The Masters is nearly here and as ever at Augusta National, there is no shortage of potential storylines.
Rory McIlroy makes a ninth attempt to complete a career Grand Slam, and while everything looks perfectly aligned for him to do just that, Scottie Scheffler looks well-capable of improving the dismal record defending champions have at the tournament.
Jon Rahm is going somewhat under the radar compared to McIlroy and Scheffler, having cooled off somewhat after a sensational start to the year, but he has four top-ten finishes in six Masters appearances.
Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Tony Finau are among those with strong credentials too, and Tiger Woods is competing for just the second time this year. The return of LIV golfers ensures this is the first event of 2023 with all of the world’s best in attendance.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of one the most-anticipated sporting events of the year...
When is the Masters?
The action gets underway at Augusta National tomorrow, Thursday, April 6, 2023. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson will once again take up their roles as honorary starters, before the first round then gets up and running.
The tournament comes to a conclusion with the winnger putting on the Green Jacket on Sunday night UK time.
How to watch the Masters
TV channel: All four days of the tournament will be televised on Sky Sports Golf and Main Event.
Featured group coverage begins at 2pm BST on Thursday and Friday, before full coverage is shown from 7:30pm.
On Saturday it’s selected coverage from 3pm and full coverage at 7:30pm, while on Sunday those at home can enjoy the final round in full from 6.30pm.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch all the action online via the Sky Go app.
Are LIV players competing?
Players on the LIV tour eligible to compete this week under the current criteria have been allowed to do so, meaning 18 of those involved with the breakaway circuit will tee it up at Augusta.
That includes Cameron Smith, who finished second at the Masters in 2020 and third last year, as well as former champions Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel.
Brooks Koepka arrives having won the most recent LIV event in Orlando last week, with Bryson DeChambeau also returning to a course he described in 2020 as “a par 67 for me”. He has broken 70 once in ten rounds at Augusta since those comments, and last year missed the cut after shooting 76 and 80.
Masters prize money
It is expected that the field will be playing, like last year, for a $15million purse.
That means whoever comes out on top this week will take home $2.7m along with the Green Jacket, with the runner-up receiving a decent consolation of $1.62m. There is still $405,000 on offer for the player finishing tenth, while just making the cut will secure at least $37,800.
Weather forecast
Not great - rain is forecast for every day of the tournament.
Thursday is set to be the warmest of the four days, with initial fears of thunderstorms in the afternoon is easing. Rain is expected on a cloudy Friday, while Saturday appears particularly grim with heavy downpours set to prove disruptive all day.
More rain looks likely on Sunday, with it a possibility, even with the SubAir system drying out the greens, that the Masters has a Monday finish for the first time since 1983.
Latest odds
Scottie Scheffler 5/1
Rory McIlroy 11/2
Jon Rahm 15/2
Jordan Spieth 12/1
Justin Thomas 14/1
Patrick Cantlay 14/1
Cameron Smith 16/1
Tony Finau 16/1
Dustin Johnson 18/1
Xander Schauffele 18/1
