Tag: 2023 Masters

Masters survey 2023: What hole (No. 12 aside) scares you the most at Augusta National?

We polled a handful of players and past champions about the scariest hole at Augusta National.

We eliminated the obvious choice – Golden Bell, the slender par-3 that has been a watery grave for many Green Jacket hopes – though Collin Morikawa was quick to point out he never said that hole was scary.

Jon Rahm cleverly asked, “Does the walk to 12 count?” and Jim Furyk voted for the dreaded third shot at 12. Sorry, Collin, 12 is take-your-par-and-run scary and that’s a fact.

The votes have been tabulated and Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 15 and 18 all have been tabbed as “scary.” Our favorite answer has to be Jack Nicklaus, who made it clear he wasn’t scared of any of them but then gave a master class on the six scary shots that must be handled to have success at Augusta National. A scary thought, indeed.

Here’s what the pros had to say about the scariest hole at Augusta National, and why it’s No. 11.

Masters surveys: Least-liked concessions | Champions Dinners | Traditions

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Looking ahead: Here are the 5 betting favorites for the 2023 Masters at Augusta National

Who’s your pick?

Temperatures are on the rise, the snow is melting away and the golf season is in full swing. That only means one thing: It’s almost time for the Masters.

Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia will once again welcome patrons for the first round of the year’s first men’s major championship in 15 days.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion and betting favorite. The Texan repeated at the WM Phoenix Open earlier this season and claimed the Players Championship a few weeks ago.

We will have several updates as the tournament draws closer, but as it stands now, here are the top 5 betting favorites for the 2023 Masters.

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WGC-Dell Match Play: Rickie Fowler has the Masters on his mind and all-in to get back to Augusta

“Doing whatever I need to do to give myself the best chance to be in Augusta.”

Rickie Fowler technically may be in Austin, Texas, but he has Georgia on his mind.

Augusta, Georgia, that is.

“We are here to basically try and get ourselves back in Augusta,” Fowler said Tuesday during a pre-tournament press conference ahead of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship at Austin Country Club.

Fowler, 34, has made 10 career starts at the Masters, including finishing second in 2018, but hasn’t played in the first major of the year since 2020. Time is running out to earn an invite for the 87th Masters, which begins April 6.

Fowler, who ended 2021 ranked No. 103 in the Official World Golf Ranking, has climbed to No. 59 on the back of three top 10s so far this season and is coming off a tie for 13th at the Players Championship. The top 50 in the OWGR after this week automatically qualify for the Masters. That’s one of the primary reasons Fowler is back at Austin Country Club for the first time since 2016.

“I wasn’t a huge fan of the group format,” explained Fowler of the round-robin group play, which begins Wednesday and was instituted in 2016. “I loved the 64, just knock out. You knew exactly what you were getting into. But we are here to basically try and get ourselves back in Augusta.”

During the press conference, Fowler was informed making it to the quarterfinals would give him a good shot of vaulting into the top 50 again.

“I knew I needed to come here and play well. I wasn’t sure of exactly what I needed to do. The nice thing with the kind of world rankings and what’s coming off, really, anything I do that puts points on the board is only going to move me up from here moving forward,” Fowler said. “So, yeah, I mean, my short-term goal is to obviously get myself back in Augusta. If that doesn’t happen, we’re going to continue to move forward.”

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Fowler will have his work cut out for him to advance out of his four-man pod. As the No. 49 seed, he’s been grouped with No. 2 Jon Rahm, winner of three tournaments this season, No. 22 Billy Horschel, who won this event in Austin in 2021, and No. 39 Keith Mitchell, who has been showing good form with two top-5 finishes in his last five starts. The player with the most points in each group advances to the Round of 16 (ties broken by sudden-death playoff) and a single-elimination tournament on Saturday and Sunday determines the match-play champion. Fowler certainly will have to survive group play and then win at least his next match.

Fowler confirmed that if he didn’t sneak into the top 50 this week that he would head to San Antonio and the last-chance saloon that is the Valero Texas Open. The winner of next week’s Tour stop, if not already exempt, receives the last spot in the Masters field.

“I’m committed and planning on playing there,” Fowler said. “If I do play well enough, we’ll kind of maybe reconsider and see where we’re at. But, yeah, kind of doing whatever I need to do to give myself the best chance to be in Augusta.”

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Masters survey 2023: What is your least favorite concession item? (Is there even such a thing?)

There is a strong divide among players on both the pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches.

We already asked Masters contestants past and present what they’d buy if they gave their caddie $20 to go to the concession stand so we know their favorites. But what one item would they not order?

We wanted to know that too, and we discovered that there is a strong divide among players on both the pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches.

Widely considered two of the most popular sandwiches sold at the toonamint, it appears just as many players wouldn’t eat them unless they came with a Green Jacket.

Other discoveries: To no surprise, Gary Player has issues with white bread, but who knew he felt this opposed to it: “I wouldn’t serve it to my dog.”

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

And who knew that Adam Scott doesn’t eat cheese or that Will Zalatoris wasn’t an egg guy?

We’ll try not to hold these character flaws against them. We’re more in the Tony Finau camp, who said, “They’re all pretty bomb. You can’t go wrong.”

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Augusta National to host celebrity video game challenge on eve of 2023 Masters Tournament week

Now on the tee: a celebrity video game challenge.

A year ago, it was the members of Dude Perfect using baseball bats and hockey sticks while they played Amen Corner for their popular YouTube channel subscribers.

Last week, a hip new commercial with a lot of young people having a good time was unveiled.

Now on the tee: a celebrity video game challenge.

Yes, the Green Jackets are working to appeal to the cool kids, and it seems to be working.

On Sunday, April 2, after the Drive, Chip and Putt and ahead of the first Monday practice round, Augusta National Golf Club will host the “Road to the Masters Invitational” in the club’s Press Building in front of a live audience. You can watch the official teaser for this event here.

The event will help hype the new EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters, which will be available on April 7.

The April 2 livestream will start at 6 p.m. ET and run for two hours and can be found in a variety of places:

  • Masters.com
  • @TheMasters on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook
  • @EA on Twitch
  • @EASPORTSPGATOUR on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
  • @EASPORTS on Facebook
  • ESPN+ and the ESPN app

An edited version of the show will be televised at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2 on Wednesday, April 5, about 12 hours before the ceremonial first tee shots on the first hole ahead of the first round.

The participating celebrities have not been announced yet but in a news release, ANGC says: “A cross-section of participants from the worlds of sports, entertainment, gaming and social media will convene in Augusta National’s Press Building in front of a live audience to play EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters.”

Calling the action

What has been announced are the TV personalities who will be there to deliver commentary.

Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner will host with Amanda Renner of CBS Sports and Michael Collins and Marty Smith, both of ESPN, providing live analysis.

What’s the format?

There will be four teams of two who will play alternate shot for nine holes. Then, the top two teams will advance to Amen Corner for a three-hole, alternate-shot final round.

Invitation only

While streamed worldwide, the event is private and invitation-only. The audience will include Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta and the First Tee of Augusta. Expected guests will also be the winners of the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur champion Harrison Crowe, 2023 Latin America Amateur champion Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira as well as competitors from the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Proceeds of the video game sales earned by Augusta National will be contributed to the Masters Tournament Foundation and support its work to grow interest in golf around the world.

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Masters survey 2023: More than two dozen pros, including Jack and Gary, were asked if they would have changed Augusta National’s 13th hole to make it longer

“The decision to go for the green in two should be a momentous one.”

After several years of rumors that the par-5 13th hole would be stretched like a rubber band to prevent players from blasting driver over the trees on the left and turning the par-5 into driver-wedge, Augusta National finally built a new back tee that will measure 545 yards in April, adding 35 yards to the iconic hole at the Masters Tournament.

The 13th ranks as one of the great risk-reward holes in golf. Going for it should be a “momentous decision,” in the words of Bobby Jones, who assisted Alister MacKenzie in its design. It originally measured 480 yards when the Masters debuted in 1934 and played to 510 yards for the 2022 Masters. But that distance is shorter than many par-4s in major championship golf these days.

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

In recent years, powerful players such as Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy have been able to blast balls over the trees that protect the dogleg-left hole, sometimes hitting it far enough around the corner to leave a short iron or even a wedge for the second shot to the green. The 13th played as the third-easiest hole on the course at the 2022 Masters, only more difficult than the two front-nine par-5s.

In 2017, Augusta National purchased a swath of land from Augusta Country Club, land that was actually part of a hole on the neighboriMastng course. Augusta Country Club was forced to reroute its layout to accommodate the land sale. In his 2022 news conference, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley said there was no timetable to use the land for a new tee but also hinted that changes to 13 could be coming.

“There’s a great quote from Bobby Jones dealing specifically with the 13th hole, which has been lengthened over time, and he said that the decision to go for the green in two should be a momentous one,” Ridley said. “And I would have to say that our observations of these great players hitting middle and even short irons into that hole is not a momentous decision.”

He added: “From our perspective, we will always do what’s necessary to maintain the integrity of our golf course.”

We asked more than two dozen pros – including past Masters champions, major winners, former World No. 1s and a World Golf Hall of Famer – if you were in charge, would you have changed the 13th hole?

The newly released Masters promo from Augusta National is different, yet refreshing

ANGC nailed it.

It’s that time of year. Folks in the northern part of the country are coming out of their winter hibernation while the southern population is starting to feel temperatures rise.

In the golf world, that means one thing: the Masters is almost here.

The year’s first major at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia is scheduled for April 6-9.

As we get closer, TV ads have taken over broadcasts giving golf fans something to look forward to. However, you know it’s getting close once official Masters social media channels begin posting.

On Friday, the Masters released its first promo of the season, and it’s different from anything it has ever made.

Instead of highlights from past years — although this promo still has a few of those — ANGC used young actors enjoying the golf, eating good food and just having a great time.

The best touch? The throwback clothes every character is wearing, the perfect mix of old and new school.

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Masters survey 2023: What would Max Homa, Billy Ho, Willy Z and other pros serve at the Champions Dinner?

Chicken parm. Steak and potato. Fajitas. South African Braai. Those are just a few of the suggestions.

Tuesday’s Champions Dinner at the Masters is golf’s most exclusive gathering. Debuted in 1952 by Ben Hogan, it is hosted annually by the defending champion who has the honor of setting the menu and also graciously picks up the bill.

Over the years, it’s become standard procedure to serve a favorite delicacy from the winner’s homeland. Past champions have selected everything from wiener schnitzel (Bernhard Langer, 1986) to haggis, a Scottish specialty made of minced sheep organs (Sandy Lyle 1989) to chicken panang curry (Vijay Singh in 2001) and Moreton Bay Bugs (lobster) from Australia (Adam Scott 2014). Even Jordan Spieth, in 2016, went with Texas barbecue.

In 1998, at his first of five dinners, Tiger Woods served cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches, fries and milkshakes. More recently, he’s gone a little more upscale with a sushi appetizer and chicken and steak fajitas. At long last, Scottie Scheffler announced his menu to be served on April 4, and he didn’t disappoint.

We asked more than two dozen players what they’d serve if they won the Masters and got to host the Champions Dinner as well as a handful of past champions what they’d do if they got to host it again.

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‘They are still my friends’: Scottie Scheffler isn’t sure what the vibe will be like with LIV golfers at Masters Champions Dinner

“I haven’t totally decided what I will say.”

Scottie Scheffler has picked his menu for the Champions Dinner on April 4. What will he say to the past champions, which includes many members of LIV Golf, such as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson, his former partner at the Zurich Classic team event?

“I haven’t totally decided what I will say,” said Scheffler, who has the honor of hosting the dinner as the defending champion, during a media call Wednesday ahead of the Masters, which begins on April 6. “I’m aware I have to say a few words, but, for the most part, it’s kind of a group thing. I’m not quite sure what the vibe will be like, but I think we are all there to play in the tournament and celebrate the Masters and celebrate all being past champions.

“I think the dinner will be really special for all us to be able to gather again and I am sure we will put all that other stuff aside and have a good time together. Just because guys joined another tour doesn’t mean I’m not friends with them anymore and think differently of them as people. They are still my friends and we are all just gonna hang out and have a good time.”

There’s a good chance it will be awkward between Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who had emerged as ‘frenemies’ in recent years and now find themselves on opposite ends of the LIV-PGA Tour kerfuffle, and extra chilly with Garcia, who didn’t hide his feelings about the PGA Tour and DP World Tour on his way out the door.

“We as a whole need to honor Scottie, Scottie’s the winner, it’s his dinner,” Tiger Woods said last month. “So making sure that Scottie gets honored correctly but also realizing the nature of what has transpired and the people that have left, just where our situations are either legally, emotionally, there’s a lot there.”

Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champ, echoed Tiger, saying cooler heads should prevail and the dinner will be a celebration of its champion.

“I’ve had a couple of conversations with the powers that be,” he said. “We all look through the lens of what that evening is established to be and what it forever is going to be and the mere fact that we are honoring another man. That’s going to be my outlook and how I’m going to approach it. Bottom line, that guy played really good last year and deserves a celebration and all of us to be there and let him buy me dinner.”

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Masters: Scottie Scheffler’s Champions Dinner menu has been released and it’s fantastic

This thing is heat.

Scottie Scheffler is the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking. He’s fresh off a five-shot win at the Players Championship. And in a few weeks, he’ll return to Augusta National Golf Club as the reigning Masters champion.

Life is pretty good for the Texan.

On Wednesday, the Masters tweeted out the menu for Scheffler’s Champions Dinner, and let me tell you, he’s bringing the heat.

Cheeseburger sliders, shrimp, ribeye, redfish and a whole lot more.

And the dessert? Who doesn’t love a delicious skillet cookie with a side of milk and ice cream?

Check out the full menu for Scheffler’s dinner below:

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