It's Masters Week!
• FIELD: Click here and see who's set to tee it up at the season's first major.
• SEE HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Click here to find out how players earned their coveted invitation to Augusta National.
• COURSE: Augusta National Golf Club, 7,435 yards, par 72. One
of the world's most visually stunning layouts had its origins in 1930,
as Bobby Jones and co-designer Alistair Mackenzie transformed the
onetime tree nursery into a stage for some of the game's most memorable
drama. An expansion era that saw yardage added four times from 1999-2006
has given way to stability, allowing both players and club officials to
understand the nuances of the revamped layout. The club's signature
magnolia trees and azaleas are holdovers from the Fruitlands nursery
operation that once occupied the site.
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 600 points.
• FIELD WATCH: World No.1 Rory McIlroy, seeking a third
straight major title, and defending champion Bubba Watson top a 98-man
roster that boasts 54 of the top 60 players in this week's world
rankings. … Four-time winner Tiger Woods returns
following last year's injury absence, announcing Friday he's set to
make his first start since withdrawing after just 11 holes at Torrey
Pines. … One more slot is open for the winner of this week's Shell
Houston Open, if not already qualified. India's Anirban Lahiri, twice a
European Tour winner in 2015, is among four men who got in at last
Monday's final cutoff for the rankings' top 50.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 270, Tiger Woods (1997).
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Nick Price (3rd round, 1986), Greg Norman (1st round, 1996).
• LAST YEAR: Watson donned his second Green Jacket in three
years, using a two-shot swing on consecutive holes to end the front nine
to overtake rookie Jordan Spieth on the way to a three-shot triumph.
Spieth, bidding at age 20 to become the youngest Masters winner, led by
two as they approached the eighth tee, but stumbled with bogeys at Nos. 8
and 9 while Watson drained back-to-back birdies. Spieth's hopes sank
further after finding Rae's Creek at No.12, removing any drama as
Watson's 3-under-par 69 required just one birdie over the back nine.
Spieth (72) shared runner-up honors with Sweden's Jonas Blixt (71).
• STORYLINES: McIlroy, who swept the Open Championship and PGA
Championship during a dominant four-week run last summer, seeks to add a
third straight major at a place that has proven elusive in the past. He
blew a four-shot lead on the final day in 2011; now a victory would
make him just the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam. … Watson
has the chance to become just the second man to win three Green Jackets
in four years, joining Jack Nicklaus (1963, '65-66). Nick Faldo
(1989-90) and Woods (2001-02) are the only others to win back-to-back. …
Woods' curious saga starts up again at Augusta, fully 63 days since
departing Torrey Pines amid perplexing talk about his glutes "shutting
off." A full decade has now passed since his last Masters win, beating
Chris DiMarco in a classic Sunday duel.
• SHORT CHIPS: This marks the final Masters for two-time champion Ben Crenshaw, 20 years after his emotional 1995 victory
came days after longtime mentor Harvey Penick passed away. The gentle
Texan ends his run at 44 Masters. … Twenty of this year's entrants will
make their Masters debuts, following a 24-man rookie class last year.
Among this year's debutants: world No.19 Brooks Koepka and double
heart-transplant recipient Erik Compton. … Watson once again is staying
mum about the fare for Tuesday night's champions dinner, reprising his
cat-and-mouse approach from two years ago. That menu wound up featuring
grilled chicken breast and Caesar salad.
• TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 3-7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN),
highlights show 11:35-11:50 p.m. (CBS). Saturday, 3-7 p.m. (CBS).
Sunday, 2-7 p.m. (CBS).
Last Week's Winner Bobcat. Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. Sea - 6899
2. dfs - 6896
3. Bobcat - 6325
4. Ed - 5877
5. 2952 - 5170
6. NMT - 4894
7. Liz - 4677
8. 67810 - 4279
9. NiA - 3821
10. DL - 3445
11. Ocala - 3401
12. Bill - 3274
13. ktnole - 3207
14. Baldy - 1581
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 4/12 7:46 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
• FIELD: Click here and see who's set to tee it up at the season's first major.
• SEE HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Click here to find out how players earned their coveted invitation to Augusta National.
• COURSE: Augusta National Golf Club, 7,435 yards, par 72. One
of the world's most visually stunning layouts had its origins in 1930,
as Bobby Jones and co-designer Alistair Mackenzie transformed the
onetime tree nursery into a stage for some of the game's most memorable
drama. An expansion era that saw yardage added four times from 1999-2006
has given way to stability, allowing both players and club officials to
understand the nuances of the revamped layout. The club's signature
magnolia trees and azaleas are holdovers from the Fruitlands nursery
operation that once occupied the site.
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 600 points.
• FIELD WATCH: World No.1 Rory McIlroy, seeking a third
straight major title, and defending champion Bubba Watson top a 98-man
roster that boasts 54 of the top 60 players in this week's world
rankings. … Four-time winner Tiger Woods returns
following last year's injury absence, announcing Friday he's set to
make his first start since withdrawing after just 11 holes at Torrey
Pines. … One more slot is open for the winner of this week's Shell
Houston Open, if not already qualified. India's Anirban Lahiri, twice a
European Tour winner in 2015, is among four men who got in at last
Monday's final cutoff for the rankings' top 50.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 270, Tiger Woods (1997).
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Nick Price (3rd round, 1986), Greg Norman (1st round, 1996).
• LAST YEAR: Watson donned his second Green Jacket in three
years, using a two-shot swing on consecutive holes to end the front nine
to overtake rookie Jordan Spieth on the way to a three-shot triumph.
Spieth, bidding at age 20 to become the youngest Masters winner, led by
two as they approached the eighth tee, but stumbled with bogeys at Nos. 8
and 9 while Watson drained back-to-back birdies. Spieth's hopes sank
further after finding Rae's Creek at No.12, removing any drama as
Watson's 3-under-par 69 required just one birdie over the back nine.
Spieth (72) shared runner-up honors with Sweden's Jonas Blixt (71).
• STORYLINES: McIlroy, who swept the Open Championship and PGA
Championship during a dominant four-week run last summer, seeks to add a
third straight major at a place that has proven elusive in the past. He
blew a four-shot lead on the final day in 2011; now a victory would
make him just the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam. … Watson
has the chance to become just the second man to win three Green Jackets
in four years, joining Jack Nicklaus (1963, '65-66). Nick Faldo
(1989-90) and Woods (2001-02) are the only others to win back-to-back. …
Woods' curious saga starts up again at Augusta, fully 63 days since
departing Torrey Pines amid perplexing talk about his glutes "shutting
off." A full decade has now passed since his last Masters win, beating
Chris DiMarco in a classic Sunday duel.
• SHORT CHIPS: This marks the final Masters for two-time champion Ben Crenshaw, 20 years after his emotional 1995 victory
came days after longtime mentor Harvey Penick passed away. The gentle
Texan ends his run at 44 Masters. … Twenty of this year's entrants will
make their Masters debuts, following a 24-man rookie class last year.
Among this year's debutants: world No.19 Brooks Koepka and double
heart-transplant recipient Erik Compton. … Watson once again is staying
mum about the fare for Tuesday night's champions dinner, reprising his
cat-and-mouse approach from two years ago. That menu wound up featuring
grilled chicken breast and Caesar salad.
• TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 3-7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN),
highlights show 11:35-11:50 p.m. (CBS). Saturday, 3-7 p.m. (CBS).
Sunday, 2-7 p.m. (CBS).
Last Week's Winner Bobcat. Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. Sea - 6899
2. dfs - 6896
3. Bobcat - 6325
4. Ed - 5877
5. 2952 - 5170
6. NMT - 4894
7. Liz - 4677
8. 67810 - 4279
9. NiA - 3821
10. DL - 3445
11. Ocala - 3401
12. Bill - 3274
13. ktnole - 3207
14. Baldy - 1581
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 4/12 7:46 PM by DFSNOLE
Field