Evin Priest
The famous Masters tournament begins on Thursday night at Augusta National Golf Club, and as usual, the stage is set for a weekend of high drama, brilliant golf and one or two unpredictable storylines.
Here is a handy guide of everything you need to know to be ready for the opening tee times.
What’s the lay of the land?
The golf world is a year on from Rory McIlroy’s emotional Masters victory which allowed the Northern Irishman to complete golf’s coveted career grand slam of all four majors.
McIlroy has taken part in all the festivities typical of the previous year’s winner, including the milestone of hosting the champion’s dinner on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the tournament is reeling from the absence of multiple Masters winners Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Woods pleaded not guilty after being arrested on suspicion of misdemeanour DUI last month and is undergoing treatment overseas. Mickelson is taking time out from the game due to a “personal health matter.” Meanwhile, two-time US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau is keen to reignite his feisty rivalry with McIlroy after surrendering his lead to final group partner McIlroy last year.
Can McIlroy go back-to-back?
Probably not. Only three golfers have won consecutive Masters: Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods. It seems likely McIlroy won’t have enough in the tank to win after dealing with the Masters champion’s itinerary of being at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on the Saturday prior, handing out awards, and the champion’s dinner.
Where can I watch?
The tournament is being broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo, in the below windows.
Thursday April 9 – Round 1 – Featured Groups from 11pm (all times AEST)
Friday April 10 – Round 1 – Amen Corner from 12.45am
Friday April 10 – Round 1 (World Feed) from 3am
Friday April 10 – Round 2 – Featured Groups from 11pm
Saturday April 11 – Round 2 – Amen Corner from 12.45am
Saturday April 11 – Round 2 (World Feed) from 3am
Sunday April 12 – Round 3 – Featured Groups from 12:00am
Sunday April 12 – Round 3 – Amen Corner from 1:45am
Sunday April 12 – Round 3 (World Feed) from 2am
Monday April 13 – Final Round – Featured Groups from 12am
Monday April 13 – Final Round – Amen Corner from 1.45am
Monday April 13 – Final Round (World Feed) from 2am
What are the Australians’ tee times (in AEST)?
11.19pm (Thursday): Cameron Smith, Sam Burns, Jake Knapp.
11.43pm: Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry.
2.03am: (Friday) Adam Scott, Daniel Berger, Brian Harman.
2.15am: Min Woo Lee, Fred Couples, Fifa Laopakdee (amateur).
How about the big names?
11.55pm AEST (Thursday): Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia
12.07am: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
12.31am: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Mason Howell (a)
3.08am: Jon Rahm, Chris Gotterup, Ludvig Åberg
3.20am: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka
3.44am: Scottie Scheffler, Robert MacIntyre, Gary Woodland
Can an Aussie win?
If you’re looking for a good omen, there are four golfers in the Australian contingent – the same number that teed up when Scott won the 2013 Masters.
Min-Woo Lee is by far Australia’s best chance to claim the green jacket given he has been in contention the most leading up to April. The Perth bomber hasn’t finished worse than tied 38th on the PGA Tour in seven starts, while two of his top 10 results have come at elite Signature Events – the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the brutal Bay Hill. Lee was tied third in Houston, his last start before Augusta. The 27-year-old’s strokes gained rankings suggest he will contend: seventh in driving, 50th in iron play and
28th in putting.
Jason Day is our next best hope having finished tied second at the PGA Tour’s American Express event in January while he also shared sixth at the Houston Open in his last hit-out before Augusta. There is also a noticeably calm and Zen demeanour from the former world No.1, who has five top-10s at Augusta National including a runner-up and a third place finish. Day is walking tall knowing he has worked hard to raise the average apex of his ball flight with the irons from 100 feet to 130 feet and he believes it is the key to stopping
the ball on Augusta’s quick and contoured greens.
The scouting report on Australia’s only Masters champion, 45-year-old Adam Scott, is that his approach shots rank an impressive third on the PGA Tour this season, and Augusta is famously a golf course suited to the very best iron players.
Having missed the cut in the past five majors, Cameron Smith is flying under the radar. But the 2022 British Open champion looks slimmer and fitter and hungry for a second major. His results have been solid over the past four months, including a heartbreaking runner-up at the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne and two top-10s from five LIV Golf starts. Smith can never be counted out at Augusta given he owns five Masters top-10s including a joint runner-up in 2020, and a share of sixth two years ago.
Who are the main contenders?
Cameron Young is the most appealing given one of golf’s most prolific ball-strikers now putts like an elite player, too. His victory at the Players Championship last month was defiant, including several clutch putts on the back nine at TPC Sawgrass and that thundering 340-metre drive over the water on the final hole.
The 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm is looking ominous given his LIV Golf results read: second, second, win, fifth, and second. Ludvig Aberg’s Masters run of second and seventh in his only two appearances make him a serious threat, while Lee’s three top-six results on the PGA Tour this year, and firepower off the tee, has earned him player-to-watch status.
What about a smokey?
Keep an eye on Patrick Reed. The 2018 Masters champion, who recently departed LIV Golf for the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, was well in contention on Sunday at last year’s Masters but three-putted the par-5 13th and faded to third place. This year, Reed went on a tear in the Middle East, winning the elite Dubai Desert Classic and another DP World Tour event as well as a second placing.
Hole(s) that will decide the tournament
Pundits place enormous significance on Amen Corner – the iconic par-3 12th and the par-5 13th – on the final day. But it’s overrated in the strategic contribution to the champion.
The 12th and 13th are important, but a golfer’s confidence around Amen Corner is dependent on their performance around the brutal stretch of the 10th and 11th.
Those two par 4s link the front nine with Amen Corner and playing well there frees a contender up to be slightly more aggressive on Amen Corner. The 10th demands players shape their tee shots aggressively right to left and presents a stressful approach shot to a narrow green with a typical back pin placement on Sunday. The approach around the water hazard on the 11th can make or break a player’s run to the green jacket.
