Day 2 of the Masters starts 30 minutes early today with the threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms later - second round tee times throw up just as much excitement as Day 1.
Rory McIlroy did not have his best day on Thursday, but will be please he didn't let a 72 turn into a 75. He is out early, as is Brooks Koepka, one of the leaders on 7 under, as well as world number one Scottie Scheffler, who is only three back/
The early starters may have an advantage over the later if the forecast is to be believed.
Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm both impressed on day 1, and they will have to be at their best again on Friday evening if they are to keep their lead.
MASTERS 2023 LEADERBOARD
- -12 Koepka
- -9 Day
- -7 Hovland, Rahm
- - 6 Bennett (a)
- - 5 Morikawa, Burns, Young, Spieth
Selected others - -4 Rose, Lowry
- +2 Woods
- +4 McIlroy
USEFUL LINKS
JUST ABOUT RECOVERED
Yesterday was a LONG day, but what a fantastic day for golf action. I absolutely loved it - let's hope the weather doesn't get too bad today, and that play can continue.
WEATHER UPDATE
The forecast for today is clear, maybe a shower in the morning, and then more rain later in the day. Saturday does not look good, with 100% chance of rain!
EARLY START TIMES
The Masters announced the above last night, confirming that tee times would be half an hour early... starting about as early as they can. They are clearly worried about the amount of play that will be possible over the next few days.
ROUND 2 TEE TIMES
Hole locations for the second round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/15rtfhcjYMApril 7, 2023
Pin placements for Friday - they are not all tucked away, but certainly close to some edges.
WHO WILL WIN?
Jon Rahm is the clear favourite with the bookmakers... will anyone further back still be able to make a charge? Without a doubt.
ITS DAY 2 AT THE MASTERS!
Good morning/afternoon/evening from wherever you are in the world and welcome to our Day 2 coverage of The Masters.
Well, what a day yesterday was, there was drama throughout the day, and boy are we excited about getting stuck into today's action.
And we saw some beautiful golf played yesterday with Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm all topping the leaderboard at seven-under-par.
We're hoping the weather will hold off today in Augusta, with predictions suggesting we could be in for a bit of rain later in the day, with scattered thunderstorms coming later on this afternoon. Let's hope we don't hear the klaxon going!!!
As always the Golf Monthly team will be here throughout the weekend to walk you through everything going on at Augusta National.
The first groups are set to tee off in a little over half-an-hour's time, but let's firstly take a quick look at the standings from day one...
AS IT STANDS....
At the top of the table we're tied with a three leaders, with Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm all making an early advance on day one.
Jason Day sits behind them T4 with Dell Technologies Match Play finalist Cameron Young, both sitting five-under through 18 holes.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler heads up the chasers behind them at -4 after he struggled with the flat-stick yesterday.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy sits further down the leaderboard on level par after an up-and-down day at Augusta yesterday.
Here's the top order and a few select scores from yesterday!
- -7 Hovland, Rahm, Koepka
- -5 Young, Day
- -4 Lowry, Schauffele, Scott, Woodland, Scheffler, Bennett (a), Burns
- Selected scores
- -3 Spieth
- -2 Thomas
- -1 Johnson
- -1 Mickelson
- E McIlroy
- +1 Power
- +2 Garcia
- +2 Woods
- +4 Oosthuizen
- +5 B. Watson
PIN PLACEMENTS ARE IN!
Some very tough pins sitting in some tricky spots today... I wonder how much these will come into play later on today?
Hole locations for the second round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/15rtfhcjYMApril 7, 2023
TODAY'S TEE TIMES
There is plenty of action coming up in the next 30-minutes, with some big names teeing off in the opening groups, including several LIV Golfers and one of the leaders heading into day two.
First Early Tee Times (UK)
7:30 (US)/12:30 (UK) Cameron Champ, Jose Maria Olazabal (Esp)
7:42/12:42 Taylor Moore, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), (a) Aldrich Potgieter (Rsa)
7:54/12:54 Bryson DeChambeau, Francesco Molinari (Ita), J. T. Poston
8:06/1306 Bernhard Langer (Ger), Mito Pereira (Chi), (a) Ben Carr
8:18/13:18 Brooks Koepka, Danny Willett (Eng), Gary Woodland
8:30/13:30 K.H Lee (Kor), Sepp Straka (Aut), Harold Varner III
Friday Featured Groups Schedule (US/UK)
8:18/12:18
Danny Willett, Gary Woodland, Brooks Koepka
9:36/13/36
Dustin Johnson, Corey Conners, Justin Rose
10:00/14:00
Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Sam Bennett
12:54/15:54
Tiger Woods, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele
13:18/16:18
Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Cameron Young
DAY ONE RECAP: BROOKS OUT OF BOTHER AFTER RULES INCIDENT
Brooks Koepka and his caddie were yesterday cleared of any wrongdoing after it appeared that his caddie, Ricky Elliot, had told Gary Woodland’s caddie, Brennan Little, what club the American had used on the 15th at Augusta National.
Koepka's caddie had appeared to say the word five to Gary Woodland’s caddie and that lead to many speculating that he was referring to the club that he had used, with many questioning whether he was giving Little advice for the shot.
The Masters Committee has investigated the incident, which you can see below, but found The American, who sits as joint leader heading into day two, should not be penalised for a rules breach.
In a statement, they said: “All involved were adamant that no advice was given or requested. Consequently, the Committee determined that there was no breach of the Rules.”
Check out the incident at the video below!
And read our full run down on the incident: Brooks Koepka's Caddie Questioned Over Possible Rules Breach At The Masters
pic.twitter.com/lSG9H8pbkRApril 6, 2023
WEATHER UPDATE NOT LOOKING GREAT
Here's the latest on the weather from Augusta and it's not looking so good with storms expected later today!
MEANWHILE, MORIKAWA ALSO AVOIDED A PENALTY
Collin Morikawa shot a three-under-par 69 on day one but sent social media wild on Thursday after he fell into the spotlight after marking his ball in a controversial manner on the 6th green.
A clip emerged on Twitter of him appearing to move his marker when replacing the ball on the green.
A later video showed the full process and it appeared that his ball had rolled backwards as he addressed it and he was simply replacing it back to where it was in the first place. Paul McGinley later confirmed on Sky Sports that the incident had been looked at and Morikawa was given the all clear.
After the round, the American was on hand to give his analysis of the incident.
"The ball moved, and then I moved it back. Pretty standard now. Pretty routine in our rules book thankfully," Morikawa said.
"Look, if I showed up to this course and it was firm and fast, I probably would never put my putter down because you never know when that's going to just trickle on. Now it's was on a little mound and moved and nothing wrong with that."
Check out the incident below...
A much clearer look at what happened on 6 for Morikawa at #themasters pic.twitter.com/ll0rzbB2ZHApril 6, 2023
T-MINUS FIVE MINUTES TO GO!
Jose Maria Olazabal (+5) and Cameron Champ (+4) are set to get day two underway in just about five minutes time!
And to get you in the mood for the day, check out this fantastic behind-the-scenes look from Jack Nicklaus of yesterday's honorary starters shots!
The Honorary Starters as never seen before... Through Jack's eyes. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ZkoBj7ddifApril 7, 2023
CAMERON CHAMP GETS US UNDERWAY
Cameron Champ has just tee'd off on the first hole along side Jose Maria Olazabel!
It was a difficult day for both players with Champ carding +4 to finish day one and Olazabel wrapping up his round at +5.
RORY MCILROY COPPED A BIT OF FLACK YESTERDAY FROM NICK FALDO - BUT WHAT'S YOUR VIEW?
Rory McIlroy gave an interview on the course on Day One, a surprise to all of us, with the Northern Irishman chatting to television commentators while walking down the ninth hole.
McIlroy explained why he decided to take part: "Yeah, so the club reached out to us last week and just inquired if I would be interested in doing it," he said.
"I did it a couple weeks ago at the Match Play. It definitely feels a little less intrusive with the ear piece rather than someone right up next to you with the microphone like they've been doing it in Europe for a couple of years.
"I thought it would be a cool thing to do. I did it in Austin and didn't feel like it took me out of my rhythm in any way or made me think about things too much. So it's nice to provide the audience at home a little bit more insight into what's going on out here."
Max Homa was also seen doing the same later on in the day, but many have taken to twitter to question McIlroy’s decision as he looks to claim his career grand slam, including Nick Faldo.
The three-time Masters champion wrote on Twitter: “Every interview I’ve done this week is all about giving 100% concentration to yourself and the task at hand, so why?”
Every interview I’ve done this week is all about giving 100% concentration to yourself and the task at hand, so why? https://t.co/yyuFHfNd67April 7, 2023
CHAMP RECOVERS FROM THE TREES NICELY, OLAZABEL STARTS WELL
It's a shakey start from Cameron Champ on the first hole, hitting his shot into the pine straw on the first, but recovers nicely with a good approach.
Olazabel strikes the middle of the fairway, and sets himself up for a nice approach into the green!
...BUT HE CAN'T CONVERT AND GOES DOWN FOR A BOGEY ON THE FIRST
Despite a great start with a fantastic drive down the middle, Jose Maria Olazabal cannot convert that into a par, pitching onto the green to within five feet but can't tap it in for a par!
Champ meanwhile gets off to a solid start with a par!
ENGLAND CRICKETER STUART BROAD HAS HAD HIS SAY ON MCILROY'S ON COURSE INTERVIEW
There has been plenty of reaction to Rory McIlroy and Max Homa's on course interviews in the last 24 hours, with Sir Nick Faldo suggesting he is against the interview.
But England Cricketer Stuart Broad has disagreed saying: "It grows the game of golf and fantastic insight. Rory as achieved so much maybe getting people interested in golf is more important to him now than sole focus on winning? This ‘behind closed doors’ exposure has grown F1 massively."
What do you think?
Every interview I’ve done this week is all about giving 100% concentration to yourself and the task at hand, so why? https://t.co/yyuFHfNd67April 7, 2023
MEANWHILE GROUP 2 ARE UNDERWAY
Charl Schwartzel, Taylor Moore, and Aldrich Potgieter are all underway, with three solid tee shots on the first.
BRYSON SITS BEHIND RORY FOR DRIVING DISTANCES!
Bryson DeChambeau is about to tee off on the first!
Interestingly he's second in driving distances behind Rory McIlroy at the tournament so far with McIlroy outgunning him with a top drive of 337 yards to his 238 yesterday.
But there are plenty of other LIV Golfers to keep an eye on in the opening rounds with DJ teeing off in just over an hours time too.
Find out how LIV Golfer's got on at the Masters yesterday here: LIV Golf Leaderboard After Day 1 At The Masters
THREE GOOD SHOTS OFF THE TEE FROM OUR SECOND GROUP
J.T. Poston and Bryson DeChambeau have both found the fairway with their drives on first.
Francesco Molinari could be in a bit of bother here as he is in the pine straw, let's see what he can do to get out of here and get back onto the track after finishing yesterday level par.
BOGEY FOR CHAMP!
Cameron Champ hits six on the second, taking his score to +5, while Olazabel finds par to go +6.
TIGER WATCH!
It was an up and down day at the 87th Masters for Tiger Woods, who scored three bogeys in his front nine to go +3 before battling to bring his score back down to +2 with back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th.
It was clear he was struggling a bit with his injury, but Woods battled gallantly on the lush green fairways and will tee off later today at 12:54 (EDT)/ 13:54 (BST).
Tiger Woods with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15-16! #TheMasters🎥 @TheMasterspic.twitter.com/7cLIsIQhxrApril 6, 2023
MOLINARI OFF TO A BAD START
Francesco Molinari's opening tee shot is costly and he struggles to get out of the tees carding a double bogey on the first bringing his score up to +2.
BAD START FOR BRYSON TOO
After he failed to topple McIlroy in the driving stats yesterday, Bryson has added another shot to his card to go +3 at the first, with his approach falling off the back of the green. He chips on for his third and lands it within 10-feet of the hole but two-putts to start.
IMPRESSIVE GOLF FROM GROUP TWO
While other groups have been getting off to some tricky starts, Charl Schwartzel, Taylor Moore and Aldrich Portgieter are all yet to drop a shot through through the opening two holes.
SOME SNAPS FROM DAY ONE AT THE MASTERS
I suppose there's a reason why they say Augusta National is perhaps one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world...
Welcome back to Augusta National Golf Club. #themasters pic.twitter.com/53WgPUhH2KApril 7, 2023
BIG GROUP TEEING OFF: CAN KOEPKA CONTINUE FINE FORM?
Danny Willet, Gary Woodland and Brooks Koepka are all just about to tee off on the first with Koepka being the first of our three leaders (at -7) to start their second round.
But it could have been a different story today for Brooks, with much controversy surrounding a rules incident that overshadowed what was a brilliant round from the former US Open champion.
It appeared his caddie had told another player what club he had hit breaching Rule 10.2a of the Rules of Golf, which states: “During a round, a player must not give advice to anyone in the competition who was playing on the course.”
But rules officials cleared Koepka yesterday of any wrong doing.
Find out more here: Brooks Koepka's Caddie Questioned Over Possible Rules Breach
BACK TO THE ACTION: MITO PEREIRA AND BERNHARD LANGER OFF TO A GOOD START
It's a trio of pars for our fourth group out and a very nice long putt from Amateur Ben Carr, who comes into this tournament having won and placed second twice in all three of his last outings on the Amateur circuit.
Mito Pereira and Bernhard Langer also tap in for par.
KOEPKA AND WILLETT ON THE GREEN
Koepka and Willett are in good shape for pars here while Gaary Woodland has found the rough on the left, he could drop a shot here depending on his chip into the green.
BRYSON BIRDIES THE SECOND!
A monster drive from the former US Open Champion sees him send the ball miles down the fairway. his approach is equally good on the par five finding the middle of the green before tapping in twice with his putter to take his score down to +2 through two.
WHAT DRIVER DOES BRYSON PLAY?
Bryson was seen to be playing what appears to be one of the Taylor Made Stealth 2 Driver models at the LIV Golf Invitational in Orlando last week. While we're not 100% certain right now of what he's playing at the Masters, the Stealth is a very popular driver on tour at the moment, so check out our review on it below!
Just like the previous Stealth, the Stealth 2 features the 60X Carbon Twist Face. For 2023 though, the company has built on it and optimized energy transfer for fast ball speeds, with the new face design featuring an advanced version of Inverted Cone Technology (ICT). This helps maintain ball speed on off-center strikes and increase forgiveness.
You still see the red and black aesthetic, but TaylorMade has made it more user-friendly, especially behind the ball. They have done this by making the red on the face brighter, which ensures the loft on the club is a little clearer to see. What's more, the glossy black crown also helps it look a bit more generous at address. We especially loved the red ring round the back of the head, which highlights the Carbon Reinforced Composite Ring technology. Compared to the previous generation, the new Stealth 2 is more evolutionary than revolutionary. The distance was good but it was the added consistency in testing that impressed us most.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver Review
PHIL IS ON THE FIRST!
Phil Mickelson (-1) is on the first and ready to tee off his second round!
He's pairing up with Tom Hoge (+2), Wednesday afternoon's Par 3 champion and Si Woo Kim (+1), who comes into the event bounding in confidence having claimed his first ever win on tour this season!
BOGEY FOR SCHWARTZEL ON THE THIRD
The good start has gone bad for Schwartzel who bogeys the fifth hole. Playing partner Taylor Moore also drops a shot to go +5. While Aldrich Potgieter also follows suit to card a bogey at the par 4.
BOGEY FOR BERNHARD
Langer can't quite putt out for par and will drop a shot to go +6 through two holes.
Menwhile Harold Varner III putts to within two feet on the first to card a par on the first.
ANOTHER BOGEY FOR BRYSON AS PHIL FINDS THE MIDDLE
It's been an up and down start for Bryson DeChambeau who cannot drop the ball in for par on the third hole. A poor third shot in approach left him off the back of the green and as before he two-putted to for five on the second par 4 of the day.
Elsewhere, Phil Mickelson has striped his opening drive straight down the fairway, while Si Woo Kim and Tom Hoge, also in his group have left themselves with a lot to do on the first, finding the trees on the left.
HOGE PLAYS IT SAFE, WHILE KIM GOES FOR GOLD
Both players found themselves in tricky lies on the left of the first hole, and took equally different approaches. Hoge's line to the hole was obstructed by the trees so he plays it safe onto the fairway.
Kim, meanwhile, goes for gold and it certainly pays off, flighting a stunning low shot under the branches. He'll be putting for par here with his second just finding the lip of the green.
While Hoge is there in three, let's just re-cap on his extrodinary hole in one on the Par 3 on Wednesday.
Hole in one on No. 8 for Tom Hoge! #themasters pic.twitter.com/hRtnFkPMfYApril 5, 2023
GARY WOODLAND GOES FIVE-UNDER
In his 11th appearance at the Masters, Gary Woodland got off to a flying start on day one finishing up his round four-under-par. The 2019 US Open Champion has never finished inside the top 20 at the tournament, but yesterdays 68 could put him in good stead for the week.
He's started his second round very confidently indeed, carding a par on the first and now a birdie on the second, chipping out from the bunker to within three feet to take his score to -5!
BROOKS KOEPKA TAKES SOLO LEAD AT 8 UNDER PAR
Brooks Koepka takes the solo lead at the top of the leaderboard, with a birdie at the second, chipping out from the sand to putt out!
He'll go one stroke ahead of Hovland on seven-under-par.
Moving to eight under par, Brooks Koepka takes the solo lead with a birdie on hole No. 2. #themasters pic.twitter.com/4syQrSPFa3April 7, 2023
PHIL BIRDIES THE FIRST
Mickleson gets off to a flyer on the first hole with a stunning putt from over 15-feet to go two-under!
RECAP ON THE LEADERBOARD
Plenty of movement this morning with our featured groups!
Brooks Koepka has taken an early solo lead at the second with his first birdie of the day going a shot clear of Viktor Hovland at seven-under.
Meanwhile Gary Woodland has closed his gap on the top spots going five-under par.
While Mickelson is also encroaching on the top, starting his round with a birdie to go to -2.
Here's the top spots as it stands!
HAROLD VARNER III GOES CLOSE ON 2
Varner strikes a lovely shot over the bunker on second to nearly drain his putt! He drains his resulting putt to go level par through the first two holes.
PUTTING ON THE RANGE?!
As warm-ups go we're interested in finding more about this one! Phil Mickelson was seen ahead of his round putting on the range... Yes you heard that right! Putting! Take a look below and let us know your thoughts!
Practicing the Texas wedge on the range is next level pic.twitter.com/XajMkRbwmoApril 7, 2023
A MONDAY FINISH?
Weather forecasts are not looking good according to boots on the ground in Augusta and Sky Sports are reporting that preparations are in place to take the tournament to a Monday finish if the weather gets worse.
Here's today's forecast again in case you missed it earlier...
NOT A GOOD START FOR BRYSON
Three bogeys in his first five holes sees Bryson DeChambeau drop to four-over par during his second round. After out-driving his playing partners, it's his putting that lets him down again!
JASON DAY ON THE FIRST TEE!
Jason Day is about to kick-start his second round after a fantastic day one, going five-under-par to finish T4 in the standings after a bogey-free round.
Can the Australian keep that up today?
DANNY WILLETT BOGEYS THE FOURTH
The former Masters Champion has carded his second bogey of the round after he two-putts on the par 3 fourth after finding the side of the green!
SI WOO KIM NEARLY DRAINS HIS CHIP!
Si Woo Kim almost drains a chip on the second hole but can't hole out and makes bogey.
RORY'S COMING UP SOON!
Rory McIlroy is teeing off in less than an hour's time at 10:12 (EDT)/ 15:12 (BST).
There's been a LOT of chatter around his decision to do an on-course interview yesterday while he played, with Sir Nick Faldo arguing that he should not have done the interview?
In case you missed it, here's what happened!
Thoughts on McIlroy's in-play interview at #themasters? pic.twitter.com/SKcJuptT1VApril 6, 2023
... AND MAX HOMA WAS ALSO ON LIVE COURSE COMMS TOO!
A live stroll and conversation up No. 14 with Max Homa. #themasters pic.twitter.com/U7z0uso62EApril 6, 2023
MICKELSON MAKES PAR ON 3; BRYSON DOUBLE BOGEY'S THE 6TH
Phil Mickelson makes par on the third keeping his score at -2 while occupying T19 on the ladder.
Bryson, meanwhile, has had a nightmare start to the round, finding a double bogey on the 6th hole, failing to find the green with his approach and once again being let down by his putter!
KOEPKA KEEPS HIS LEAD
Brooks Koepka has held his solo lead at the top hitting three straight pars on the third fourth and fifth.
He's teeing off on the sixth right now alongside Gary Woodland who sits five-under in the top half of the leaderboard.
A word from Sam Bennett ahead of his second round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/V4kxQhEjwPApril 7, 2023
DUSTIN JOHNSON GETS HIS ROUND UNDERWAY ALONGSIDE JUSTIN ROSE
Looks like Dustin Johnson has just teed off on the first with a three-wood. He'll be playing with Justin Rose today who had a fantastic back nine yesterday carding two birdies and an eagle to go T13 at three-under-par.
WHAT'S THE PROJECTED CUT LOOKING LIKE TODAY?
Yesterday's average score at Augusta National was 72, and we're thinking that the projected cut will be around +1 to +2 today.
That could see some big names like Bryson DeChambeau (+6), Louis Oosthuizen (+4), Cameron Champ (+6) miss out!
WOODLAND DROPS A SHOT AT THE 5TH
Gary Woodland can't quite make par on on the Par 4 5th hole, and will drop from -5 to -4!
PHIL FLOPS TO WITHIN 3-FEET
Leftie has always been one of the best wedge-players on the circuit and he has just shown why, nearly holing out on the par-3 fourth for a birdie from the sand! Mickelson taps in to save par keeping his score at two-under!
HERE'S PHIL'S STUNNING SHOT FROM THE SAND!
A short game display from Phil Mickelson to save par at No. 4 #themasters pic.twitter.com/sUw4ceBcksApril 7, 2023
JASON DAY CONTINUES TO SCORE
The Australian is off to another good start here and has just birdied the second hole playing, his approach shot into the heart of the green before tapping home for a big birdie to go six-under!
SCHEFFLER AND MCILROY TEEING OFF IN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES
Scottie Scheffler is set to tee off in the next five minutes with the World No 1 chasing his second consecutive green jacket but sits four shots back from Koepka at the top of the leader board, with the 2022 champion currently four-under-par.
Rory McIlroy will tee off in the group behind him at 12 minutes past the hour, with the Northern Irishman sitting T36 on level par.
So to take you through all the action the next couple of hours I'll be leaving you in the hands of Roderick Easdale!
Scheffler has just teed off
He missed the fairway. He is tied 6th on the leaderboard. Only three men in history have won back-to-back Masters: Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02). So Scottie Scheffler would be in exalted company were he to win this year.
Scheffler went into this tournament in fine Majors form – since the beginning of 2020, he was a combined 44-under par in them, which was 17 strokes better than any other player.
Sam Bennett also underway
His opening drive on day two found the fairway. Bennett is playing with Scheffler. He is currently the leading amateur, after his first round 68 left him in a tie for sixth after the first round. Bennett started his round well yesterday with a birdie at the first and an eagle on 2, en route to equalling the front nine amateur record of 32. What can he do today?
Asked what is was like playing with the Bennett yesterday, Scheffler replied: “It was a lot of fun. Sam's a tremendous player, obviously. U.S. Amateur champion. Watching him get started in his round was pretty fun. I know how nervous he must have felt out there on first tee being an amateur. It's just a different feeling, and then playing in your first Masters is a lot different too. So I'm really happy for him. He showed up and played a great round of golf.”
Scheffler drops a shot on the 1st
He missed the 1st fairway with his 3-wood, then played into a greenside bunker. His chip out left him a long putt which came up short.
Bennett make birdie on 1
He moves to 5 under.
Mac to attack?
Rory McIlroy is now on the 1st. He is aiming to be the sixth man to win all four of the modern Majors in a career. When he won The Open in 2015, this had left only the Masters for a career grand slam. Nine years later he is still trying to win his first Masters. Indeed it is nine years since he won a Major – the 2014 US PGA Championship being the most recent of his four Major victories. The five men to win the career grand slam – Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – all got the final leg of it done and dusted in three attempts or fewer, so history is not on Rory’s side.
McIlroy is not the only man in the field to be a Major short of the career grand slam, but the other two players cannot achieve it this week as Phil Mickelson needs the US Open to complete the quartet and Jordan Spieth the US PGA Championship. They have been left one short of the career grand slam for the past 10 and five years respectively.
Nine other men finished their careers a Major short of a career grand slam, although in the case of Jim Barnes, Tommy Armour and Walter Hagen, it is the US Masters they lack but by the time the Masters was created in 1934, it was late in their careers when they were past their Major-winning pomp.
The other man to finish a US Masters short of a grand slam is Lee Trevino, who won six Majors in all. Byron Nelson and Raymond Floyd both finished an Open Championship short of the grand slam; Sam Snead a US Open, and Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson lack a US PGA Championship victory.
Willett makes eagle on 8
Hadn't been a good round for him thus far with three bogeys and no holes under par. But chipping in from just short of the green has taken him back to 4 over.
Koepka eagles 8
His putt drops and the leader goes to 10 under
Scheffler's putter hasn't warmed up
A very makeable putt on 2 isn't made. He can only make par. His putting woes from yesterday continue.
Leader Koepka on to the back nine
He stands atop the leaderboard after a front nine which brought a birdie on 2 and an eagle on 8.
Scheffler out of sorts
He doesn't look a happy Easter bunny. He really doesn't. His putt on 3 from the fringe of the green barely made it to nodding terms with the cup. But he walks off with a par.
Sandy Lyle is just about to play his final round at the Masters
This the 42nd, and last appearance at the Masters from the 65-year-old Shrewsbury-born Scot. In 1988 he became Britain's first Masters champion. His 7-iron from the fairway bunker on the 72nd hole to set up a wining birdie is well remembered. What is less well known is that his win is the only time he has come in the top 10 at The Masters, or that in his next three Masters after his triumph he did not missed the cut.
Lyle, who held the lead after the second and third rounds, was three clear of the field going into the back nine of that final Sunday, having birdied the 9th. But then he stumbled: a bogey 5 on 11, and then a 5 on the par-3 12th meant he was now tied with Mark Calcavecchia, who then birdied the par-five 13th to move one better than Lyle.
But a birdie on 16th drew him level with Calcavecchia and then his birdie on the 18th meant he had won by a single stroke.
"I've had some good years, but the time has come," Lyle said before this year’s tournament. “But I'll return if the health stays good to watch and eat with past winners of the tournament. I’ll come back next year and play in the Par 3.”
Lyle's Champions Dinner menu
Can you guess what it was?
Yep, haggis with neeps and tatties.
Sam Bennett has dropped a shot
History is made: this is the first time he has dropped a shot at the Masters. Okay, it's only his 22nd hole in his debut Masters, but still. The amateur is now 4 under and tied in 7th.
Masters chairman Fred Ridley and Sandy Lyle have history
The 1977 Walker Cup was played at Shinnecock Hills, a two-day affair with foursomes in the morning and singles in the afternoon on both days. Sandy Lyle’s opponent in both singles matches was Fred Ridley. Ridley won them both: 2up and 5&3. It was Lyle and Ridley’s only playing appearance at the Walker Cup, although Ridley was the non-playing captain in 1987 and 1989, leading his team to a win and a loss respectively.
A morning good for low scoring
The greens are still soft and receptive and there is no wind. But does Mother Nature have something up her sleeve for later on? The wind is forecast to get up to 25 or 30mph later on. Have those who have got out on the course early had the luck of the draw?
Sandy Lyle double bogey on first hole
He had a eventual start yesterday, Today he wandered off the straight and narrow before his 3rd shot ran through the green and down the bank on the par 4. Not the start ot his final round he would have wished for.
Going straight
Three men hit all 14 fairways on day one: Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama and Bernhard Langer. Langer however looks to be going home early, which would be his third missed cut in a row at the Masters. He is four over for the tournament and is now on the 14th hole.
Another bridie on a par 5 for Koepka
He has made birdie on every par 5 so far this tournamnet bar the 13th hole yesterday. His birdie on 13 today takes him to 11 under and four shots clear of the field. If the weather does turn grotty on the weekend, and especially if the later rounds today run on into Saturday, this is a lead which could take some reeling in,
Mize playing his final round at the Masters?
He has just teed off on the 1st hole and found the fairway. Unless he makes an unlikely cut, this is his final round at The Masters. This will end a sequence of 40 consecutive Masters starts.
Like Sandy Lyle, Larry Mize had announced at the Champions Dinner that this would be his final Masters. “Larry got a little emotional,” Jose Maria Olazabal said. “He had a hard time trying to speak. Actually, he didn't. It was a very emotional dinner.”
“The one guy I thought was going to be even brilliant was going to be Larry Mize,” said Sandy Lyle, “because he's used to speaking to people, a man of the church, whatever you want to say. He's done lots of readings, and I thought he'll have no problem at all, and he clammed up like a clam shell. He just stood up there and had a glass of water and another glass of water and we all (whistles), but obviously we've all got feelings. He's tough enough to win a Masters, but when it comes to that kind of emotional thing, we've all got feelings.”
Masters chairman Fred Ridley paid tribute to the pair: “As they were in 1988, when Larry presented the Green Jacket to Sandy, they are connected again this week. We commend them for their fine play over four decades and for representing the Masters so well. Rest assured, their victories will forever be remembered.”
Larry Mize’s win came in a playoff over Greg Norman, courtesy of one of the greatest shots played in any Masters, when he holed a 140ft chip from right of the 11th green.
"Words do not do justice to the greatness of that shot."Larry Mize pulled THIS out of the hat in a sudden death play-off to win the 1987 Masters. 😱#TheMasterspic.twitter.com/8DZeKueksKApril 6, 2023
Jason Day chips in on 11
He goes to 8 under with this bridie, and reduces Koepka's lead to 3 shots... for the time being.
Koepka is playing a par 5
And we know that ends don't we? He clears the water to find the green in 2 on the 15th.
Koepka back to a four-shot lead
The man in the yellow shoes hits his eagle shot a few inches short on 15, but another birdie takes him to 12 under and back to four shots ahead. He is doing all this despite not putting that brilliantly.
Projected cut
It is currently at +2. Those who who qualify for the final two rounds will be the top 50 on the leaderboard, and if there is a tie for 50th then all those tied players go through.
Prior to 1957, the Masters did not have a cut, but one was introduced that year and was the top 40 plus ties. From 1962 to 2012, it was the lowest 44 and those within 10 strokes of the leader. Then in 2013 this was changed to the low 50 and ties and those within 10 strokes. But the 10-stroke rule was dropped in 2020.
Taking the long way home
With all the talk of rollback of the golf ball – a long overdue policy in my humble and irrelevant opinion – just how far have the golfers been hitting it so far this Masters? Well Rory McIlroy headed the driving stats for day one, at 335.2 yards He was followed by Bryson DeChambeau, who clocked 329.0 yards and Ryan Fox, with 327.8. Then, perhaps in a sign of how the game is going, they were followed by two teenagers Aldrich Potgieter (327 yards) and Gordon Sargent (324.3 yards).
Of this quintet, Sargent was the best at finding the fairway, doing so 12 out 14 times. Fox was the worst, doing so only eight times.
Potgieter has just finished his second round, adding a 74 to his first round 77.That is the end of his first Masters.
Sargent has just played the 12th and is 10 over for the tournament so his Masters will have only six more holes to go.
That chip in by Jason Day
Perfect touch 💪@JDayGolf chips in to continue to climb the leaderboard at #theMasterspic.twitter.com/UayunJa7CzApril 7, 2023
