Month: April 2024

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The Masters 2024: Rory McIlroy Scores Under Par in Round 3

Rory McIlroy posted a 71 (-1) in round 3 of The Masters 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy posted a 71 (-1) in round 3 of The Masters 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy improved his score at The Masters 2024 to +3 with a round of 71. As in the first round, the 34-year-old remained one under par at Augusta National. After a 77 on Friday, however, the four-time major winner had already fallen a long way back. Read the interview to find out whether he is happy with his score and whether the golf course was easier to play today because there was less wind.

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The Masters 2024: Rory McIlroy on His Score in round 3

Question: Are you happier today?

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, obviously conditions were a little easier than yesterday. Still tricky, though. Greens are firm. Some of the hole locations are really tough, especially some of the downwind holes with the pins at the front. Hard to get the ball close, and then you sort of just have to take your chances from 20, 25 feet. But definitely hit the ball better today, gave myself a lot of looks. Missed a few, but shooting something under par was a decent effort.

Question: Did you feel like you got a little bit more momentum going today?

Rory McIlroy: A little bit. It was hard to get any momentum yesterday just because of the conditions. So, yeah, it was nice to see — I think I made three birdies today compared to zero yesterday. So nice to see some red numbers on the card. Yeah, it was a little better.

Question: You crushed that ball off of 9. I don’t know if you’ve seen the video, but it was actually rolling around the people walking across the crossway.

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, I haven’t seen it yet. I hit it way further left than I thought I was going to. I thought I was going to catch these trees over here. It was so far downwind that I covered there. Yeah, I certainly didn’t expect the ball to be down there whenever I — I was looking somewhere in the left pinestraw. Just sort of shows the strength of the wind.

Question: We saw you back on the range still after your round last night. Is that still working on the technical things you’re working on?

Rory McIlroy: I just needed to get some rhythm. It was so start/stop yesterday, and I didn’t have any fluid in my golf swing because of that. I just wanted to got and try and find some rhythm last night.

I only hit 10, 15 minutes, but definitely felt better as well. As the wind is coming down you start getting out of sync. It was better to make some normal golf swings and hit some normal shots. Definitely hit it a bit better today. No, I mean, all I can do is come here and try my best. That’s what I do every time I show up. Some years it’s better than others. I’ve just got to keep showing up and try to do the right thing.

Question: When you played with Scottie on those first two days and he’s so unmoved by everything, so unflappable, is that difficult?

Rory McIlroy: No, not really. If anything, it’s good because, to have someone beside you that has a great attitude and sort of does everything the right way, it’s nice to try to feed off that.

Question: What you’re working on with your irons, you’ve seen progress this week to be ready as the summer rolls on with all these other big events coming up?

Rory McIlroy: I think so. I made good progress last week in San Antonio, my strokes gained numbers and approach were good. I thought my — I would say my strokes gained approach numbers today were probably pretty good. So it’s getting better. It’s definitely better than what it was through the Florida swing.

Question: You said you were going to try to be patient. How much has this been a test of patience this week?

Rory McIlroy: A lot. But it’s this tournament and this golf course and especially these conditions. That’s all you can be. You can’t really do anything else. You’ve got to try to have as much acceptance as possible and try to keep hitting good shots and move on.

Question: I think it’s currently 2-under on the par-5s this week. How much frustration you haven’t been able to take advantage of those a bit more?


Rory McIlroy: That’s okay. The par-5s have been playing difficult and into the wind. It’s been hard to go for the greens in two because of the conditions. Yeah, it’s probably not quite what I would have wanted, but it’s probably not too far off what everyone else is playing them in because they have been sort of difficult.

Question: What would a 15 handicap do around here?

Rory McIlroy: It’s hard because a 15 handicap usually doesn’t get the ball in the air far enough for the wind to affect it, but they would have struggled.

Question: What are you hoping to finish off with tomorrow?

Rory McIlroy: Just go out and finish on a positive note. Shoot a good round of golf and move on to Hilton Head next week in a good frame of mind, I guess.

Question: Thoughts on Hilton Head? What went into adding Hilton Head next week to your schedule? You weren’t committed until yesterday?

Rory McIlroy: I think I’m like 50th in the FedExCup. I need to get all the events under my belt as I can.

Question: You look at the top of the leaderboard much and pay attention to it?

Rory McIlroy: A little bit. Obviously Scottie’s got off to a great start. I’m excited to watch it.
Interview via asapsports.com

 

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Jon Rahm struggles to find “swing” in third round

Jon Rahm at tee-off in the third round of the Masters Tournament 2024 in Augusta. (Photo: Getty)

Jon Rahm faced a demanding third round this saturday at The Masters Tournament 2024. Despite a steady start with pars on the first six holes he experienced increasing difficulties, dimming hopes of defending his title.

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Steady start for John Rahm in third round at the Masters Tournament 2024

The round began promising for Rahm, who completed the first six holes at consistent par. However, with the seventh hole, the challenges began and he recorded a bogey on a par-4. Rahm concluded the front nine with a 37 (+1), marking a deterioration from par.

Recovery on the Back Nine with Challenges

On the back nine, Rahm managed to score the opposite scorecard and play pars until the 16th hole. A glimmer of hope was a birdie on the seventeenth hole, followed by a concluding par on the eighteenth. These led to a score of 35 (-1) for the back nine, helping him to finish the day with an overall score of 72 (E).

Jon Rahm on Challenging Conditions and Missed Opportunities

Playing conditions were a central topic in the interview with Jon Rahm. ” There is still a couple spots where if it gusted still some heavy winds. Obviously a little bit easier, but the golf course is quite firm and fast also, so that’s always going to make things a little more interesting.,” Rahm describes the challenges of the course. When asked about his progress of the week, he commented on his performance of the second round on friday. “Yesterday was terrible. Today I kept in in play off the tee, which is going to do a lot.”

“Gave myself plenty of chances; just didn’t make them,” he shared in frustration, but commented on a few highlights of the day. “Luckily made the one on 17 to have the only birdie of the day, and the one par putt on 6. Besides that, it was just seeing a couple fall in. I had a few really good chances on 3, 4, and 5. 8. Couple others. 12, 13, 14, just — 15, none of them wanted to go in.”

Rahm also expressed his thoughts about his progress during the last couple of rounds of the Masters Tournament 2024: “Well, it’s — those first two days I think I said it yesterday, it’s just too hard of conditions to not have your swing. Being a little lost and not being under control of what was going on makes it so much harder.”


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The Masters Tournament 2024: Zach Johnson on His F-Bomb

Zach Johnson sparks a debate at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Image: Getty)
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.

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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?

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Prize Money without Making the Cut?

Who gets prize money at the Masters Tournament? (Photo: Getty)
Who gets prize money at the Masters Tournament? (Photo: Getty)

As a rule, the following applies to all tournaments on the PGA and DP World Tour: after two rounds of play, there is a cut that only the 65 best players and equals survive. This selection fights for the final ranking in two further rounds. The total prize money that can be won at a tournament is divided among all players who have survived the cut – the players who had to go home after two rounds go home empty-handed. However, the rules are different at Augusta.

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Missed the cut: Who gets prize money at the Masters Tournament 2024?

Starting with the size of the starting field: in the majority of events, around 150 players take part – in Augusta, the field is limited to around 80 to 90 players. There are also special conditions for qualifying for the Masters Tournament. This year, there were a total of 19 different, strictly regulated ways to qualify. Starting with the Masters champions, who receive a ticket for life, to champions and top-ranked players from other majors and big tournaments, who qualify for certain periods of time, such as five years. In addition, current PGA Tour winners and the 50 leaders of the official world rankings, which are published in the week before the current Masters tournament, will start. Various amateur champions will also have the opportunity to play in Augusta.

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The Masters Tournament is the first major tournament of the year and probably the biggest highlight of the season for many golfers and fans. Only the crème de la crème are allowed to compete in the tournament at Augusta National and fight for the Green Jacket. The rules of the tournament are slightly modified compared to the usual tournaments of the leading tours in golf.

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Although the cut is also made after 36 holes have been played, only the 50 best and equals are entitled to a ticket for the weekend. This means that the Major journey is already over for more players than usual on Friday. However, there is another change that comes into effect at the Masters Tournament: all players, even those who miss the cut, are entitled to prize money. Anyone who has played two rounds will receive 10,000 US dollars in prize money. The only exceptions are the amateurs in the starting field.

Jon Rahm’s Tee Times for The Masters Tournament

The trip to Augusta therefore not only brings the fulfillment of a dream and memories of a very special tournament for all players, regardless of how they fared, but also guaranteed prize money of 10,000 US dollars. An icing on the cake that makes participation in the Masters Tournament even more attractive.

Other majors are similar

At the PGA Championship, in which no amateurs take part, every player who misses the cut receives prize money of 4,000 US dollars. The US Open pays out the same amount as the Masters: 10,000 US dollars go to those who miss the cut. The British Open staggers the prizes: The ten best golfers who missed the cut, for example, receive 7,200 US dollars. The worse the performance, the less money the players are entitled to.

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Watch: Highlights From Round 2 of the Masters Tournament 2024

Tiger Woods in round 2 in Augusta. (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods in round 2 in Augusta. (Photo: Getty)

The second round of the Masters Tournament has unfolded at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA, and sports fans are already seeking PGA Tour Highlights and Masters Tournament Highlights. The leaderboard shows a thrilling tie at the top as Max Homa, Bryson DeChambeau, and Scottie Scheffler, all from the USA, hold position one with a total score of -6. Danish Nicolai Højgaard, with -4, secures the solo fourth place. Tied for the fifth position are Cameron Davis of Australia and Collin Morikawa of the USA, each with a total score of -3.

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While absolute passion and the love for golf drive the players, an incentive remains the substantial prize money the Masters Tournament offers. However, the details concerning the exact total will not be disclosed here.

A video compilation is readily available for enthusiasts seeking a visual grasp of the events, focusing on the Masters Tournament Highlights.

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Bear in mind that the golf tournament concludes following round four. As the players continue their journey on the green, everyone awaits the crowning of the Masters Tournament champion.

show Masters Tournament Leaderboard

The Masters Tournament 2024: The PGA Tour round 2 highlights

The Masters Tournament – a long tradition

The US Masters Tournament 2024 from April 11 to 15 will make the hearts of many golf fans beat faster. In 2023, Jon Rahm triumphed at Augusta National Golf Club and secured his second Major title.

The US Masters Tournament in Augusta is the first of the four annual major tournaments in professional golf. It always takes place in April and always on the same golf course – Augusta National in Georgia, USA. The tournament was founded by Bobby Jones in 1934 and has been held every year since then, except for 1943-1945 when it was canceled due to the Second World War. In 2020, it was postponed to November due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it the last major of the year. Since 2021, the Masters has been held again – as usual – in April.

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US Masters 2024: Scottie Scheffler’s Steady Stride in Round Two

Scottie Scheffler battles strong winds during the second round of the Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler was able to approach the second round of the Masters Tournament 2024 with confidence, carrying forward the momentum from his performance in the first round. The previous day saw him navigate Augusta with a bogey-free 66, and despite challenging weather conditions that tested aspects of his game, Scheffler managed to finish the day with an even-par 72.

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The Masters 2024: Scheffler faces challenging circumstances

Despite the adverse conditions, Scheffler managed to secure birdies on holes 2, 8, and 10. However, the challenge of Augusta National was evident with bogeys on holes 5, 7, and notably on 13.

Challenges at Amen Corner

The back nine presented more hurdles as the winds picked up, impacting all participants. The infamous Amen Corner brought a slight shift in momentum. Although he managed to save par at the 11th and 12th hole, Scheffler navigated through Amen Corner with a bogey on the 13th, which set back some of his earlier gains.

Scheffler described the conditions as “extremely challenging,” with gusts that seemed to come from every direction, complicating each shot and putt. Notably, on hole 9, a putt that would typically require a straightforward approach was altered significantly by the wind, showcasing the day’s difficulties.

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Scottie Scheffler about his round

Scheffler described the day’s playing conditions as extremely challenging, particularly due to high winds affecting every part of the course. He said, ‘Yeah, it was extremely challenging. The winds were up very high, and it blows from everywhere out here. I think even par this afternoon was a really good score.’

When asked about the role of experience on such a difficult day, Scheffler emphasized the importance of course management. “Not really sure. I think for me mostly it was just trying to manage my way around the golf course, and that’s pretty much it. Just trying to make as many pars as you could and trying to leave it in the right spots.” he noted.

Reflecting on the toughest stretches of the course, Scheffler detailed the difficulties faced on holes 13 through 15: “I mean, like 13 for me today was a good example of I hit a good tee shot and hit a really good second shot, and then you just get gusted by the wind, and then stuff like that happens, you make bogeys.”

The golfer also discussed how he copes with the mental and physical toll of long playing days. “Yeah, I try to relax as much as possible out there, but I feel like I teed off 10 hours ago. It was a long day out there,” Scheffler shared.

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Jon Rahm Survives the Cut

Jon Rahm in round 2 at The Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Jon Rahm in round 2 at The Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)

For a moment, towards the end of round two, it looked like defending champion Jon Rahm might not make it to the weekend of The Masters Tournament 2024. After coming out of Amen Corner he suffered a double bogey on 14 after his second shot landed somewhere in the patrons and he continued with a three put after the slope of the Augusta greens as well as the wind carried his ball far away from the hole. After that odyssey he looked dangerously close to not making the cut.

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Jon Rahm dangerously close to the cutline

But Rahm, who conquered Augusta before, bounced back with two birdies, getting back the shots he lost on 14, giving himself a better outlook on the weekend. A bogey on 17 brought him into a precarious situation again but the cutline shifted, giving him some breathing room with a total score of 5 over par. Rahm signed a 76 on Friday and sits at a tied 44th place on the leaderboard, eleven shits behind the leading trio made up of Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa and Bryson DeChambeau.

Jon Rahm on making the cut: “a last ditch effort at the end”

Q. Tell us a little bit about your round today.

JON RAHM: It’s a very bad day not to be comfortable with the swing, that’s for sure. Yeah, just fighting it all day, never comfortable. I didn’t give myself a lot of chances, and it was a last ditch effort at the end to try and make the cut. Luckily I was successful in doing so.

Q. Talk about your reaction to those two birdies.

JON RAHM: It’s exactly that, no other choice. Make just too many mistakes when I put myself in good position. To just see one putt go in is nice and then a bonus on 16.

Still managed to stretch myself out to a three-putt on 17. So it’s not easy out there. Got a lot of work to do tomorrow if I want to have a chance on Sunday.

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Q. How hard did you get at the end there, Jon?

JON RAHM: Very. A couple times questioning myself why we were out there, especially when I got to 18 and saw the whole front of the green just full of sand. It’s rolling a little bit different. I understand they want us to finish.

I can imagine they were very close to calling it a few times, especially when we were on 11 green and we were getting those massive gusts every couple of minutes or so. It was extremely difficult.

We got it in. Hopefully I can just make up some ground tomorrow.

You just put the ball down, and it’s very close to moving. Not only that, how long did it take us to play? Over six hours to play just because they had to blow the greens in between groups, and then when you get to a group, people stepping back and back in. It’s just, again, borderline.

It was very, very close. It’s about as hard a golf course as I’ve seen in a very long time.

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Rory McIlroy Struggles Against the Wind and Augusta

Rory McIlroy in round 2 of The Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy in round 2 of The Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy kept struggeling on day 2 at The Masters Tournament 2024. But in the windy conditions he was not the only one, with only eight players posting a round under par. Yet a round of 77 to follow his first round of 71 shots positions McIlroy only in the middle of the field on T35. Ten shots behind the leaders it doesn’t look likely that he will be able to fulfill his dream of a career grand slam, but McIlroy is well able to perform some golf magic.

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Rory McIlroy having a hard time in round 2 of The Masters Tournament 2024

He couldn’t find that magic on Friday though with a birdie free round. Two bogeys on 5 and 7 marked an already difficult start to his round that only got worse when he entered Amen Corner. On hole 11 McIlroy’s second vanished into Rae’s Creek. And even though he brought his fourth shot seven feet to the hole a gave himself a chance to save a bogey, his ball rolled over the corner of the hole, causing a double bogey for the Northern Irishman. He got unscathed through 12 and 13 but lost another shot on 14. After that he made it without further lost shots to the clubhouse.

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Rory McIlroy on his second round at The Masters Tournament: “Really Tough Day”

Q. Rory, can you give us your thoughts on the round and the conditions today.

RORY MCILROY: Tough day, really tough day. Just hard to make a score and just sort of trying to make as many pars as possible. I felt like I did okay. I made that bogey on 14, and even just to par the last four holes and get in the clubhouse and have a tee time tomorrow, I’m sort of pretty happy with.

Yeah, just a really tough day. Scoring was very difficult. Yeah, just one of those days that couldn’t — I mean, most of the field couldn’t really get anything going. It was just a matter of trying to hang in there as best you could.

Q. Could you give us your thoughts on just how long your round took today.

RORY MCILROY: It felt long, yeah. My golf swing felt horrific for the last six or seven holes, just from hitting around. Especially that 11th hole, 11 it felt like it took an hour to play that hole.

Yeah, it was stop and start, hard to get into a rhythm with the conditions and obviously how slow the play was as well.

Q. Rory, how much of a battle is it between your mental and your physical game when it’s so slow, when it’s so windy? There’s so many second callings of shots. What is that part of the test like?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, it’s hard. Mentally it’s a grind because you just have to try to commit as best you can to the shot that you’re trying to play. One second you’ll have a shot that’s playing 150, and then if the wind does something different, the shot could be playing 180. It could be a 30-yard difference.

Just really hard to — you have to commit to trying to play the right shot, but then you also have to hit it at the right time as well. So pretty tricky.

Q. You’ve done 10 shots back in your career, Wells Fargo, it was a long time ago. I think you were 11 back with a whole round to go in 2022 and you finished second, gave it a run. Do you think there’s still a run from 10 back?

RORY MCILROY: I think so. I won from 10 back in Dubai at the start of the year. But obviously the Dubai Desert Classic and the Masters are two very different golf tournaments.

We’ll see. Hopefully the conditions are a little better tomorrow. Yeah, I still think I can go out tomorrow and shoot a low one, get back into red numbers, and have half a chance going into Sunday.

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The Masters Tournament 2024 – Rules: Wind Moves Ball on Green

Strong winds at the US Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Strong winds at the US Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)

The wind made the second round of the Masters Tournament 2024 a real challenge. Leaves and pine needles were blown across the course and in some cases even the sand was blown out of the bunkers. But at least all the trees were still standing, unlike last year.

The Masters Tournament 2024: Wind moves the ball

The wind still had an impact on the game, however, with players repeatedly cancelling their shot attempts because the wind suddenly changed. However, it was particularly tricky for Gary Woodland. He was just about to putt on 16 when his ball suddenly developed a life of its own. The wind caused the ball to move on its own and roll across the green.

Gary Woodland’s ball just blew 40 feet away on 16 at the Masters!?pic.twitter.com/pdr5C5AMDJ — Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) April 12, 2024

What is to be done in such a case according to the Rules of Golf?

Rule 9.3 states: “If natural forces (such as wind or water) cause a player’s ball at rest to move there is no penalty, and the ball must be played from its new spot.”

But fortunately for Woodland, for whom this meant the difference between a putt from seven feet or a monster putt, there is an exception: “If the player’s ball on the putting green moves after the player had already lifted and replaced the ball on the spot from which it moved the ball must be replaced on its original spot.”

Even if the ball was unmarked at the time it started to move, this exception applied because Woodland had already marked and picked it up. This means that Woodland had to estimate where the ball had been and was allowed to play it from there.

He made the par on the 16th, but it couldn’t save him the cut. Woodland played a round of 81 and was seven strokes over par on the back nine alone.

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Bryson DeChambeau or Jesus?

Bryson DeChambeau with a signpost at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Bryson DeChambeau with a signpost at the Masters Tournament 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Bryson DeChambeau provided the most unusual image of the second day of the Masters Tournament 2024 when he suddenly carried one of the Augusta National Golf Club signposts over his shoulder. On hole 13, his tee shot had strayed into the trees. DeChambeau had to get the ball out of this awkward position, but one of the signposts guiding the patrons around the course was in his way. DeChambeau took matters into his own hand, put the signpost over his shoulder and moved it out of the way.

Bryson DeChambeau triggers Masters Tournament Meme

The social media reactions to this unusual sight were immediate. The most obvious association for many was Jesus carrying his cross.

“Augusta Jesus” was quickly read on the X platform (formerly Twitter). A “Messiah complex” was also attributed to DeChambeau or that he makes “birdies for our sins”. “Reuniting the game of golf is his cross to bear,” was another user wrote. The joke extended to even more complex “Bible quotes”:

Bryson DeChambeau probably won’t care about all that. He put his third shot on the green and made birdie. Mission accomplished.

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