The opening round of the 2023 Masters is less than six days away.
One of the most anticipated changes to Augusta National Golf Club in recent memory is the lengthening of the par-5 13th hole. Over the years, players and equipment have evolved to a point where the hole was a driver or 3-wood off the tee and a mid- to short-iron into the green.
That is now history.
According to the 2023 Masters media guide, the 13th will now play 545 yards.
On his story, he typed a note: “This hurts, but it’s needed. See you all soon.”
Aaron Wise’s second Masters appearance will have to wait.
The 26-year-old announced Friday on his Instagram page he was withdrawing from the 2023 Masters to focus on his mental health. On his story, he typed a note to describe his decision with the caption ‘This hurts, but it’s needed. See you all soon.’
“Regretfully I am withdrawing from The Masters. Golf is just as much a mental game as it is one of physical skill, and the mental piece of it has been a struggle for me recently. I don’t take the significance of playing at Augusta lightly, but know that I need to take some time away to focus on my mental health so I can get back to competing at a level I am proud of.”
A post from Aaron Wise’s instagram story describing why he’s withdrawing from the Masters.
Wise has made the cut in seven of his 11 starts this year, but he has missed the cut in four of his last six starts. He finished sixth at the CJ Cup in October.
He has one PGA Tour win, coming at the 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson.
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He said the worst thing about the famed club is his inability to come play a round with friends, a rule he wishes would change. But it seems his frustration has boiled over.
The 87-year-old three-time Masters champion said in an interview with The Times how sad it is that he has to beg for a round at the place where he’s an honorary member.
Come Thursday, Player will join Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson as honorary starters ahead of the 2023 Masters, something he has done for more than a decade.
That ceremony is something he treasures, but outside of that, he isn’t happy with how he is welcomed at Augusta.
“After all I’ve contributed to the tournament and been an ambassador for them, I can’t go and have a practice round there with my three grandchildren without having to beg a member to play with us, and there’s always some excuse. It’s terribly, terribly sad,” Player told The Times.
“I’ve played my role: I’ve won it three times; I was in the top ten 15 times; I made the most number of cuts in a row ever (23), yet here we are struggling to get a round. If it wasn’t for the players, (Augusta National) would just be another golf course in Georgia.
“It’s just sad – and I put great emphasis on the word ‘sad’ – that Augusta (doesn’t) make you feel welcome in that regard because I helped make this tournament what it is.”
Last week, Player said in the Daily Mail the Open Championship was the best major and the Masters was fourth.
While Player said no golfer has received more love than he has over his career, he also said he has had a difficult road.
“There’s no golfer who’s ever had a tougher life than I have,” Player said. “I’ve won more tournaments than any man alive. I’ve won more national Opens than Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer put together. I’ve done remarkable things.”
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Ready to play Augusta National and other major venues?
We’re a week away from the new EA Sports PGA Tour video game dropping, and a new trailer teases fans for what’s in store.
The new trailer shows a sneak peek at Pebble Beach and Bay Hill. It also features an online multiplayer match and showcases the upcoming game’s stunning, realistic visuals and state-of-the-art course mapping technology. The game will come out April 7.
EA Sports PGA Tour will be the exclusive home of all four men’s majors, including the Masters. Players will be able to compete in the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship at numerous host courses, including all 2021 and 2022 venues.
The 2023 major championship courses will be released at a later date. Additionally, players can compete in the top amateur championships including the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the U.S. Amateur and other elite international amateur events. Players can also compete in the LPGA’s Amundi Evian Championship.
A look at Augusta National Golf Club in. EA Sports PGA Tour. (Photo: EA Sports)
Last week, Augusta National Golf Club announced it would host the “Road to the Masters Invitational ” on Sunday following the conclusion of the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. Celebrity participants will assemble to compete in the EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters video game.
Road to the Masters Invitational will stream live Sunday from 6-8 p.m. EDT.
Price will be $69.99 for the standard edition and $84.99 for the deluxe edition, which gives players access to numerous add-ons, like three-day early access to the game and Augusta National, Players Championship gear, the Grand Slam gear bundle, a Scotty Cameron putter in-game, 1,500 premium PGA Tour points, a PGA Tour XP Bundle and Masters gear.
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“13 Green Jackets” will air Saturday, April 8 at 2 p.m. ET.
We’re officially seven days away from the opening round of the Masters.
Man, that feels good to say.
On Saturday, April 8 at 2 p.m. ET, CBS will air a sit-down conversation entitled “13 Green Jackets” hosted by Trevor Immelman, the 2008 champion at Augusta National and Nick Faldo’s replacement in the booth. He chatted with Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler.
Judging by the fantastic preview, the trio will cover everything from Tiger standing on the 12th green in 2019 while his playing partners hit their thirds after rinsing their tee shots, money games between legends and Scheffler’s Ernie Els impression on the 72nd hole in 2022.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
Pencil Tom Watson in for his role next Thursday as one of the honorary starters for the 2023 Masters.
After considerable concern that a shoulder injury would prevent him from hitting one of the three opening drives at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6, Watson confirmed to Golfweek that he will join Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player and strike an opening drive to launch the 87th Masters.
“I’m feeling fine and I will be able to hit the tee shot, not very well, but I’ll be able to hit it,” Watson said.
Watson was involved in a go-kart accident in November that required left shoulder replacement surgery and jeopardized whether he’d be able to make even one swing as part of one of the tournament’s beloved traditions.
A course worker sets the pairing sign for Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson at the No. 1 tee during the first round of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
Watson, who became an honorary starter last year, set a goal of being able to hit his drive alongside Nicklaus and Player. To do so, he has been doing pool exercises and physical therapy to strengthen his shoulder four times a week.
“My only job right now is to rehab it,” said Watson in March on “Beyond the Fairway” podcast with former PGA Tour pro Jay Delsing.
Asked to explain what led to the 73-year-old World Golf Hall of Famer being involved in a go-kart accident on his Kansas farm, Watson said, “For my kids I had a go-kart 25-30 years ago and they’d run it up and down the driveway here. They had a large time, had a grand time. I have grandkids now, ages 6-10, and I said, ‘I need to get a go-kart for these kids.’ So, I got one, but it was a little bit small for adults so I got one for me too.
“I said, ‘Why don’t I build a track,’ a dirt track with hairpin turns and straightaways and 90s and a few little bumps so you can get a little bit of air in it. We were having a large time and I turned around this corner and the kart tipped over and I stuck my arm out rather than keeping my arm inside the cage. I have a roll cage on there that works just fine unless you stick your arm out. I screwed up my arm up pretty badly and so now I’m in the recuperative stage.”
Honorary starters Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player pose for pictures with Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley at the no. 1 tee box during the first round of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
As his shoulder has gradually gotten stronger, Watson resumed hitting golf balls. The two-time Masters champion said he hit a bunch of drives Wednesday, adding to his confidence he will be able to swing his swing on the first tee at Augusta National.
“They’re going straight but they’re not going far,” he said. “Of course, when you hit it short you don’t hit it very crooked.”
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Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
When it comes to the seven amateurs teeing it up at Augusta National next week, there’s no shortage of star power.
There are numerous USGA champions and an NCAA champ. Winners of prestigious amateur events from around the world. For some, it’s their first time at the famed Masters tournament in what each hopes will be a long stretch of making the trek down Magnolia Lane every April.
The seven ams will compete for the title of low amateur. If they make the 36-hole cut, then they will battle for the Silver Cup. An amateur has never won the Masters, but the tournament has plenty of history involving ams, including the famed Crow’s Nest, the living space on the third floor of the Augusta National clubhouse, and the Monday night Amateur Dinner.
Here’s a look at the seven amateurs competing in the 2023 Masters.
Forget what will Phil do next? The more intriguing question is: What’s the next trick up Tiger’s sleeves?
Forget what will Phil do next? The more intriguing question is: What’s the next trick up Tiger’s sleeves?
Tiger’s opening-round 70 a year ago at Augusta National en route to making the cut was one of the most impressive rounds of 2022 when you consider that it was just some 13 months earlier that he was involved in a near-fatal car accident and could have lost his right leg.
Tiger’s game looked sharp in the first round of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in February, his lone start in an official PGA Tour event since missing the cut at the British Open in July. It reinvigorated talk about the possibility of a 16th major title for Woods, who has slipped into the winner’s Green Jacket on five occasions, most recently in 2019 at age 43.
Tiger’s quest to get closer to Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors (and six Green Jackets) already has the TV talking heads buzzing. Here’s a snippet of what the CBS, ESPN and Golf Channel analysts had to say:
Brandel Chamblee, Golf Channel
How Tiger plays, I think, will captivate us beyond belief.
Notah Begay, Golf Channel
The fact that he was able to play (at the Genesis Invitational in February) at the level after basically being on the bench for six months, to come out and make a cut, I just can’t even get my mind around that.
Andy North, ESPN
To be able to get around there is so difficult. It’s just — for him it’s such an uphill battle. But in the back of your mind, you still believe that you get something rolling, you just never know.
Curtis Strange, ESPN
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he got us on the edge of our seat for the first couple of days, but can he sustain it? I think that L.A. kind of just made me look forward more to the Masters because he’s still got something in that body.
Trevor Immelman, CBS
If he somehow finds a way to get his name in and around that leaderboard come the second nine on Sunday afternoon it will be all systems go out there.
Scroll below for their takes on Tiger at the Masters.
While many of the world’s best players are at home preparing for the year’s first major, there are some big names in the field at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course for the Valero Texas Open looking to earn their way into the Masters.
It’s only fitting we start with Rickie Fowler, who hasn’t played at Augusta National Golf Club since the November edition in 2020. His game has returned, finishing inside the top 20 in four of his last five stroke-play event starts. Before missing the cut at last year’s Valero, Fowler posted back-to-back top-20 finishes at TPC San Antonio in 2021 and 2019.
Here are five big-name players with a chance to earn an invitation down Magnolia Lane.
Several stars are trending in the right direction with the Masters next on the schedule.
PGA Tour pros talk about it all the time, but peaking during the right time of the schedule is incredibly important. No player on Earth wants to peak in October during the wrap-around season.
They want to peak during major season.
With the Masters on the horizon, we wanted to dive into some statistics from January until now and see who’s hitting the ball the best. We wanted to see who has put themselves in a position to feel confident about their game heading to Augusta National Golf Club.
For this list, we’re going to look at Strokes Gained: Ballstriking. SG:BS isn’t an official PGA Tour stat, however, many golf databases use it. It’s a combination of SG: Off the Tee and SG: Approach. Think of it as SG: Tee to Green minus SG: Around the green. It essential tells how well a player is hitting the ball.
[pickup_prop id=”32827″]
Here are the top 11 players in SG: Ballstriking since Jan. 1, 2023 (minimum 20 measured rounds).
