young (8), Day (7)
-3: Scheffler (12*), Fox (11), Woodland (9)
-2: Schauffele (12), Matsuyama (11), Reed (10), Lowry (9), Burns (9), Spieth (8)
2023-04-08 21:33:40
PLAY SUSPENDED, KOEPKA EXTENDS LEAD
Brooks Koepka extended his lead at the Masters to four shots over Spain's world number three Jon Rahm on Saturday before third-round play at soggy Augusta National was suspended for the day due to heavy rain.
With puddles forming on the greens and players battling hard against conditions more akin to a British Open, organizers decided to leave the remainer of the contest for Sunday.
In wet, cold and windy conditions, players huddled under umbrellas in between shots and Tiger Woods wore a woollen hat over the top of his baseball cap.
"It's obviously super difficult. Ball's not going anywhere," said Koepka, who played his six holes of round three at one-under.
"You've got rain to deal with, and it's freezing cold. It doesn't make it easy. You've got to make some pressure putts. You know it was going to be a difficult day. You've just got to grind through it and try to salvage something."
The weather forecast for Sunday is positive with temperatures expected to rise to above 60 degrees F (15.5 C) and much less chance of rain.With the leading pair having completed six holes, there is confidence the tournament can finish as scheduled by completing the final 30 on Sunday.
A total of 39 players, Rahm among them, had returned Saturday morning to finish their second rounds, interrupted by stormy weather on Friday. The Spaniard cut Koepka's lead down to two strokes before third-round play got under way.
Rahm and Koepka both made birdies on the par-5 second but bogeys on the par-3 fourth and par-four fifth from the Spaniard left Koepka with his four-shot gap.
Koepka, at 13-under par, was on the green at the seventh hole with an 11-foot par putt when play was halted while Rahm, on 9-under, had a nine-foot birdie putt.
Koepka plays in the breakaway LIV Golf League and with his performances on that tour, including his win at Orlando last week, not counting towards the Official World Golf Rankings, he is placed at 118th in the world.
That ranking more reflects the bitter nature of the conflict between Saudi-backed LIV Golf and the established PGA Tour and DP World Tour, who unlike the rebels have places on the board of the rankings body.
Koepka is a four-time major winner but his formal ranking would make him the lowest-ranked player to win the Masters since the rankings system was introduced in 1986.
The current holder of that distinction is Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who was ranked 69th when he won the green jacket in 2009.
Amateur Sam Bennett was in third place on the leaderboard, having bogeyed the par-5 second, seven strokes behind Koepka as he bids to become the first amateur to win the Masters.- Tiger makes Masters cut -Patrick Cantlay handled the challenging conditions well as he rose up the leaderboard with three straight birdies from the second hole and he was five-under overall through the 13th hole.
England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the reigning US Open champion, was one of three players level with Cantlay on five under after making three birdies before play was stopped.
Veteran Phil Mickelson, also on the LIV tour, produced a superb long, curling putt on the par-3 sixth for his second birdie of the day to briefly reach six-under but he then followed that with successive bogeys.
Tiger Woods had to battle to avoid the cut but the 15-time major winner may have wished he had failed after a nightmare start to his third round.
Woods, starting on the 10th hole, made two bogeys before double bogeys on the par-5 15th and par-3 16th left him bottom of the leaderboard six over-par overall.
By making the cut, Woods equalled the record of Fred Couples and Gary Player with 23 consecutive made cuts at the Masters.
Woods hasn't missed a Masters cut since 1996 when he was playing as an amateur.
- AFP
2023-04-08 20:45:04
2023 MASTERS PAYS HIGHEST EVER PURSE
This year's Masters will pay the winner a record $3.24 million from a highest ever $18 million prize money purse, Augusta National announced on Saturday.
The previous record prize money total was last year's $15 million, with current world number one Scottie Scheffler taking home the green jacket winner's prize of $2.7 million.
While historic by Augusta standards, it pales to the $25 million purses at stake in 54-hole events in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, which has caused a massive split in elite golf since its launch last June.
Brooks Koepka, one of the challengers at Augusta for the Masters title, pocketed $4 million last week for winning LIV's event in Orlando.
LIV's record prize money and shorter events lured away several big-name stars from the PGA Tour despite concerns over Saudi Arabian human rights issues.
The PGA Tour has banned LIV players from its events and their legal battle is set to reach a courtroom early next year.
The PGA has made changes to its schedule to create more events with larger purses and fewer players to combat LIV Golf.
This year's Masters runner-up will receive $1.944 million with third place good for $1.224 million -- all assuming that US amateur contender Sam Bennett doesn't finish in that spot, since he cannot take prize money.
- AFP
2023-04-08 20:23:35
2023-04-08 20:23:10
2023-04-08 17:17:06
Tiger makes the cut, Rahm hunting down Koepka
After a rainy night in Georgia, Spain's Jon Rahm returned to a wet and windy Augusta National and narrowed overnight leader Brooks Koepka's advantage to two strokes.
Rahm, one of the 39 players who had to complete their delayed second rounds on Saturday, had been within a shot of Koepka before bogeying the final hole.
Five-times Masters winner Tiger Woods managed to battle through the wet and windy conditions to make the cut at three-over par 147 after shooting 73 but Rory McIlroy was among the big names to miss out on the final two rounds.
Spaniard Rahm had an eventful session back on course, making birdies on the par-3 12th and par-5 15th before, in driving rain, he bogeyed by three-putting the par-3 16th.But the world number three quickly made amends on the par-4 17th, where he rolled in a six-foot putt from the fringe for birdie.
Three-putting the final hole, however, left Rahm on 10-under 134 overall after shooting rounds of 65 and 69 as he targets a second major win to follow his 2021 triumph at the US Open.
Friday's play had been cut short after stormy weather descended on Augusta National, with three of the course's trademark tall pine trees blowing over.
Organizers said that no spectators had been injured by the falling trees and while there was wind and the rain continued to fall on Saturday, there was no sign of thunder or lightning, which would halt play.
Temperatures have dropped sharply in the area, falling from 87 degrees F (30.5 C) in the bright sunshine of the opening round to 50 (10) who had to come back out to complete their rounds.
The rain, which continued during the night, had further softened an already damp Augusta course, slowing down the usually rapid greens.
Four-time major winner Koepka, who plays on the breakaway LIV Golf series, is the man to catch after an outstanding opening two rounds.
At 118th in the world, Koepka would be the lowest-ranked player to win the Masters since the rankings system was introduced in 1986.
The current holder of that distinction is Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who was ranked 69th when he won the green jacket in 2009.
McIlroy shot a five over-par 77 with seven bogeys on Friday, leaving him 17 strokes behind pace-setter Koepka and condemned to his second missed Masters cut in three years.
Sandy Lyle, the first British player to win the Masters in 1988, had been forced to leave the course on Friday whilst on the 18th green in his last Masters.
The Scotsman returned to putt out his round in 83 after his opening round 81 and received an emotional farewell from spectators who had flocked to the green.
- AFP
Leaderboard:
132 - Brooks Koepka (USA) 65-67
134 - Jon Rahm (ESP) 65-69
136 - a-Sam Bennett (USA) 68-68
138 - Collin Morikawa (USA) 69-69, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 65-73
139 - Jason Day (AUS) 67-72, Sam Burns (USA) 68-71, Jordan Spieth (USA) 69-70, Cameron Young (USA) 67-72
140 - Gary Woodland (USA) 68-72, Phil Mickelson (USA) 71-69, Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 71-69, Justin Rose (ENG) 69-71, Russell Henley (USA) 73-67, Shane Lowry (IRL) 68-72
141 - Lee Kyoung-hoon (KOR) 74-67, Ryan Fox (NZL) 70-71, Patrick Reed (USA) 71-70, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 71-70
142 - Harris English (USA) 71-71, Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) 70-72, Tom Kim (KOR) 70-72, Keegan Bradley (USA) 70-72, Xander Schauffele (USA) 68-74, Adam Scott (AUS) 68-74, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 71-71, Cameron Smith (AUS) 70-72
143 - Sepp Straka (AUT) 70-73, Harold Varner (USA) 72-71, Dustin Johnson (USA) 71-72, Scottie Scheffler (USA) 68-75, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 71-72, Tony Finau (USA) 69-74, Sahith Theegala (USA) 73-70, Abraham Ancer (MEX) 72-71
144 - Mito Pereira (CHI) 74-70, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 71-73, Max Homa (USA) 71-73, Chris Kirk (USA) 70-74
2023-04-08 14:47:21
Rahm lurks as delayed Masters second round resumes
After a rainy night Georgia, the delayed second round of the 87th Masters got under way on Saturday with Spaniard Jon Rahm aiming to cut back the three-stroke advantage of early clubhouse leader Brooks Koepka.
Friday's play was cut short after stormy weather descended on Augusta National, with three of the course's trademark tall pine trees blowing over.
While organizers said that no spectators had been injured by the falling trees, the spectacular images will have injected some caution into tournament officials' plans for play during what is expected to be a wet and windy Saturday.
Temperatures have dropped sharply in the area, falling from 87 degrees F (30.5 C) in the bright sunshine of the opening round to 50 (10) for awaiting those returning to finish their second round.
While the rain, which continued during the night, will have further softened an already unusually forgiving course, those players who have completed their second round won't have to contend with any wind and rain until the third round, which is scheduled to begin later on Saturday.
Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, who sits six strokes behind Koepka, is certainly glad to have his second-round work done.
"I think [Saturday] is going to be the worst, 51 high, really windy," he said. "[It's going to] be a very tough weekend. These first two days have been some of the easiest I've seen Augusta play... in my four times here. There hasn't been wind."We've gotten pretty lucky, but Mother Nature is not going to give up come Saturday and Sunday."
Four-time major winner Koepka, who plays on the breakaway LIV Golf series, is the man to catch after an outstanding opening two rounds.
Koepka blitzed the par-5 holes for an eagle and three birdies in a bogey-free second round. His superb shotmaking followed an opening 65, his lowest Masters round, and left him on 12-under 132 for 36 holes, three strokes in front of Rahm.
World number three Rahm was among 39 players still on the course when three trees were toppled by gusty winds near the 17th tee and officials stopped play.
The Spaniard had made three birdies on the front nine and will be looking to close in on the lead as he targets a second major tournament victory following his 2021 US Open win.Some big names face missing the cut when the second round is finally completed.
Rory McIlroy shot a five over-par 77 with seven bogeys on Friday leaving him 17 strokes behind pace-setter Brooks Koepka, and is facing his second missed Masters cut in three years.
Tiger Woods is right on the projected cutline at level for 50th, 2-over par overall with seven holes to complete.
- AFP.
2023-04-08 07:00:23Latest leaderboard after round 2
2023-04-08 06:35:14
Rahm seeks early push as LIV's Koepka leads storm-hit Masters
Jon Rahm looked to make a back-nine charge on Saturday morning in pursuit of Brooks Koepka, who surged to a three-stroke lead in Friday's storm-halted second round of the Masters.
Four-time major winner and LIV Golf rebel Koepka seized command with a sizzling five-under par 67 at Augusta National before a storm that uprooted three trees suspended play until Saturday.
Koepka torched the par-5 holes for an eagle and three birdies in a bogey-free tour. His superb shotmaking followed an opening 65, his lowest Masters round, and left him on 12-under 132 for 36 holes, three strokes in front of Rahm.
"It was really solid. Didn't really do too much wrong," Koepka said. "You've got to make birdies on these par 5s, take advantage of them, and did a good job of that."
After winning last week's LIV Golf event in Orlando, Koepka could produce the PGA Tour's nightmare scenario of a victory on one of golf's greatest stages by a player from the breakaway circuit.
But third-ranked Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion and a three-time PGA Tour winner this year, made a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-5 eighth and a 12-footer for birdie at the ninth before he was halted on the 10th green.
"I'm feeling confident," Rahm said after his first round. "Hopefully I can keep it going."
The Spaniard was among 39 players still on the course when three trees were toppled by gusty winds near the 17th tee and officials stopped play.
Augusta National said there were no injuries.
"The safety and well-being of everyone attending the Masters tournament will always be the top priority of the club," a statement from Augusta National said.
"We will continue to closely monitor weather today and through the tournament."
Koepka, the 2017 and 2018 US Open champion and 2018 and 2019 PGA Championship winner, finished well before the storm.
"The biggest advantage I had was my tee time," Koepka said.
US Amateur champion Sam Bennett fired a 68 to stand third on 136. The 23-year-old Texan could be the first amateur in a Masters last pairing in 65 years and was confident he can defeat Koepka.
"I know that my good golf is good enough," Bennett said. Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa was fourth on 6-under 138 and Norway's ninth-rated Viktor Hovland was at 6-under through 10 holes.
Australia's Jason Day and Americans Sam Burns and Spieth, a three-time major winner, were on 139."The benefit we have, those of us chasing, is that it's going to be incredibly difficult conditions," Spieth said.
"It means a few under goes a long way."
Koepka birdied the par-5 second to grab the solo lead, then curled in a tricky 10-foot par putt at the third.
The 32-year-old American eagled the par-5 eighth to become the fastest Masters player to 10-under since Jordan Spieth on his way to a 2015 victory, then birdied 13 and 15 also.
"It was a clinic for 36 holes," said Koepka's playing partner Gary Woodland. "It was impressive to see."
Koepka is among 18 qualifiers from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League at Augusta National, where talk of the PGA-LIV split has been set aside by players so they can focus on winning the green jacket.
"I don't know if this is the place for healing those wounds," two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal said.
The PGA Tour banned players who jumped to the upstart series for record $25 million purses and 54-hole events and a court fight is set for early 2024, but LIV players can compete in majors.
Tiger on cut line
World number two Rory McIlroy, who needs a Masters victory to complete a career Grand Slam, fired a 77 to stand on 149, three strokes over the projected cut line.
Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler struggled to a 75 to stand on 143.
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner and five-time Masters champion, was level par through 11 holes and on the projected 2-over cutline overall.
Woods, 47, has missed the cut only once in 24 prior Masters starts, as an amateur in 1996, a year before his record-shattering first major triumph at Augusta.
- AFP.
2023-04-07 20:56:59
2023-04-07 20:17:23
LIV's Koepka seizes command at Masters
Four-time major winner and LIV Golf rebel Brooks Koepka seized command of the Masters with a sizzling five-under-par 67 early in Friday's second round at Augusta National.
Koepka torched the famed course's par-5 holes for an eagle and three birdies in a bogey-free round. His superb shotmaking followed an opening 65, his lowest Masters round, and left him on 12-under 132 for 36 holes, four strokes in the lead.
"It was really solid. Didn't really do too much wrong," Koepka said. "You've got to make birdies on these par 5s, take advantage of them, and did a good job of that."
After winning last week's LIV Golf event in Orlando, Koepka could produce the PGA Tour's nightmare scenario of a victory on one of golf's greatest stages by a player from the breakaway circuit.
Koepka made a birdie at the par-5 second to grab the solo lead, then curled in a tricky 10-foot par putt at the third after chipping his approach over the green.
The 32-year-old American, a 2019 Masters runner-up behind Tiger Woods, eagled the par-5 eighth after a brilliant approach shot to reach 10-under, becoming the fastest to that mark at a Masters since Jordan Spieth on his way to victory in 2015.
Koepka cleared Rae's Creek in two at the extended par-5 13th on the way to a tap-in birdie and notched another at the 15th.
US amateur Sam Bennett had five birdies against one bogey to stand second on 8-under through 14 holes with Spain's third-ranked Jon Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion, and Norway's ninth-ranked Viktor Hovland, who had both just started their second rounds, on 7-under.
"I'm feeling confident. Hopefully I can keep it going," Rahm said.
"There's a long way to go."
Australia's Jason Day had two bogeys and a double bogey in the last four holes to stumble in on 72 and on 139 for 36 holes, seven off the lead.
Koepka is among 18 qualifiers from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League at Augusta National, where talk of the PGA-LIV split has been set aside by players so they can focus on winning the green jacket.
"I don't know if this is the place for healing those wounds," two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal said.
Six-time major winner Phil Mickelson of LIV shot 69 to share 11th on 140.
The PGA Tour banned players who jumped to the upstart series for record $25 million purses and 54-hole events and a court fight is set for early 2024, but majors allow LIV golfers who qualify to compete.
"You should still be in the top 50 if you play well enough in all the majors," said Koepka, admitting there is extra pressure needing big efforts at majors to ensure future invitations.
"But if you win one here, it kind ticks a lot of boxes, doesn't it?"
Koepka, the 2017 and 2018 US Open champion and 2018 and 2019 PGA Championship winner, was in the fifth group out Friday with cold, windy and rainy conditions expected by the afternoon and all of Saturday.
"The biggest advantage I had was my tee time," Koepka said.
World number one and defending champion Scottie Scheffler was 2-over on the day and 2-under overall after 14 holes.
Woods, a 15-time major winner and five-time Masters champion, struggled to a 74 on Thursday and after four holes was right on the projected 2-over cutline.
At 47, Woods said he isn't sure how many more Masters he will play, still pained by severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash.
Woods has missed the cut only once in 24 prior Masters starts, as an amateur in 1996, a year before his record-shattering first major triumph at Augusta.
World number two Rory McIlroy, who needs a Masters victory to complete a career Grand Slam, was 4-over overall through 13 holes.
Others likely to miss the cut included LIV's Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson.
- AFP
2023-04-07 19:31:53
2023-04-07 19:30:58Latest leaderboard
2023-04-07 18:16:27
2023-04-07 18:14:18
Jason Day on the move...2023-04-07 17:37:48
LIV's Koepka grabs three-stroke lead at Masters
Four-time major winner and LIV Golf rebel Brooks Koepka made an eagle and a birdie in an early charge to grab a three-stroke lead at the turn in Friday's second round of the 87th Masters.
Koepka had opened with a seven-under-par 65, his best of 25 career rounds at Augusta National, to share the 18-hole lead with Spain's Jon Rahm and Norway's Viktor Hovland.
On Friday, Koepka made a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-5 second to grab the solo lead, then curled in a tricky 10-foot par putt at the third after chipping his approach over the green.
The 32-year-old American, a Masters runner-up behind Tiger Woods in 2009, rolled in a 13-foot eagle putt at the par-5 eighth to reach 10-under for a three-stroke edge.
Koepka, the fastest player to 10-under at a Masters since Jordan Spieth on his way to a 2015 victory, narrowly missed an 11-foot birdie putt on nine but settled for par.
After winning last week's LIV Golf event in Orlando, Koepka could produce the PGA Tour nightmare scenario of a victory by a player from the breakaway circuit, on one of golf's greatest stages.
Koepka was the only player among 18 qualifiers from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League to crack 70 in the first round at Augusta National, where talk of the PGA-LIV split has been set aside by players so they can focus on winning the green jacket.
The PGA Tour banned players who jumped to the upstart series for record $25 million purses and 54-hole events. A court fight is set for early 2024.
Koepka, the 2017 and 2018 US Open champion and 2018 and 2019 PGA Championship winner, was in the fifth group off at Augusta National on Friday as a stormy afternoon forecast prompted officials to start 30 minutes early.
Koepka said his tee time, giving him a chance to finish before brutal wind and heavy rains arrive, was a bigger edge than his sizzling first round.
World number one and defending champion Scottie Scheffler opened with a bogey to stand 3-under while US amateur Sam Bennett birdied the first to share fifth on 5-under.- Tiger near cut line -Woods, a 15-time major winner and five-time Masters champion, had a late start after struggling to a 74 on Thursday.
At 47, Woods said he isn't sure how many more Masters he will play, still pained by severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash. He must fight to make the cut.
Woods has missed the cut only once in 24 prior Masters starts, as an amateur in 1996, a year before his record-shattering first major triumph at Augusta.
World number two Rory McIlroy, who needs a Masters victory to complete a career Grand Slam, opened with a par on Friday to stay on level par overall.
- AFP
2023-04-07 16:32:25Masters 2nd Round Leaderboard
2023-04-07 16:28:47
2023-04-07 15:54:52
2023-04-07 15:51:07
2023-04-07 15:39:17
The second round is under way at the 87th Masters.2023-04-07 14:28:06
2023-04-07 10:21:19
Hard toil for SA trio in Masters opening round
The three South African golfers competing at this year's Masters at Augusta National found the going tough in Thursday's opening round.
READ the full story 2023-04-07 06:47:32
2023-04-07 06:39:46
Hovland, Rahm and Koepka share Masters lead
Norway's Viktor Hovland,Spain's Jon Rahm and American Brooks Koepka shared the first-round lead at theMasters on Thursday after taking advantages of easier-than-usual conditions tocard seven-under par 65s.
Rain in recent days hassoftened Augusta National, making the often rapid and challenging greens muchmore benign, and the trio seized a two-stroke lead over American Cameron Youngand Australian Jason Day.
Favourite, defendingchampion and world number one Scottie Scheffler was one of seven players sittingthree strokes behind the leaders after shooting 68.
But five-time Masterschampion Tiger Woods looks more likely to be fighting to avoid the cut than forthe title after he shot a two-over par 74 in a round that included five bogeys.
Hovland, who was playingin the same group as Woods and Shauffele, got off to a flying start with aneagle on the par-5 second hole, where he followed up a brilliant iron shot witha 25-foot putt.
Further birdies came onthe ninth, 11th and 13th holes but the Norwegian was less tidy in the finalfive, finding himself in trouble on the par-5 15th, where he went far to theleft but he was able to scramble to make par as he ensured he finished bogeyfree.
"I would have takenthat. That was pretty fun. My game has been feeling good," he said.
"But to shoot a 65 bogey-free out here, some things have to go your way...but I also hit a lot of great shots."Rahm's score was evenmore impressive given that he started with a double bogey on the first holeafter four-putting.
But the world numberthree quickly made amends with successive birdies and an eagle on the par-5eighth, where his 249-yard iron shot landed four feet from the pin, meant hereached the turn on three-under.
An excellent back nineleft the Spaniard with a share of the lead and in the strongest position of thepre-tournament favourites.
"If you're going tomake a double-bogey, might as well do it on the first hole of the tournamentwhen you have plenty of holes to make it up," quipped Rahm.
Koepka, who plays in thebreakaway LIV Golf League, made eight birdies with a bogey coming on the newlyextended par-5 13th hole, where he pulled his drive.
He birdied the final twoholes to join Rahm and Hovland atop the leaderboard.
"I drove the ballreally nicely. Left it in some good spots. Even missed quite a few putts....could have been really low but I'll take it, 7-under's pretty good," hesaid.
Rough start for Tiger
Woods made three bogeysin his opening seven holes but he recovered slightly with a birdie on the par-5eighth, where he almost chipped in for an eagle.
After a bogey on the11th, Woods again bounced back with birdies on the 15th and 16th before hisefforts were a little undone by a bogey on the 18th, where he found himself insand trouble.
"I felt like I droveit good," said Woods, "I just didn't do the job I need to do to getthe ball close. Today was the opportune time to get the ball - get the roundunder par, and I didn't do that," he said.
Scheffler got himselfinto the groove with an eagle on the second and is well placed for asecond-round push.
Also on 68 were Ireland'sShane Lowry, Americans Xander Shauffele, Sam Burns and Gary Woodland along withAustralian Adam Scott.Reigning US Amateurchampion Sam Bennett had a memorable round, matching Sheffler's score with hisbogey-free round.
World number two RoryMcIlroy finished on even-par after an inconsistent round that saw him make fivebirdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-4 seventh.
Tee times for Friday wereadvanced 30 minutes for a 7:30 am start with rain and wind forecast for lateFriday through Saturday, which could hurt those caught on the course at thewrong time.
First round scores on Thursday in the 87th Masters at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia:
65 - Brooks Koepka (USA), Viktor Hovland (NOR), Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Jason Day (AUS), Cameron Young (USA)
68 - Gary Woodland (USA), Scottie Scheffler (USA), Sam Bennett (USA), Sam Burns (USA), Xander Schauffele (USA), Adam Scott (AUS), Shane Lowry (IRL)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Tony Finau (USA), Jordan Spieth (USA), Collin Morikawa (USA)
70 - Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG), Keegan Bradley (USA), Scott Stallings (USA), Chris Kirk (USA), Justin Thomas (USA), Tom Kim (KOR), Ryan Fox (NZL), Cameron Smith (AUS), Sepp Straka (AUT)
71 - Joaquin Niemann (CHI), Hideki Matsuyama (JPN), Im Sung-jae (KOR), Dustin Johnson (USA), Patrick Reed (USA), Fred Couples (USA), Phil Mickelson (USA), Harris English (USA), Patrick Cantlay (USA), Max Homa (USA), Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
72 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Harold Varner III (USA), Talor Gooch (USA), Kevin Kisner (USA), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Abraham Ancer (MEX), Mike Weir (CAN), Rory McIlroy (NIR)
73 - Corey Conners (CAN), Adrian Meronk (POL), Seamus Power (IRL), Kim Si-woo (KOR), Billy Horschel (USA), Jason Kokrak (USA), Russell Henley (USA), Taylor Moore (USA), Sahith Theegala (USA)
74 - Tiger Woods (USA), Tom Hoge (USA), Bryson DeChambeau (USA), JT Poston (USA), Lee Kyung-hoon (KOR), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Guillermo Pereira (CHI), Sergio Garcia (ESP), Thomas Pieters (BEL)
75 - Vijay Singh (FIJ), Adam Svensson (CAN), Min Woo Lee (AUS), Harrison Crowe (AUS), Bernhard Langer (GER), Zach Johnson (USA), Ben Carr (USA), Danny Willett (ENG), Kurt Kitayama (USA), Keith Mitchell (USA)
76 - Cameron Champ (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Kazuki Higa (JPN), Mackenzie Hughes (CAN), Mateo Fernndez de Oliveira (ARG)
77 - Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP), Aldrich Potgieter (RSA), Bubba Watson (USA), Brian Harman (USA), Gordon Sargent (USA), Matthew McClean (NIR)
78 - Alexander Noren (SWE)
79 - Larry Mize (USA)
81 - Sandy Lyle (SCO)
Kevin Na (USA) W/D
Will Zalatoris (USA) W/D
- AFP
2023-04-06 22:28:34
Leaderboard update2023-04-06 21:52:25
South African player update
Charl Schwartzel is currently +2 and through 14.
Louis Oosthuizen is currently +4 and his first round is over.
Teenager Aldrich Potgieter is +6 and through 14.
2023-04-06 21:47:26Here's the current leaderboard at the 87th Masters.
2023-04-06 21:42:06
A tough day for the 5-time champion. He is currently 11 off the pace. 2023-04-06 21:41:17
Viktor Hovland is the early leader at the Masters!2023-04-06 19:48:09
Hovland sets the pace as Tiger toils at the Masters
Norway's Viktor Hovland set the early pace at the 87th Masters on Thursday, reaching the turn at five-under par while five-time champion Tiger Woods toiled with three early bogeys.
Hovland got off to a flying start at Augusta National with an eagle on the par-5 second hole, where he followed up a brilliant iron shot with a 25-foot putt, and then the 25-year-old went three strokes clear of the field when he birdied the ninth.
Woods, playing in the same group as Hovland, made three bogeys in his opening seven holes but he recovered slightly with a birdie on the par-5 eighth, where he almost chipped in for an eagle.
Spain's Jon Rahm did eagle that hole with his outstanding approach shot leaving him with a five-foot eagle putt to take him to three-under through eight holes, two strokes behind Hovland.
The action got under way after former winners Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson provided the traditional ceremonial launch to the year's first major tournament.
Temperatures were rising throughout the morning towards the expected high of 87 degrees F and the skies were overcast. Conditions were dry although rain is forecast for later in the week and could impact the schedule.
American Kevin Na withdrew due to illness after playing the first nine holes at 4-over par 40 at Augusta National.
The 39-year-old South Korean-born American was is of 18 players from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League who qualified for the Masters.
- AFP
2023-04-06 16:40:59
Ex-rebel Nicklaus says LIV issues aren't like PGA's start
Jack Nicklaus recalled his 1968 days as a breakaway rebel who helped create the PGA Tour on Thursday at the Masters but said that split wasn't comparable to today's LIV Golf-PGA dispute.
The 83-year-old American legend, whose record 18 major wins include a record six Masters titles, joined Tom Watson and Gary Player for ceremonial tee shots at Augusta National to begin the year's first major golf tournament.
Nicklaus backs the PGA Tour in its ongoing fight with Saudi-backed LIV Golf, having said last year he rejected $100 million overtures for a LIV leadership role because his allegiance was to the PGA Tour he helped create 55 years ago.
"The tour has taken our collective rights and done a very good job with it to where the players today, you can see how much money the guys make when they play tournament golf now," Nicklaus said.
"I think the tour has done a really, really good job with that."
But several top PGA stars disagreed and departed last year for record $25 million purses in 54-hole events at LIV Golf despite Saudi human rights concerns, the PGA banning them from its events.
A court fight is set for early 2024 on the matter.
Nicklaus was among those in 1968 who led a revolt for higher pro purses from growing television revenues while PGA leaders wanted funds for grass-roots growth of the sport.
Players formed a breakaway group but a compromise was reached and they played under the PGA umbrella, creating what became the PGA Tour.
"When you signed your entry form, you signed away all your rights for everything. And the players didn't feel that was fair," Nicklaus said.
"They didn't have the ability to legally do anything on their own.
"It's hard to remember a whole lot about it, but it was more about freedom to use your own rights."
Phil Mickelson, who championed LIV's cause, had talked up such issues before LIV's start last June, but Nicklaus dismissed the idea of similar roots.
"The complaint they've had today, they said it's a very similar situation. Well, I don't think it was a similar situation," Nicklaus said.
"The tour has allowed you to do the things you need to do individually... it's similar in some ways but not really, realistically, what was going on."
All three legends supported a new R&A and US Golf Association proposal for a local rule starting in 2026 to create limited-distance balls used only by professionals. They have called for such a ball for years.
"They've got to cut the ball back," said 87-year-old South African Player, a nine-time major winner.
"Otherwise, the technology and the whole objective of golf is going to be imbalanced."
Player, a three-time Masters winner, wants more reduction than proposed, saying great technology advancements are coming.
"I get pretty concerned about how much they are going to cut the ball back... 20 yards is not enough," he said.
"For the players, you have to cut it back 40 yards."
"We're going to run out of land," Nicklaus said.
"What the USGA and the R&A have done is a good start."
Watson, a 73-year-old American whose eight major triumphs include two Masters and five British Opens, has changed his mind to favour the pro-only ball.
"If you just went with one ball, what would happen in 2026 to the hundreds of millions of golf balls produced?" Watson wondered.
"That's a billion dollars of losses."
- AFP
2023-04-06 14:17:48
Masters gets under way at overcast Augusta
The 87th Masters gotunder way on Thursday with the world's top golfers, from both sides of thesport's PGA Tour-LIV Golf divide, set to do battle at Augusta National.
Former winners JackNicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson, drove off the first tee as honorarystarters in the traditional ceremonial launch to the year's first majortournament.
Conditions were warm withtemperatures expected to reach 87 degrees Fahrenheit, overcast but dry although rain isforecast for later in the week and could impact the schedule.
Canada's Mike Weir, the2003 Masters champion, was the first player in the field to get under way,playing in the opening pair with American Kevin Na.
Na is one of 18 playersin the field from the new Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, which is locked inbitter legal battles with the established PGA Tour.
This Masters is the firsttime that the top-ranked players from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are in the samefield at Augusta National.
The PGA Tour has bannedLIV players, with their US court fight set to begin early next year.Just hours before thestart, a tribunal in London ruled against LIV players in their dispute with theDP World Tour, formerly the European Tour.
The arbitration panelruled that the DP World Tour was entitled to sanction the players for appearingin LIV events without authorization.
The full impact of thatdecision will unfold in the coming weeks, but players have insisted their focusthis week is on the battle for the green jacket.
World number one ScottieScheffler is looking to become just the fourth player to win back-to-backMasters.
The American world numberone is the bookmaker's favourite to slip into the famous green jacket when thefour rounds are complete on Sunday evening.
Scheffler has been amodel of consistency over the past 14 months, which has seen him win six PGATour titles, most recently at the Players Championship in March.
Only Nicklaus, Nick Faldoand Tiger Woods have achieved successive victories in the Masters.
Woods will also be out onthe pristine course later on Thursday in what he has speculated could be one ofhis last appearances in the tournament he has won five times.
Dampening expectations
A victory for Woods wouldsee him equal Nicklaus' record of six triumphs in the Masters, but hampered bya series of injuries, the 47-year-old has been dampening expectations.
"I don't know howmany more I have in me," Woods said. "So just [have] to be able toappreciate the time I have here and cherish the memories."
Last year's runner-up,Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, is hoping to finally complete his career GrandSlam with a long-awaited Masters triumph.
McIlroy has been aleading supporter of the PGA Tour, for whom a nightmare scenario would be thesight of a LIV rebel celebrating in the green jacket - not an entirely fancifulnotion.
Australian Cameron Smith,the reigning British Open champion, tied for third at Augusta last year, whilefellow LIV Golf player Brooks Koepka has won four majors and Dustin Johnson,who won LIV's first season, triumphed in Augusta three years ago.
The PGA Tour has a muchdeeper list of contenders with world number three Jon Rahm of Spain, 2015winner Jordan Spieth and two-time major winner Justin Thomas among those inwith a chance.
- AFP
2023-04-06 14:07:36
Scheffler readies for Masters repeat bid
Scottie Scheffler willlaunch his bid to become just the fourth golfer to win back-to-back Masters onThursday when the 87th edition of the tournament gets under way at AugustaNational.
The American world numberone is the bookmaker's favourite to slip into the famous green jacket when thefour rounds are complete on Sunday evening.
The build-up has beendominated by the presence, for the first time at the Masters, of players fromthe breakaway, Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour and that focus is unlikely to fade.
Players who took lucrativemulti-million dollar deals to sign with LIV are expected to learn on Thursdaythe outcome of a London arbitration panel ruling on whether the DP World Tourwas within its right to fine and suspend European players for taking part inLIV events, as the PGA Tour has done.
The rancour, however, hasbeen put aside on the practice range and players from both camps have avoidedsome of the barbed comments that have accompanied the disputes.
But with so much attentionon the divisions, the sport is in desperate need of a feel-good story or amoment of golfing drama or brilliance on Sunday.
It is unlikely to come fromfive-time Masters winner Tiger Woods, who continues to battle with the achesand pains of his multiple injuries.
Woods has speculated thismay be one of his final appearances at Augusta National but will be hoping toproduce at least some nostalgic glimmers of his former greatness.
Scheffler may not have thecharisma and star quality of Woods, but his consistency over the past 14months, which has seen him win six PGA Tour titles, makes him the man to beat.
The 26-year-old won thePlayers Championship in March and he warmed-up for the Masters with ahole-in-one during the traditional par-three contest on Wednesday.
Only Jack Nicklaus, NickFaldo and Woods have achieved successive victories in the Masters and Scheffleris trying not to think too much about a rare repeat.
"Everybody starts evenpar. Just because you're defending doesn't mean you get to start at1-under," he said. "I'll be approaching it just like I do a lot ofother tournaments."
Rory chases career Slam
Last year's runner-up,Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, is hoping to finally complete his career GrandSlam with a long-awaited Masters triumph.
"I don't need to doanything differently this week. I go out and play the way that I know that Ican, get myself in with a chance to win," said the world number two.
"Then those lastcouple hours on Sunday... it's about who can hold it together the best."
McIlroy has been a leadingsupporter of the PGA Tour, for whom a nightmare scenario would be the sight ofa LIV rebel celebrating in the green jacket - not an entirely fanciful notion.
Australian Cameron Smith,the reigning British Open champion, tied for third at Augusta last year, whilefellow LIV Golf player Brooks Koepka has won four majors and Dustin Johnson,who won LIV's first season, triumphed in Augusta three years ago.
The PGA Tour has a deeperlist of contenders with world number three Jon Rahm of Spain, 2015 winnerJordan Spieth and two-time major winner Justin Thomas among those in with achance.
Augusta is a tough course,with intimidating, usually fast greens, but rain is in the forecast for thenext four days.
The course tends to rewardthe brave, said 1987 winner Larry Mize, playing in his final Masters.
"You've got to respectthis golf course," he said. "But you can't play in fear out there orit's going to be a long week."
- AFP
2023-04-06 14:07:21
2023-04-06 07:10:51
Hoge risks Masters curse, edges LIV golf's Bubba in Par-3 Contest win
Tom Hoge overtook LIVGolf's Bubba Watson with an ace-birdie finish to win Wednesday's Masters Par-3Contest, risking an Augusta National curse on the eve of the 87th Masters.
No Par-3 Contest winnerhas captured the green jacket in the same year, thus building the tradition ofa Masters hoodoo.
Two-time Masters championWatson, who aced the 70-yard fourth hole, led the Contest on 5-under and for awhile it seemed the Saudi-backed upstart LIV Golf League might grab an AugustaNational triumph of sorts before the Masters even began.
But Hoge, a 33-year-oldAmerican who won his only PGA title last year at Pebble Beach, had no problemgoing for the victory on the special 1 055-yard nine-hole layout.
At the 120-yard eighthhole, Hoge saw his ball backspin into the hole to match Watson for the lead.
"Was cool to seethat go in," Hoge said.
At the 135-yard ninth,Hoge curled in a long birdie putt to seize the lead, Watson settling for ashare of second with US compatriot Kurt Kitayama.
"Just a fun day outhere with my wife caddying for me," Hoge said. "Good start to theweek, so try to keep that going."
World number 26 Hoge, whoresides in often-snowy North Dakota, was 39th last year in his Masters debut.There were five aces inall in the Par-3 Contest, a relaxed event with kids and parents as caddies beforethe intense Masters spotlight shines.
Scheffler aces ninth
World number one ScottieScheffler, the defending Masters champion, aced the ninth hole - a good omenas he tries to match Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as the onlyback-to-back green jacket winners.
"The slam dunk atthe end was definitely very fun," Scheffler said.
Tom Watson in 1982 andCanada's Mike Weir in 2004 were the only other defending champions to make ahole-in-one in the Par-3 Contest.
Ireland's Seamus Powerhad the other two aces at the eighth and ninth holes, becoming only the thirdplayer with back-to-back aces in the Contest after American Claude Harmon in1968 and Japan's Toshi Izawa in 2002.
"It's a dream cometrue," Power said. "To get one was special but to get the second onewas a bit surreal. It was an absolute blast out there.
"I don't know whether it carries into tomorrow, but it's certainly a lifelong memory that I'll treasure for a long time."
- AFP
2023-04-05 14:49:05
2023-04-05 14:13:37
2023-04-05 09:56:51
Same ol' Scheffler unchanged by Masters win, world No. 1 spot
A year after winning the Masters for his first major title, top-ranked Scottie Scheffler's life remains pretty much unchanged.
The 26-year-old American swears that trying to match Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters champions doesn't offer any extra motivation this week at Augusta National.
Scheffler says he doesn't get any confidence boost from being world number one, he kept his green jacket in the closet for most of the past year and his biggest indulgence with prize money is a cold tub that still isn't running.Success has come from his fantastic shotmaking but it clearly hasn't gone to his head.
Scheffler, who won his sixth career PGA Tour title at last month's Players Championship, said Tuesday he's not really looking for a major championship legacy.
"Legacy at the end of this is not really why I play," Scheffler said. "With that being said, any time you can get mentioned in the same breath as a Tiger and a Jack and a Nick Faldo is really special.
"But it's not a motivating factor for me to come out here and play. It's so special and cool when it happens, but it doesn't motivate me."
Scheffler says all he wants is the chance to play his best and have a good attitude about whatever happens.
"Wherever that ends up in my career, I'll be happy with," Scheffler said. "Legacy is just a complicated thing. In 100 years I'm going to be forgotten and it's not a big deal."
Scheffler won four titles in an epic two-month stretch last year capped by a Masters triumph and defended his PGA Phoenix Open title this year before capturing the Players.He takes a matter-of-fact attitude about topping the rankings.
"I wouldn't say it gives me my sort of special confidence," Scheffler said. "It's a math algorithm. So for me to sit here and tell you guys I'm the best player in the world is not really my style."
Scheffler drives a white 2012 GMC Yukon XL, just like he did before winning $2.7 million last April.
"I haven't got a new car. Still in the same house," Scheffler said. "I bought a cold tub. That was a pretty big indulgence. Still not running at home, but we bought it."
Tequila celebration
A big deal for Scheffler is buying a bottle of tequila to celebrate a victory.
"That's pretty much the extent that it gets," he said. "Eventually maybe I'll get a new car. I don't know. I'm not huge on that kind of stuff."The green jacket symbolic of Masters supremacy went to NHL and Major League Baseball games but not much more.
"I didn't do too much with the jacket," Scheffler said. "It stayed in my closet... Just enjoyed it being in the house."
Scheffler calls it "a ton of fun" to have more fans backing him at events but insists there's nothing else much different.
"When people see it happen on TV, they expect you to change," Scheffler said. "But when it comes to life at home, everything is still the exact same.
"I still have the same friends. I married the same girl I (dated) in high school. My family definitely doesn't treat me any different.
"So it's no shock his preparation this week is basically like last year."I've kept things pretty similar," he said. "Outside of getting here a few hours earlier on Sunday so I could play more golf."
- AFP
2023-04-05 08:21:21
Masters brings golf's divided best back together to do battle
The world's greatest golfers face each other on Thursday for the first time since the bitter LIV Golf-PGA Tour split divided the sport and appropriately it is the timeless tranquility of Augusta National that provides the arena.
Given the tradition of the Masters tournament, with the famous winner's green jacket, the striking absence of advertising, the pristine course and the palpable sense of historic significance, it is perhaps not surprising that both sides of the divide caused by the breakaway Saudi-backed LIV Golf League have been observing an informal cease-fire.
Legal battles remain to be fought and the name-calling may well resume next week but the words of those involved in the first major tournament of the year have been a refreshing acknowledgement that Augusta is no place for public squabbling.
"I think this tournament is bigger than all of that," said Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the world number two.
"It's narrative and a storyline, but the Masters and the four major championships sit above all that noise, and that's the way it should be this week."
Not everyone received the memo.
LIV Golf's chief executive officer, Greg Norman, talked in a pre-tournament interview of the entire LIV contingent being ready to crowd around the 18th green to celebrate a victory by of one of their 18 competitors.
But it was noticable that McIlroy, who has been one of the most partisan backers of the established PGA Tour, chose to practice on Tuesday with one of the top LIV contenders, American Brooks Koepka.
McIlroy has been rotating top spot in golf's rankings with current world number one Scottie Scheffler and Spaniard Jon Rahm and that trio are among the favorites to triumph on Sunday at the end of what is forecast to be a rain-affected four days.
"You've seen just a pretty high level of consistency from us so far this year," defending champion Scheffler said. "We've been pretty close to winning most of the elevated events."
McIlroy would complete the career Grand Slam with a victory on Sunday while Rahm would become the fourth Spaniard to win at Augusta after Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.
LIV has contenders
Critics might dismiss the LIV contingent as having opted for a lucrative 'retirement' from elite competition, their ranks contain plenty of players with experience at clinching major titles.
Australian Cameron Smith, the reigning British Open champion, tied for third at Augusta last year, Koepka has won four majors and Dustin Johnson, who won LIV's first season, put on the green jacket in 2020.
Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, 52, would be a surprise challenger at this stage of his career but Augusta always has room for nostalgia and the veterans never need reminding that in 1986, Jack Nicklaus won at the age of 46.
More recently, in 2019, Tiger Woods became the second oldest player to win the tournament, with his remarkable comeback victory at the age of 43.
Woods, though, is sadly now in the nostalgia category, his multiple injuries restricting his participation in the PGA Tour and leaving him worrying about if his body will survive four rounds and if this might be his final Masters.
"I don't know how many more I have in me," said the 15-time major winner, who was in a reflective mood.
"It's such a special place and it means so much to me in my heart to be able to come here and play this golf course and just appreciate the memories that I've had here."
Former winners Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson will get the tournament under way on Thursday with the ceremonial start.
For those wondering which of the 88 players in the field will be sliding on the green jacket as the sun sets on Sunday, it's perhaps worth recalling Nicklaus's famous reflection on the course.
"Augusta National is a young man's golf course," he said. "And you really need a young man's nerves to play on it."
- AFP
2023-04-05 08:19:06Tiger Woods admitted on Tuesday he wonders each time he plays the Masters if it's his last competing at Augusta National, where he has won five of his 15 major titles.Read more2023-04-05 08:18:25Welcome to News24 Sport's coverage of the 87th Masters at Augusta National.
