Scottie Scheffler and Ted Scott at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
If Scottie Scheffler’s sporting career continues like this, Ted Scott will become a kind of second Steve Williams. The New Zealander was in the pocket of the GOAT in Tiger Woods’ heyday and became the wealthiest sportsman in his home country thanks to the ten per cent share of the boss’s prize money.
Ted Scott and his unique way of celebrating the Masters win
This year, Ted Scott has already shared in Scheffler’s successes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship as well as the other top placings, and his Masters triumph adds another 360,000 dollars in prize money commission. This year, the man in his early fifties has certainly earned more money from the world number one’s pocket than, for example, Rory McIlroy on the fairways.
In total, the former mini tour pro is likely to have raked in just under six million dollars since Scheffler persuaded him to give up early retirement in 2021, which Scott decided to do after splitting with Bubba Watson. Interestingly, he won the Masters Tournament with the left-hander in 2012 and 2014, and exactly ten years later he repeated the feat with Scottie Scheffler. And because he secured the flag of 18 again yesterday, including the flagstick as a trophy, Ted Scott can celebrate the victory again like he did two years ago:
The stats for the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
The Masters Tournament 2024 was characterised by adverse weather conditions. Strong gusts of wind left the pros at Augusta National baffled at times and pushed the balls of golf’s best players into unusual positions. It is therefore hardly surprising that some of the results of the Major opener were well over par.
The Masters Tournament 2024: Augusta National presented itself as a monster
The time-honoured Augusta National had some “hellish” conditions in this 88th Masters. The wind turned the fast greens into glass slabs and the challenging greenside bunkers almost magically attracted errant shots. The water hazards, especially in the Amen Corner, also caused some pros to lose golf balls and some penalty strokes. With gusts of up to 50 km/h, the wind swept across the course, driving the sand from the bunkers into the eyes of the stars and causing the balls on the greens to tremble.
But first the positive results of the Major week:
With a total of 21 eagles over the four days of the tournament, the stars of the golf world created some terrific memories. Hole-outs from the fairway and incredible putts from long range were anything but the order of the day, but the jubilation of the happy players was all the more rousing. The second hole of the course recorded the most two-under-par results. The 585-yard (535-metre) par 5 was holed seven times for an eagle, with holes 8 and 13 sharing second place in this statistic with four each.
Birdies were also played, albeit significantly fewer than in previous editions or other major tournaments. With 866 birdies, the Masters 2024 nevertheless achieved a considerable number. The two birdies by Rahm and DeChambeau certainly stood out, with both players saving themselves the trip to the green and holing out directly from the fairway.
Frustration and penalty strokes at the 2024 Masters
However, the 866 birdies were offset by 1099 bogeys. With around 90 more on the back nine, the first and last two holes of the back nine were particularly difficult. The average score on the par 4s was between 4.2 and 4.5 strokes and therefore well over par. In addition to the many bogeys, there were also 176 double bogeys or worse, again with more than twice as many high scores on the back nine compared to the first half of the round. Jordan Spieth’s renewed drama on hole 15 will probably be most memorable, when the American had to record a 9 in his first round after missing the green, chipping into the water and then needing a further four shots to hole out.
The result of the final round was that only eight players were able to maintain a total score of under par. Sunday seemed to be a little more favourable in terms of playing conditions, with eleven players recording a round in the 60s, compared to just seven players on Day 1.
Viewing figures for the Masters 2024 on an upward trend
Away from the action, the American media also repeatedly focuses on the dwindling viewer numbers for PGA Tour events. The Masters 2024, with the LIV golfers once again facing off against the PGA Tour ranks, resembled a kind of “test run”. And it seems that golf fans would rather watch their stars in a tournament field. As ESPN reported, viewer numbers rose significantly compared to the previous year, by 28 per cent to 3.2 million viewers in Round 1 on the American channel. The following days also delivered new top results last seen in 2018, with a high of 3.6 million on Friday.
The prize money for the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
At the 88th edition of the Masters Tournament,Scottie Scheffler once again proved why he is number 1 in the world rankings. At the first major of the season, Scheffler gave his competitors no chance and confidently secured his second Masters title. The organizers have now announced this year’s prize money to coincide with the final round. After the record sum of 2023, those responsible at Augusta National Golf Club are once again increasing the sum, this time by two million dollars, to more than 20 million. Scottie Scheffler can look forward to 3.6 million dollars.
How much prize money will the players receive at the Masters Tournament 2024?
As with other tournaments, the prize money will be divided up on a staggered basis, this time with 3.6 million dollars for the winner of the Major. This is followed by the other top three places, also with six-figure sums, up to 50th place with a further 50 thousand dollars. Unlike in previous years, the distribution is not 20 per cent for the winner, 18 per cent for second place and 6.8 per cent for third place. This year, first place will receive 18 per cent, second place will receive 10.8 per cent and third place will continue to receive 6.8 per cent of the prize money pot. The exact distribution of the prize money is therefore as follows:
In addition to the six-figure prize money, the winner will also receive the legendary green jacket, a replica of the clubhouse and the right to play in the iconic major for life.
Jon Rahm in the final round of the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
The final day of the Masters Tournament 2024 has gone exceptionally well for Jon Rahm so far, considering the defending champion’s performances in the previous round. But with this extraordinary birdie, he probably tops all previous shots in his tournament.
Hole-out for birdie: Jon Rahm with a magic shot at the Masters Tournament 2024
After a poor tee shot between the trees on the right-hand side of the seventh fairway, Jon Rahm could only save himself with a flat chip back onto the fairway. The par no longer seemed safe at this point and a birdie was certainly out of the question from the Spaniard’s perspective. But, as we all know, one should never give up hope. From 80 yards, Rahm achieved a feat with his wedge and the ball went into the hole for a birdie.
Jon Rahm at the Masters Tournament 2024. The Live Blog. (Image: Getty)
The 2024 Masters Tournament will be a special one for Jon Rahm. As last years champion the Spaniard will attempt to defend his title, just months after his transfer to the LIV Golf League. In last years Masters he secured his win with a solid last round, finishing the tournament at -12 with a four shot lead over fellow LIV golfer Brooks Koepka.
Since turning pro back in 2016 Jon Rahm captured several top 10 positions across the four major tournaments. With a fourth place both at the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship in 2018 he stepped close to a major titel, but had to wait for another three years befor he checked in his first title. At the 2021 US Open Rahm took the win, all while landing in the top 10 of all other majors in that season. Just two years after that in 2023 he landed his first green jacket at Augusta National.
In a tight race with major-specialist Brooks Koepka Rahm entered the last round in Augusta in 2023. He kept his nerves and locked in a -3 69 round, while Koepka struggled and endet up tied in second place with Phil Mickelson.
Rahm’s chances at the Masters Tournament 2024
Looking back at Rahm’s past result at the seasons first major the odds for a title-defence are everything but bad. With strong top 10s for years now Jon Rahm is always a player to consider for a major title.
Altough the Spaniard is just five tournaments in to the new season and his new golf home, the LIV Golf League, he already delivered some amazing results. With three top five finishes and two other top 10s he demonstrated a good form with his “Leagion XIII” in various locations around the globe.
Zach Johnson sparks a debate at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
After a frustrating first day at the Masters Tournament 2024, Zach Johnson played well under the extreme conditions on day two. Until the American did hit the 12th hole.
Zach Johnson Drops F-Bomb at the Masters Tournament 2024
After missing the hole completely with his first tee shot, the second try landed just right of the green with a difficult chip. The following long putt for a double bogey missed the hole and resulted in a triple-bogey.
What followed was a reserved applause from the patrons and Zach Johnsons “F*** off!” directed across the pond. This unlikely outburst off course hit social media and promptly sparked a debate wether it was directed at the patrons or himself.
F-Bombing the Patrons? That’s what Zach Johnson said about the Situation
Q.Why don’t you clear the air about the social media thing.
ZACH JOHNSON: I’m not familiar with any social media thing out there. I’ve just signed my scorecard.
Q.There was some comment attributed to you to the patrons after your shots on 12.
ZACH JOHNSON: My first shot that went in the bush?
Q.It was after the putt maybe.
ZACH JOHNSON: After my putt for double bogey? Or after my putt for triple — I guess it really doesn’t matter. I can’t hear anything from — they’re 100 — with the downhill, they’re 152. They’re actually 154 away, so 152 away. I don’t understand the situation at all.
What are they saying that I did or said?
Q.It’s been reported that you swore at some of the patrons.
ZACH JOHNSON: That I swore at the patrons? That’s laughable. That’s completely laughable. I can’t hear the patrons, number one. Number two, I just made a triple bogey on the 12th hole that evidently is going to make me miss the cut, which at the time I knew was pretty sensitive in the sense that I needed to keep making pars.
If I’ve said anything, which I’m not going to deny, especially if it’s on camera, one, I apologize, and two, it was fully directed towards myself entirely because I can’t hear anything behind me. Does that make sense?
Jordan Spieth despairs in round 1 at the Masters Tournament 2024 (Photo: Getty)
It took more than a day, but now the incredibly fast greens of Augusta National have claimed their first prominent victim. Jordan Spieth despaired on the green of the 15th fairway on the second day of the Masters Tournament 2024, but after the first round was interrupted by the onset of darkness in round 1. “Firethorn”, as the par 5 was so aptly named, showed its particularly beastly side for the veteran and gave Spieth a quadruple bogey.
Jordan Spieth with dramatic quadruple bogey at the Masters Tournament 2024
Even before the start of the Masters Tournament 2024, Ken Brown reported on the difficult and particularly fast greens at Augusta National this week. Not even a complete round of golf later, Jordan Spieth had to painfully familiarise himself with these qualities. After an approach shot to the green on the 15th fairway that was too long, he hit what should have been a simple chip back onto the green. However, what should have been a safe shot failed and rolled straight back into the water on the other side of the green as if on a pane of glass. It went back into the drop zone and after another pitch that was too long, again behind the flag, Spieth opted for a much more defensive chip. This was followed by two putts and finally the nine on the scorecard.
Jordan Spieth in despair on hole 15 at the US Masters 2024 (Photo: Masters.com)
The shot tracker for this hole by Spieth is not very reminiscent of the American’s otherwise precise short game, but rather of a child’s drawing with a few abstract stick figures. Thanks to this track, Spieth is likely to face an even greater challenge in round 2. Without much of a break, the Friday session continues and with it the battle for the cut. At seven over par, he is currently well outside the decisive positions and has to fight to stay in the tournament.
Tony Finau brings two drivers to the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
When looking at Tony Finau’s golf bag, some long-established Masters Tournament fans might be reminded of an edition 18 years ago. Back then, in 2006, Phil Mickelson won his second green jacket at Augusta National. And he did so with a special set of clubs. Like Finau this year, “Lefty” relied on two drivers back then.
The reason behind Tony Finau’s unusual bag at the Masters Tournament 2024
The explanation for this “double lotto” in Finau’s bag is relatively simple. During his tournament preparation, the American realised that he could only use his 3-wood on a single hole (hole 8) and set about looking for an alternative. The solution presented itself in the form of a second driver. In addition to the Ping G430 LST with 7.75 degrees of loft, Finau will be adding another Ping G430 LST to his bag for the Masters Tournament 2024, but this one has around 9 degrees of loft and a shaft that is three-quarters of an inch shorter. According to Ping, Finau can use it for his tee shot on five holes (holes 2, 7, 10, 14 and 17). The driver is also more forgiving than the comparable 3-wood and even with the higher loft, the long hitter still manages 300 yards or 275 metres.
Putter patent for Tony Finau
Although not in his tournament bag, Tony Finau now uses a specially designed putter for training rounds at home. Together with his equipment supplier Ping, Finau has designed a prototype that fulfils his special requirements. The American relies on his putter particularly for short shots from the first cut around the greens and turns it 90 degrees for these shots so that he catches the ball with the heel. The new putter is said to have a cube shape, placing the weight directly behind the golf ball. The patent, which was presented on Wednesday ahead of the Masters Tournament 2024, features Finau himself as well as Tony Serrano, Head of Putter Design at Ping, and CEO John A. Solheim.
The idea started from Finau using the toe of his putter to hit certain putts. Finau liked the feel and worked with Tony Serrano, PING Principal Design Engineer, and John A. Solheim, PING Executive Chairman, to design a #PLD prototype that delivered similar feel and allowed him to… pic.twitter.com/zLBaeQf1En
“When Tony turns his putter over and hits a putt with the toe, all the mass is directly behind the ball,” Serrano said. “So he came to us and said, ‘How can we make a putter that has some of these feelings and attributes and sounds that I get when I turn this putter over?’”
Rory McIlroys WITB for the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
Rory McIlroy attempts his 16th run for a Masters Tournament victory and the completion of his career Grand Slam. Take a look at the equipment of the Northern Irishman for the first major of the 2024 season. As always McIlroy trusts his longterm sponsor TaylorMade from driver to golf ball.
Jon Rahms Interview before the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
As defending champion Jon Rahm of course has to talk about his year with the green jacket. In his pre round interview the Spaniard talk about the difficulties preparing for the Masters Tournament 2024 with a full schedule, the LIV Golf League comes up as well.
Jon Rahms Pre-Round Interview at The Masters Tournament 2024
THE MODERATOR: The last time you were in this room you were wearing a Green Jacket for the first time. Could you maybe reflect on the experience of winning the Tournament and maybe when it all sunk in?
JON RAHM: It’s so hard to put that experience into words. I had heard from a few other players, a few Masters champions and a few that have won other majors rather than the Masters, that they said there’s something different, something special when you win one.
I can confirm it’s absolutely true; that the jump from no majors to U.S. Open was smaller from than what it was from the U.S. Open to the Masters. It is the biggest tournament in the world, with no offense to anything else, but it’s probably the most followed one by people that don’t even play golf.
That’s I think what makes the difference. Your notoriety goes up quite a bit. But it’s also the tradition. By being the only venue, we keep coming back year after year, all the traditions, all the shots, all the stories make it so, so special.
In my case, last year being Seve’s birthday, Easter, and all the many coincidences that happened to happen on that Sunday is what made it so special.
It’s, I think, the one memory that I keep remembering. Obviously, all the family moments at the end were great, but I still have a picture where I’m holding my son, and I’m giving a hug to my dad and my son’s in between us. And just to see that moment of me and my dad and having my son there was quite special. And that’s why I say it’s hard to put it into words because I really can’t describe it.
Q.As the champion of last year, I believe you have been wearing your Green Jacket on many, many occasions throughout the year. So my question is: What are your best memories wearing the Green Jacket outside of Augusta National? How is your feeling now as you need to return it to the club?
JON RAHM: Best memories? Well, you do hear a lot of things that people did to remember having the jacket. In my case, I mean, I kept it in my closet in a spot where I would walk by it every single day, and obviously inevitably every once in a while you put it on and take it off and put it back there.
The most memorable one for me has to be the first pitch. Just doing the first pitch in the World Series is quite unique. Sort of having to compete for the jacket is about as nervous as I’ve ever been related to that jacket, having to be in front of all those people trying to not make a fool of myself.
Q.You made some comments to BBC about understanding the gravity of your decision to go to LIV Golf. When you did that, was part of that motivation to try to bring the game together, and did you expect there to be kind of more movement toward that by now?
JON RAHM: I understood my position, yes. And I understood that it could be, what I hoped, a step towards some kind of agreement, yes. Or more of an agreement or expedited agreement.
But, unfortunately, it’s not up to me. But I would hope it would be something that would help expedite that process. But at the end of the day, I still did what I thought was best for myself.
Q.I’m wondering, as you look back on the period of time since you went over to LIV to now, how you would describe the experience and what are the things that you maybe miss about not being around the TOUR anymore and around the guys and competing against the Schefflers and Rorys, et cetera.
JON RAHM: You know, actually, that’s a good question. I haven’t given it that much thought because I’ve been so focused on what I have to do myself.
I mean, there’s no secret, I’ve mentioned a few times, there’s some venues that I miss not being at, not only because I won but just because I love it, right? And that’s the reason why I played well in those tournaments. Not being at Palm Springs, Torrey, Phoenix and L.A. wasn’t the easiest. And I’ll keep saying that because those are venues that I absolutely love.
And driving by Phoenix as often as I had to, seeing the stands, and knowing that I wasn’t going to be there was quite hard. Right? I still love the PGA TOUR, and I still hope everything the best, and I still hope that at some point I can compete there again.
Yeah, I mean you do miss competing against certain people, right? But at the end of the day, I’ve had so much to focus on the dynamic a little bit has changed, obviously. I’m a team leader, a team captain, to an extent. It’s still golf. I can’t really influence what they do on the golf course.
And a lot of good, a lot of positive to look forward to. I’ve had a lot of fun playing in those events. The competition’s still there. Yeah, they’re smaller fields, but you still have to beat some of the best players in the world and you still have to play at the same level you have to play on the PGA TOUR to win those events. So that doesn’t change.
It’s been fun to be part of a team. It’s one of the driving factors for me to make the change. It’s fun to be a part of a family and part of a common goal as a team, right. And enjoying those team victories has been really, really fun.
Usually on a Sunday, like last week, I would not have been thrilled by the way I finished, not that I would have been sad or upset, but I wouldn’t have been thrilled and, you know, had a team goal to actually celebrate. I mean, that is actually kind of fun.
Something that I was jealous of from many other sports, right. When you win as an individual, right, like take it here, for example, last year, you do all your commitments, you wake up the next day, and that’s it. It’s not like there’s a shared emotion after that like you see when a team maybe wins a Super Bowl or the NBA Finals or the World Series.
Q.You mentioned team. Are you concerned about — it’s a year plus away — about what the Ryder Cup situation would be for you since that’s so special to your heart?
JON RAHM: Am I concerned? Yeah, I hope I can be there. I hope I play well enough to earn my way there. And if I have to be picked, I hope I can get picked.
Yeah, I want to be there. That’s definitely something I want to do and I don’t want to miss.
Q.I was wondering just this week how being the defending champion, doing the Champions Dinner tonight, how has that affected sort of your preparation? Has it made it more difficult, or do you just kind of see it same as every year?
JON RAHM: It hasn’t made preparation any more difficult. The Champions Dinner, you just have to work around it, right. Just got to make sure I’m ready at a certain time, which I almost made the mistake of not being on time because so used to not having anything to do on Tuesdays that I scheduled my practice round a little too late yesterday and had to start backtracking to a few people. So I’m hoping I can be there on time today.
But besides that, no, I mean, we always have things to do. In the past on Tuesdays, I’ve had other sponsor engagements as well. So it actually doesn’t feel that different to that extent. Obviously, it’s a much bigger deal to be part of that dinner. But, no, I don’t feel like it makes a difference.
Q.Do you think you’re looked at this week as the reigning Masters champion or as a LIV player?
JON RAHM: Both.
Q.Brian Harman was here yesterday. He was talking about how important it was for his game to be tested against the pressure of a PGA TOUR event. I know it’s been a short sample in terms of your time on the LIV Tour, but do you feel the same level of pressure in spite of the team event in a LIV event, the level of intensity of feeling the pressure?
JON RAHM: Yeah. Yeah. To me, that’s an argument that, if you haven’t experienced being playing in a tournament, you can’t really understand. I understand there’s less people. I understand the team format’s a little different. I understand we’re going shotgun and things are a little bit different to how they are in a PGA TOUR event. But the pressure’s there. Like, I want to win as bad as I wanted to win before I moved on to LIV.
So, yeah, going down the stretch when you’re in contention is the exact same feelings. That really doesn’t change. The same way it was when I went through the Spanish Open or many other events where the field might not be up to the level that it could be on a designated event, right, that doesn’t really — winning is winning, and that’s what matters.
Q.Piggybacking on the Green Jacket question earlier, how does it feel knowing that the only way you get to take it back off property is if you win again?
JON RAHM: (Laughing). I think if I were not to win this year, I’m probably not going to regret — I’m going to regret not wearing it more often and just taking it everywhere for just — for whatever, just because you have it.
But, yeah, it is a weird feeling, right. Essentially, it’s the only trophy you can’t really keep at home. You do get a trophy, but the one that we all care about is the jacket. I think it’s something really special to know, when you win, that the only jacket that ever leaves Augusta National is that one. I think that’s the most special part of all.
So, it’s a little bit — is it added motivation? No, because you still — I mean, winning is winning, right. But it would be quite special to be one of the few players that have won it more than once and be able to have it at home for more than one year.
The full Interview from Jon Rahm before the Masters Tournament 2024:
