Can you imagine plotting and planning, scheming and teaming-up with some buddies to score tickets and attend The Masters at Augusta National only to have it rain? Worse that rain, it’s raw, damp and unpleasant … a.k.a “inclement weather,” which has suspended play in the mid-afternoon or both Friday and Saturday’s rounds.

The Masters is the jewel of professional golf’s Major tournaments, outclassing the PGA Championship, The Open and The U.S. Open. It is to golf what Wimbledon is to tennis or what the Boston Marathon is to long distance racing. It is the best.

With that tag, it is a very tough ticket.

That’s the way current Augusta National head honcho Fred Ridley and his predecessors – all good olde boys from the South – in Clifford Roberts (1931-76), Bill Lane (1977-80), Hord Hardin (1980-1991) – it was under Hardin’s era when the first black member of Augusta was approved – Jack Stephens (1991-98). Hootie Johnson (1998-2006) and Billy Payne(2006)-2017) – all wanted it.

The Masters evolved and improved with age. It awkwardly navigated the prejudicial ways of the past regarding African-American members and membership for women, as it wasn’t until Billy Payne’s watch when the first female members were introduced.

Despite it’s flaws, and its old-school policies all fighting modern technology and 24/7 sports coverage, the Masters remains pure and has proven-out the “less is more” theory of sports broadcasting.

Nowadays, there’s streaming coverage of the Amen Corner and Featured Groups, but the TV right are only in the pocket of CBS Sports. They’ll be on at 8:30am this morning and 2:00pm this afternoon to cover a rain-soaked tournament and hopefully tuck it in before “60 Minutes” starts at 7:00pm in the east.

Thankfully, unlike college basketball, CBS sports anchor Jim Nantz will stay on with his coverage of The Masters.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The Masters – as stated above – is truly one of the “Bucket List” events for any sports fan. What are the others? Here’s a list facing this reporter and a list of Bucket List items already checked-off.

BUCKET LIST EVENTS to COME (Hopefully):

1. The Masters
2. Winter Olympic Games
3. Super Bowl
4. Pebble Beach golf
5. Kentucky Derby
6. French Open and Australian Open

FIVE BUCKET LIST EVENTS CHECKED OFF:

1. Summer Olympic Games (Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens)
2. NCAA Final Four
3. World Series and Stanley Cup Final
4. U.S. Open (golf and tennis)
5. NHL Winter Classic

(Note: The BIG EAST Tournament in New York and the ACC Tournament (1990 in Charlotte) are high on the list, as was a UCLA vs USC game at The Rose Bowl). There are far too many NBA events to list, but I might place the 1992 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando with Earvin Magic Johnson’s return to play as No. 1 and the 2004 NBA China Games in Shanghai and Beijing with Yao Ming as No. 2).

LIV vs PGA TOUR: The playing of the 2023 Masters re-united the best golfers in the world as members of the upstart LIV Golf tour were permitted to compete alongside their former colleagues on the PGA Tour. “It’s good to be back,” said Phil Mickelson on his return as he’s currently T-8 with 71-69 in the books and EVEN par.

Off the course, LIV and the PGA Tour will still do battle in the court of law, as this past Friday, Judge Beth Labson Freeman of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacated a Jan. 11, 2024, trial date and pushed back the start of the trial at least four months, citing reasons of the need for more time for discovery stemming from the coffers of the Saudi Public Investment Fund which has bankrolled LIV golf to absurd lengths of signing bonuses and payoffs for 54-hole tournaments.

The disputes involve eleven LIV Golf players who filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour on Aug. 3, 2022, accusing the tour of using its monopoly powers to squash competition.

On Sept. 29, the PGA Tour filed a countersuit against LIV Golf, accusing it of interfering with its contracts with players. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan suspended more than 30 players for competing in LIV Golf tournaments without conflicting-event releases.

Meanwhile with LIV golfer Brooks Koepka at the top of the Masters leaderboard, it bodes well for the rival tour and its competitive business model.

The post TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | April 9 appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

AUGUSTA – Hideki Matsuyama won the 2021 Masters Tournament to become the first male pro tour major championship winner from Japan. Matsuyama claimed his first major championship title and sixth win overall on the PGA Tour. He became just the eighth champion (nine instances) with an over-par final-round score.

Special temporary member/PGA Tour rookie Will Zalatoris finished a career-best runner-up and has six Top 10s and 11 Top 25 finishes in 15 starts this season.

Jordan Spieth, the first player in Masters history to birdie No. 10 all four rounds, finished inside the top three for the fifth time in eight appearances at the Masters.

Xander Schauffele’s triple bogey on No. 16 was his first in 1,042 holes in a major championship. Despite the major set-back, he registered his second Top 3 finish at the Masters.

With a bogey-free 6-under (66), (the second bogey-free round of the week), Jon Rahm picked up his fourth consecutive Top 10 finish at the Masters (4/2018, T9/2019, T7/2020, T5/2021). Rahm now has 15 consecutive par-or-better rounds at the Masters.

Final Leaderboard from the 2021 Masters

Hideki Matsuyama 69-71-65-73—278 (-10)

Will Zalatoris 70-68-71-70—279 (-9)

Jordan Spieth 71-68-72-70—281 (-7)

Xander Schauffele 72-69-68-72—281 (-7)

Jon Rahm 72-72-72-66—282 (-6)

Marc Leishman 72-67-70-73—282 (-6)

The post Japan’s Matsuyama Wins His First Major and It’s Historic at The Masters appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

Rose Fires Six Under on Back 9

By TERRY LYONS

England’s Justin Rose burst onto the professional golf scene as an 18-year old with a (T-4) and low amateur honors at the 1998 Open Championship. He’s won the 2013 U.S. Open and the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. At the Masters, he’s had a (T-2 in 2015) and an outright runner-up at the 2017 event. In Thursday’s opening round of the 2021 Masters, he shot a blazing 7-under (65), including his six under, six birdies on the Back Nine.

Rose tied Jack Nicklaus for the most first-round leads/co-leads in Masters Tournament history. (4 times).

Rose’s round began with a bogey on the Par 4 first and one other bogey on the Par 4 seventh hole, and then the magic began. Rose carded an eagle on the Par 5 eighth and proceeded to birdie seven of the next 10 holes to finish two off the Masters/Augusta National course record of (63) – shared by Nick Price (‘86) and Greg Norman (‘96).

Rose played his first 13 Masters without missing a cut, but that streak ended in 2019. Last November he finished (T-23) and was listed as a 70-1 shot by William Hill to win this event.

Brian Harman (USA) and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama shot impressive opening round three-under (69) and stand four off the lead. Four professionals shot two-under (70) and are (T-4) after 18 holes.

Tournament favorite, Dustin Johnson shot a two-over (74) and other favorites were, at least five off the leader. Patrick Reed fared best (two-under, 70); Jordan Spieth, the winner at last week’s Valero Texas Open and the 2015 Masters champion, shot one-under (71). Spain’s Jon Rahm shot even par (72) and is T-13th after 18.

Justin Thomas is among 10 players (T-20th) after his +1, (73).

Johnson is among 22 players (T-30th) and is joined by former Masters champions Bernard Langer (1985, ‘93), Charl Schwartzel (2011), Bubba Watson (2012, ‘14), and Adam Scott (2013). Some of the PGA Tour’s highly-ranked players like Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are also (T-30).

Masters Leaderboard After Opening Round:

Justin Rose 65 (-7)

Brian Harman 69 (-3)

Hideki Matsuyama 69 (-3)

Will Zalatoris 70 (-2)

Webb Simpson 70 (-2)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout 70 (-2)

Patrick Reed 70 (-2)

The post Justin Rose Shot a 65 to Take Opening Round Lead at The Masters appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

Welcome to PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the 2021 Masters

AUGUSTA – The Masters returns to its customary April slot in the PGA Tour schedule after the 2020 rendition was moved to and successfully completed without patrons in November. Dustin Johnson is the defending champion, albeit for a short six months, and hosted his champions Dinner last night.

Tiger Woods was unable to attend the dinner and, obviously, will not play in the tournament, as he recovers from injury and surgery after his dangerous auto accident on February 23rd. Los Angeles authorities released some details of the accident report today, noting Woods’ vehicle was traveling north of 80 mph when the crash occurred.

The tournament’s wonderful tradition of honoring its past continues Thursday with the 7:45am EDT ceremonial First Tee shots will feature Lee Elder, GaryPlayer and Jack Nicklaus.

The tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 7:45am (EDT) through 2:00pm (EDT). (For R-2 on Friday, Tee times range from 8am EDT) to 2:00pm EDT0 (link)

Weather: Thursday weather calls for mostly cloudy skies, 74-degrees with 11 mph winds and a 20% chance of rain. Friday forecast is calling for scattered thundershowers (aren’t they always)? Temperature at 72% with 57% humidity and a 40% chance of rain. Forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms on the weekend, too.

PGATourBrunch will be posting by 8am EDT from Thursday through Sunday.

Next Week: The RBC Heritage from Hilton Head

Field Updates:

None

The Field (link)

Power Rankings (PGATourCom)

THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: The Masters

COURSE: Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia

ARCHITECTS: Allister Mackenzie and Bobby Jones, Jr.

YARDS/PAR: 7,472 yards/Par 72

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $11,500,000/$2,100,000

DEFENDING Champion (November 2020) – Dustin Johnson – (Leaderboard link)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST MASTERS CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner Share: 3,375/600

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup #TheMasters

OFFICIAL SITE: (MastersCom)

TV COVERAGE: Thursday, April 8 and Friday, April 9: 3:00pm to 7:30pm (EDT) on ESPN. Saturday, April 10 – Exclusive TV coverage 3:00pm to 7:00pm (EDT) on CBS. Sunday, April 11 – Exclusive TV coverage from 2:00pm to 7:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: Masters Live will offer streaming coverage of the tournament Thursday (7:45am to 7:30pm (EDT) and Friday from 8:30am to 7:30pm (EDT). Saturday and Sunday streaming coverage will be from 10:15am to 7:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Special Masters Radio coverage on Thursday – Friday – 2:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT); then Saturday and Sunday, 2:00pm to 7:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Masters Coverage via PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

How to Watch: (PGATourCom)

Odds & Predictions:

A LK at the OS and A PREDICTION OR TWO:

Masters Odds (via William Hill)

Dustin Johnson 9-1
Jordan Spieth 10-1
Justin Thomas 10-1
Bryson DeChambeau 11-1
Jon Rahm 12-1
Rory McIlroy 14-1
Xander Schauffele 22-1
Patrick Cantlay 22-1
Brooks Koepka 25-1
Patrick Reed 28-1
Collin Morikawa 30-1
Lee Westwood 30-1
Tony Finau 33-1
Daniel Berger 33-1
Viktor Hovland 33-1
Webb Simpson 35-1
Hideki Matsuyama 35-1
Cameron Smith 35-1
Sung-Jae Im 35-1
Scottie Scheffler 35-1
Tyrrell Hatton 35-1
Paul Casey 40-1
Tommy Fleetwood 45-1
Matthew Fitzpatrick 45-1
Jason Day 45-1
Sergio Garcia 45-1
Joaquin Niemann 50-1
Bubba Watson 50-1
Adam Scott 66-1
Will Zalatoris 66-1
Louis Oosthuizen 66-1
Justin Rose 70-1
Abraham Ancer 70-1
Harris English 80-1
Corey Conners 80-1
Billy Horschel 80-1
Max Homa 80-1
Jason Kokrak 80-1
Matt Kuchar 80-1
Matt Wallace 80-1
Francesco Molinari 90-1
Matthew Wolff 90-1
Victor Perez 90-1
Shane Lowry 90-1
Brian Harman 90-1
Marc Leishman 100-1
Phil Mickelson 100-1
Christiaan Bezuidenhout 100-1
Si-Woo Kim 100-1
Ryan Palmer 100-1
Matt Jones 125-1
Cameron Champ 125-1
Dylan Frittelli 125-1
Ian Poulter 125-1
Kevin Kisner 125-1
Danny Willett 125-1
Carlos Ortiz 125-1
Robert Macintyre 125-1
Gary Woodland 125-1
Zach Johnson 150-1
Sebastian Munoz 150-1
Kevin Na 150-1
Bernd Wiesberger 200-1
Brendon Todd 200-1
Lanto Griffin 200-1
Mackenzie Hughes 200-1
Charl Schwartzel 250-1
C.T. Pan 250-1
Martin Laird 250-1
Michael Thompson 250-1
Henrik Stenson 250-1
Brian Gay 300-1
Hudson Swafford 400-1
Jimmy Walker 400-1
Stewart Cink 400-1
Bernhard Langer 500-1
Robert Streb 500-1
Jim Herman 500-1
Ty Strafaci 750-1
Fred Couples 750-1
Joe Long 1000-1
Charles Osborne 1000-1
Mike Weir 1000-1
Vijay Singh 1000-1
Jose Maria Olazabal 1500-1
Sandy Lyle 2500-1
Larry Mize 2500-1
Ian Woosnam 4000-1

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