AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy had the green jacket on his shoulders and an unlimited weight off his again when he appeared forward to the ninetieth version of the Masters with a query and a coy smile.
“What are we going to talk about next year?” he stated.
Next 12 months has arrived. The Masters begins on Thursday, April 9, and McIlroy will likely be spared the questions that dogged him for almost 15 years whether or not he might ever conquer Augusta National.
Now that burden falls to those that have felt they’d one arm within the coveted jacket, a listing that features Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka.
To perceive how badly they and everybody else needs to be a Masters champion is to see McIlroy drop to his knees on the 18th green when he rolled in that 3-foot birdie putt on the primary playoff to beat Rose, chest heaving with emotion, an exhale almost as sturdy because the wind.
There was as a lot pleasure as reduction.
Augusta National enthralls and torments, all half of the drama that unfolds over 4 days on a stage that delivers some of the best theater in golf.
“Augusta checks off that mental box because of history, knowing the holes coming and knowing what guys have done,” Schauffele stated.
Schauffele speaks from expertise. The two-time main champion has had two shut calls on the Masters — a runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2019, and the final man to problem Hideki Matsuyama in 2021 till an 8-iron he thought was good discovered water left of the par-3 sixteenth.
The Masters will not embrace five-time champion Woods for the second 12 months in a row.
He was concerned in one other automobile crash on March 27. He was arrested on suspicion of driving underneath the affect and entered a not responsible plea. He stated he would take an indefinite go away to get remedy, and a Martin County, Florida, choose granted a movement for Woods to go away the nation to get the assistance he wants.
By all accounts, the Masters would appear to be the simplest of the majors to win. Not solely does it have the smallest subject — fewer than 100 gamers for the final 60 years — however it consists of six amateurs and 7 Masters champions now eligible for the senior circuit. Nearly one-quarter of the sphere is enjoying for the primary time, and no Masters rookie has received because the late Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
But the historical past is wealthy. The enchantment of being a Masters champion — a lifetime invitation — is powerful.
“Golf is such a mental sport, it really ticks that box in terms of being hard to win,” Schauffele stated. “You have a one-shot lead going into 18 at Augusta, those trees have gotten a lot bigger and that window has gotten a lot smaller.”
Some of these newcomers add to the intrigue. Three of them — Chris Gotterup, Ben Griffin and Jacob Bridgeman — are among the many prime 20 on the earth rating.
Gotterup is the one PGA Tour participant to have received twice earlier than the Masters. Casey Jarvis of South Africa, one other Masters newcomer, received back-to-back weeks on the European tour (Kenya Open, South African Open). DeChambeau at LIV Golf is the one different two-time winner this 12 months.
Gotterup took a scouting journey in early March.
“That’s the one … course where not having played I know every hole there,” he stated. “Everyone watches the Masters and knows Augusta National.”
Golf followers could have waited 263 days since Scottie Scheffler received the British Open at Royal Portrush final summer time till the primary tee shot Thursday on the Masters, and the anticipation is as nice as ever.
McIlroy, who turned the sixth participant to seize the profession Grand Slam along with his Masters victory, now units out to be part of Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the one back-to-back winners.
He received twice going into the Masters final 12 months, and now has performed six occasions — together with a withdrawal on the weekend at Bay Hill with muscle spasms in his again — with solely two probabilities at winning. But this can be a totally different Masters, one with out suffocation expectations.
He picked the menu for the Masters Club dinner. He has his parking spot within the champions’ lot and a locker upstairs within the Augusta National clubhouse for Masters champions solely.
“It’s all going to be about enjoying my week,” he stated. “The thing is, I know I get to go back to the Masters Tournament for the rest of my life. And that’s quite a freeing feeling.”
He and Scheffler, the highest two gamers on the earth, every took off three weeks main to the Masters. Adam Scott in 2013 is the final participant to win after being away from competitors that lengthy.
Scheffler’s break was not by design. He withdrew from the Houston Open to return dwelling to Dallas for the approaching delivery of his second baby. Scheffler is the betting favourite at each match he performs, a product of having received 23 occasions worldwide the final 4 years, and being No. 1 on the earth for almost three years straight. Woods is the one different participant with such sustained dominance.
His type has taken a slight dip, at the very least by his requirements — two straight finishes out of the highest 20 after 18 straight prime 10s. But then, Scheffler additionally has received the Masters twice within the final 4 years, each occasions strolling up to the 18th green main by at the very least 4 photographs.
The hottest participant in golf is one hardly ever seen — DeChambeau, who performed within the ultimate group with McIlroy final 12 months and is coming off back-to-back wins in playoffs on LIV Golf, one in Singapore, the opposite in South Africa.
DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, determine to be the strongest hopes for the Saudi-funded league, which has 11 gamers within the subject. Rahm additionally has a rating to settle from final 12 months, when he contended in just one main on the PGA Championship earlier than fading late.
Rahm additionally has motive to be brooding over his infinite battle on the European tour, refusing to pay fines for enjoying LIV Golf occasions. At stake is his eligibility for the Ryder Cup subsequent 12 months. For now, his focus is difficult for an additional green jacket. He is aware of the sensation in addition to anybody.
“I hope I win,” Rahm stated at his most up-to-date LIV occasion in South Africa. “I’m going to try my best and hope I can get a second green jacket. That’s the goal.”
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
