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Key occasions
One other bogey for Aaron Rai. He dunks his tee shot on the par-three twelfth into the bunker guarding the entrance – higher than the drink, at the very least – and might’t stand up and down. Again-to-back bogeys, and immediately Stephan Jaeger has a two-shot lead. Issues change quick on the Masters.
-4: Jaeger (10)
-2: Rai (12), Niemann (8), Scheffler (7), Hatton (7), Campbell (4), McCarty (2)
The primary match is again within the clubhouse. A disappointing finish to Davis Riley’s up-and-down spherical: bogey-bogey and the Masters debutant, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, ends the day with a one-over 73. His taking part in associate Patton Kizzire by no means obtained going, and at present props up all the leaderboard after capturing a seven-over 79.
Collin Morikawa’s second into the par-five eighth is a factor of magnificence. A fairway wooden that bounces off the camber to the correct of the inexperienced and gathers into the center of the taking part in floor. Two cautious putts and that’s his first birdie of the day. He’s -1, and one of many pre-tournament favourites appears to be like fairly happy, having patiently waited for one thing to occur for him.
Aaron Rai appears to be like to have performed the treacherous eleventh properly. A drive down the center. An method into Larry Mize’s swale to the correct of the inexperienced, taking the water on the neglected of play and leaving a reasonably fundamental (for these lads) uphill chip. However a weak chip dies off to the left, and he can’t make the dribbly four-footer that continues to be. A primary bogey of the time out of nowhere.
-4: Jaeger (10)
-3: Rai (11)
-2: Niemann (8), Scheffler (7), Hatton (6)
Justin Thomas goes on walkabout once more, this time up 7. Form of up 7. He sends his tee shot to the left of the treeline down the left. As a substitute of chipping sideways to the green, he opts to knock his second up the third, which runs parallel, to a spot between the third tee and the 2nd inexperienced. From there, he wedges from 45 yards to 10 ft, then strokes within the par saver. JT hanging on in there at +1.
Tyrrell Hatton suffers a rush of blood to the noggin. A stunning tee shot into the par-three sixth. Pin excessive, 15 ft to the correct of the flag. A fairly straight putt. However he shoves it barely, and provides it a uncommon outdated clack too. Six ft previous. However whereas he will be notoriously rash, he’s a scrapper as properly, and he makes the one coming again to salvage his par. He stays at -2.
Stephan Jaeger grabs a share of the lead, hitting the flip in 32 after knocking his method from 140 yards on the light dogleg-left ninth to 10 ft. With Jordan Spieth dropping a shot at 4, there’s now a bit little bit of separation on the high.
-4: Rai (10), Jaeger (9)
-2: Niemann (7), Scheffler (6), Hatton (5)
Scottie Scheffler very almost rakes in one other monster, this time from the perimeter on the par-three sixth. Only a tap-in par. Simply! What Bob MacIntyre would have given for a type of. In the meantime some excellent news for Jose Luis Ballester, who responds to that seven on 5 by clipping his tee shot at 6 to eight ft and strolling within the birdie putt. That’s met with a heat, supportive cheer from the patrons. And it’s a wierd par for the third member of the group, Justin Thomas, who mishits his tee shot, carving it proper and manner wanting the inexperienced. He wedges shut to stay at +1, having shipped a stroke at 5.
A mini-disaster for Robert MacIntyre on 7. His method finds greenside sand, however he appears to be like to have salvaged par by forking out to a few ft. Nevertheless he sends the par putt three ft previous, then does precisely the identical factor with the one coming again. Three putts from three ft, and immediately that’s a double bogey out of nowhere. He’s +1.
The amateurs are discovering it robust. Evan Beck bogeys 1. Noah Kent, who briefly held a share of the lead at -2, has adopted up bogeys at 7 and eight with a three-putt double at 10; he’s +2. And Jose Luis Ballester comes up brief together with his second at 5, then sends his chip by means of the inexperienced into sand on the again. A triple-bogey seven and the younger Spaniard crashes right down to +5.
Par for Aaron Rai at 9. The Masters debutant turns in 32. In the meantime the very early chief Davis Riley hauls himself again into rivalry with birdies at 11, 12 and 15 to maneuver again into pink figures. He’s -1 once more.
Scottie Scheffler rakes one in from downtown on the par-three 4th! That’s an absurd birdie! A mean tee shot by his requirements into the center of the inexperienced, 62 ft away from the back-right flag. He whistles a putt throughout a ridge and straight in, hitting the again of the cup and slam-dunking down. Ooo-wee, that was going at some pace! Had it not been bang on line, he’d have been confronted with a 15-footer coming again, and staring bogey within the face. However that’s a two, and he acknowledges the gallery with a nonchalance that implies he at all times knew that was getting in. Champions do what champions do, plus a full ten out of ten for poker face. Birdies for Tyrrell Hatton and Jordan Spieth at 3, in the meantime, and this leaderboard already has a beautiful look to it!
-4: Rai (8)
-3: Jaeger (7)
-2: Niemann (5), Scheffler (4), Spieth (3), Hatton (3)
The 67-year-old veteran Bernhard Langer hits the flip in a blemish-free 35. He’d be capable to promote that for money cash to a few of the younger pretenders. On that topic, right here’s Simon McMahon: “Am praying that Langer makes it to the weekend, getting goosebumps already on the considered him strolling up 18 on Sunday. He’ll be assured of an incredible ovation from the punters patrons no matter occurs, one of many sport’s good guys. Can be nearly pretty much as good as seeing Bob ‘Robert’ MacIntyre donning the inexperienced jacket whereas facetiming his buddies within the pub in Oban to inform them to get them in, he’ll be again for opening on Monday morning.”
Bother for Joaquin Niemann at 5. He carves his drive into the pine straw down the correct, and is pressured to take his medication by chipping out. His third solely simply holds the perimeter of the inexperienced, and two putts later the Chilean is dropping his first stroke of the day. In the meantime a 3rd birdie of the day for Stephan Jaeger: 2, 4 and now 7, and the 35-year-old German strikes to -3. However he doesn’t get a share of the lead, as a result of Aaron Rai booms two fantastic photographs down the par-five eighth, and two putts later it’s his second back-to-back birdie burst of the day.
-4: Rai (8)
-3: Jaeger (7)
-2: Niemann (5)
-1: Kirk (10), Langer (9), Zalatoris (9), Poston (8), Harman (7), MacIntyre (5), Scheffler (3), Spieth (2), Hatton (2), McNealy (2), Eckroat (1)
The numbers already on Nicolai Højgaard’s card: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and seven. All that’s left is 1. And so, on the storied brief par-three twelfth, he … clanks his tee shot into the Freddie {Couples} Financial institution†, the ball toppling again into Rae’s Creek. Oh my. That results in a double bogey 5. He’s +3 and has nonetheless solely made one par at this time.
†: Not official Masters nomenclature
We’ve got a brand new main duo. Joaquin Niemann makes it three birdies in 4 after clipping his tee shot on the par-three 4th to 9 ft, whereas Aaron Rai whip-cracks an iron from the centre of the seventh fairway from 152 yards to 5 ft. Simply gloriously managed golf. In the meantime even Scottie Scheffler can’t attain the downhill par-five 2nd in two, however he screeches a chip to 4 ft and tidies as much as transfer into the pink briefly order.
-3: Rai (7), Niemann (4)
-2: Kirk (9), Jaeger (6)
-1: M Kim (10), Z Johnson (9), Thompson (8), Langer (8), Harman (6), An (5), MacIntyre (4), Bradley (3), Scheffler (2), Spieth (1), Hatton (1)
Six gamers have performed the notoriously tough tenth to date. The stats: two pars, three bogeys, and a double. That double has been run up by Nicolai Højgaard, who flew the inexperienced from a bunker entrance proper and paid the results. He’s performed ten holes and has shot each quantity between two and 7, a sequence that options two doubles, two bogeys and 5 birdies. Simply the one par. Marvellous leisure, although I doubt the 24-year-old Dane would agree. He’s +1, and properly, you’d observe him spherical, wouldn’t you?
Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas make their pars on 1. The novice Jose Luis Ballester doesn’t. A bogey after at all times discovering himself simply out of place. In the meantime Bob MacIntyre, bidding to turn into the second Scot after 1988 champ Sandy Lyle to win the Match, birdies 2 and is -1 by means of 4. And a quick begin for Jordan Spieth, who loves this place each as a result of and regardless of of all of it. The 2015 champion and 2016 fall man opens with a birdie at Tea Olive. He’s slowly working his manner again into type after a comparatively quiet couple of years. What a well-liked winner he’d be, an entertainer and escapologist of virtually Seve-esque proportions.
One other par for Collin Morikawa, this time at 3. Not the worst consequence ultimately, his chip up from the underside of the massive slope on the entrance almost toppling down the financial institution on the again. He nudges a fairway wooden from the perimeter to kick-in distance. The 2004 Open champion Todd Hamilton would absolutely approve. Morikawa stays at stage par, as does Min-Woo Lee, who additionally pars the opening. Joaquin Niemann makes it three pars out of three within the group; he’s in a shrinking main group at -2.
-2: Kirk (8), Rai (6), Jaeger (5), Niemann (3)
The 30-year-old Colombian Nicolas Echavarria is making his Masters debut. He received the Par Three Match yesterday, beating JJ Spaun on the second gap of a play-off. A stunning factor to have in your resumé, albeit a combined blessing: because the Wednesday tourney was first performed in 1960, no one has received it after which claimed a Inexperienced Jacket the next Sunday. Bogeys at 6 and seven recommend Echavarria received’t be breaking new floor this week; he’s +2. His second of glory upstaged by Poppy McIlroy, and all.
Birdies at 2 for Joaquin Niemann and Min-Woo Lee. One other par for Collin Morikawa, who passes up a superb alternative on a gap that has already coughed 14 birdies, having dumped his second into the bunker guarding the entrance proper of the inexperienced, the pin over on the left. Lee and Morikawa are stage par, however Niemann joins the main group, one which not options Nicolai Højgaard, who drops a stroke after flaying his tee shot at 9 into the pines down the correct.
-2: Vegas (9), Z Johnson (7), Kirk (7), Kent -a- (6), Rai (6), Harman (4), Jaeger (4), Niemann (2)
The world primary and defending champion Scottie Scheffler arrives for work. He’s going for a 3rd win in 4 years! “Hallelujah!” cries a preacher man as Scottie splits the green. Justin Thomas sends his tee shot into the bushes down the correct, whereas the third member of the group, the US Beginner champion Jose Luis Ballester finds the primary reduce on the left. Ballester, the primary Spaniard to win the US Beginner, will certainly be boosted by the document right here of his countryfolk. Seve, Ollie, Sergio and Jon Rahm, after all … but additionally Carla Bernat Escuder, who received the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Beginner final week with three consecutive rounds of 68 (two at Champions Retreat, one at Augusta Nationwide). No nation, aside from the USA, has a greater document at this storied course.
Joaquin Niemann is likely one of the hottest gamers on the LIV Tour proper now. Some would argue he’s probably the most in-form golfer on the planet. The 26-year-old from Chile resides as much as that billing, albeit with an information pattern dimension of 1 gap. Birdie, having discovered the semi-rough down the correct of the green, sending his second into the center of the inexperienced, and stroking within the 20-footer that continues to be. His taking part in associate Collin Morikawa, one other much-tipped participant going into this week, makes a fuss-free par, however the third member of this group, Min-Woo Lee – who stored Scottie Scheffler at arm’s size, simply, to win the latest Houston Open – bogeys, having hooked his opening drive into the pines down the left. Scottie very quickly, by the best way.
Nicolai Højgaard continues apace together with his spectacular restore job. His fourth birdie of the day on 7; his fifth on 8. The younger Dane is completely flying, and we’d already be excited about attainable course-record tilts … had been it not for that appalling bogey, double bogey begin. However what a response. What mettle. What moxie! He joins a number one pack that now additionally options the newest PGA Tour winner Brian Harman. The 2023 Open champ landed the Texas Open final weekend in typical street-fighting type, and has opened this week’s work with birdies at 1 and three.
-2: N Højgaard (8), Z Johnson (7), Kirk (6), Kent -a- (5), Rai (4), Harman (3)
Noah Kent certified for this yr’s Match by ending runner-up on the US Beginner. One in every of 5 amateurs on this yr’s subject – together with US Beginner champion Jose Luis Ballester, NCAA particular person title winner Hiroshi Tai, US Mid-Am champ Evan Beck and Latin American Beginner winner Justin Hastings – he’s made back-to-back birdies at 3 and 4, and like Davis Riley earlier than him, can now at all times say he as soon as led the Masters. A quick begin for Wolverhampton’s Aaron Rai on debut, too, with birdies at 2 and three. Rai has but to make a severe impression on any of the majors, however he broke his PGA Tour duck final yr on the Wyndham, previously the Higher Greensboro Open, so is aware of what it takes to enter the winners circle. Sandy Lyle’s first victory within the USA was on the Higher Greensboro, by the way, for anybody enthusiastic about extraordinarily tenuous omens.
-2: Z Johnson (5), Kirk (5), Kent -a- (4), Rai (3)
The Honorary Starters. The daybreak ceremony went strictly to plan. Gary Participant, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson – 140 Masters appearances and 11 Inexperienced Jackets between them – had been love-bombed by the gallery. Of course they had been. “The golf green will get a bit extra slim yearly,” cracked 1964, 1974 and 1976 winner Participant, earlier than teeing off and performing a high-kick, simply because he can. They don’t name him Mr Health for nothing. “It obtained off the bottom!” quipped 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986 champion Nicklaus of his shot, however of course it did. “It’s arduous for me to get down,” laughed 1977 and 1981 champ Watson when teeing it up, regardless of wanting so very nimble for a 75-year-old. Flush, stripe, flush. Beloved heroes every person.
Chris Kirk hasn’t obtained a lot of a document within the majors. A top-five end on the 2022 PGA Championship and that’s it. However the 39-year-old from Knoxville is coming off the again of two consecutive top-25 finishes on the Masters, capturing a best-of-day third-round rating of 68 final yr, and he’s taking that type into this yr’s Match. Birdies at 2 and 4, and he’s the joint chief now together with his taking part in associate at this time, the 2007 champ Zach Johnson, who has picked up strokes at 2 and three. In the meantime birdies for the outdated boys: Bernhard Langer at 3 and 1992 hero Freddie {Couples} at 1. 5 former champions on this early leaderboard!
-2: Z Johnson (4), Kirk (4)
-1: Vegas (6), Weir (5), M Kim (5), Willett (4), Thompson (3), Langer (3), Kent -a- (3), Poston (2), Rai (2), {Couples} (1), Harman (1)
Nicolai Højgaard clearly loves this place. A top-20 end on debut final yr, and he’s not letting that aforementioned chilly begin of bogey, double bogey get him down. He’s adopted up his birdie at 3 by touchdown his tee shot on the 182-yard par-three 4th to 6 ft, then from bushes down the left of 5, sending a draw by means of a niche from 194 yards to 14 ft, making the putt on each events. Three birdies in a row, and having now carded his first par of the spherical at 6, he’s stage once more. That’s some response after that horror begin to his spherical.
The 2-time champion Bernhard Langer is taking part in in his remaining Masters this yr. The 1985 and 1993 winner eases his opening drive down the center of Tea Olive, then finds the centre of the inexperienced en path to par. Langer is 67 years outdated and nonetheless appears to be like as younger and sprightly as he did in his pomp. The German made the reduce right here as lately as a 63-year-old in 2020, changing into the oldest participant ever to take action. (See beneath.) “My knees are shot,” he sighed that yr, so it’s good to listen to he’ll be chauffeured to and from the course this week in a bespoke Masters-themed Mercedes-Benz with inexperienced paint, his personal signature on the upholstery, all of the trimmings. A dwelling legend who deserves his pimped journey.
Erstwhile champions are out and about, and three of them have joined the main pack with an early birdie. Mike Weir, who turned the primary left-handed participant to win the Masters in 2003, has birdied 3, whereas the 2007 champion Zach Johnson and 2016 shock-winner Danny Willett decide up a stroke at 2. The early chief Davis Riley goes backwards, although, the primary sufferer this week of these big, deep bunkers down the left of the fifth fairway. Bogey, adopted by one other on the par-three sixth, the results of a weak chip from the underside of the swale again left, and impulsively he’s +1. Welcome to Augusta Nationwide!
-1: Vegas (4), Weir (3), M Kim (3), Z Johnson (2), Kirk (2), Willett (2)
It’s cool early within the morning in Augusta, which explains the dearth of early birdie motion. (Solely Jhonattan Vegas, at 3, and Michael Kim, at 2, have matched Davis Riley’s achievement of carding a pink quantity to date.) On condition that it ought to heat up later, and that there’s wind and probably a thunderstorm anticipated tomorrow afternoon, at this time’s early starters look like on the mistaken aspect of the draw. Excellent news for Rory McIlroy, then. In idea at the very least. Hopefully the thunderstorm will give Augusta Nationwide the bodyswerve tomorrow, and after that we should always take pleasure in a sunny and dry weekend, if not a very hot one.
Nicolai Højgaard made his debut right here final yr, and on Thursday posted a powerful 67. The younger Dane ended the week in a really respectable tie for sixteenth, by a ways the very best end of his fledgeling main profession. He’s making his presence felt this Thursday too, albeit in a extra scattershot method. He’s unable to stand up and down from the bunker to the left of the first inexperienced, and follows that bogey by hooking wildly into the woods at 2, necessitating a reload, and resulting in a double bogey. Birdie on the almost drivable par-four third takes him again as much as +2, however the 24-year-old is at present propping up the present 14-player-strong leaderboard.
There are such a lot of traditions to be noticed in the beginning of every Masters. Arriving by way of Magnolia Lane. The Beginner Dinner. The Champions Dinner. Skipping the water at 16. The par-three contest. The Honorary Starters. And somebody surprising almost at all times flies out of the traps early doorways, in a position to say for ever extra that they as soon as led the Masters, and although there have been solely a handful of fellow professionals out on the course on the time, info are info and there isn’t something anybody can ever do to rebut it. Step ahead then Davis Riley, who took the opening shot of this yr’s Match and adopted a par at Tea Olive with birdie on the par-five 2nd, reward for wedging his method to 10 ft. The 28-year-old from Mississippi is on debut, so that is some introduction to life at golf’s most glamorous main. Nice stuff, with the caveat that, except Riley is to turn into the primary debutant to win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, the one manner from right here is down.
-1: Riley (3)
E: Vegas (2), Weir (10), M Kim (1), Younger (1), Z Johnson (1), Kirk (1)
Preamble
Welcome, patrons, to the 89th staging of the Masters Match. The contestants are invited visitors and needs to be handled courteously and respect. Though cheering and optimistic responses to nice play are inspired, unsolicited or constant calls from the gallery are prohibited. Operating is taken into account to be unacceptable behaviour. Prohibited objects embrace Cell Telephones, Beepers, Digital units, Tablets, any machine with recording and/or transmission functionality, Flags, Banners, Indicators, Ladders, Periscopes and Weapons of any type (no matter allow). Pimento Cheese sandwiches are $1.50 and Iced Tea is 2 bucks. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is the favorite, all of the tee instances are beneath, and that is the well-known CBS theme on a looooong loop to get you within the temper. It’s on! Masters fever is actual; received’t somebody please name Dr Golf?
First-round tee instances (USA except said, all instances BST)
12.40 Patton Kizzire, Davis Riley
12.51 Nicolai Hoejgaard (Den), Jhonattan Vegas (Ven), Chun-An Yu (Tai)
13.02 Michael Kim, Mike Weir (Can), Cameron Younger
13.13 Joe Highsmith, Zach Johnson, Chris Kirk
13.24 Nicolas Echavarria (Col), Davis Thompson, Danny Willett (Eng)
13.35 Noah Kent, Bernhard Langer (Ger), Will Zalatoris
13.52 J. T. Poston, Aaron Rai (Eng), Cameron Smith (Aus)
14.03 Fred {Couples}, Harris English, Taylor Pendrith (Can)
14.14 Corey Conners (Can), Brian Harman, Stephan Jaeger (Ger)
14.25 Byeong-Hun An (Kor), Max Greyserman, Patrick Reed
14.36 Nick Dunlap, Billy Horschel, Robert MacIntyre (Sco)
14.47 Min-Woo Lee (Aus), Collin Morikawa, Joaquin Niemann (Chi)
14.58 Keegan Bradley, Jason Day (Aus), Phil Mickelson
15.15 Jose Luis Ballester (Spa), Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas
15.26 Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor), Jordan Spieth
15.37 Thomas Detry (Bel), Tony Finau, Maverick McNealy
15.48 Rafael Campos (Pur), Cameron Davis (Aus), Austin Eckroat
15.59 Angel Cabrera (Arg), Laurie Canter (Eng), Adam Schenk
16.10 Brian Campbell, Thriston Lawrence (Rsa), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa)
16.21 Evan Beck, Matthieu Pavon (Fra), Bubba Watson
16.38 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa), Tom Hoge, Matt McCarty
16.49 Denny McCarthy, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Hiroshi Tai (Sgp)
17.00 Max Homa, Justin Rose (Eng), J. J. Spaun
17.11 Justin Hastings (Cay), Dustin Johnson, Nick Taylor (Can)
17.22 Daniel Berger, Sergio Garcia (Spa), Lucas Glover
17.33 Patrick Cantlay, Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Rasmus Hoejgaard (Den)
17.50 Russell Henley, Sung-Jae Im (Kor), Brooks Koepka
18.01 Viktor Hovland (Nor), Xander Schauffele, Adam Scott (Aus)
18.12 Ludvig Aaberg (Swe), Akshay Bhatia, Rory McIlroy (NIrl)
18.23 Bryson DeChambeau, Shane Lowry (Irl), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)
18.34 Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Jon Rahm (Spa)
18.45 Sam Burns, Sepp Straka (Aut), Sahith Theegala
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