It’s a tradition unlike any other: The 88th annual Masters tournament. The 2024 PGA season’s first major championship returns this weekend, ready to captivate the hearts of fans around the world who adore this timeless game.
Golf’s very best have already arrived at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia for practice rounds throughout the week. Tournament play will begin this Thursday, April 11, concluding on Sunday, April 14.
The field of play for this year’s tournament is full of outstanding talents, old faces, and promising newcomers.
This year’s favorite at Augusta is the #1 ranked player in the world: Scottie Scheffler. In the past month, he has won two PGA tour events in a row, winning a second PLAYER’s Championship in his young career and finishing in the Top 10 a whopping seven times already this season. The Masters Champion in 2022, Scheffler hopes to use both his outstanding skill and course experience to win a second time.
The many Tour players and returnees in contention for a green jacket include four-time major winner and world #2 Rory McIlroy, who needs only a Masters victory to complete his quest for a grand slam. Defending 2023 Masters champion and world #3 Jon Rahm also hopes to go back-to-back, but this year as a member of the LIV golf tour in Saudi Arabia.
Other names in contention include multi-tournament winners: world #5 Xander Schauffle, last year’s FedEx Cup winner and world #6 Viktor Hovland, and world #7 Patrick Cantlay.
Many familiar faces that golf fans will recognize are also taking their chances on Augusta this weekend. To the pure bliss of golf fans, both diehards and casual viewers alike, five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods will return to charm us in this special event. With his health restored since his last appearance at the Genesis Invitational earlier this year, Woods hopes to make the cut for the 24th time in a row and dazzle the world at a course near and dear to his heart.
Big names and all-time greats from the LIV tour will make their return to Georgia, most notably green jacket winners Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. Other major winners from LIV include five time major champion and betting favorite, Brooks Koepka, and Aussie Cameron Smith. These great talents have ample opportunity to shake up the field of mostly PGA tour golfers and make a drastic impact on the tournament, just as they did in last year’s outing.
The lovable American characters on tour will try their chances at a green jacket this weekend, some being 2015 Masters champion, Jordan Spieth, major winner Justin Thomas, fan favorite Ricky Fowler, and family man Tony Finau will also make appearances.
Some fresh-faced rookies in the tournament this year include last week’s winner of the Valero Texas Open, Akshay Bhatia, last year’s U.S. Open Champion and world #4 Wyndham Clark, and world #9 Ludvig Åberg. With some outstanding performances as of late, these young hopefuls hope to make a run at a win and make their names known on the biggest stage in golf.
So, this weekend, be sure to take a seat somewhere cozy, with loved ones or in the peace of your own company. Enjoy the soothing piano of the Masters theme, listen to the calming narration by CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz, and remember that you’re witnessing the greatest showing of tradition and excellence that golf has to offer.
