The defending champion scouts Augusta National ahead of his title defense. Will Rory McIlroy repeat at The Masters?
Tag: the masters
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The greatest players on golf, all gathered at a dinner table? This happens once every year with the Masters Champions Dinner. All previous Masters Tournament Champions come together the Tuesday before the event and dine a menu chosen by the reigning Champion.
The Start Of A Tradition – Thanks To Ben Hogan
The tradition started with none other than Ben Hogan in 1952, when the Champion of the 1951’s edition first invited the other Masters Champions to a “stag dinner at the Augusta National” as quoted in the invitation posted on Hungry Fan. From burgers and fries (Tigers first Masters Dinner at just 22 years old) over haggis to a traditional Basque menu in the 2024 Champions Dinner held by Jon Rahm, the food choices of the Major Champions are quite different each year.
But no worries for picky eaters, if you don’t like parts of the menu the Augusta National offers the normal menu to choose from instead. Altough, as Trevor Immelman stated in the Fore Play Podcast recently, it’s always best to try the options chosen by the Champions which are “always extraordinary”.
Who Pays For The Masters Tournament Champions Dinner?
Trevor Immelman not only spoke about his experience attending the Dinner as a guest but also what it is like hosting the iconic evening. The 2008 Masters Champion revealed that the host not only chooses the menu but also has to pay for the evening. “The defending champion does pay for the meal which is a really cool tradition”, Immelman said in the Fore Play Podcast. And for such a special night the Augusta National carries out some of the finest bourbons, so the Masters Champions – in this case Immelman and Adam Scott – get a taste and end the night on a high note (with a peaty flavor in the finish).
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:
| Position | Player | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Scottie Scheffler | $3,600,000 |
| 2nd | Ludvig Aberg | $2,160,000 |
| T3 | Tommy Fleetwood | $1,040,000 |
| T3 | Collin Morikawa | $1,040,000 |
| T3 | Max Homa | $1,040,000 |
| T6 | Cameron Smith | $695,000 |
| T6 | Bryson DeChambeau | $695,000 |
| 8th | Xander Schauffele | $620,000 |
| T9 | Will Zalatoris | $540,000 |
| T9 | Tyrrell Hatton | $540,000 |
| T9 | Cameron Young | $540,000 |
| T12 | Adam Schenk | $406,000 |
| T12 | Patrick Reed | $406,000 |
| T12 | Matthieu Pavon | $406,000 |
| T12 | Cam Davis | $406,000 |
| T16 | Chris Kirk | $310,000 |
| T16 | Sepp Straka | $310,000 |
| T16 | Byeong Hun An | $310,000 |
| T16 | Nicolai Hojgaard | $310,000 |
| T20 | Taylor Moore | $250,000 |
| T20 | Lucas Glover | $250,000 |
| T22 | Adam Scott | $175,500 |
| T22 | Keegan Bradley | $175,500 |
| T22 | Rory McIlroy | $175,500 |
| T22 | Joaquin Niemann | $175,500 |
| T22 | Min Woo Lee | $175,500 |
| T22 | Patrick Cantlay | $175,500 |
| T22 | Harris English | $175,500 |
| T22 | Matt Fitzpatrick | $175,500 |
| T30 | Rickie Fowler | $124,200 |
| T30 | Tom Kim | $124,200 |
| T30 | Si Woo Kim | $124,200 |
| T30 | J. T. Poston | $124,200 |
| T30 | Jason Day | $124,200 |
| T35 | Camilo Villegas | $103,000 |
| T35 | Akshay Bhatia | $103,000 |
| T35 | Kurt Kitayama | $103,000 |
| T38 | Hideki Matsuyama | $86,000 |
| T38 | Russel Henley | $86,000 |
| T38 | Luke List | $86,000 |
| T38 | Corey Conners | $86,000 |
| T38 | Ryan Fox | $86,000 |
| T43 | Phil Mickelson | $72,000 |
| T43 | Shane Lowry | $72,000 |
| T45 | Jose Maria Olazabal | $57,200 |
| T45 | Jon Rahm | $57,200 |
| T45 | Sahith Theegala | $57,200 |
| T45 | Denny McCarthy | $57,200 |
| T45 | Brooks Koepka | $57,200 |
| T45 | Danny Willett | $57,200 |
It’s not just the 50 players who made it through to the weekend who can look forward to prize money. The players who didn’t make the cut at the Masters Tournament 2024 will also receive at least a “small” consolation in the form of 10,000 dollars.
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.
Scottie Scheffler has won The Masters for the second time. This time Jon Rahm slipped the Green Jacket over him. Scheffler had only handed it to the Spaniard a year ago. Afterwards, the 27-year-old spoke to TV commentator Jim Nantz in the Butler Cabin at Augusta National. Scheffler spoke about how he handled the final day, what message he had for his wife and why he almost cried.
The Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler Talks His Success
Jim Nantz: What a pleasure to be here with Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, the 88th edition. Fred, another spectacular memory made here today.
Chairman Fred Ridley: This has been a fantastic tournament. Our patrons here at Augusta National and around the world were treated to quite a Sunday Masters finish.
Jim Nantz: It was just amazing to see how things broke open on the second side for our champion. We’re pleased to have with us last year’s winner Jon Rahm to present the jacket and Scottie Scheffler along with the low amateur Neal Shipley.
Now, Fred, we have our champion for the second time in three years. Going to be kind of a neat exchange. We’ve seen these two go back and forth. What a performance by Scottie Scheffler.
Chairman Fred Ridley: It was unbelievable. Scottie, welcome back to Butler Cabin. Your play this week was simply spectacular. It seemed like every time someone made a run at you, you made another birdie. How did you stay so calm with all of that?
Scottie Scheffler: Yeah, I did my best. I did my best to stay calm out there. I tried to stay patient on the course and was able to make some key shots and key putts today to keep my round going. Ludvig played great today. He made a good move at me there on the back nine and I was fortunate to hold him off towards the end.
Scottie Scheffler On Becoming A Father
Jim Nantz: Scottie, just a couple questions for you. First off, the shots into 9 and 14, I thought the one at 9 changed the whole direction of the final round. Tell us about that one and what it meant to you at that moment.
Scottie Scheffler: I hadn’t hit many good iron shots, which is a bit unusual for me. I had hit some good ones but they weren’t really ending up where they were supposed to. I had that bogey there on 7 and a nice birdie putt on 8, and going into No. 9 it was nice to get that feeling of hitting a really well-struck shot and then it set me up to have a really nice back nine.
Jim Nantz: Meredith. I don’t know how you did it. This has been something the two of you have been talking about, the timing of everything for months. She’s back home watching. Is there a message you’d like to pass along to her right now?
Scottie Scheffler: I’m coming home. I’ll be home as quick as I can. Yeah, I love you and I’m coming home. That’s all.
Jim Nantz: What a time in your life. How do you put this into words? You win the Masters. You’re about to be a father for the first time. It’s pretty sweet.
Scottie Scheffler: You’re about to make me cry here in Butler Cabin. It’s a very special time for both of us. I can’t put into words what it means to win this tournament again. I really can’t put into words what it’s going to be like to be a father for the first time. I’m looking forward to getting home and celebrating with Meredith. Its been a long week here without her, but I’m just looking forward to getting home.
A champion once again. #themasters pic.twitter.com/iQtyCyNekc
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2024
Jim Nantz: Chairman, it’s time for the Green Jacket.
Chairman Fred Ridley: It is, Jim. Jon, we’ll never forget your victory last year when you won on the birthday of your fellow countryman Seve Ballesteros. We look forward to you competing and wearing the green jacket many more years here at Augusta. We’d be honored if you would now present the green jacket to Scottie. Congratulations, Scottie.
Scottie Scheffler: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Transcript by asapsports
Rory McIlroy finishes The Masters 2024 with a round of 73 (+1). The 34-year-old leaves Augusta with an overall score of four over par. He narrowly misses out on a place among the top 20. He still has to wait for his career Grand Slam. McIlroy also failed to win The Masters at his 16th attempt and thus all four major tournaments. He has already won the US Open, the PGA Championship and the Open Championship.
Rory McIlroy Quotes After The Masters Tournament 2024
Question: Rory, can you give us your reflections on today and your Masters week?
Rory McIlroy: Yeah. I mean, I don’t really know what to say. Just sort of felt like my game was okay and managed it pretty well, but obviously Friday was a really tough day, and losing five shots sort of put me in a pretty difficult position going into the weekend.
Then the conditions were pretty tough. The greens are crusty and firm and hard to get the ball super close and hard to make a ton of birdies. Once you get seven or eight back going into the weekend here, it’s hard to make up that ground.
Question: Can you sum up your disappointment?
Rory McIlroy: I guess it’s more the same of what I’ve shown this year. It’s not as if it’s been a down week in comparison to the way I’ve been playing. It’s just a matter of me trying to get my game in a bit better shape going towards the rest of the season.
Question: Do you feel like you can get that confidence and momentum back with three majors coming up in quick succession?
Rory McIlroy: Yeah, I need to take a little bit of time and reflect on this week and what I did well, what I didn’t do so well, and sort of try to make a plan for the next few months, especially from here going through obviously the end of July. As you say, major season, they’re going to come thick and fast here, so hopefully get myself in a bit better form for those last three.
Question: Will you scale back a little bit?
Rory McIlroy: No, the next two weeks I’m playing Hilton Head, I’m playing New Orleans. I’ll take a week off, playing Quail Hollow, play the PGA, take another week off, then play another four in a row. Loving golf at the moment. Loving it.
Question: Do you feel like you’re close?
Rory McIlroy: Yeah, because all these disappointing weeks are 20ths, 25ths. They’re not terrible weeks by any stretch, but there’s a lot of room for improvement. I’m close in some ways, but then I feel quite far away in others. It’s a bit of a — once I get one thing, sort of put that to bed, then another thing pops up, and it’s just one of those at the minute.
Question: (On what’s missing in his game).
Rory McIlroy: Just a little bit of control, I think, with the ball-striking, especially in those sorts of winds. It really exposes any weaknesses that you may have. That Friday definitely exposed a few things. As the golf course changes here, you just have to be so precise, and I wasn’t quite precise enough this week.
Question: You’ve been on tears like Scottie is on. We talked about this at the API. What’s in his head right now?
Rory McIlroy: Nothing. Nothing. Not a lot of clutter. The game feels pretty easy when you’re in stretches like this. That’s the hard thing whenever you’re not quite in form. You are searching and you are thinking about it so much, but then when you are in form, you don’t think about it at all. So it’s trying to find that balance.
Question: We make a big deal about a first-timer hasn’t won here since 1979. When you look at Ludvig, does he strike you as a first-timer?
Rory McIlroy: No, I think he showed why at the Ryder Cup. I think every stage throughout his very, very young career, he’s shown that he belongs. Gets the win in Europe, plays the Ryder Cup, gets the win in the States, playing in his first Masters, contending on the back nine on Sunday. He’s sort of proven at every stage that he’s played at that he belongs.
Question: Michael Collins shared that at Bay Hill you had a bit of a longing for Bryson to be there, or at least you would see the value in Bryson being at Bay Hill. When you see what he does this week, a bit of an entertainment factor, does it reiterate the value of him and a few guys back into the pro golf world?
Rory McIlroy: Absolutely. The Masters stands alone in terms of every other golf tournament, but I think even in terms of the ratings the first two days on ESPN looked like they were up, which is a sign that when we’re all back together, then golf thrives. When we’re divided, it doesn’t. That’s just another example of why we should all try to put our heads together and get back together.
Question: When you talk about reassessing things, is there a way to measure when the time has come for that that’s almost analytical as opposed to emotional? How do you determine that?
Rory McIlroy: Yeah, probably not the right time to be analytical at the moment, but I think as well if you’re really going to make wholesale changes it’s hard to play a lot of golf and make them at the same time. I don’t feel like I need to make wholesale changes. That’s why I’m playing a lot. But if the time comes that I need to make wholesale changes with my golf swing and really try to reassess, it could be a six-month to a year process. Not saying I wouldn’t play any tournaments in that time, but the focus would be on the sort of technical side of things and really not result driven at all. I don’t think I’m there yet, but there may come a time where I need to address that and really go back to the drawing board.
But I think right now it’s little tweaks here and there and managing my game. I really feel like I can sort of play my way into form here over these next few weeks.
Question: (On what he did to his caddie.)
Rory McIlroy: No, I was very apologetic. I didn’t mean to do it. The club got stuck, and I just — anyways, he’s resilient. He’ll be all right.
Transcript by asapsports