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Jon Rahm at the Masters Tournament 2024: “It would be special to win more than once”

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:

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Scottie Scheffler: “Sometimes I Still Can’t Believe It Walking In the Masters Champions Locker Room”

After winning the Masters Tournament in 2022 Scottie Scheffler makes his return to the first Major of the season as world number 1 again. In his pre-round interview the Players Champion talks about his preparations, nerves in the course and the difficulties of Augusta National.

Scottie Schefflers Pre-Round Interview at The Masters Tournament 2024

Q: Scottie, welcome back to Augusta National. It’s been two years since you won the Masters. What did you learn about yourself that week, and how has it helped shape your preparation for this year’s tournament?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think in terms of preparation, I think I valued much more rest going into these types of weeks. I think when I first came out in my career, I didn’t really value rest as much as I should have. I was a really big practicer, and I would say I probably practiced too much at tournaments. So trying to work on getting quality rest and being ready to compete.

And then what I learned about myself, I mean, I’m not really sure (smiling). I just think that it was a good experience. It was obviously a ton of fun to be able to win here, and it’s still — sometimes I still can’t believe it myself walking in the Champions locker room. But excited to be back here to compete another year.

Q. Last night I was able to see a documentary on Carl Jackson, and I think you’re in it and I think you made a mention about he gave you a yardage book. And I’m wondering if you could expound on a little bit and how valuable that was?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Well, I’m not going to expand too much on Carl’s secrets in front of people, but (laughing)…

No, it was maybe my second Masters, it was either my second or third. I sat kind of in the back of the caddie house with Carl. Ben had suggested that I just sit down with him for a few minutes. And, yeah, he gave me a yardage book that had some of the — where he — I think he called it grain is, where some of the slopes are. And it’s just a yardage book that has some arrows in it. I’m not going to tell you where the arrows are pointing.

But it’s something that I’ll kind of review at night and I always look at it in the lead-up to the tournament just because there is kind of some weird stuff that goes on around the golf course.

But it was nice just being able to sit with him and hear his thoughts about this place. And, I mean, he’s such a peaceful guy. So it was really nice just kind of listening to him talk about the golf course.

Q. This is obviously your fifth time here. It’s probably become routine, normal, at least it’s been normalized a little bit. Are there still things here that, like, when you see them, about the course or the facility or anything that delight you, bring you joy, and what are those things?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Well, playing the golf course I think is a tremendous amount of fun. The driving range here is a ton of fun to be around and practice. You can hit all kinds of shots. To me it’s just a special place, it’s kind of the mecca for us growing up here in the States and being Americans. I think this is the tournament that we all look for.

To be here on property every year is extremely special. And, I mean, it seems like it all stands out. Everything is done so well here. But mostly for me it’s the golf course and the practice facilities and just getting to come out here and compete. And, I mean, the crowds always are wonderful, and it’s just a joy to play this tournament.

Q. Can you describe the challenges of playing this course every year and sustaining success from year to year?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think people may not realize how difficult the golf course is, especially when the wind is blowing. And I think we’re going to have another couple days of wind here where the winds are going to be pretty high and it swirls like crazy around this place.

And you have to stay so patient and trust in all aspects of your game because there is a certain type of player that can play well on this golf course, but at the end of the day you have to have trust in all aspects of your game. And I think this is a place where it’s extremely important to kind of have that trust in yourself.

Q. Jordan was in here, and he was obviously the guy in 2015. Tiger was in here earlier today, he was the guy for many, many years. You spoke about this a little bit at THE PLAYERS, how you really have to watch out every little thing that you say. Are you getting more comfortable in that role of being the guy, and how long do you sort of feel like this could last?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I try not to look too far into the future. I’m excited about how I’ve been playing to begin this year. I had two nice wins, which was obviously a bunch of fun. Then I was close in my last start as well.

I think it’s just one of those deals where all I’m trying to do is put myself in contention in the tournament and hopefully finish it off. I really am not looking much past tomorrow. I’m focused on my preparation right now. And those things don’t really occupy many of my thoughts day-to-day.

I’m an extremely competitive person. And I like competing out here, and hopefully I’ll be out here competing for a long, long time, but life throws crazy stuff at you sometimes. So we’ll see how long it happens, but hoping it’s going to be a long time.

Q. Can you take the common fan or average golfer into your mindset of what it’s like to step on that first tee on Thursday and take that first tee shot. Is it a little angst, a little nervousness, or is it you’re confident because you’ve been here and done it before?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: So, when I step up onto the tee at a tournament, my thought process is always about my preparation. So, when I step up on the first tee, I just remind myself: I’ve done the work. I’ve done everything I could. I’ve checked all the boxes. And I’ve done everything to where I can go out here and play well. So I can go out and compete freely knowing that I’ve done what I’m supposed to do in my preparation.

And then when it comes time to compete, I’m just trying to soak in the competition. Go out there, have fun, be committed to my shots. And I’m focused mostly on my mental attitude. I’m not looking at results. I’m just trying to focus as much of my process as I can.

And, yeah, there’s definitely nervousness. There’s definitely excitement, anxiousness. I mean, all those things go through you when you’re out there competing. It’s just about how do you use those feelings and emotions to kind of enhance your focus, and that’s pretty much it.

Q. Can you describe the feeling you get whenever you get back on site and reunite with your jacket?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: When I put back on the jacket? Yeah, it’s usually first thing we do here Sunday when I get in. We go — I’m usually doing something for the Drive, Chip & Putt, so it’s always a reason to go out there and put on the jacket. It’s kind of fun walking around the grounds and being able to put it on.

It was a lot more fun getting to wear it for a whole year (laughing). But, yeah, it’s a special feeling. It’s extremely cool to be able to walk up there in the Champions locker room, and got the same locker room staff up there, and they’re always excited to see us. And I’m excited to see them as well, and it’s a lot of fun.

Q. A lot of No. 1 players in the world have admitted that they have had to be selfish with their time, they have had to work very hard because they were just about compulsive to stay on top. How would you say golf — where does it fit in defining you as a person right now?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Hopefully it doesn’t define me too much because golf definitely is a selfish sport. You’re out there by yourself. And when you’re at the peak of your game, you know, people need stuff from you a lot of the time and you have to be selfish with your time. And it’s not easy to say no, but you have to learn how to say no to certain people.

Because ultimately, when you come out to a golf tournament, you’re here to compete, and you’re here to do your best. And you can’t really get caught up in all the stuff that’s going on around you.

So I’m hoping it doesn’t define me too much. Because, I feel like I say it a bunch, golf’s something that I do. It’s a tremendously huge part of my life. But it doesn’t define me as a person. It’s just something that I do.

And I happen to be good at it some weeks, and, you know, I come in here and you guys ask all nice questions. And then the next week I’m bad at it, and then some of the questions are viewed more negatively. And that’s just kind of the ebb and flow of competing in front of people all the time.

Q. I think it’s probably safe to say that you seem pretty nonplussed out there on the golf course, unaffected, or at least outwardly by what seems to be going on. What’s the most nervous you’ve ever been on a golf course, and how would we know?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: The most nervous I think I’ve ever been on a golf course was probably when I went through qualifying school. Going into the last few stages — so for qualifying school you go through first, second, third stage. And first and second stage I needed a good round the last day to get through. And I ended up having two really good rounds, maybe shot 7 or 8-under in the first stage and something similar at second stage.

Going into the last round at final stage, I was well inside the number, and I just needed to not play bad to get through. And that’s kind of a weird spot to be, especially when you’re playing for your career, essentially, you’re playing for that whole next year, and it’s important to be able to get through that qualifying school.

I did not play well for 16 holes, and I was maybe like even par, and I’m just getting lapped out there. It was a pretty easy golf course. And I’m looking up at the board, and I’m like, Man, I got to birdie one of these last two holes. And I birdied the 17th hole. It was a reachable par-5. Had a nice up-and-down, made a good 4 or 5-footer.

Hit the fairway on 18. Kind of settled down. I got a wedge, a middle pin, stock number, slight upslope, not a hard shot. Shot I’d hit the green 95 times out of 100 if that’s what I’m trying to do.

I hit one of the worse wedge shots I’ve ever hit in my life, long left of the green. My stock number usually goes about 130, I hit it 150. And I’m standing there looking at this chip shot I have, and instead of just being able to hit the green and 2-putt, all of a sudden I’m long of the green, I have this really hard chip off a down slope, down towards the green. The green’s on a down slope, it’s a fast chip, and I’m standing over it.

And that was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been. I did my best to calm down, and I hit a good chip and got up-and-down. But that to me was the most nervous I’d been, just because you’re just kind of getting into your career and you’re playing for a whole year worth of tournaments. And if I don’t get that ball up-and-down, I got to go back to playing the mini tours, essentially.

Q. This is such a unique property, and you only get to play it once a year. What are one or two of the cooler shots that you look forward to when you pull in here?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think the back nine is especially fun. You come off 9 tee, and then you get to — or, sorry, come off 9 green and you get to 10 tee and all of a sudden you’re hitting a massive — basically a hook off the tee. It’s not really a draw. I hit a hook there.

Then you go to play 11 and you’re hitting that second shot down the hill, and then you get to 12. And I think you just dream so much of being able to play this golf course that when you got out there and you start hitting all the shots, it challenges you in so many different ways. You’re hitting off these crazy slopes to greens that have a ton of pitch to ’em. And you get to really be creative out here, and so there’s all kinds of fun shots. But I think really, once you get into the kind of the heart of the back nine, those are the most fun holes out here, I think.

Q. When you talk about golf is just something you do, what do you think you would be good at if you didn’t have golf or any other sport, frankly?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: What do I think I would be good at?

Q. Like pickleball doesn’t count here.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Pickleball doesn’t count? Gosh, I don’t know. My friends have asked me that before, what would you do if you weren’t playing golf. And golf was always the goal for me. I always wanted to play golf. I grew up wearing long pants to go practice at the golf course because that’s what I saw the pros doing on TV and I wanted to be one of those professional golfers.

I would like to think I have some other skills, but hopefully I don’t have to discover them for quite some time. Hopefully, I’ll be out here playing for a long time.

Q. Stewart Hagestad spoke glowingly yesterday about your golfing IQ, and a player like Paul McGinley says your course management skills are off the charts. I’m just wondering, is that something that comes naturally to you or is it something that you work hard on and maybe could you talk a little bit about how you break down a course like this and go about attacking it?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think Teddy’s a huge part of that. Teddy does a lot of our prep work and a lot of what I’m doing in the practice round is playing the course how I normally would, just playing the holes. Then when we get up to the green, I finish out, it’s basically just asking Teddy, What do you want to do here, and then he kind of brings me around the hole and shows me the spots where I need to practice from, the putts that he wants to see me hit, and he’s looking at all kinds of stats and stuff like that and he’s a huge part of course management. As far as it goes in my brain, I think we’re all just trying to play tournaments kind of waiting for those good little spurts, and take advantage of them when you can. Outside of that, a lot of major championship golf is just eliminating silly mistakes. This is a golf course where you can be very patient and still play very good golf, and then you can get aggressive and play some really good golf, but you can also get aggressive and find yourself making doubles really, really quickly. So, finding that balance between having the shots where you’re feeling really good over — really good over and you can be aggressive, and then finding the balance between being really aggressive and then, the shots we’re not so comfortable with, playing it to the right area of the golf course.

Watch the Full Interview with Scottie Scheffler at the Masters Pressroom here:

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Can Jon Rahm defend his title?

As the The Masters Tournament 2024 is coming closer, the discussions about possible title contenders are getting louder. Of course a relevant influencing factor to suggest who’s could be coming out on top is the current form. When looking at the PGA Tour, names like Scottie Scheffler, Windham Clark, or Rory McIlroy come to mind. However, at the Masters, one should not forget about players who currently play on the LIV Tour. Among them – the defending champion Jon Rahm.

The Masters Tournament 2024: 3 reasons why Jon Rahm will defend his title

With his latest move to the LIV Golf League Jon Rahm may have been off the radar for some golf fans. The Masters Tournament 2024 will be his first major after leaving the PGA Tour. Here are three reasons why Jon Rahm is keen to defend his title at this weeks major tournament.

1. Stats don’t lie

To silence critics right away, let’s start with some of his statistics, which are famously indisputable. Within his last 20 major appearances, he finished within the top 10 ten times, meaning half of his majors played since 2019. Overall, he has won two of these majors and narrowly missed victory in several others. The statistics also suggest a rising form curve throughout his career in these events since first turning pro in 2016.

2. Jon Rahm is in good form

Which leads us to the next argument as to why Jon Rahm will win the Masters again: His current form speaks for itself. Since joining LIV Golf, the Spaniard is yet to finish outside of the top 10. Starting off early in February, the reigning Masters champion finished tied for 3rd at the Mayakoba event. He followed up finishing 8th and 5th, then tied for 8th place in Hong Kong, with a tied 4th place at last weeks event in Miami. It can’t be denied that these are impressive and very consistent results, although there is one flaw. He did not yet win a tournament this year.

3. He is the reigning champion

Maybe reminiscing on his last victory may bring back his winner qualities. It surely is one he will fondly remember and dates back exactly one year today. With a very convincing 4-shot-lead, he brought his last Masters to the finish line, securing his second major victory of his career after winning the US Open in 2021. Even though it is difficult to predict the outcome with the tough conditions at the Augusta National Golf Club, it surely helps when players can start the tournament with some good confidence.

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Will Rory McIlroy play at the Par-3-Contest?

The Par-3-contest of the Masters Tournament is traditionally held on the wednesday before the tournament begins. The players spend a day with their families on the golf course and the main focus of this small tournament is on having fun. However, more and more players are considering whether they want to take part in the event at all. As no player who has ever won the Par-3-Contest has went on to win the green jacket the same year, rumor has it that a curse lies on the winner of the competition.

Rory McIlroy at the Masters Tournament Par-3-Contest

Rory McIlroy’s “game plan” for the Masters seems to be finalised. The Northern Irishman plans to arrive later than ever before on Tuesday evening, as revealed in a practice round with TGL team mate Keegan Bradley.

Even though McIlroy has never won the Par-3-Tournament and therefore no curse can’t be blamed for not winning the masters, the world number two is thinking about eliminating any risk that could stand in the way of a win at Augusta National.

He goes on explaining, he is going to skip the iconic Par 3 Contest on Wednesday in order to “shake things up” in his preparation for the first Major of the season.

What is the Par-3-Contest

The Par 3 Contest is one of the most cherished traditions at the Masters. Taking place on the Wednesday of Tournament week, this year on April 10th, players, family members, and fans alike gather to witness this special event. Originally intended as a means of stress relief before the main tournament, the Par 3 Contest has evolved into a staple of the Masters since its debut in 1960. Participants, including current players and former champions, compete on a nine-hole course skillfully integrated into the northeast corner of the Augusta National Golf Club. Under the watchful eyes of spectators and often with family members acting as caddies, short shots are played over DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike’s Pond. Yet, the true allure of the Par 3 Contest lies not only in the competitive spirit but also in the familial atmosphere it fosters. Children and grandchildren, clad in miniature Augusta National overalls, provide heartwarming moments as they accompany players with their light bags or carry the flag. It’s an opportunity to celebrate tradition and community spirit, away from the intense competition of the main Masters tournament.

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Masters Week Starts With Rare Solar Eclipse

There is only a few days left to wait until the prestigious The Masters Tournament 2024 officially begins. And although the tournament’s opening round doesn’t tee off until Thursday, many golf enthusiasts were already treated to the first highlight on Monday. Taking place off the course – a solar eclipse left many spectators in awe.

The Masters Tournament 2024: An unparalleled setting for a natural spectacle

The start of the Masters week already offered plenty on Monday. A majority of the 89 players qualified for the tournament in Augusta played their first practice round. Among them was Tiger Woods, whom spectators could follow early in the morning on the back nine alongside Will Zalatoris. However, the event that garnered the most attention took place in the sky. Through the eclipse glasses distributed at the event, spectators, caddies, and players could witness the partial solar eclipse in its maximum obscuration around 3 p.m. in the afternoon.

Total Solar Eclipse in Some Parts of the Continent

In a narrow strip, the rare natural phenomenon traveled from Mexico across the USA to Canada. During this event, the moon moved directly in front of the sun, obscuring it and causing relative darkness in the middle of the day. While 14 states in the USA experienced a total solar eclipse, the venue of the The Masters Tournament 2024 in the state of Georgia enjoyed at least a partial solar eclipse of up to 76%. The next solar eclipse of a similar magnitude is not expected until 2044.

Indeed, this natural event was not the first to attract attention at a Masters. In 1940, an annular solar eclipse occurred, obscuring about 90 percent of the sun. It happened just after 5 p.m. and lasted about 2½ hours.

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The Masters Tournament 2024: Journey To The Coveted Green Jacket

As one of golf’s most prestigious events, the Masters Tournament 2024 commands attention worldwide. Starting April 11, golf’s elite will gather at Augusta National Golf Club, vying for the legendary “Green Jacket.”

But the tournament excitement already begins before Thursday’s opening tee-off, featuring unique events like the Champions Dinner on Tuesday and the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday. Golf Post will guide you through the year’s first major, from the initial preparations to the final putt.

Your Guide To The Masters Tournament 2024

Players arrive on Sunday and Monday for practice rounds. By tradition, former champions can play the course with a guest of their choice on the Sunday preceding Masters Week. Up until Wednesday, all players will be preparing at Augusta National. Pay special attention to Hole 16, where players often attempt to skip the ball over the water hazard to reach the green on the other side.

Tuesday, April 9

The traditional Champions Dinner, hosted by defending champion Jon Rahm, promises a feast for the senses. Rahm, who made history at Augusta National last year, honors his Spanish heritage with his menu selection. This year, the interaction between LIV Golf League representatives and the PGA Tour is highly anticipated, especially since Rahm switched to the LIV Tour just eight months after his Masters win.

Additionally, on Tuesday at 6:00 PM, the tee times and pairings for the first and second rounds will be announced, ensuring fans know when to tune in to see their favorites.

Wednesday, April 10

The Par-3 Contest, a cheerful prelude to the serious competition, brings players, their families, and fans together in a relaxed setting on Augusta National’s Par-3 course. Children serving as caddies, light-hearted moments, and the occasional hole-in-one make this event a true highlight. Yet, historically, winning this contest has not been a good omen for securing the Masters victory that same year.

Thursday, April 11 to Sunday, April 14

With the start of the first round on Thursday, the battle for one of golf’s most coveted symbols, the Green Jacket, commences. Honorary starters, golf legends like Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson, initiate the tournament with the traditional first tee shot. Thursday and Friday see the Masters tournament field begin in threesomes. The first tee-off is expected early afternoon local time. Only those within the Top 50 and ties or within ten strokes of the lead will advance to the weekend at Augusta.

Over the days leading to Sunday, the field narrows until only the champion remains, earning not just the traditional Green Jacket but also a $3.24 million prize.

Who Is Competing In The Masters Tournament 2024?

The participant list reads like a who’s who of golf: Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and Scottie Scheffler are just a few names expected to make waves at Augusta’s fairways. Tiger Woods also returns to professional tournament play here, his first since having to withdraw from the second round of the Genesis Invitational 2024 in February.

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Highlights Tours Professionals

The Masters Tournament 2024: What Are Rory McIlroy’s Winning Odds?

Only one week from now the Masters Tournament will hold a new champion. Well, that is of course if the reigning champion Jon Rahm doesn’t defend his title. As per usual, no major is being played without having various discussions about possible outcomes, title contenders or dark horses. When talking title contenders, none of these discussions can be had without including Rory McIlroy. We’re having a look at what the odds for a McIlroy win look like and why even though ranked second in the Official World Golf Ranking, most may not hold him as one of the favorites to win at Augusta.

Essentially, McIlroy is currently not in bad form and has repeatedly won tournaments such as the Hero Dubai Desert Classic or the Genesis Scottish Open. However, it still seems wrong to include the world number two in the tight circle of favorites on par with players like Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm. The reason for this is obvious: McIlroy has not won a major tournament in the past ten years.

The trophy cabinet desperately awaits another major title

His last victory in a major dates back to 2014 when he won the PGA Championship. It marks his fourth major title after winning the US Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012 and the Open Championship in 2014. Since then, he has been unable to fulfill his dream of a Grand Slam, winning all four major tournaments. Only the Masters Tournament is missing for him to achieve this. However, considering his lack of success at majors in recent years, there are hardly any arguments to suggest why he should fulfill his Grand Slam dream at the upcoming Masters. But let’s stop the pessimism and have a look at the bright side for a moment.

Why there is hope for optimism at the Masters Tournament 2024

With all that being said, it’s not like Rory McIlroy doesn’t perform in his major appearances. In the last five years, the North Irish player placed inside the top 10 at major tournaments twelve times. He just didn’t get lucky enough to win one of them. However his past results at the Masters Tournament were very inconsistent. Last year didn’t go as planned, as he missed the cut, just like in 2021. In between he had a very close shot at the title with his runner-up finish in 2022. In 2020 he finished tied for fifth place.

His current form also suggests that a good finish at the Masters this year isn’t beyond imagination. This year started off great, with a tied runner-up finish at the Dubai Invitational and a victory in the following week. McIlroy also placed inside the top-20 at the Players Championship and secured a third place the Valero Texas Open, looking to build some confidence for the upcoming week.

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Professionals

Can Scottie Scheffler Get The Grand Slam?

In 119 PGA Tour events, Scottie Scheffler has made the cut an incredible 100 times, finished in the top 10 50 times and won a total of eight times on tour. These include victories at prestigious tournaments such as the WM Phoenix Open, the Players Championship and even the Masters. Scheffler has collected over 54 million dollars in prize money to date and, at the age of 27, is already one of the best golfers of his generation. But does the world number one also have what it takes to achieve a career Grand Slam?

Scottie Schefflers magical PGA Tour journey

Scottie Scheffler joined the PGA Tour in 2018 and shook up the tour just one year later. In the 2019/2020 season, Scheffler already achieved seven top 10 finishes in 23 events and showed his terrific skills on the golf course. His breakthrough finally came just one year later when he earned his first runner-up on the PGA Tour at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and advanced to the Tour Championship for the second consecutive season, finishing the season No. 22 in the FedExCup standings. Recorded eight top-10s, one more than his total from his rookie season, made the cut in 24 of 29 starts. Following the Tour Championship, he even was selected as a captain’s pick to represent the United States at the Ryder Cup, marking his first appearance at the event.

In the following two years Scottie Scheffler began to show that he is going to be one of the best golfers who has ever played on Tour. Scheffler won the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA Tour Player of the Year of the 2021/20222 season. Furthermore he earned his first four PGA Tour titles in a span of only six starts, including his first major championship title, winning the WM Phoenix Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational, World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and the Masters Tournament. After this incredible achievement he moved to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career following his third victory (March 27), becoming the 25th player in the OWGR era to reach the No. 1 position. He moved on to winning multiple times again the following season and breaking a couple of records.

2024 and grand slam hopes

In the 2024 Scottie Scheffler so far kep up his amazing golf. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and clinched the title at the Players Championship for the scond year in a row. Now, as the major season awaits, Scheffler is one of the absolute top favorites in all major tournaments. The exceptional golfer must even be expected to win the grand slam. Nevertheless it is certain that Scheffler is one of the hottest contenders alongside Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy to join the select circle of career grand slam winners.

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Highlights Tours

Can Jon Rahm and other LIV Players start at the Masters?

The Masters is drawing ever closer and many players are among the big favorites. In addition to the superstars of the PGA Tour such as Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, some players from the rival LIV Tour are also laying claim to the title. These include former Masters Winners Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia or Dustin Johnson. Find out here why the LIV Stars are allowed to compete and what chances they have.

Jon Rahm and Co.: 13 LIV Players to start at the Masters Tournament

LIV Golf star Sergio Garcia has sent a clear message to the rest of the field: Those from the Saudi-backed circuit are “coming for that Green Jacket”. Garcia, one of the 13 players from the LIV Golf League set to tee it up at The Masters from April 11-14, has already secured a lifelong exemption to the event after his dramatic playoff victory at Augusta National in 2017.

Also returning as defending champion is Jon Rahm, who clinched victory last year with a four-shot lead over fellow LIV Golf League members Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, the latter of whom went on to win the PGA Championship the following month. The roster of LIV Players vying for the coveted Green Jacket reads like a who’s who of golf: Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, and Charl Schwartzel, all former recipients of the esteemed jacket and therefore holders of lifelong exemptions at the Masters, alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, who qualified as recent winners of a different major.

But there are also fresh faces ready to make their mark. Tyrrell Hatton earned his spot after qualifying for the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship last August. Adrian Meronk secured his place by finishing 2023 inside the world’s top 50. Joaquin Niemann accepted a special invitation following three top-five finishes on the DP World Tour.

Rahm believes that a LIV Player can clinch the title at the Masters

With 88 players set to feature at The Masters and one final spot available to the winner of the Valero Texas Open, just over 14 percent of the major field will hail from the LIV Golf League.

Golf pundit Nick Dougherty believes Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Rory McIlroy will be among the contenders vying for the Green Jacket in Augusta, with hopes resting on McIlroy to complete a career grand slam and etch his name into history. “There is quite a few major champions in LIV and there is a few that are major champion quality golfers,” defending champion Jon Rahm said. “So just pure numbers, if you go with math, wouldn’t be the highest, but I’m confident that one of us can get it done this year.”

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Equipment

Golf Pride Announces The Honorary Starter Limited Edition Grip

Golf Pride, an industry leader in golf performance equipment, is celebrating the annual trip to Augusta, GA with the unveiling of its 2024 Honorary Starter grip, a commemorative version of the MCC Plus4™ that is available through select retailers beginning April 8. Golf Pride has a long and storied history of success in Augusta with its first victory coming in the 1967 tournament. Over the last 56 years, Golf Pride has been trusted by the hands of 43 champions, including an unprecedented run of 17 consecutive victories between 1987 and 2003.

Golfers Favorite Grip In A New Masters Look

Golf Pride’s MCC collection is the most widely used golf grip in the world. This is true at the amateur level as well as all professional tours across the globe. In fact, MCC will be trusted by many of the athletes competing in the 2024 tournament. Golf Pride expects to be in the hands of at least 80% of players in Augusta with MCC representing 30% of those players.

As such, this grip is designed to evoke the prestige, lore and mystique of the tournament and pays homage to the success of both Golf Pride and MCC over the years in Augusta. As with all MCC Plus4 models, it is a hybrid golf grip designed with a larger lower hand section that simulates four additional wraps of tape to encourage lighter grip pressure, reduced tension, and increased speed.

“The first major championship of the season is here and we are proud to have been trusted by the hands of so many past champions in the event’s storied history,” says James Ledford, President of Golf Pride. “The legends who have chosen our grips over the past 60 years are a testament to the innovation, quality and longevity of our brand. The Honorary Starter pays tribute to the past while utilising the modern technology that has made Golf Pride the most recognisable grip brand in the world.”

The 2024 limited edition design will be available in both standard and midsize.

About Golf Pride

Since its founding in 1949, Golf Pride has become synonymous with the highest quality performance equipment in golf. Today, from its Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Pinehurst, NC, Golf Pride continues to lead in grip innovation by continuing to obsess over the only connection between our golfers’ hands and the club. That’s why more than 80% of the world’s highest performing golfers choose Golf Pride. For professionals, top amateurs and recreational golfers of all skill levels, Golf Pride sets the standard – in performance and design. To learn more about Golf Pride, go to golfpride.com.

Text: Golf Pride