{"id":1250521,"date":"2024-04-10T10:29:44","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T10:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/an-armchair-guide-to-the-masters-at-augusta-national\/"},"modified":"2024-04-15T07:24:35","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T07:24:35","slug":"a-quick-guide-to-the-2024-masters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/a-quick-guide-to-the-2024-masters\/","title":{"rendered":"A quick guide to the 2024 Masters"},"content":{"rendered":"
The first major of the year starts this week at the Masters, with the world\u2019s best players descending on Augusta National.<\/p>\n
Here the PA news agency provides an armchair fan\u2019s guide of what to look out for in Georgia.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Masters is the first of golf\u2019s four Majors each year and the only one which is always played at the same venue. Augusta National, designed by Yorkshireman Alister MacKenzie, has become one of sport\u2019s most iconic venues thanks to its combination of stunning scenery and a course which ensures drama throughout.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The action starts on Thursday when, weather permitting, Erik van Rooyen will hit the opening tee shot at 0800 local time (1300BST). The final group of Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood will get under way six hours later. Rory McIlroy will have pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler for company when he begins his 10th bid to complete the career grand slam. McIlroy, who finished second behind Scheffler in the 2022 Masters, will play alongside the world number one and Xander Schauffele for the first two days, teeing off at 1042 local time (1542BST) on Thursday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yes. Golf has been divided since the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV competition began luring several of the sport\u2019s biggest stars with lucrative offers two years ago. Last year 18 LIV players were in the field, although that number has reduced to 13 in 2024 \u2013 among them last year\u2019s champion Jon Rahm. Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Bubba Watson also have lifetime exemptions as past winners, Joaquin Niemann received an invite, while Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, Brooks Koepka, Adrian Meronk and Cameron Smith all fall into at least one of the exemption categories.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Masters has several unique features worth looking out for. Previous winners gather for a Champions Dinner<\/strong><\/span><\/a> on the Tuesday of Masters week, with the menu chosen by the defending champion \u2013 this year tapas and Basque ribeye steak were among the dishes served by Rahm. The winner receives a green jacket<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, which is presented in the\u00a0Butler Cabin away from the\u00a0patrons \u2013 which is the term used for spectators at Augusta. Players will be keen to keep their ball out of Rae\u2019s Creek<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, which winds through the course at Amen Corner \u2013 the nickname given to the 11th, 12th and 13th holes and a crucial stretch where Masters dreams can be made or unravel at an alarming rate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Scheffler is the strongest favourite for a major since Tiger Woods was in his prime after his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational saw him become the first player ever to win back-to-back Players Championship titles. Rahm will be attempting to join Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo in winning back-to-back Masters titles. Plenty of attention will be on Woods, 48, who has played fewer than five-and-a-half competitive rounds since undergoing ankle surgery in April last year after withdrawing from the Masters during the third round.<\/a> The Masters remains the only hurdle to overcome in McIlroy\u2019s attempt to achieve a career grand slam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Augusta National, designed by Yorkshireman Alister MacKenzie, has become one of sport\u2019s most iconic venues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1250522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[268,9051,495],"class_list":["post-1250521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-masters-news","tag-augusta-national","tag-pa-news","tag-the-masters"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen is the Masters?<\/h4>\n
Are LIV players involved?<\/h4>\n
Jargon Busting<\/h4>\n
Players to look out for<\/h4>\n