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It's about that time again. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 600 points.
• CHARITY: Masters Tournament Foundation, which produces some $3.5 million in annual giving for local projects and larger golf initiatives. The Community Foundation of the Central Savannah River Area receives the largest sum, with additional gifts to the World Golf Foundation, The First Tee, PGA TOUR Charities, the PGA Foundation and U.S. Golf Association.
• FIELD WATCH: World No.1 Dustin Johnson, victorious at his past three stops, is joined by a typically strong cast that includes recent champions Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott. The expected roster stands at 93. … One more slot is open for the winner of this week’s Shell Houston Open, if not already qualified. Japan’s Hideto Tanihara, fourth at last week’s WGC-Dell Match Play, is among four who landed berths at last Monday’s final cutoff for the rankings’ top 50. … After weeks of holding out hope, four-time winner Tiger Woods announced Friday he won’t play for the third time in four years. This year marks the 20th anniversary of his historic first Green Jacket.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 270, Tiger Woods (1997), Jordan Spieth (2015).
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Nick Price (3rd round, 1986), Greg Norman (1st round, 1996).
• LAST YEAR: Spieth’s Amen Corner implosion was Danny Willett’s gain. He became the first Englishman to don the green jacket since Nick Faldo won his third in 1996. A bogey-free Sunday 67 produced a three-shot victory, though Willett’s steadiness won’t be remembered as much as the way Spieth lost it. The Texan appeared on the way to becoming just the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters when he took a five-shot lead to the back nine, only to give shots back at Nos. 10 and 11. But that only served as a prelude to the devious 12th, where Spieth put two balls into Rae’s Creek on the way to a quadruple bogey and a two-shot deficit. A 73 left him tied for second with Lee Westwood (69). Johnson was another shot back, hurt by a three-putt at No.17.
• STORYLINES: Johnson arrives as the man to beat, with two World Golf Championships added to his spring collection along with a win at Riviera. He now has five victories since last summer’s breakthrough first major at the U.S. Open. … Spieth, seven holes from back-to-back Green Jackets a year ago, encounters Amen Corner again trying to set aside some significant scar tissue. Until then, no one had led the Masters in seven consecutive rounds. … McIlroy, who tasted his own back-nine woes in 2011, tries again to complete a career Grand Slam. He would become just the sixth in history to accomplish that feat. … Jason Day’s status remains up in the air as he awaits the latest news on his mom’s lung cancer. The Aussie withdrew just six holes into the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, preferring to be at his mom’s side before surgery.
• SHORT CHIPS: Thursday’s ceremonial opening tee shots will feel a little empty without Arnold Palmer, who passed away last September at age 87. He had been part of the opening tradition for a decade, though last year all he could do is come out and watch Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit theirs. … Nineteen of this year’s entrants will make their Masters debuts, matching last year’s count. Among this year’s newbies: Jon Rahm, a winner at Torrey Pines and WGC Match Play runner-up to Johnson, and European Ryder Cup standout Thomas Pieters. … Willett has been coy about the menu for Tuesday night’s champions dinner. Speculation around the Yorkshireman has centered around “Toad in the Hole” – sausage links in Yorkshire pudding – but Willett won’t confirm or deny.
• TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 3-7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN), highlights show 11:30-11:45 p.m. (CBS). Saturday, 3-7 p.m. (CBS). Sunday, 2-7 p.m. (CBS).
• PGA TOUR LIVE: None.
• RADIO: Thursday-Friday, 2-8 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 2-7 p.m. (Westwood One and SiriusXM).
The PGSF arrives at Augusta National for The Masters.
With Henley rolling to a victory Sunday, Bobcat regains the lead of the PGSF going into the years first major
Good Luck to everyone this week and lets hope we get a fantastic first major of 2017
