AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 07: A general view of a leaderboard and flag (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
At the Masters, the money on the line takes a backseat to prestige, where players dream of gaining entrance into Butler Cabin and earning a dapper green jacket.
The azaleas are poised to stun, thousands of pounds of pimento cheese are about to be spread between slices of fluffy white bread and Magnolia Lane is primed to turn the top golfers in the world into dewy-eyed dreamers as they drive on through the canopy of trees.
A year ago, the battle lines drawn between the rival tours at the top of professional men’s golf were the top storyline, but that tension has since all but dissipated—shifting from war to a whimper—now that a deal uniting the formerly warring parties seems imminent.
After a $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group and last month’s, by all accounts very friendly PGA Tour policy player directors tete-a-tete with Saudi Public Investment Fund governor and LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas, the tension has thawed. Pro golf feels like it’s now just a tap-in way from a come together moment.
Until a deal is consummated, the majors remain the only time and place where the best players in the world all share the same golf course, a distinction the Players Championship once also held. Fans are eager to see reigning champ Jon Rahm, who inked a $300 million deal to play for LIV Golf, along with compatriots Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson (last year’s runner-ups) as well as Chilean star Joaquin Niemann, who received a special invite from ANGC, tee it up against PGA Tour studs like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele.
“It’s going to be great to see all these great players together. That’s what we want to see as fans and as broadcasters, to be able to get the best against the best,” golf analyst Andy North from ESPN, the network televising the first two rounds of the Masters at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday, said.
“This is an interesting year that there’s a lot of the name guys that haven’t had great years so far this year. So can they get it together and start playing at the level that you want them, expect them to play at,” North added.
First-Time Winner Trend
In a PGA Tour season that has seen five first-time winners, it would be fitting if the green jacket is won by player making their Master debut. It very rare for a player with just a few practice rounds under their belt to fully decipher the undulating built-for-speed bentgrass greens of Augusta National. Fuzzy Zoeller, back in 1979, was the last player to lord over the leaderboard in his first appearance.
“There’s just too many people that play well on this golf course who have already done it. You’re going to have to claw your way past all of these people who played awesome there through the years,” ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt said.
Still, winners find a way to succeed and Masters rookie Wyndham Clark, the No. 4 player in the world is definitely a contender. As is Swedish pro Ludvig Aberg, a first-time coming in hot with three top-ten finishes this young season.
“I had a chance in Hawaii to walk around and watch him play a bunch. I think this is our next superstar,” North said.
“I’m so impressed with him. I love the way he plays the game. I love the way he attacks it. Doesn’t fiddle around much. Just gets up and hits it and plays golf. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he does this week. I think Augusta National could be a great place for him,” he added.
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