Who will win The Masters? | You Ask The Questions
The Masters is back as last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler aims to join an exclusive club of back-to-back champions. Only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods have consecutively won the first major of the year and Scheffler would become the fourth golfer to pull on the famous green jacket two years in a row if he triumphs this week.
Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm lead the European challenge against the American. They have both been in excellent form on the PGA Tour, are well backed by the bookmakers and should prove to be strong challengers to compete at Augusta National.
Woods also returns but has admitted he does not know how many more times he will be able to play at the Masters. The 16-time major champion surprisingly made the cut at last year’s tournament following a serious car accident but has only played the odd competition since.
The first major of the golfing year will also be defined by the return of 18 LIV Golf defectors who have been granted permission to compete in all four majors this season. With relations between LIV golfers and critics of the Saudi-funded breakaway series sour at best, four days of heated competition at Augusta National are expected.
Follow live updates from the opening day’s play of the Masters below:
Garcia level through four
The 2017 Masters champion taps in for par at the fourth to remain at level par. His playing partner Keith Mitchell, however, has to settle for a bogey four and moves back to level par.
Ben Fleming6 April 2023 15:16
Meronk drops a shot
The first Polish player to play in the Masters made a strong start with birdies at two and three but he can’t save par at the fifth and drops out of the leading pack and back to level par. Seven remain tied for the lead at -1.
Ben Fleming6 April 2023 15:09
McClean slips down the leaderboard
Augusta giveth; Augusta taketh away. Back down to level par for our surprise early standout Matthew McClean, the amateur wayward from the tee and eventually salvaging a six from the trees on the right.
(Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2023 15:07
Woods nears tee off
Henley misses a short effort for birdie after an excellent drive into the sixth. The cameras cut to Woods as he begins his walk to the first tee with the 15-time major champion set to tee off in just over ten minutes.
Ben Fleming6 April 2023 15:06
DP World Tour wins major legal battle over LIV Golf players
And speaking of the Saudi-backed rebel series, a reminder of today’s major news:
Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2023 15:02
Reed birdies the second
I quite fancy Patrick Reed this weekend – if any of the LIV golfers are going to spite their way to victory, then you’d have to suggest Reed as a likely contender. The 2018 winner joins the leaders at one under with a birdie four at the second.
Patrick Reed is underway at the Masters
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2023 15:01
Seven players share the lead at the Masters
Russell Henley and Min Woo Lee drop out of the leading pack with bogeys, but the -1 crew soon add a seventh member, Keith Mitchell lifting over the greenside bunker at the second before moseying home.
Henley could restore his score to one-under, though – that’s a superb tee shot at six, leaving a very makeable birdie putt
T-1. Scott Stallings -1 (6)
T-1. Matthew McClean (a) -1 (6)
T-1. Adrian Meronk -1 (4)
T-1. Louis Oosthuizen -1 (4)
T-1. Keith Mitchell -1 (2)
Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2023 14:58
Louis Oosthuzien begins strongly
A birdie at three and nearly another at four for Louis Oosthuizen, the veteran South African with an elbow support on his right arm but looking unencumbered as he strikes a powerful putt up the hill. It slows up just shy, drawing a grimace from Oosthuizen, but a decent effort from the 2012 runner-up, who has had an up-and-down 2023 so far in LIV Golf.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2023 14:51
Alex Noren off to a shaky start
“Fore left!” cries Alex Noren, already three-over and bothering the patrons beside the fifth green. The Swede silently seethes after tugging his approach – it could have been worse, but it’s a rough start, and Noren’s poor record at Augusta is showing few signs of being righted.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2023 14:45
Masters 2023: Stalling misses out on outright lead
Stallings at the sixth, lining up another go at a birdie after a healthy tee shot…not quite, pulling away to the left late on and sliding by. Tapped back in for a par.
He’s got a bit more company, too – early birdies for Louis Oosthuizen, Min Woo Lee and Adrian Meronk as they say hello to those already under par.
And Mike Weir, too – seven pars and finally a stroke gained for the 2003 winner.
T-1. Scott Stallings -1 (6)
T-1. Matthew McClean (a) -1 (6)
T-1. Russell Henley -1 (4)
T-1. Adrian Meronk -1 (3)
T-1. Louis Oosthuizen -1 (3)
Harry Latham-Coyle6 April 2023 14:43
