Golf: Recap of the 2023 Masters

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The 2023 Masters kicks off like it always does. It always started with three honorary tee shots. At one time it was Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Arnold Palmer. Palmer has passed away and who replaced by Lee Elder. Elder was the first African American to play in the Masters. Elder also passed away recently. There was a problem with the player that has since replaced Elder. That was Tom Watson who had shoulder surgery and said he could not participate. The good news is that all three got the 2023 Masters underway. In other news before the first round was that most LIV players that attended the champions’ dinner stayed either silent or were not talked to. There were many eyes on them over the next four days. Also, the weather would play a huge factor this week.

Round one wound up being a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard. The PGA was happy with two of them and not with one. Jon Rahm and Victor Hovland came out and played well. Rahm started with a double bogey on the first hole only to go nine under on the final seventeen holes. Brooks Koepka, on the other hand, is part of LIV golf and he makes up the three that were tied at seven under. Rory McIlroy was still in search of his win at Augusta National, but he struggled shooting an even round seventy-two. There were two players tied at five under. Jason Day and Cameron Day were just two shoots back. It was extremely hard to watch Tiger Woods limp and grimace around The Masters as he finished two over and had to work hard in round two just to make the cut.

Day two started well but the weather got bad during the afternoon with rain. In round two something happened that has not happened since 1958 when an amateur golfer held solo second place which was held by Sam Bennett. Rory McIlroy had another dreadful day and he missed the cut. This was his ninth attempt at the career grand slam. Golf was stopped just after 3 pm with rain. It was a short rain delay and then they were delayed again after a second rain delay shortly after 4 pm EST. The storm caused three trees to fall. Despite the delay, Tiger Woods made his 23rd straight cut at the Masters. The second round finished on Saturday. Something special happened as Fred Couples became the oldest player to make the cut at The Masters. But the rain and cold weather continued into day three.

As day three started, two players played their last Masters. That would be two former champs, Larry Mize and Sandy Lyle. Mize, to this day, is the only player from Augusta, Georgia to win the Masters. There was some stunning news as day three started and that was Tiger Woods withdrawing. Woods withdrew because of multiple injuries. The weather had a huge factor in his withdrawal. Many believe that this might be the last time we see him as an active player at Augusta. Just like in round three, the weather would delay play. It was different to see the players in beanies and long sleeves. The players would have to once again finish up their third round on Sunday. The weather suddenly changed from when the players finished round three to when, but he is still a low amateur in the end they started the final round.

Heading into the final round, it was Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm on top of the leaderboard. In the end, many fans thought one of these two gentlemen would win the Masters. Just like in the previous three rounds, there were surprises all over Augusta National. Koepka started to crack early and soon was tied for the lead with Rahm. The amateur Sam Bennett also came back down to earth in rounds three and four but in the end, he is still a low amateur. I believe he will go pro very soon. Phil Mickelson became the oldest player to finish in the top five in Masters’ history. While Koepka stumbled, Rahm stayed on the path. He made putts and shots when he had to and when he sank his par putt at 18, he was officially Masters’ champion.

What are your thoughts on the 2023 Masters? Leave a comment below.

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