Tag: Masters 2022

As Tom Watson joins Augusta National’s list of honorary starters, how did it all start?

It was nearly three decades before the ceremony was introduced at the 1963 Masters.

Golf has never been shy about celebrating its long-ago greats. During Masters week at Augusta National, that reverence is always on display.

The Tuesday night Champions Dinner is a big nod to the past, but it’s a private affair, which leaves the ceremonial Thursday morning tee time as the most public display of adulation for the game’s most historic figures.

This year, Tom Watson, an eight-time major champion (including two Masters), joins Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an honorary starter for the 2022 Masters Tournament, which is scheduled to officially tee off shortly thereafter.

It has become such a familiar ritual, it’s easy to assume it’s forever been among the Masters traditions. But it hasn’t. It was nearly three decades before the ceremony was introduced at the 1963 Masters, and since then there have been a pair of four-year gaps without any honorary starters.

A course worker places the nameplates of honorary starters Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus at the first tee during the first round of the 2014 The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

How’d it all start? Well, let’s begin with a piece of trivia.

Today, the Senior PGA Championship is a traditional major tournament on the PGA Tour’s 50-and-up Champions circuit. It began in the late 1930s and the first two installments were played at Augusta National Golf Club.

The first two winners were Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod, and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the second and final Senior PGA at Augusta, Masters host Bobby Jones invited Hutchison (then 79) and McLeod (80) to do the honors. They continued the tradition together through 1973, then McLeod did it alone for three years following Hutchison’s death.

Following McLeod’s death, there was no opening tee-shot ceremony until 1981, when it became the domain of golfing giants — Gene Sarazen and Byron Nelson were the first two, later joined by Sam Snead.

Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod (file photo)

In more recent times, the chore belonged to Arnold Palmer, who was later joined by Jack Nicklaus, and then Gary Player to round out the Big Three from the ’60s. Since Palmer’s death in 2016, Nicklaus and Player have started each Masters as a ceremonial twosome, though Lee Elder joined them last year to be honored — health limitations kept him from hitting a shot.

And now Watson, at a relatively young 72, joins Nicklaus (82) and Player (86), on a first tee that will be weighed down by 35 professional major championships, including 11 Masters.

Honorary Masters starters

1934-1962 — No honorary starters
1963-73 — Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod
1974-76 — Fred McLeod
1977-80 — No honorary starters
1981-82 — Gene Sarazen and Byron Nelson
1983 — Gene Sarazen and Ken Venturi (subbing for Nelson)
1984-1999 — Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead
2000-2001 — Byron Nelson and Sam Snead
2002 — Sam Snead
2003-2006 — No honorary starters
2007-2009 — Arnold Palmer
2010-2011 — Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus
2012-2016 — Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player
2016-2019 — Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player
2020 — No honorary starters
2021 — Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Elder
2022 — Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson

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Viktor Hovland feels more comfortable at Augusta National, a course that’s ‘made to make you feel uncomfortable’

Hovland’s attitude is a particularly valuable asset at a place like Augusta National.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Viktor Hovland began last year’s Masters with a dreadful triple-bogey, but by the time he’d walked off the sixth green, he was back to even par. Obviously not ideal, he noted.

“Instead of freaking out and kind of not giving it up or firing at every pin that I’m not supposed to do,” said Hovland, “I try to just reset and trust my game.”

Hovland’s attitude is a particularly valuable asset at a place like Augusta National, where he tied for 32nd to earn low-amateur honors in 2019. It was then that the now No. 4-ranked Hovland learned a valuable lesson.

“I think I was maybe too caught up in trying to be too perfect,” said Hovland. “It’s a major.”

Last year, in his second appearance, 24-year-old Hovland tied for 21st and has already played enough at Augusta National to know that no two days are the same.

When asked if he’s comfortable here yet, Hovland said more comfortable.

“The course is hard,” he said. “It’s kind of made to make you feel uncomfortable.”

That’s where experiences like the Ryder Cup have helped, he said. The former Oklahoma State star feels like he’s particularly getting the “hang of” the back nine. It’s the front nine, Nos. 4-6 in particular, however, that he feels there’s more work to be done.

On Tuesday, he played the first five holes before the course was closed due to inclement weather.

“I think you have a tendency of going too much at the pins there instead of maybe playing more of a safer shot,” he said. “Those holes are the toughest on the course.”

Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland point to Hovland’s caddie Shay Knight after he successfully skipped a ball across the pond on no. 16 during a practice round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Davis Tucker Andrew Davis Tucker-USA TODAY Sports

Hovland famously told the world after his 2020 victory in Puerto Rico that “I just suck at chipping.” He’s come a long way since then, of course, putting considerable effort into his short game. This week, Hovland said he’s particularly focused on controlling spin around the greens.

“One thing that’s really important out here is that with the greens being as firm as they are,” he said, “and if you miss certain greens, you kind of end up in a low point and you have to hit it up in the air, and if you’re short-sided, you have to spin the ball.

“It’s not so much about the height, because I can flop it up in the air, but if you don’t have any spin on it, the ball’s not going to stop. So, I played a practice round with Paul Casey yesterday, and I was watching him hit some shots from over the green on 15. I was basically trying to bump it into the slope and get it somewhere close, and he hit these nice, just kind of spinners, landed by the pin, and just stopped so quick, and he did it multiple times in a row. It’s not like you just catch one that spins and then the next one kind of tumbles.”

Back to that opening triple-bogey from last year. The bounce-back speaks to the fact that Hovland has a reputation as a smiley, happy guy. He was asked on Tuesday where that comes from. For starters, he noted, he has a “pretty good job” and makes it a point to have something to look forward to.

“I guess it’s a lot of genes,” said Hovland. “My mom and dad are pretty happy people. Norway is a pretty happy country.”

Countless reasons to smile.

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Football-loving, pimento cheese-eating Sam Burns is enjoying his time at Augusta National

Sam Burns weighs in on one of Augusta National’s great debates — pimento cheese or egg salad?

AUGUSTA, Ga. — As a self-proclaimed southern-loving kid from Choudrant, Louisiana, the Masters — with all its pageantry and hospitality — is right in Sam Burns’ wheelhouse.

He proposed and married his wife, Caroline, in Savannah, the site of his lone Korn Ferry Tour victory.

The 25-year-old LSU alum is passionate about football, playing safety and quarterback as a youth player.

His affinity for southern culture bleeds over into one of Augusta National’s great debates — pimento cheese or egg salad?

“I prefer pimento, but I wouldn’t turn down an egg salad,” Burns said on Tuesday. “I think they’re both great, but if I had to choose one, it would probably be that one.”

Burns was an LSU football fanatic while in school and still follows the program closely. With his father and brother having both played football in college, so the sport, he says, is still in his blood.

Which is a mentality that’s still a part of him, even on the golf course.

“I loved football. I really enjoyed it,” Burns said. “Sometimes when I get frustrated, I still wish I could put on pads and take my frustration out.”

Burns has won three Tour events in the past year to seal his first invitation to the Masters, where he practiced on Monday with good friend and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Burns got in five holes on Tuesday before inclement weather suspended activity for the day on the grounds.

Sam Burns hits from the fairway on no. 1 during a practice round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Andrew Davis Tucker-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Network

Burns played a round at Augusta National last month with his father, Todd, his first time playing the course. During Monday’s practice round, he attempted to learn every detail of the course while aiming to please the patrons. He interacted with kids, doled out high fives and he and Scheffler put on a show with Scheffler skipping balls across the water at the 16th.

“I was just like, make sure you at least hit the water because I didn’t want to send it straight in the air and not touch anything,” Burns said. “That would be embarrassing. And try also to not fall in the water. That slope’s pretty steep right there. That was fun. How do you not enjoy that?”

Burns tees off Thursday with Abraham Ancer and Tyrrell Hatton at 1:19 p.m. with few expectations for himself. But if anyone wants to question his pimento cheese decision, he is ready to stand his ground.

“I feel like I could hold my own in a debate,” Burns said. “Who knows if that will ever happen? But I guess I need to be prepared.”

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Lynch: Bryson DeChambeau says life has been quiet, before proving it is anything but

A passer-by might have thought they were listening to a NASCAR driver.

AUGUSTA, Ga — Bryson DeChambeau spent part of his press conference at Augusta National reflecting on how quiet his life was while rehabbing injuries, before going on to offer overwhelming evidence to the contrary by highlighting the dizzying number of distractions he embraces.

Start with the injuries to his left hip and left hand, which he aggravated by falling during a ping pong game in Saudi Arabia (admittedly, not the most grievous damage known to afflict those who slip up over there). There followed discourses on shooting social media videos with Dude Perfect in Amen Corner, some compelling new content he has coming for the kids, the likelihood of his competing in a long drive contest next week in Florida despite the aforementioned injuries, the state of his game (somewhat similar to the state of his body), how rehab made him a better person (evidence presumably forthcoming), and the incommunicado status of Phil Mickelson (with whom he was linked to a Saudi-financed rival tour, and who while ignoring DeChambeau’s text is apparently talking to Greg Norman, if the Saudi’s pilot fish is to be believed).

DeChambeau’s injuries are persistent and troubling. The left hip issue is a torn labrum. “That was two years ago when I started speed training. I was speed training on concrete, and I kind of slipped when I got over 200 miles an hour, and didn’t really talk about it too much because it was fine,” he explained.

Until it wasn’t fine. The left-hand injury is more recent but no less attributable to his need for speed.

“I’ve been hitting a lot of golf balls for a while, and that didn’t help my hands. I didn’t get my hands, like finger strength strong enough to hold the hand in the proper place and alignment compared to the rest of my body,” he said. “I felt something last November before I played up against Brooks.”

Somewhere, Koepka’s eyes rolled.

“There was something on my hand that just kind of like popped, and was I like, Ah, that’s not normal. That didn’t feel really good at all either,” he continued. “It was tough hitting balls. I just stopped.”

He stopped playing, too. After withdrawing from the Saudi International in February, DeChambeau didn’t defend his title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and skipped the Players Championship. He returned at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play two weeks ago, but erratic play led to just a half-point from three matches. Yet he emphasized the positives of his inactivity.

“Taking six weeks off, realizing that golf isn’t everything in life,” he said. “And I’ve had a lot of things change behind the scenes, which has been awesome for me. Allowed me to do some pretty cool things on YouTube and hopefully create an audience that can see what’s going on in my life and see what I want to do, just give back to the game of golf as much as I can and get back to the younger generation.”

In short, brand-building, albeit with an altruistic motive.

“I’m not going to be here forever, so I might as well do my best to give back to the game of golf and give back to the kids as much as possible,” he said, lest that point wasn’t fully grasped.

“It’s just a great opportunity to showcase what I want to do to give back and hopefully help grow the game a little bit,” he continued. “I don’t want to say I can grow the game, but I want to give back as much as possible in that area.”

“That’s really made me a different person, I hope a better person, I think just a different person in general, have a different perspective on the game of golf as well.”

Asked if he can win, DeChambeau said he’s feeling “80 percent,” but quickly added that “at 80 percent, I’m still around 190 ball speed. So, it’s not bad from a speed perspective.”

There was, as always, more.

“I feel like I’m getting back to that place, with new speed. It’s not easy to sustain speed, have speed, create speed, and then sustain it and be able to hit it straight like I used to in 2018,” he said, warming to his favorite subject. “It’s a very difficult feat.”

A passer-by—not something that actually exists at Augusta National—might have thought they were listening to a NASCAR driver, were it not for the fact that engine jockeys sport fewer logos. In order to contend in his sixth appearance at the Masters, DeChambeau cited the usual laundry list of requirements one hears from the world’s best players: “hitting fairways, hitting greens and rolling the putter really well. You have to roll it well and read greens well.”

At the start of this year, the PGA Tour banned the green-reading books upon which DeChambeau relied heavily. The Masters, however, never permitted players to use such aids, which might help explain DeChambeau’s middling record—his best finish remains a tie for 21st as an amateur in 2016. To compensate, he’s relying on his caddie.

“He’s got a fresh set of eyes. He is very experienced in green reading and has been rolling a lot of golf balls out there, getting really comfortable, which has been nice. So, I think he’ll be a great asset out there for me,” he said.

The world No. 19 admitted that trying to rediscover the form he displayed in 2020 has been taxing: “The past few weeks have been very, very difficult on me, not playing well and not hitting it anywhere near where I know I should be hitting it in regards to straight; yelling ‘fore’ off the tee every time is just not fun. It’s very difficult on your mental psyche as well.”

To be fair, it has at times been no less difficult on the psyche of those luckless patrons in the firing line of his rocket tee shoes on the many well-documented occasions on which he didn’t shout a warning, but perhaps his more reflective comment is a welcome inkling of the personal growth he mentioned.

For all his health issues, DeChambeau hasn’t decided whether to compete in a long drive event in Florida after the Masters. “I’m trying, but it may not be the smartest thing,” he said. “We’ll see. It’s a day-by-day thing as well.”

This means next week, like this one, could be just another episode in the now-familiar DeChambeau circus, flush with extracurricular activities. “It’s kind of been nice going into this year’s Masters just peacefully going about my business,” he said.

He looked like he really believed that too.

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Masters 2022: Rory McIlroy explains his new approach to completing the career Grand Slam

Jim Nantz has a feeling that the 86th edition of the Masters may be a special week for Rory McIlroy.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jim Nantz has a feeling.

He’s predicting that the 86th edition of the Masters may be a special week, perhaps even a historic one for Rory McIlroy.

“I know how these stories unfold,” Nantz said during a recent pre-Masters media Zoom call. “Augusta just has this ability, for some reason, to tell it better than any other place. Those scripts, one year beats the next and, I mean, I have in my head and my heart [that] he’s going to win the Green Jacket one year. I mean, he’s going to have a lot more chances, but this just might be the year. This just might be the year. It’s quiet enough going in and he’s a rare talent. Maybe that’s the story this year in the end, that he completes it.”

McIlroy is making his eighth attempt to win the Green Jacket, the lone major missing in his collection to become just the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam and join golf’s most exclusive club. He’s recorded six top 10s in the last 10 Masters and has a game that seems tailor made to win at Augusta National Golf Club. But the burden of expectation has held him back.  Or has it simply been his game plan?

McIlroy said patience and discipline will be the key to make this Masters different from the rest as he makes his 14th start in the season’s first major. It’s something he learned best from playing alongside Dustin Johnson in the opening two rounds in 2020 when Johnson raced out to a 12-under start through 36 holes.

“I wasn’t in awe of the way he played. It’s just he did the right things and he put it in the right spots, and he holed a few putts and he took advantage of the par-5s, and he basically did everything that this golf course asks of you,” McIlroy said. “That’s what this place is all about. It’s as much of a chess game as anything else, and it’s just about putting yourself in the right positions and being disciplined and being patient and knowing that pars are good, and even if you make a couple of pars on the par-5s, that’s OK, and you just keep moving forward. You look at all the previous winners, especially over the last five to ten years, their iron play and their approach play has separated them from the field. That’s a really important part of your play this week.”

Augusta National is known as a second shot course. Three of the last seven players who have won the Masters have led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, and five of the last seven have been in the top 5 of that category. That hasn’t exactly been McIlroy’s strong suit.

“His iron play in particular has been nothing terrific,” Golf Channel analyst Paul McGinley noted.

Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo pointed to his inconsistent wedge game as an area of concern. “You know, some of these wedge shots, when he stands up and hits them or misses a green or hits them to 50 feet and three putts, I mean it’s just gone on a little bit too long,” Faldo said.

But McIlroy contends that if he picks his spots and plays more conservatively he can position himself for a Sunday charge.

“If you hit a wedge to 20 or 30 feet, that’s OK. Middle of the greens, you hole a few putts, that’s what it’s about. It’s about hitting greens. It’s about playing to the fat part of the green, being somewhat conservative,” he said. “I think that’s what wins you Masters. You see the highlights of people hitting heroic golf shots around here, but that’s just one golf shot. The rest of the time, they’re doing the right things and being patient and being disciplined, and that’s what wins you green jackets.

“It feels like a negative game plan, but it’s not. It’s just a smart game plan. It’s playing the percentages. Look, Sunday, if you need to take risks, you take risks obviously, but for the first 54 holes, you just have to stay as disciplined as possible. To me, yeah, that goes against my nature a little bit, so it is something I have to really work hard on.”

For most of the last eight years since winning the 2014 British Open, McIlroy has been the center of attention when he arrives on the grounds of Augusta National. But entering this week at No. 9 in the world and with the latest comeback of Tiger Woods grabbing the headlines, McIlroy may also benefit from floating under the radar. He was on the ninth green of his Tuesday practice round with fellow Irishmen Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Seamus Power when Woods teed off at the first with Justin Thomas and Fred Couples.

“It was a mass exodus from the 9th green to the 1st tee, and then the back nine was lovely and quiet,” McIlroy said.

Perhaps McIlroy’s new approach to Augusta National will produce a late Sunday tee time and a chance to win the Green Jacket he so desperately covets.

“I’ve always said time is on my side, and I’ll keep saying that until it isn’t, whenever that is,” he said. “But right now, I still feel like time’s on my side.”

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Tiger Woods feels like he’ll play. Asked if he thinks he can win the Masters 2022: ‘I do’

Tiger Woods is on track to play in the 86th Masters Tournament.

Tiger Woods is on track to play in the 86th Masters Tournament.

“As of right now I feel like I am going to play,” he said Tuesday.

He was also asked if he thought he could win the Masters, and his response was simple.

“I do,” he said.

Woods suffered serious injuries to his lower body, especially his right leg — to a point where amputation was on the table, and it seemed far-fetched to imagine he could be playing at Augusta National Golf Club when the first major begins on April 7.

Yet every time we think he’s done, he proves us wrong.

“When I feel like I can’t win anymore that’ll be it,” Woods added. “But I feel like I can still do it.”

Woods made a trip to Augusta National last week to see the course and evaluate whether or not his body could hold up walking 18 holes at the historic host venue.

“Tiger wants to compete. He doesn’t want to just be a celebrity and show up at the Masters. He wants to be able to play. He wants to be able to play 72 holes and he wants to be in competition. He wants to have a chance to win,” Brad Faxon said on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. “I don’t think Tiger Woods shows up unless he can do that.”

The five-time Masters champion returned to the golf course this past December when he teed it up with his son, Charlie, at the PNC Championship. The game was sharp, considering bodily limitations, and Team Woods nearly won.

The 46-year-old has doused the fire of expectation with great persistence this time around, especially during a broadcast appearance alongside Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo at the Genesis Invitational, an event Woods’ foundation hosts.

Rory McIlroy, during an interview with Golf Channel at the Valero Texas Open, admitted that Woods has made great strides between the time he saw the 15-time major champion a few weeks ago and their encounter at Augusta earlier this week.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Woods winning his first Green Jacket in record fashion by 12 strokes in 1997. Woods, who won his fifth coat in 2019, turned 46 in December, the same age as Jack Nicklaus when he won his record sixth Masters in 1986.

Woods has come back countless times from injury, from controversy, and now — he’s done it again.

“There are two three-word phrases to me that define his career — Tiger wins again and Tiger is back,” said Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner in a conference call previewing next week’s Masters. “Here we are again, and it’s going to be Tiger, 25 years later, still bringing that juice that only he can bring. And I think the sport needs it right now.”

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Is Tiger Woods in or out for the 2022 Masters? What does the released PGA Tour commitment list mean?

It’s the question the whole golf world keeps asking on repeat — will Tiger Woods play in the 2022 Masters?

It’s the question the whole golf world keeps playing on repeat — will Tiger Woods play in the 2022 Masters?

Unfortunately, while the Twitterverse went crazy at 5 p.m. ET on Friday when the PGA Tour released a commitment list to the Masters, the list means very little. So little, in fact, that the list was later removed about an hour later.

Woods is a former champion, winning his most recent green jacket in 2019, so he’s automatically listed as an entrant into the tournament. He’s been on the Masters’ website throughout this ordeal.

He hasn’t told Augusta National – as Phil Mickelson and Ian Woosnam already have this year – to move him into the list of past champions not competing with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson.

And, of course, while the Masters and the PGA Tour are friendly, they are not unified. The Tour, remember, does not run the Masters, set policy at Augusta National or have a contractual relationship with the Masters. They are two separate entities, as many have pointed out.

Since the field is announced each Friday around 5 p.m. local time for each Tour event, many were hoping Woods would reveal his decision around the same time, but he’s under no obligation to do so.

Woods has fanned the flames of hope with reports of his practicing and playing at The Medalist in Florida and his reconnaissance trip Tuesday to Augusta National where he played all 18 holes alongside his son, Charlie.

But it’s conceivable that his cap isn’t tipped until an announcement from the Masters comes with a list of upcoming player interviews.

Of course, the most difficult part of wading through any potentials announcements was the date — April Fool’s Day. Many on social media took advantage of the day to muse about Tiger’s potential return while many others warned about believing anyone who “broke the story.”

So what does it all mean? Nothing. Not yet.

Tiger is still eligible to play, he has been seen practicing and oddsmakers have already posted his chances.

But in terms of official announcements? As of Friday night, we still know very little.

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Reigning Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama withdraws from Valero Texas Open, title defense in question

Matsuyama withdrew from the Valero after just missing a hole-in-one on the 16th hole.

SAN ANTONIO — Just 10 days after he told media members he was at 80 percent in his recovery from neck and shoulder injuries suffered during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, reigning Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama pulled out of the Valero Texas Open on Friday.

Last year, Matsuyama shot 69-71-65-73 to win by one over Will Zalatoris and by three over 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele. It was his first major title and he became the first from Japan to win the Masters.

The move heightened speculation that he will not be able to defend his title.

Matsuyama withdrew from the Valero after just missing a hole-in-one on the 16th hole at the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.

“I’ve been receiving a lot of treatment,” Matsuyama said on March 22 in a conference call with reporters. “I’ll do my best to prepare well so I can defend my title at Augusta. I haven’t been able to practice as much as I’d like, but what I have been doing, I feel like I’m on the right track.”

Matsuyama has a pair of victories on Tour this year, the last coming at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and he has a total of eight on the PGA Tour to go with eight wins on the Japan Golf Tour. The 30-year-old is tied with K.J. Choi for most PGA Tour wins by an Asian-born player.

Also, Kevin Tway withdrew from the Valero with a wrist injury.

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Facing uphill challenge, Russell Knox gets in position at Valero Texas Open to earn Masters invite

“I would love to win and get to play next week, that’s obviously why I’m here.”

Russell Knox knows he has to win the Valero Texas Open to earn an invitation into next week’s Masters.

A tall order, indeed.

Sort of like climbing Mount Everest, if you will, considering how tough it is to win, period, and considering his history in the event. He missed his last three cuts at the Valero and his best finish in six starts was a tie for 26th.

And the Scot hasn’t won since the 2018 Irish Open and hasn’t tasted victory on the PGA Tour since the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, his second title.

So, of course, Knox, ranked 169th in the official world rankings, went out and shot a bogey-free, 7-under-par 65 Thursday in the first round on the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio. It was the first time in 19 rounds he’s broken 70 in the event.

“Obviously thrilled with the round,” Knox said. “I took care of business off the tee, which was nice. Obviously, this course, if you get offline, it can be very penal. So I drove the ball well, iron play was solid again and just a couple of those good luck moments starting the round kind of got my momentum nice.”

Those would include a chip-in on the seventh and superb up-and-downs on the sixth and ninth holes.

“Those were kind of the key parts that allowed me to kind of settle into the back nine and have some easier birdies,” Knox said.

As the afternoon wave began play, Knox was the leader in the clubhouse. While he’s taken a significant fall in the world rankings from a career-high rank of 18th in 2017, he’s played well of late – a tie for sixth in The Players Championship and a tie for seventh in the Sony Open in Hawaii this year.

“It’s been more kind of the way I want to play golf. I’ve been a little more consistent tee to green. I’m back to kind of feeling like the way I should be playing, which has been nice,” he said. “Sometimes when you’re putting in work and you don’t get results, it’s very demoralizing. But it’s nice, I’ve practiced hard and I’m starting to see some benefits.”

And he has an envied temperament.

“I would love to win and get to play next week, that’s obviously why I’m here,” said Knox, who missed the cut in 2016 and 2017 in his only Masters appearances. “I know my game is good so I’ve got to keep playing and see if I can have a great finish. It would be the biggest bonus of the year, obviously, if that happened, but no, I’m quite happy to sit on the couch with my dog next week, too.

“But I mean, I’m going to try my hardest to finish first this week.”

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