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Golfweek’s Adam Woodard recaps Tiger Woods’ final round at Augusta National Golf Club for the 2020 Masters.
Golfweek’s Adam Woodard recaps Tiger Woods’ final round at Augusta National Golf Club for the 2020 Masters.
Johnson went wire-to-wire, leading the event after each round at Augusta National.
After winning the FedEx Cup Playoffs in September — and playing some dominating golf along the way — Dustin Johnson told Golfweek in an exclusive interview that he still had plenty to work toward.
“I need to keep practicing and continue to get better. There are things I want to do with my career,” Johnson said. “I’d love a green jacket and a few more majors, doesn’t matter which ones they are.
“A green jacket would definitely be at the top of the list.”
Johnson can check that off his list after he finished off an impressive week in Augusta, winning the 2020 Masters going away. He went wire-to-wire, leading or sharing the lead after each round.
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After shooting 65-70-65 in the first three rounds, Johnson cruised on Sunday with a 68, finishing the tournament at a record-breaking 20 under par.
Cam Smith — who became the player in Masters history to shoot all four rounds in the 60s — and Sungjae Im tried to apply pressure on Johnson, but to no avail.
This marked the second career major for Johnson, who also won the 2016 U.S. Open.
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After making a 10 on a par 3, Tiger Woods fought back down the stretch on Sunday to get back under par to end his 2020 Masters.
When it comes to Tiger Woods, there’s never a dull moment.
After an opening-round 68 on Thursday, it looked like he was a true contender to defend his Masters title this week at Augusta National Golf Club. As the rounds went on, and his opponents’ scores got lower, it became clear the 15-time major champion wouldn’t be winning a record-tying sixth green jacket.
He solidified that with a seven-shot swing on one hole, making a 10 on the par-3 12th after rinsing three balls in Rae’s Creek: One from the tee, one from the drop zone and one from the bunker behind the green.
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Today we found out that Tiger Woods is human after all…#TheMasters pic.twitter.com/R84VTRMAtX
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 15, 2020
Woods fought back down the stretch, birdieing five of his final six holes to get back under par for the tournament with a 4-over 76 in Sunday’s final round. He walked off the course 16 shots behind leader Dustin Johnson.
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Tiger Woods blew up on No. 12 on Sunday, rinsing three balls in Rae’s Creek at the Masters en route to a 10.
Defending champion Tiger Woods made history during Sunday’s final round of the Masters, but for all the wrong reasons.
The 15-time major champion made a 10 – yes, you read that right, a 10 – on the par-3 12th hole after hitting three balls in Rae’s Creek in the heart of Augusta National’s Amen Corner.
That’s the highest score Woods has even taken on a hole in his PGA Tour career. His previous high? A nine at the 1997 Memorial, on the par-4 third hole in the third round. Before the 10? Woods had never made worse than eight – first round in 1999 on No. 8, third round in 2013 on No. 15 – in 22 past Masters starts
If there’s any silver lining for Woods, who immediately went from 3 under for the tournament to 4 over, it’s that his 10 isn’t the worst in No. 12’s history. Tom Weiskopf once posted a 13 at No. 12, named Golden Bell, in 1980.
Watch the series of unfortunate events that even Lemony Snicket couldn’t foresee here on Masters.com.
It’s been a Sunday Masters staple — a hole location for the tricky 16th hole that allows players to use the bank to draw the ball close.
It has been a Sunday Masters staple — a hole location for Augusta National Golf Club’s tricky par-3 16th that allows players to use the bank of the green to draw the ball close.
Some of the tournament’s most indelible memories were born here — Jack Nicklaus’ amazing tee shot barely missing the stick in 1986, Tiger Woods’ chip-in 2005, and then Tiger again last year when he used the slope masterfully to pull away in the final round.
But in this topsy-turvy year of 2020, the folks who run the Masters have thrown us yet another curveball, this time a back right hole location that will make the hole play differently.
How come?
During Sunday’s Instagram Live segment Mornings from Augusta, Golfweek senior writer David Dusek had a theory.
It starts at the 9:00 mark:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHnYCTzl4ad/
Dusek said he thinks the abnormally low scores forced the Masters to rethink the iconic placement.
“It’s shocking, to be honest,” Dusek said of the different hole location. “You can pretty much take it to the bank that that’s what we’re going to get.
“The scores are really, really low … Dustin Johnson’s going out at a really low score and a couple other guys are going out at really low scores. If Augusta National was not able to use the SubAir system to really get the greens as firm as they would want them to be, by putting the pin placement high right on 16, it’s almost impossible to get it close.”
Dusek said that should leave some long putts for the world’s best.
The reaction from the golf world was mixed — some were appreciative of the new approach …
My respect for Augusta just went up another notch. Without patrons let’s change it up a tad. #16 for those who aren’t paying attention. #themasters https://t.co/Rz7rMi60cI
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) November 15, 2020
… and some were not:
Why have they changed the traditional 16th pin position at The Masters?!
— Craig Tracey (@craig4nwarks) November 15, 2020
@GCTigerTracker Does it count as an official Masters if the 16th pin is here?!?!?!? pic.twitter.com/Q92Xs4RiUB
— gacattak (@gacattak) November 15, 2020
Follow Tiger Woods’ final round on Sunday at the Masters, shot by shot from Augusta National.
It appears Tiger Woods will come up short of his Masters title defense.
The 15-time major champion’s extended reign over Augusta National Golf Club is just 18 holes from ending as Woods enters the final round of play a whopping 11 shots behind leader Dustin Johnson.
Woods put the finishing touches on a 1-under-par 71 for his second round on Saturday morning before his ho-hum even-par 72 in the third round.
The five-time green jacket winner begins his final round at 8:22 a.m. ET Sunday morning alongside 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year Shane Lowry and 2020 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Scottie Scheffler. Follow his final round below, shot by shot.
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Tiger tees off at 8:22 a.m. ET.
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In his debut at Masters Tournament, Sebastian Muñoz continues to keep his place near the top of the leaderboard.
In his debut at Masters Tournament, Sebastian Muñoz continues to keep his place near the top of the leaderboard. Heading into Sunday’s final round, he’s tied for seventh place with Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed at 9 under.
The 27-year-old said advice he got while playing with former champions Jose Maria Olazábal and Vijay Singh has been helpful.
“They kind of gave me pointers here and there, but overall, they just said, ’Man, it’s completely different from what we’re used to,’” he said. “So I think that kind of helped me because I didn’t try to play it the way it usually plays and just the way I perceive it right now, so I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve taken away so far.”
Hailing from Colombia, Muñoz played his collegiate golf at the University of North Texas before going pro in 2015.
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“It’s always fun to see players you’ve worked with in the past and been around a lot, perform at high levels,” North Texas coach Brad Stracke said. “In his junior and senior years, he started working hard on all aspects of his game and started believing in himself. Once he started putting his mind to it he worked very hard on his game and it showed.”
Muñoz opened with a par before three consecutive birdies to get into contention, including a birdie on No. 2 for the third consecutive round. He then carded six straight pars, narrowly missing birdie on Nos. 6, 7 and 8.
Then Muñoz shifted back and forth across the leaderboard on the second nine, with a bogey on 11, a birdie on 12, a bogey on 14 and a birdie on 15.
Muñoz finished with three pars to shoot 69. With a share of seventh place, he tees off at 9:07 a.m. Sunday with Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm. The three are seven shots behind leader Dustin Johnson.
As the final day of the Masters approaches, Muñoz expressed how he was not weary after three days of play and he sticks to his routine to an extent.
“I really haven’t done much,” Muñoz said. “I haven’t worked out this week. My trainer’s not here with me this week, so I skipped a couple workouts. I’m not very proud of that, I guess, but not doing anything different. We just talk at night, play video games, and just doing the same thing. I’m still pretty young in my career, so I don’t find it draining.”
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There won’t be any holding back for Dylan Frittelli in Sunday’s final round of the Masters Tournament.
There won’t be any holding back for Dylan Frittelli in Sunday’s final round of the Masters Tournament.
The 30-year-old Frittelli, who has never contended in a major championship before this week, is tied for fifth place after 54 holes. After opening with 7-under-par 65 that tied for the first-round lead and a second-round 73, he bounced back with 67 on Saturday and is 11 under for the tournament. He’s five shots behind leader Dustin Johnson and ready to put his game into overdrive.
“I’m going to have to go and get six or seven birdies out there if I want to compete,” he said. “It’s just a golf tournament, isn’t it? Luckily there are no fans out there. That plays into my side because DJ and all the guys that have been doing that for 15 years are more comfortable with that.”
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This is the South African’s second Masters appearance; he missed the cut in 2018. Overall, he’s played in nine majors, with his best finish being a tie for 31st in the 2018 PGA Championship.
“Why not go for it?” Frittelli asked. “There’s going to be a few times in your career when you’re going to be in contention so it’s pointless laying up and trying for a top-five or something.”
After being tied for the first-round lead, his 73 dropped Frittelli three shots off the lead after 36 holes. He got his mind straight on Friday night and here he is.
“I just did a few mental drills at home yesterday evening and this morning,” he said. “And I saw a guy in the golf services building and he mentioned that no one has ever shot four rounds in the 60s so he kind of put it out there that, ‘Hey, you had one bad round, you can still get in it and do well.’ It was a nice little advice, I guess.”
He then went out and shot his first bogey-free round at Augusta National.
“I had clarity, I think my mind was pretty clear. I felt confident, felt calm. I didn’t feel any nerves,” he said. “If I can feel that way tomorrow on the tee and on the golf course, I like my chances.”
Frittelli has been making plenty of birdies this week (15, including five on Saturday). He’s also made six bogeys and an eagle.
“The bogeys are going to stay away,” he joked. “I’m going to keep them as far away from me as possible.”
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A sloppy back nine Saturday means Justin Thomas needs a heroic Sunday and help from leader Dustin Johnson to win the 2020 Masters.
A sloppy back nine Saturday means Justin Thomas needs a heroic Sunday and help from leader Dustin Johnson to win the 2020 Masters Tournament.
Trailing by two shots after a par save from the right trees on No. 11, Thomas bogeyed four of the final seven holes in a 71 that leaves him six shots out of the lead entering the final round.
“Disappointing about wraps it up,” Thomas said. “I played beautifully today that’s probably what’s most frustrating. I hit the ball so flush, hit a lot of shots exactly the way I wanted. Just one of those days where stuff didn’t go my way … a couple of yards here or there.”
Thomas’ tee shot on the par-3 12th sailed long after the wind switched slightly mid-flight. He failed to save par from the back fringe. After a birdie on 13, he made bogey from the fairway on 14, missing long again. From 209 yards out in the fairway on the 15th, Thomas hooked his 5-iron over the green into the pond and made bogey on the third-easiest hole at Augusta National Golf Club.
“As soon as it flew the green, I knew it was gone. But that was a scenario where, if there’s no water there, it’s a perfect 6 iron. I just hit it hard.That was kind of another instance where the wind is kind of off the right, and it just kind of gives it a little bit of help, and when I turned it like that, it goes a little farther,” he said. “But it wasn’t a good golf shot. It very easily could have not gone in the water as well if it would have landed up top. Yeah, just was poor execution of a 5 iron.”
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Thomas hit eight greens in regulation on the first nine and made the turn in 2 under despite missing birdie putts inside 10 feet at No. 1 and No. 3 and failing to birdie the par-5 8th.
With most of the leaders opting for a 3-wood off the 10th tee, Thomas chose driver and crushed his tee shot 342 yards. He hit the approach to 12 feet and drained the putt for birdie. A sharp wedge set up the par at 11 but a slight wind change led to his demise at 12.
His 9-iron from 151 yards flew over the flagstick and landed three yards over the green.
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“That was one of my best swings of the day,” he said. “The wind just switched a little bit. When you’re hitting to a target that small and narrow, playing a skosh of hurt and it goes the other way it’s the difference in four or five yards. I still had it in a great position to make par. I hit a really beautiful shot.”
Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, has 13 PGA Tour victories, including three in 2020. His best finish in four previous Masters appearances is a tie for 12th last year. He and the other followers must chase down Johnson without any help from the typical Sunday roars at Augusta National.
“You know, unfortunately for all of us chasing D.J. is there’s no fans or nothing to make that moment even harder, to have the buzz, to have the adrenaline, to have a little bit more pressure put on him that won’t be there this year,” Thomas said. “So it’s going to take something pretty special for me to have a chance tomorrow, but I know I can do it. It’s just about doing it.”
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The 27-year-old has posted rounds of 67-68-69 and is vying to become the first Masters competitor to shoot all four rounds in the 60s.
Cameron Smith methodically played his first 12 holes Saturday with only pars to show for it. Then, the Australian found success in the third round of the Masters Tournament.
Smith birdied Nos. 13, 14, and 15 to post a 3-under-par 69, and enters the final round tied for second with Abraham Ancer and Sungjae Im. Smith, at 12-under par, will tee off at 9:18 a.m. with Dylan Frittelli and Justin Thomas.
“I mean, it’s what we dream about, really,” Smith said of his opportunity. “This is why we want to play.”
Smith trails Dustin Johnson by four shots, but understands that Sunday at Augusta National has a history of becoming a nightmare for the world’s No. 1 player. Smith was 2 years old when Greg Norman, a fellow Aussie, collapsed on Sunday in 1996. Smith’s father, Des, was so distraught that he stayed home the following day.
“My old man still talks about it now,” Smith said. “He missed a day of work because of Greggy, but it happens.”
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As for the idea that Johnson’s fate could resemble Norman’s, Smith said, “Anyone with a four-shot lead is expected to win. You know, there’s going to be plenty of boys firing tomorrow.”
Smith is competing in his fourth Masters Tournament, with his best finish being a tie for fifth in 2018. The 27-year-old has posted rounds of 67-68-69 and is vying to become the first Masters competitor to shoot all four rounds in the 60s.
When asked if he ever watched a replay of 1996, Smith gently shook his head.
“No,” he said. “No.”
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