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The Masters is arguably the most anticipated major of the year. For both players and fans, it is the end of an eighth-month long wait between majors. The beauty of Augusta National and the unique history of tournament add to its allure. For the players, victory grants them entry into a select club, both figuratively and literally. Therefore the event is never short of storylines. Here are four that we think are worth watching this year:
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The PGA Tour vs LIV Golf
This year’s Masters will be the first time ever that players on the LIV Tour will match up against players on the PGA Tour. The Masters runs a tight ship though, so you can expect them to do everything in their power to minimise the risk of controversy or conflict with the 16 LIV golf players invited to the event. It’s therefore extremely unlikely that we will see Rory McIlroy paired with Sergio Garcia or Patrick Reed, or Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the same group in the first two rounds, but there is still the possibility that some of these players could end up playing together on the weekend depending on their scores.
“The feeling, the atmosphere you get around here is unlike anywhere else.” – Cameron Smith #themasters pic.twitter.com/mpyKnSGk5n
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 3, 2023
Personal clashes aside, the presence of players from both tours raises the stakes for everyone. The PGA Tour players, especially McIlroy and Woods, won’t want to see the green jacket placed on the shoulders of a LIV “defector”, while the LIV players will want to prove they haven’t lost their edge by moving to less demanding tour that offers guaranteed prize money.
“I think for us, internally, there’s a lot of chatter going around about ‘these guys don’t play real golf anymore.’, Cameron Smith said recently. “And I think it’s B.S. to be honest. And we just want to show people that.”
️ “For me it’s the same. All my buddies are still my buddies.”
Dustin Johnson responds to questions about the dynamic at Augusta with PGA Tour and LIV Golf players going head to head for the first time. pic.twitter.com/EgKGTi5L8F
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 3, 2023
However LIV players like Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson are downplaying any possible rivalries and insist other players are behaving normally, Bryson deChambeau commented that Tiger Woods has cut off all communication with him.
Fans too are opinionated on the subject and the media of course is enjoying the story of potential controversy, so this issue will surely not go away.
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Will this be McIlroy’s year ?
The four-time major champion, Rory McIlroy is just missing a green jacket from his collection
McIlroy’s drought at the majors has now lasted eight years but he has been playing some of his best golf over the last nine months or so and is one of the favourites to win the Green Jacket. Woods aside, it’s hard to imagine there being a more popular winner than McIlroy. A win would also give Rory the career Grand Slam and cement his place as one of the greatest players of his generation, if not the greatest. Rory has finished in the top 10 in 7 of his previous 9 starts at Augusta – so he obviously is comfortable on the course.
Those are big stakes as it is but his newfound stature as the voice of the PGA Tour adds another layer of intrigue to the event. A victory for McIlroy will be seen as a victory for the tour against LIV Golf.
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Will Scottie Scheffler become just the fourth player to defend his title?
Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion is in a tremendous form and is surely a favourite to defend his title
Reigning champion Scheffler is the bookmaker’s favourite to win the 2023 title. He’s already won twice this season, is the World No. 1, and is coming off a semi-final appearance in the Dell WGC match play event.
The defending champion knows his way around No. 16. #themasters pic.twitter.com/gZzIJwZhJN
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 3, 2023
That said, it is notoriously difficult to repeat at Major tournaments. In the almost 90-year history of the tournament, only three men have managed to put the green jacket on themselves: Jack Nicklaus in 1965 and 1966, Nick Faldo in 1989 and 1990, and Tiger Woods in 2000 and 2001.
If Scheffler joins them, he would be in pretty good company.
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How will Jordan Spieth do?
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Jordan Spieth comes to Augusta National in good form, and good spirits. #themasters pic.twitter.com/oZdyHwAxbz
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 4, 2023
Obviously, Spieth has a history of playing well at Augusta, but he also had one of the tournament’s biggest ever collapses in 2016 and hasn’t been the same player since then. Last year he missed the cut in the Masters for the first time in his career but he remains one of the most popular players on tour.
This season he has been in contention a few times but hasn’t yet won. In last
month’s Valspar Championship in Texas, he was tied for lead on the back nine but hit his tee shot into the water on the 16th and made bogey. He then missed a 6-foot putt for birdie on 17th and three-putted the 18th for another bogey to finish tied for third. It’s fair to say he looked a bit shaky in the big moments.
Still, he could put it all together at Augusta and add a second green jacket to his wardrobe. Or he could fail to make the cut again. Either way, he makes for compelling viewing and fans will be following his progress during the week.
Credits:-
Photo – PGA TOUR