Justin Rose, leading after round one of the Masters for the fifth time, isn't surprised that statistically Augusta National favors front-runners -- even though he has yet to claim a green jacket.
The last five Masters champions have all been in the top three after one round.
Also Read - <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/more-women-than-men-in-la28-olympics-veteran-boxer-mary-kom-welcomes-momentous-decision-8949012" aria-label="More women than men in LA28 Olympics; veteran boxer Mary Kom welcomes &lsquo;momentous decision&rsquo;">More women than men in LA28 Olympics; veteran boxer Mary Kom welcomes &lsquo;momentous decision&rsquo;</a>
And in the past 20 editions, only one player has come from outside the top 10 after one round to win, Tiger Woods charging from 33rd place to win in 2005 and rallying from 11th through 18 holes to win in 2019.
"It makes sense, because it's the kind of golf course that needs a ton of respect," Rose said. "So when you are playing with the lead or around the lead, you're afforded the luxury of patience and respecting holes and respecting pins and things like that.
"When you're in chase mode, you end up possibly making one or two silly bogeys by trying to play catch-up, and obviously that ultimately hampers the catch-up."
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who was tied for third after one round last year on the way to his second Masters title, said he didn't pay much attention to that kind of stat, which in any case he didn't think was unique to Augusta.
"I think anytime you get close to the lead, it's going to be easier for you to win the golf tournament. That's a simple fact of the matter," Scheffler said after seizing a share of second place on four-under par 68 alongside Ludvig Aberg and Corey Conners.
"I'm a bit surprised that it's like that, but I wouldn't say that it can't be done."
Certainly Rose knows better than most that a lead on Thursday is no guarantee come Sunday.
He led or shared the lead after 18 holes in 2004, 2007 and 2008 and again in 2021. He has also led or shared the lead after 36 holes, 54 holes and even after 72 -- when he lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff for his second Masters runner-up finish.
Jon Rahm, the 2023 champion from Spain, was bullish on his chances of bouncing back after a first-round 75 left him 10 off the pace.
"If I can get off to a good start, post a round in the 60s tomorrow, then the weekend could be a new story," he insisted.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, who was tied for third after one round last year on the way to his second Masters title, said he didn't pay much attention to that.

Justin Rose, leading after round one of the Masters for the fifth time, isn't surprised that statistically Augusta National favors front-runners -- even though he has yet to claim a green jacket. The last five Masters champions have all been in the top three after one round. Also Read - More women than men in LA28 Olympics; veteran boxer Mary Kom welcomes ‘momentous decision’ And in the past 20 editions, only one player has come from outside the top 10 after one round to win, Tiger Woods charging from 33rd place to win in 2005 and rallying from 11th through 18 holes to win in 2019. "It makes sense, because it's the kind of golf course that needs a ton of respect," Rose said. "So when you are playing with the lead or around the lead, you're afforded the luxury of patience and respecting holes and respecting pins and things like that. "When you're in chase mode, you end up possibly making one or two silly bogeys by trying to play catch-up, and obviously that ultimately hampers the catch-up." World number one Scottie Scheffler, who was tied for third after one round last year on the way to his second Masters title, said he didn't pay much attention to that kind of stat, which in any case he didn't think was unique to Augusta. "I think anytime you get close to the lead, it's going to be easier for you to win the golf tournament. That's a simple fact of the matter," Scheffler said after seizing a share of second place on four-under par 68 alongside Ludvig Aberg and Corey Conners. "I'm a bit surprised that it's like that, but I wouldn't say that it can't be done." Certainly Rose knows better than most that a lead on Thursday is no guarantee come Sunday. He led or shared the lead after 18 holes in 2004, 2007 and 2008 and again in 2021. He has also led or shared the lead after 36 holes, 54 holes and even after 72 -- when he lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff for his second Masters runner-up finish. Jon Rahm, the 2023 champion from Spain, was bullish on his chances of bouncing back after a first-round 75 left him 10 off the pace. "If I can get off to a good start, post a round in the 60s tomorrow, then the weekend could be a new story," he insisted. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Augusta Masters: British Justin Rose leads after first round

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy are chasing history at the Masters, where a fast start at Augusta National on Thursday has been vital to success in the first major golf championship of the year.
The last 19 Masters winners have shot under par in the first round and the last five winners have been in the top three after round one.
Also Read - <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/scottie-scheffler-masters-dinner-augusta-masters-champions-dinner-2025-menu-cheeseburgers-sliders-texas-style-chili-blackened-redfish-or-cowboy-ribeye-main-course-chocolate-chip-skillet-cookie-8942434" aria-label="Augusta Masters dinner 2025: Scottie Scheffler serves another zinger with Texas -style chilli">Augusta Masters dinner 2025: Scottie Scheffler serves another zinger with Texas -style chilli</a>
"I think it's just the sheer amount of talent in the field and people playing well," 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm said. "It's just hard to catch up when somebody starts strong and can keep it going strong for the rest of the tournament."
World number one Scheffler could join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win two straight Masters titles.
The American, who also won in 2022, says thoughts of joining that select club are the furthest thing from his mind.
"When I step on the first tee on Thursday, I'm going to remind myself that I've done what I needed to do to play well, and it's all about going out and competing now," said Scheffler, who is scheduled to tee off at 10:15 am (1415 GMT) alongside two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and Spanish amateur Jose Luis Ballester.
World number two McIlroy tees off at 1:12 pm alongside last year's runner-up, Ludvig Aberg, and American Akshay Bhatia, with the Northern Ireland star trying again to join Nicklaus, Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in completing a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy won the most recent of his four major titles in 2014 and has since come up empty in 10 attempts at Augusta to bag the only major he needs to complete his collection.
McIlroy will be especially aware of the need for a strong start on a course where he has often struggled out of the gate.
In 16 appearances he has carded just two sub-70 first rounds -- the best a seven-under 65 that put him in the lead in 2011 when he went on to surrender a four-shot lead in the final round and finish tied for 15th.
Head down and focus
"I just have to keep my head down and focus on my job," said McIlroy, whose victories in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Players Championship have seen his stock rise this year.
Scheffler and McIlroy have dominated the pre-tournament conversation, but a raft of contenders includes world number three Xander Schauffele -- winner of the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year -- and reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.
World number four Collin Morikawa is a two-time major champion who has finished in the top-10 in the past three Masters while fifth-ranked Aberg is hungry to improve on the runner-up finish he conjured at Augusta in his major championship debut last year.
DeChambeau and Rahm are among the dozen LIV Golf tour members in the field whose form can't be gauged by world ranking, since the rankings system doesn't recognize events on the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit.
While Augusta is a byword for tradition, this year's 95-strong field faces a landscape noticeably altered by deadly Hurricane Helene in September, which caused the loss of many towering pine trees.
But apart from a more airy feel, and spots at the 10th and the third holes where the branches encroach less, most players said the loss of trees made little material difference in how they attack the course.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World number one Scheffler could join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win two straight Masters titles. Sports

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy are chasing history at the Masters, where a fast start at Augusta National on Thursday has been vital to success in the first major golf championship of the year. The last 19 Masters winners have shot under par in the first round and the last five winners have been in the top three after round one. Also Read - Augusta Masters dinner 2025: Scottie Scheffler serves another zinger with Texas -style chilli "I think it's just the sheer amount of talent in the field and people playing well," 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm said. "It's just hard to catch up when somebody starts strong and can keep it going strong for the rest of the tournament." World number one Scheffler could join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win two straight Masters titles. The American, who also won in 2022, says thoughts of joining that select club are the furthest thing from his mind. "When I step on the first tee on Thursday, I'm going to remind myself that I've done what I needed to do to play well, and it's all about going out and competing now," said Scheffler, who is scheduled to tee off at 10:15 am (1415 GMT) alongside two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and Spanish amateur Jose Luis Ballester. World number two McIlroy tees off at 1:12 pm alongside last year's runner-up, Ludvig Aberg, and American Akshay Bhatia, with the Northern Ireland star trying again to join Nicklaus, Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in completing a career Grand Slam. McIlroy won the most recent of his four major titles in 2014 and has since come up empty in 10 attempts at Augusta to bag the only major he needs to complete his collection. McIlroy will be especially aware of the need for a strong start on a course where he has often struggled out of the gate. In 16 appearances he has carded just two sub-70 first rounds -- the best a seven-under 65 that put him in the lead in 2011 when he went on to surrender a four-shot lead in the final round and finish tied for 15th. Head down and focus "I just have to keep my head down and focus on my job," said McIlroy, whose victories in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Players Championship have seen his stock rise this year. Scheffler and McIlroy have dominated the pre-tournament conversation, but a raft of contenders includes world number three Xander Schauffele -- winner of the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year -- and reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau. World number four Collin Morikawa is a two-time major champion who has finished in the top-10 in the past three Masters while fifth-ranked Aberg is hungry to improve on the runner-up finish he conjured at Augusta in his major championship debut last year. DeChambeau and Rahm are among the dozen LIV Golf tour members in the field whose form can't be gauged by world ranking, since the rankings system doesn't recognize events on the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit. While Augusta is a byword for tradition, this year's 95-strong field faces a landscape noticeably altered by deadly Hurricane Helene in September, which caused the loss of many towering pine trees. But apart from a more airy feel, and spots at the 10th and the third holes where the branches encroach less, most players said the loss of trees made little material difference in how they attack the course. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Augusta Masters: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy chase history in year's first major

The golf major season is official ready to kick off with Augusta Masters - year's first of four majors - set to be played from April 10-13 Before the major starts, however, one tradition had to be followed - the Champions Dinner on Tuesday (Apr 8)- served in honour of last year's winner Scottie Scheffler.
<h2>What was Augusta Masters Champions Dinner 2025 Menu?</h2>
Just like in 2023, cheeseburgers sliders were served Scottie-style along with firecracker shrimps for appetizers. The third option available for the members before the first course could be served was Papa Scheff's Meatball and Ravioli Bites.
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For the first course, Scheffler served Texas-style chili - another zingy item served two years after spicy tortilla soup in 2023.
Commenting on it, 1979 Masters winner Fuzzy Zoeller said: "It was a five-alarm fire. I had to call the fire department to blow it out," as reported by BBC.
For the main course, the choice was offered between blackened redfish or cowboy ribeye with most of the members picking up the latter.
A warm chocolate chip skillet cookie with vanilla bean ice cream for the dessert completed the menu of this year's Master Champions dinner.
Out of 35 chairs, 32 were occupied while three remained vacant. Among the former champs who missed the dinner were Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Sandy Lyle.
Woods had missed the famous dinner for the second time since 2021 and this is the 26th consecutive time that the Masters champions dinner went without full capacity.
<h2>Why Tiger Woods didn't attend the Champions Dinner?</h2>
&ldquo;We were putting our jackets away and the guys said that Tiger still can&rsquo;t put weight on his foot,&rdquo; Charles Coody said about Woods&rsquo; achilles injury as reported by BBC. &ldquo;They said his weight tolerance just isn&rsquo;t there to climb up those stairs.&rdquo;

Out of 35 chairs, 32 were occupied while three remained vacant. Among the former champs who missed the dinner were Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Sandy Lyle.

The golf major season is official ready to kick off with Augusta Masters - year's first of four majors - set to be played from April 10-13 Before the major starts, however, one tradition had to be followed - the Champions Dinner on Tuesday (Apr 8)- served in honour of last year's winner Scottie Scheffler. What was Augusta Masters Champions Dinner 2025 Menu? Just like in 2023, cheeseburgers sliders were served Scottie-style along with firecracker shrimps for appetizers. The third option available for the members before the first course could be served was Papa Scheff's Meatball and Ravioli Bites. Also Read: Shai drops 42 as OKC Thunder avenge loss against LA Lakers For the first course, Scheffler served Texas-style chili - another zingy item served two years after spicy tortilla soup in 2023. Commenting on it, 1979 Masters winner Fuzzy Zoeller said: "It was a five-alarm fire. I had to call the fire department to blow it out," as reported by BBC. For the main course, the choice was offered between blackened redfish or cowboy ribeye with most of the members picking up the latter. A warm chocolate chip skillet cookie with vanilla bean ice cream for the dessert completed the menu of this year's Master Champions dinner. Out of 35 chairs, 32 were occupied while three remained vacant. Among the former champs who missed the dinner were Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Sandy Lyle. Woods had missed the famous dinner for the second time since 2021 and this is the 26th consecutive time that the Masters champions dinner went without full capacity. Why Tiger Woods didn't attend the Champions Dinner? “We were putting our jackets away and the guys said that Tiger still can’t put weight on his foot,” Charles Coody said about Woods’ achilles injury as reported by BBC. “They said his weight tolerance just isn’t there to climb up those stairs.”

Augusta Masters dinner 2025: Scottie Scheffler serves another zinger with Texas -style chilli

The late Seve Ballesteros, who inspired not just his nation, Spain, but the entire European continent, would be a proud man up there today. On his birthday, Jon Rahm, who grew up idolising the magician, won the 87th&nbsp;Masters in a rather imperious fashion.

Starting his final round two shots behind American Brooks Koepka, Rahm did not need any miracle shots like Seve was prone to pull off in his wins. Instead, he was rock-solid in his three-under-par 69. And with Koepka finally proving he is human with an error-filled 75, it was a four-shot winning margin over two LIV Golf stars – the ageless Phil Mickelson being the other one.

Belying his age and current form, the 52-year-old Mickelson showed his love for the golf course where he has won three times and shot a sublime seven-under par 65. It catapulted him to tied second place at eight-under par 280, but the charge that included two birdies in his last two holes, could not prevent Rahm from getting his first Green Jacket.

The win also takes the 28-year-old back to No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking. “This one is for Seve,” said a composed Rahm, who was hugged by an emotional Jose Maria Olazabal – the other two-time Masters champion from Spain – after the win.

“Hard to put it into words. Obviously, we all dream of things like this as players, and you try to visualise what it's going to feel like. And when I hit that third shot on the green, and I could tell it was close from the crowd’s reaction, the wave of emotion of so many things just overtook me. Never thought I was going to cry after winning a golf tournament, but I got very close on that 18th hole.

“And a lot of it is because of what it means to me, and to Spanish golf. And to play the way I did on Sunday, only one bogey in difficult conditions, it’s hard to explain. I am really proud of myself.”

It was a long day for Rahm, as he had to first complete 12 holes from the third round. He was four adrift when play resumed, but quickly reduced the margin on the seventh hole where he converted his nine-footer for birdie and Koepka missed a 10-footer for par.

Rahm said the only time he felt frustrated was when he missed a shot birdie putt on the 16th&nbsp;hole after making three-putt pars on the 13th&nbsp;and 15th&nbsp;holes.

“What is going on the outside is not always a reflection of the inside,” said Rahm. “I was calm. I never got frustrated, except for that stretch of holes in the morning. I never felt like anything was out of control. But obviously, you’re nervous, there is tension out there. “That’s what you strive for, right? You don’t want to panic, and I never panicked. I felt comfortable with my game, and I had a plan to execute, and that’s all I can do.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/this-one-was-for-seve-ballesteros-says-jon-rahm-after-masters-triumph-580822">'This one was for Seve Ballesteros,' says Jon Rahm after Masters triumph</a>

While Rahm was solid, Koepka found an inopportune moment to lose his touch. He made bogeys on the first three par-3 holes, and missed several putts from inside 6-10 feet range.

“Obviously, it’s super disappointing. Didn’t play good enough to win. Hit some shots where I also feel like I didn’t get some good breaks, the ball on ninth; on fourth and sixth…I hit some good shots and just ended up in terrible spots, from where it was quite difficult,” said Koepka, who improved his world ranking from 118 to No39.

Mickelson, who jumped 353 spots to inside top-100 of the world rankings at No72, was delighted with his efforts. “It was evident to me that I was hitting a lot of good shots, but I wasn’t getting the score out of it. Today was a great day for me to stay present and just keep hitting good shots,” said the three-time Masters champion.

“And I’m hopeful that this kind of catapults me into playing the rest of the year the way I believe I’m playing. I really worked hard in the off-season to get ready. Today, I kind of let it happen rather than trying to force it, and I had a really good day and made some noise. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, but it was really a lot of fun for me to play at this level again.”

American-Indian Sahith Reddy Theegala hit the shot of the day when he chipped in from the spot from where Tiger Woods hit his magic shot on the 16th&nbsp;hole in the 2005 edition. The 25-year-old, whose parents went to the US from Hyderabad, shot a five-under par 67 in the final round and was in ninth place at five-under par.

Jordan Spieth (66), Patrick Reed (68) and Russell Henley (70) were tied fourth at seven-under par.

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The late Seve Ballesteros, who inspired not just his nation, Spain, but the entire European continent, would be a proud man up there today. On his birthday, Jon Rahm, who grew up idolising the magician, won the 87th Masters in a rather imperious fashion.

The late Seve Ballesteros, who inspired not just his nation, Spain, but the entire European continent, would be a proud man up there today. On his birthday, Jon Rahm, who grew up idolising the magician, won the 87th Masters in a rather imperious fashion. Starting his final round two shots behind American Brooks Koepka, Rahm did not need any miracle shots like Seve was prone to pull off in his wins. Instead, he was rock-solid in his three-under-par 69. And with Koepka finally proving he is human with an error-filled 75, it was a four-shot winning margin over two LIV Golf stars – the ageless Phil Mickelson being the other one. Belying his age and current form, the 52-year-old Mickelson showed his love for the golf course where he has won three times and shot a sublime seven-under par 65. It catapulted him to tied second place at eight-under par 280, but the charge that included two birdies in his last two holes, could not prevent Rahm from getting his first Green Jacket. The win also takes the 28-year-old back to No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking. “This one is for Seve,” said a composed Rahm, who was hugged by an emotional Jose Maria Olazabal – the other two-time Masters champion from Spain – after the win. “Hard to put it into words. Obviously, we all dream of things like this as players, and you try to visualise what it's going to feel like. And when I hit that third shot on the green, and I could tell it was close from the crowd’s reaction, the wave of emotion of so many things just overtook me. Never thought I was going to cry after winning a golf tournament, but I got very close on that 18th hole. “And a lot of it is because of what it means to me, and to Spanish golf. And to play the way I did on Sunday, only one bogey in difficult conditions, it’s hard to explain. I am really proud of myself.” It was a long day for Rahm, as he had to first complete 12 holes from the third round. He was four adrift when play resumed, but quickly reduced the margin on the seventh hole where he converted his nine-footer for birdie and Koepka missed a 10-footer for par. Rahm said the only time he felt frustrated was when he missed a shot birdie putt on the 16th hole after making three-putt pars on the 13th and 15th holes. “What is going on the outside is not always a reflection of the inside,” said Rahm. “I was calm. I never got frustrated, except for that stretch of holes in the morning. I never felt like anything was out of control. But obviously, you’re nervous, there is tension out there. “That’s what you strive for, right? You don’t want to panic, and I never panicked. I felt comfortable with my game, and I had a plan to execute, and that’s all I can do.” Also Read: 'This one was for Seve Ballesteros,' says Jon Rahm after Masters triumph While Rahm was solid, Koepka found an inopportune moment to lose his touch. He made bogeys on the first three par-3 holes, and missed several putts from inside 6-10 feet range. “Obviously, it’s super disappointing. Didn’t play good enough to win. Hit some shots where I also feel like I didn’t get some good breaks, the ball on ninth; on fourth and sixth…I hit some good shots and just ended up in terrible spots, from where it was quite difficult,” said Koepka, who improved his world ranking from 118 to No39. Mickelson, who jumped 353 spots to inside top-100 of the world rankings at No72, was delighted with his efforts. “It was evident to me that I was hitting a lot of good shots, but I wasn’t getting the score out of it. Today was a great day for me to stay present and just keep hitting good shots,” said the three-time Masters champion. “And I’m hopeful that this kind of catapults me into playing the rest of the year the way I believe I’m playing. I really worked hard in the off-season to get ready. Today, I kind of let it happen rather than trying to force it, and I had a really good day and made some noise. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, but it was really a lot of fun for me to play at this level again.” American-Indian Sahith Reddy Theegala hit the shot of the day when he chipped in from the spot from where Tiger Woods hit his magic shot on the 16th hole in the 2005 edition. The 25-year-old, whose parents went to the US from Hyderabad, shot a five-under par 67 in the final round and was in ninth place at five-under par. Jordan Spieth (66), Patrick Reed (68) and Russell Henley (70) were tied fourth at seven-under par. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Jon Rahm 'Masters' Augusta

American Brooks Koepka has his fifth major title in his sights as he heads into what will be a hectic final day showdown with Spain's Jon Rahm at the rain-affected Masters.

Koepka has a four-stroke lead over Rahm but has a marathon day ahead of him with the leading pair still having 30 holes to complete after Saturday's third round was cut short due to rain.

Should the Floridian triumph it will be his first major since the PGA Championship at Bethpage in 2019 and since he left the PGA Tour for the breakaway, Saudi-backed, LIV Golf series.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pl-manchester-united-ease-past-everton-2-0-strengthen-position-on-points-table-580511">PL: Manchester United ease past Everton 2-0, strengthen position on points table</a>

The prospect of a LIV player putting on the green jacket is an uncomfortable one for the American golf establishment but creates a fascinating subplot to what is so often a day of drama.

The third round will resume Sunday at 8:30 a.m. with the final 18 holes expected to begin four hours later off the first and 10th tees in pairings.

With puddles forming on the greens and players battling hard against weather more akin to a British Open, organizers had little choice but to end Saturday's action early.

In wet, cold and windy conditions, players huddled under umbrellas in between shots and Tiger Woods wore a woollen hat over the top of his baseball cap.

The weather forecast for Sunday is positive, however, with temperatures expected to rise to above 60 degrees F (15.5 C) and much less chance of rain.

In round three, Rahm and Koepka both made birdies on the par-5 second but bogeys on the par-3 fourth and par-four fifth from the Spaniard left Koepka with his four-shot gap.

Koepka, at 13-under-par, was on the green at the seventh hole with an 11-foot par putt when play was halted while Rahm, on 9-under, had a nine-foot birdie putt.

With the &nbsp;32-year-old's performances in the LIV Golf League, including last week's win at Orlando, not counting towards the Official World Golf Rankings, he is placed at 118th in the world.

That ranking more reflects the bitter nature of the conflict between LIV and the PGA Tour, who unlike the rebels have places on the board of the rankings body.

Koepka's formal ranking would make him the lowest-ranked player to win the Masters since the rankings system was introduced in 1986.

The current holder of that distinction is Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who was ranked 69th when he won the green jacket in 2009.

The winner on Sunday will collect a Masters record prize of $3.24 million unless it is amateur Sam Bennett, who plays on the college circuit for Texas A&amp;M.

Bennett will start on Sunday in third place on the leaderboard, having bogeyed the par-5 second, seven strokes off the lead as he bids to become the first amateur to win the Masters.

<h2>Tiger makes Masters cut</h2>

Patrick Cantlay handled the challenging conditions well as he rose up the leaderboard with three straight birdies from the second hole and he was five-under overall through the 13th hole.

England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the reigning US Open champion, was one of three players level with Cantlay on five under after making three birdies before play was stopped.

Veteran Phil Mickelson, also on the LIV tour, produced a superb long, curling putt on the par-3 sixth for his second birdie of the day to briefly reach six-under but &nbsp;followed that with successive bogeys.

Tiger Woods had to battle to avoid the cut but the 15-time major winner may have wished he had failed after a nightmare start to his third round.

Woods, starting on the 10th hole, made two bogeys before double bogeys on the par-5 15th and par-3 16th left him bottom of the leaderboard on six-over overall.

By making the cut, Woods matched the record of Fred Couples and Gary Player with 23 consecutive made cuts at the Masters.

Woods hasn't missed a Masters cut since 1996 when he was playing as an amateur.

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American Brooks Koepka has his fifth major title in his sights as he heads into what will be a hectic final day showdown with Spain's Jon Rahm at the rain-affected Masters.

American Brooks Koepka has his fifth major title in his sights as he heads into what will be a hectic final day showdown with Spain's Jon Rahm at the rain-affected Masters. Koepka has a four-stroke lead over Rahm but has a marathon day ahead of him with the leading pair still having 30 holes to complete after Saturday's third round was cut short due to rain. Should the Floridian triumph it will be his first major since the PGA Championship at Bethpage in 2019 and since he left the PGA Tour for the breakaway, Saudi-backed, LIV Golf series. Also Read: PL: Manchester United ease past Everton 2-0, strengthen position on points table The prospect of a LIV player putting on the green jacket is an uncomfortable one for the American golf establishment but creates a fascinating subplot to what is so often a day of drama. The third round will resume Sunday at 8:30 a.m. with the final 18 holes expected to begin four hours later off the first and 10th tees in pairings. With puddles forming on the greens and players battling hard against weather more akin to a British Open, organizers had little choice but to end Saturday's action early. In wet, cold and windy conditions, players huddled under umbrellas in between shots and Tiger Woods wore a woollen hat over the top of his baseball cap. The weather forecast for Sunday is positive, however, with temperatures expected to rise to above 60 degrees F (15.5 C) and much less chance of rain. In round three, Rahm and Koepka both made birdies on the par-5 second but bogeys on the par-3 fourth and par-four fifth from the Spaniard left Koepka with his four-shot gap. Koepka, at 13-under-par, was on the green at the seventh hole with an 11-foot par putt when play was halted while Rahm, on 9-under, had a nine-foot birdie putt. With the 32-year-old's performances in the LIV Golf League, including last week's win at Orlando, not counting towards the Official World Golf Rankings, he is placed at 118th in the world. That ranking more reflects the bitter nature of the conflict between LIV and the PGA Tour, who unlike the rebels have places on the board of the rankings body. Koepka's formal ranking would make him the lowest-ranked player to win the Masters since the rankings system was introduced in 1986. The current holder of that distinction is Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who was ranked 69th when he won the green jacket in 2009. The winner on Sunday will collect a Masters record prize of $3.24 million unless it is amateur Sam Bennett, who plays on the college circuit for Texas A&M. Bennett will start on Sunday in third place on the leaderboard, having bogeyed the par-5 second, seven strokes off the lead as he bids to become the first amateur to win the Masters. Tiger makes Masters cut Patrick Cantlay handled the challenging conditions well as he rose up the leaderboard with three straight birdies from the second hole and he was five-under overall through the 13th hole. England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the reigning US Open champion, was one of three players level with Cantlay on five under after making three birdies before play was stopped. Veteran Phil Mickelson, also on the LIV tour, produced a superb long, curling putt on the par-3 sixth for his second birdie of the day to briefly reach six-under but followed that with successive bogeys. Tiger Woods had to battle to avoid the cut but the 15-time major winner may have wished he had failed after a nightmare start to his third round. Woods, starting on the 10th hole, made two bogeys before double bogeys on the par-5 15th and par-3 16th left him bottom of the leaderboard on six-over overall. By making the cut, Woods matched the record of Fred Couples and Gary Player with 23 consecutive made cuts at the Masters. Woods hasn't missed a Masters cut since 1996 when he was playing as an amateur. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Golf: Brooks Koepka four clear of John Rahm after rain suspends play in Round Three at Augusta Masters

On a day when one of the most prominent players in the breakaway LIV Golf series led the field at the Masters by three shots, Rory McIlroy, the world number two and the PGA Tour's most active supporter, faced an early exit.

McIlroy shot a five over-par 77 with seven bogeys, 17 strokes behind pace-setter Brooks Koepka, and is facing his second missed Masters cut in three years in a season where many hoped he could finally win at Augusta and complete his career Grand Slam.

Play was stopped due to stormy weather before the second round was complete but at five-over for the tournament, in joint 61st position, the Northern Irishman is well adrift of the projected cut to the low 50 and level, set at two-over.

The 33-year-old has won four majors but it is now nine years since the last of those triumphs in the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

McIlroy has been the unofficial player's spokesman for the PGA Tour in its battle with the Saudi-backed LIV and took a prominent role in recent meetings that led to changes to the PGA Tour, with the introduction of 'enhanced events' boasting smaller fields and bigger purses.

After missing the cut at the Players Championship last month, however, McIlroy said his role in rallying players to the changes and defending the tour from the emergence of LIV had taken a toll on his time management ahead of tournaments.

"I'd love to get back to being a golfer again," he said, adding that he had "maybe sacrificed a little bit of time with some of this other stuff."

Whether his willingness to organize meetings and speak on behalf of the players had any lingering influence on his poor showing at Augusta is, however, uncertain and the Northern Irishman left the grounds during the storm break and did not speak to media.

There certainly did not appear to be much wrong with McIlroy's swing when he practiced on the range ahead of his round on Friday morning and his popularity among the Augusta patrons was evidenced by his warm reception on the first tee.

But, after a solid start on the opening hole, he walked to the second tee, oddly just as his ex-fiancé, former tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki, passed by, and from there his round fell apart.

McIlroy drove into the sand and then fired over the back of the green as he bogeyed the par-5 second and by the seventh hole he had made three more bogeys.

He found water with his approach on the 11th, leaving him looking distraught, and even the boost of birdies on the 13th and 15th was undone by bogeys on the 16th and 18th.

As he had shown earlier in the day on the range, McIlroy has one of the best-looking swings in the game and no one has doubted his talent and ability to handle courses as challenging as Augusta.

- 'The right head space' -

Last year, he finished second after a superb final round of 64, just one short of the Masters record, and he came into this year's tournament saying he had all the ingredients in place for success.

"I'm feeling as relaxed as I ever have coming in here. I feel like my game is in a pretty good place. I know the place just as about as well as anyone," McIlroy said Tuesday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-ms-dhoni-felicitated-by-mca-on-eve-of-el-clasico-clash-wankhede-to-have-2011-wc-victory-memorial-580217">IPL 2023: MS Dhoni felicitated by MCA on eve of El Clasico clash; Wankhede to have 2011 WC victory memorial</a>

Ever since McIlroy's meltdown at Augusta in 2011, when the then 21-year-old went into the final round with a four-shot lead but ended it 10 strokes back, there have been people who have questioned his ability to deal with the mental side of the game.

McIlroy certainly understands the importance of the mind in golf and regularly consults with American sports psychologist Bob Rotella.

Perhaps it was significant that on the even of the tournament, McIlroy had referred to his "scar tissue" from Augusta and the importance of the mental game.

"I've always felt like I have the physical ability to win this tournament," he said. "But it's being in the right head space to let those physical abilities shine through."

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On a day when one of the most prominent players in the breakaway LIV Golf series led the field at the Masters by three shots, Rory McIlroy, the world number two and the PGA Tour's most active supporter, faced an early exit.

On a day when one of the most prominent players in the breakaway LIV Golf series led the field at the Masters by three shots, Rory McIlroy, the world number two and the PGA Tour's most active supporter, faced an early exit. McIlroy shot a five over-par 77 with seven bogeys, 17 strokes behind pace-setter Brooks Koepka, and is facing his second missed Masters cut in three years in a season where many hoped he could finally win at Augusta and complete his career Grand Slam. Play was stopped due to stormy weather before the second round was complete but at five-over for the tournament, in joint 61st position, the Northern Irishman is well adrift of the projected cut to the low 50 and level, set at two-over. The 33-year-old has won four majors but it is now nine years since the last of those triumphs in the PGA Championship at Valhalla. McIlroy has been the unofficial player's spokesman for the PGA Tour in its battle with the Saudi-backed LIV and took a prominent role in recent meetings that led to changes to the PGA Tour, with the introduction of 'enhanced events' boasting smaller fields and bigger purses. After missing the cut at the Players Championship last month, however, McIlroy said his role in rallying players to the changes and defending the tour from the emergence of LIV had taken a toll on his time management ahead of tournaments. "I'd love to get back to being a golfer again," he said, adding that he had "maybe sacrificed a little bit of time with some of this other stuff." Whether his willingness to organize meetings and speak on behalf of the players had any lingering influence on his poor showing at Augusta is, however, uncertain and the Northern Irishman left the grounds during the storm break and did not speak to media. There certainly did not appear to be much wrong with McIlroy's swing when he practiced on the range ahead of his round on Friday morning and his popularity among the Augusta patrons was evidenced by his warm reception on the first tee. But, after a solid start on the opening hole, he walked to the second tee, oddly just as his ex-fiancé, former tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki, passed by, and from there his round fell apart. McIlroy drove into the sand and then fired over the back of the green as he bogeyed the par-5 second and by the seventh hole he had made three more bogeys. He found water with his approach on the 11th, leaving him looking distraught, and even the boost of birdies on the 13th and 15th was undone by bogeys on the 16th and 18th. As he had shown earlier in the day on the range, McIlroy has one of the best-looking swings in the game and no one has doubted his talent and ability to handle courses as challenging as Augusta. - 'The right head space' - Last year, he finished second after a superb final round of 64, just one short of the Masters record, and he came into this year's tournament saying he had all the ingredients in place for success. "I'm feeling as relaxed as I ever have coming in here. I feel like my game is in a pretty good place. I know the place just as about as well as anyone," McIlroy said Tuesday. ALSO READ | IPL 2023: MS Dhoni felicitated by MCA on eve of El Clasico clash; Wankhede to have 2011 WC victory memorial Ever since McIlroy's meltdown at Augusta in 2011, when the then 21-year-old went into the final round with a four-shot lead but ended it 10 strokes back, there have been people who have questioned his ability to deal with the mental side of the game. McIlroy certainly understands the importance of the mind in golf and regularly consults with American sports psychologist Bob Rotella. Perhaps it was significant that on the even of the tournament, McIlroy had referred to his "scar tissue" from Augusta and the importance of the mental game. "I've always felt like I have the physical ability to win this tournament," he said. "But it's being in the right head space to let those physical abilities shine through." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Masters 2023: World No 2 Rory McIlroy crashes out early in Augusta; wait continues for career Grand Slam

It usually takes two to tango, but professional golf has always been a lot more fun when three players, at the top of their games for a protracted period of time, are going at each other’s throats.

We have seen that from the days of the Great Triumvirate – British golfers Harry Vardon, John Henry Taylor, and James Braid – who dominated the Open Championship and combined to win it 16 times between 1894 and 1914.

A better-known ‘Big Three’ was that of Masters founder and the greatest amateur to have ever played the game, Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Gene Sarazen in the 1920s.

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player in the 1960s and 70s were, without doubt, the greatest ever Big Three of all-time. They passed on the mantle to Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson in early 2000s.

If the last couple of years are any indication, golf is on the verge of getting its new Big Three – defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm.

Their CVs may still not look as impressive as some of the above-mentioned gentlemen, but it is a work in progress. After all, Scheffler is just 26 years old, Rahm is 28 and while McIlroy may have been around forever, he is only 33.

On the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), the trio is now No1, 2, and 3, with the third-ranked Rahm enjoying nearly a two-point advantage (that’s a lot in OWGR calculations) over the fourth-ranked Patrick Cantlay. Very rarely have the top-three separated themselves from the chasing pack in such a fashion.

Since the beginning of 2022, they have played a combined 89 tournaments, won 16 titles, finished second eight times, and have recorded a total of 52 top-10s.

In the first seven weeks of 2023, Rahm won three titles on the PGA Tour, while Scheffler has won twice in the last seven weeks. McIlroy, who is looking for an elusive Green Jacket to complete his career grand slam, started the year with a win in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and looked in great touch in beating Scheffler and finishing third in the WGC-Dell Match Play.

“I just think it is down to consistency – you had Jon beating up everybody starting the year, and I had a little run there with Phoenix and the Players and Rory is up there like he seemingly always is,” said Scheffler, who had shown hot form early last year and won four titles, including the Masters, in six starts.

McIlroy felt that the intense competition between the three was only making them better.

“It just seems like every week that we’re playing, one of us three has got a chance to win that tournament. And that’s the level we all want to be at,” said McIlroy.

“I think that for me, seeing those two guys consistently performing at that level just pushes me to want to be better. A lot of that is just good, healthy competition, and hopefully we’ll continue to elevate ourselves through that competition.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unbeliveable-david-warner-survives-snorter-from-shami-in-dc-vs-gt-579258">IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! David Warner survives snorter from Shami in DC vs GT - WATCH</a>

Rahm acknowledged they have been dominant forces in golf the past year, but it would be too early to bracket them into a ‘Big Three’ and compare them to some of the other threesomes that have illuminated the sport over the years.

“I would say you can call us that if we can do it for at least five-plus years like many of those players did. Even while Tiger was on his run in the 2000s, Phil and Vijay still managed to win 45 and 20-plus times themselves in that time frame,” countered the Spaniard.

“So, I think for us to be compared to something like that, we have a very long way to go. This could be the start, but still a long way to go.”

Rahm may have his reasons, but it’s rare for top three players in the world heading into a major championship in such sublime form. Drama and the Masters have always gone hand in hand, but the new ‘Big Three’ can just ramp everything up several notches this year.

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It usually takes two to tango, but professional golf has always been a lot more fun when three players, at the top of their games for a protracted period of time, are going at each other’s throats.

It usually takes two to tango, but professional golf has always been a lot more fun when three players, at the top of their games for a protracted period of time, are going at each other’s throats. We have seen that from the days of the Great Triumvirate – British golfers Harry Vardon, John Henry Taylor, and James Braid – who dominated the Open Championship and combined to win it 16 times between 1894 and 1914. A better-known ‘Big Three’ was that of Masters founder and the greatest amateur to have ever played the game, Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Gene Sarazen in the 1920s. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player in the 1960s and 70s were, without doubt, the greatest ever Big Three of all-time. They passed on the mantle to Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson in early 2000s. If the last couple of years are any indication, golf is on the verge of getting its new Big Three – defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm. Their CVs may still not look as impressive as some of the above-mentioned gentlemen, but it is a work in progress. After all, Scheffler is just 26 years old, Rahm is 28 and while McIlroy may have been around forever, he is only 33. On the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), the trio is now No1, 2, and 3, with the third-ranked Rahm enjoying nearly a two-point advantage (that’s a lot in OWGR calculations) over the fourth-ranked Patrick Cantlay. Very rarely have the top-three separated themselves from the chasing pack in such a fashion. Since the beginning of 2022, they have played a combined 89 tournaments, won 16 titles, finished second eight times, and have recorded a total of 52 top-10s. In the first seven weeks of 2023, Rahm won three titles on the PGA Tour, while Scheffler has won twice in the last seven weeks. McIlroy, who is looking for an elusive Green Jacket to complete his career grand slam, started the year with a win in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and looked in great touch in beating Scheffler and finishing third in the WGC-Dell Match Play. “I just think it is down to consistency – you had Jon beating up everybody starting the year, and I had a little run there with Phoenix and the Players and Rory is up there like he seemingly always is,” said Scheffler, who had shown hot form early last year and won four titles, including the Masters, in six starts. McIlroy felt that the intense competition between the three was only making them better. “It just seems like every week that we’re playing, one of us three has got a chance to win that tournament. And that’s the level we all want to be at,” said McIlroy. “I think that for me, seeing those two guys consistently performing at that level just pushes me to want to be better. A lot of that is just good, healthy competition, and hopefully we’ll continue to elevate ourselves through that competition.” ALSO READ | IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! David Warner survives snorter from Shami in DC vs GT - WATCH Rahm acknowledged they have been dominant forces in golf the past year, but it would be too early to bracket them into a ‘Big Three’ and compare them to some of the other threesomes that have illuminated the sport over the years. “I would say you can call us that if we can do it for at least five-plus years like many of those players did. Even while Tiger was on his run in the 2000s, Phil and Vijay still managed to win 45 and 20-plus times themselves in that time frame,” countered the Spaniard. “So, I think for us to be compared to something like that, we have a very long way to go. This could be the start, but still a long way to go.” Rahm may have his reasons, but it’s rare for top three players in the world heading into a major championship in such sublime form. Drama and the Masters have always gone hand in hand, but the new ‘Big Three’ can just ramp everything up several notches this year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Golf's New Big Three Ready For Masters Duel

The world's greatest golfers face each other on Thursday for the first time since the bitter LIV Golf-PGA Tour split divided the sport and appropriately it is the timeless tranquility of Augusta National that provides the arena.

Given the tradition of the Masters tournament, with the famous winner's green jacket, the striking absence of advertising, the pristine course and the palpable sense of historic significance, it is perhaps not surprising that both sides of the divide caused by the breakaway Saudi-backed LIV Golf League have been observing an informal cease-fire.

Legal battles remain to be fought and the name-calling may well resume next week but the words of those involved in the first major tournament of the year have been a refreshing acknowledgement that Augusta is no place for public squabbling.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uefa-announce-switzerland-as-hosts-for-womens-euro-2025-to-stage-first-major-tournament-since-2008-579146">UEFA announce Switzerland as hosts for women's Euro 2025, to stage first major tournament since 2008</a>

"I think this tournament is bigger than all of that," said Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the world number two.

"It's narrative and a storyline, but the Masters and the four major championships sit above all that noise, and that's the way it should be this week."

Not everyone received the memo. LIV Golf's chief executive officer, Greg Norman, talked in a pre-tournament interview of the entire LIV contingent being ready to crowd around the 18th green to celebrate a victory by of one of their 18 competitors.

But it was noticable that McIlroy, who has been one of the most partisan backers of the established PGA Tour, chose to practice on Tuesday with one of the top LIV contenders, American Brooks Koepka.

McIlroy has been rotating top spot in golf's rankings with current world number one Scottie Scheffler and Spaniard Jon Rahm and that trio are among the favorites to triumph on Sunday at the end of what is forecast to be a rain-affected four days.

"You've seen just a pretty high level of consistency from us so far this year," defending champion Scheffler said. "We've been pretty close to winning most of the elevated events."

McIlroy would complete the career Grand Slam with a victory on Sunday while Rahm would become the fourth Spaniard to win at Augusta after Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.

<h2>LIV has contenders</h2>

Critics might dismiss the LIV contingent as having opted for a lucrative 'retirement' from elite competition, their ranks contain plenty of players with experience at clinching major titles.

Australian Cameron Smith, the reigning British Open champion, tied for third at Augusta last year, Koepka has won four majors and Dustin Johnson, who won LIV's first season, put on the green jacket in 2020.

Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, 52, would be a surprise challenger at this stage of his career but Augusta always has room for nostalgia and the veterans never need reminding that in 1986, Jack Nicklaus won at the age of 46.

More recently, in 2019, Tiger Woods became the second oldest player to win the tournament, with his remarkable comeback victory at the age of 43.

Woods, though, is sadly now in the nostalgia category, his multiple injuries restricting his participation in the PGA Tour and leaving him worrying about if his body will survive four rounds and if this might be his final Masters.

"I don't know how many more I have in me," said the 15-time major winner, who was in a reflective mood.

"It's such a special place and it means so much to me in my heart to be able to come here and play this golf course and just appreciate the memories that I've had here."

Former winners Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson will get the tournament under way on Thursday with the ceremonial start.

For those wondering which of the 88 players in the field will be sliding on the green jacket as the sun sets on Sunday, it's perhaps worth recalling Nicklaus's famous reflection on the course.

"Augusta National is a young man's golf course," he said. "And you really need a young man's nerves to play on it."

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The world's greatest golfers face each other on Thursday for the first time since the bitter LIV Golf-PGA Tour split divided the sport and appropriately it is the timeless tranquility of Augusta National that provides the arena.

The world's greatest golfers face each other on Thursday for the first time since the bitter LIV Golf-PGA Tour split divided the sport and appropriately it is the timeless tranquility of Augusta National that provides the arena. Given the tradition of the Masters tournament, with the famous winner's green jacket, the striking absence of advertising, the pristine course and the palpable sense of historic significance, it is perhaps not surprising that both sides of the divide caused by the breakaway Saudi-backed LIV Golf League have been observing an informal cease-fire. Legal battles remain to be fought and the name-calling may well resume next week but the words of those involved in the first major tournament of the year have been a refreshing acknowledgement that Augusta is no place for public squabbling. Also Read: UEFA announce Switzerland as hosts for women's Euro 2025, to stage first major tournament since 2008 "I think this tournament is bigger than all of that," said Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the world number two. "It's narrative and a storyline, but the Masters and the four major championships sit above all that noise, and that's the way it should be this week." Not everyone received the memo. LIV Golf's chief executive officer, Greg Norman, talked in a pre-tournament interview of the entire LIV contingent being ready to crowd around the 18th green to celebrate a victory by of one of their 18 competitors. But it was noticable that McIlroy, who has been one of the most partisan backers of the established PGA Tour, chose to practice on Tuesday with one of the top LIV contenders, American Brooks Koepka. McIlroy has been rotating top spot in golf's rankings with current world number one Scottie Scheffler and Spaniard Jon Rahm and that trio are among the favorites to triumph on Sunday at the end of what is forecast to be a rain-affected four days. "You've seen just a pretty high level of consistency from us so far this year," defending champion Scheffler said. "We've been pretty close to winning most of the elevated events." McIlroy would complete the career Grand Slam with a victory on Sunday while Rahm would become the fourth Spaniard to win at Augusta after Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia. LIV has contenders Critics might dismiss the LIV contingent as having opted for a lucrative 'retirement' from elite competition, their ranks contain plenty of players with experience at clinching major titles. Australian Cameron Smith, the reigning British Open champion, tied for third at Augusta last year, Koepka has won four majors and Dustin Johnson, who won LIV's first season, put on the green jacket in 2020. Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, 52, would be a surprise challenger at this stage of his career but Augusta always has room for nostalgia and the veterans never need reminding that in 1986, Jack Nicklaus won at the age of 46. More recently, in 2019, Tiger Woods became the second oldest player to win the tournament, with his remarkable comeback victory at the age of 43. Woods, though, is sadly now in the nostalgia category, his multiple injuries restricting his participation in the PGA Tour and leaving him worrying about if his body will survive four rounds and if this might be his final Masters. "I don't know how many more I have in me," said the 15-time major winner, who was in a reflective mood. "It's such a special place and it means so much to me in my heart to be able to come here and play this golf course and just appreciate the memories that I've had here." Former winners Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson will get the tournament under way on Thursday with the ceremonial start. For those wondering which of the 88 players in the field will be sliding on the green jacket as the sun sets on Sunday, it's perhaps worth recalling Nicklaus's famous reflection on the course. "Augusta National is a young man's golf course," he said. "And you really need a young man's nerves to play on it." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Golf: Best of the lot including LIV 'defectors' ready to face off at first Major of the year in Augusta

Tiger Woods won't compete in next week's Players Championship, making it look likely the 15-time major champion's next event will be the Masters at Augusta National in April.

The PGA Tour announced the field for their flagship event at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Friday, and Woods -- who won the Players in 2001 and 2013 -- was not on the list.

Woods, still limited by the severe lower right leg injuries he suffered in a February 2021 car accident, last played at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in February.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-john-rahm-says-tussle-for-top-place-is-really-interesting-567317">John Rahm says tussle for top place is 'really interesting'</a>

He made the cut and finished tied for 45th, acknowledging on Sunday that it "certainly was a little bit more difficult than I probably let on."

Woods had offered no clues to his future schedule at Riviera, apart from saying he hoped to compete in all four majors, and perhaps "a couple" of other events.

"Like I told you guys last year, I'm not going to play any more than probably the majors and maybe a couple more," Woods said. "That's it, that's all my body will allow me to do. My back the way it is, all the surgeries I had on my back, my leg the way it is, I just can't. That's just going to be my future."

Riviera marked Woods's first tour level event since he missed the cut at the Open Championship in July. He had skipped the US Open to be ready for St. Andrews.

He had made a stunning return to competition at the Masters last year to finish tied for 47th, but he withdrew from the PGA Championship after the third round.

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Tiger Woods won't compete in next week's Players Championship, making it look likely the 15-time major champion's next event will be the Masters at Augusta National in April.

Tiger Woods won't compete in next week's Players Championship, making it look likely the 15-time major champion's next event will be the Masters at Augusta National in April. The PGA Tour announced the field for their flagship event at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Friday, and Woods -- who won the Players in 2001 and 2013 -- was not on the list. Woods, still limited by the severe lower right leg injuries he suffered in a February 2021 car accident, last played at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in February. Also Read: John Rahm says tussle for top place is 'really interesting' He made the cut and finished tied for 45th, acknowledging on Sunday that it "certainly was a little bit more difficult than I probably let on." Woods had offered no clues to his future schedule at Riviera, apart from saying he hoped to compete in all four majors, and perhaps "a couple" of other events. "Like I told you guys last year, I'm not going to play any more than probably the majors and maybe a couple more," Woods said. "That's it, that's all my body will allow me to do. My back the way it is, all the surgeries I had on my back, my leg the way it is, I just can't. That's just going to be my future." Riviera marked Woods's first tour level event since he missed the cut at the Open Championship in July. He had skipped the US Open to be ready for St. Andrews. He had made a stunning return to competition at the Masters last year to finish tied for 47th, but he withdrew from the PGA Championship after the third round. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Golf: Tiger Woods not to take part in Players Championship

Be it a green jacket winner or a total greenhorn, the sheer beauty of Augusta National leaves everyone spellbound. I can only imagine the emotions that Patrick Reed must have gone through while putting on that green jacket on Sunday afternoon after winning the 2018 Masters. 
&nbsp; 
The Augusta National is a true celebration of the world of golf - the big stage where the Gods of the golf vie for the honours and glory. 
&nbsp; 
Out of all my trips and commitments around the world, this is the one date I look forward to. I have been coming to Augusta for over a decade now and my fascination with the place has only grown with time. 
&nbsp; 
While the efficiency of the Augusta National, the immaculate course and the seriousness to keep up the traditions are a huge draw for the golfer in me, the smart engagements around the tournament that give a big boost to the economy of Augusta and Georgia are management lessons for everyone. The town has a population of around 600,000, but come Masters week, it attracts upwards of 50,000 spectators each day. At Augusta National, however, they are referred to as 'patrons' of the game. 
&nbsp; 
Tradition and Old-World charm sit comfortably with the latest technology that goes into conducting a world-class sports tournament of this scale and stature. And yet they keep the patrons gushing with reasonably priced food like the famous Pimento sandwiches for just US$ 1.50 and unlimited supplies of draft beer for $1.00 per glass all-day long! 
&nbsp; 
Augusta is a golfing pilgrimage for every golfer.&nbsp; Relaxing with fellow-enthusiasts on the banks of Savannah River, the little moments of indulgence on the Magnolia Lane and private concerts in the land of James Brown - the Godfather of Soul - Augusta during the Masters is a treat for the senses. 
&nbsp; 
I know how excited and eager Tiger Woods was to get to back to golf, and to Augusta National. He missed being at Augusta the past few years but was thrilled to be back to his favourite hunting ground. While he may not have won, he was surely the centre of attraction all this week. It is just a matter of time before he will be vying for the Majors, and winning too.

As an Indian, I am also proud that we have had our share of golfers competing at the Masters. After Jeev Milkha Singh became the first Indian to compete in 2007, Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri have also showed their prowess here. Now we have young Shubhankar Sharma, who has been shining all over the globe with his golf game. While he missed the cut this time around, I am convinced we will hear more about him in the very near future. 
&nbsp; 
It is the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player who have made Augusta Masters the tournament it has become, and now Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth are carrying on the great legacy ever so gracefully. If there is one place on earth that every golf lover dreams of going, it is the Augusta National during the Masters.

(The author is Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hero MotoCorp)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The young and the old, the experienced and the rookies, Augusta is a pilgrimage for everyone, and they just wait to return every year.

Be it a green jacket winner or a total greenhorn, the sheer beauty of Augusta National leaves everyone spellbound. I can only imagine the emotions that Patrick Reed must have gone through while putting on that green jacket on Sunday afternoon after winning the 2018 Masters. The Augusta National is a true celebration of the world of golf - the big stage where the Gods of the golf vie for the honours and glory. Out of all my trips and commitments around the world, this is the one date I look forward to. I have been coming to Augusta for over a decade now and my fascination with the place has only grown with time. While the efficiency of the Augusta National, the immaculate course and the seriousness to keep up the traditions are a huge draw for the golfer in me, the smart engagements around the tournament that give a big boost to the economy of Augusta and Georgia are management lessons for everyone. The town has a population of around 600,000, but come Masters week, it attracts upwards of 50,000 spectators each day. At Augusta National, however, they are referred to as 'patrons' of the game. Tradition and Old-World charm sit comfortably with the latest technology that goes into conducting a world-class sports tournament of this scale and stature. And yet they keep the patrons gushing with reasonably priced food like the famous Pimento sandwiches for just US$ 1.50 and unlimited supplies of draft beer for $1.00 per glass all-day long! Augusta is a golfing pilgrimage for every golfer. Relaxing with fellow-enthusiasts on the banks of Savannah River, the little moments of indulgence on the Magnolia Lane and private concerts in the land of James Brown - the Godfather of Soul - Augusta during the Masters is a treat for the senses. I know how excited and eager Tiger Woods was to get to back to golf, and to Augusta National. He missed being at Augusta the past few years but was thrilled to be back to his favourite hunting ground. While he may not have won, he was surely the centre of attraction all this week. It is just a matter of time before he will be vying for the Majors, and winning too. As an Indian, I am also proud that we have had our share of golfers competing at the Masters. After Jeev Milkha Singh became the first Indian to compete in 2007, Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri have also showed their prowess here. Now we have young Shubhankar Sharma, who has been shining all over the globe with his golf game. While he missed the cut this time around, I am convinced we will hear more about him in the very near future. It is the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player who have made Augusta Masters the tournament it has become, and now Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth are carrying on the great legacy ever so gracefully. If there is one place on earth that every golf lover dreams of going, it is the Augusta National during the Masters. (The author is Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hero MotoCorp) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Augusta Masters, a grand stage for Gods of Golf