All articles tagged with #the masters
Rory McIlroy enters the Masters’ third round at Augusta with a six-shot lead as the afternoon tee times are released; a crowded field including Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Justin Rose will chase, with UK viewers able to watch on Sky Sports (Masters breakfast at 2:30pm BST) and additional coverage on Sky Sports Golf and NOW, while Independent Sport runs a live blog with scores and updates.
After opening with a 76 at The Masters, Bryson DeChambeau went on a massive range session, smashing 241 balls to fix hooked irons and other clubs, signaling a determined fightback despite a rough start and questions about stamina for the weekend.
Robert MacIntyre could be reprimanded by Augusta National for a middle-finger gesture during the Masters, in a round highlighted by a quadruple-bogey-nine on the 15th after two water hazards; he finished 13 shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns and left the course without speaking to reporters, as McIlroy enjoyed a strong start.
Rory McIlroy fired a 67 to sit atop the Masters leaderboard after the opening round, with Scottie Scheffler and Justin Rose among two shots back as a strong chase group begins to take shape at Augusta.
Spieth opened The Masters with a 72 (even par) and two late bogeys, predicting the winner will likely finish around eight to nine under this week (though a 16-under could win); he stressed staying within reach and not overreacting to Augusta’s tough conditions.
At the Masters in Augusta, Tom Watson criticized the PGA Tour for letting Brooks Koepka return from LIV Golf too easily, arguing returning players should have to spend a year on the Korn Ferry Tour before rejoining, and saying the tour’s sponsor protections were violated; he dismissed Koepka’s $5 million charity donation as insufficient punishment, noting the Tour had offered a one-time Returning Member Program to others.
With the 2026 Masters looking unusually wide-open, OutKick bets four sleeper longshots—Nicolai Højgaard (+7400), Jacob Bridgeman (+8400), Cameron Smith (+12500), and Sungjae Im (+12500)—citing Augusta-relevant strengths (Par-5 mastery, elite putting, and solid form) as value plays, with small bets on each in hopes of a life-changing Sunday.
At The Masters, 86-year-old Jack Nicklaus opened the tournament with the ceremonial first shot, a moment fans greeted as a classic Masters kickoff, with the piece blending reverence for his longevity with light, humorous context around the event and Nicklaus’s enduring legend as Augusta tees off for the week.
Gary Player used his Masters appearance to push a major reform, arguing the golf ball should be cut back by about 60 yards for professional golf to restore traditional par values and course balance; with Augusta National signaling openness to a rollback and the broader distance debate ongoing, the Masters once again became a stage for the sport's biggest issue.
Tiger Woods will not compete at Augusta National this year due to personal and health issues, including a DUI-related incident and ongoing pain management. Gary Player praised Woods’ impact on golf, expressed sympathy for his suffering, suggested safer alternatives like using a chauffeur while medicated, and hopes Woods can return to Augusta in The Masters in 2027.
The Masters 2026 begins at Augusta National with Rory McIlroy defending the green jacket as live updates track opening tee-times, early birdies and the initial leaderboard, including Jose Maria Olazabal (-2) among early leaders and a pack of challengers led by Rahm, Fitzpatrick, Fleetwood and MacIntyre.
Tiger Woods will not play in The Masters as he prioritizes his physical and mental health after a car crash, leaving his Official World Golf Ranking at 4169th. He recently returned to competition with the TGL final but has since missed cuts at The Open, the PGA Championship and the US Open. Phil Mickelson will also miss The Masters due to a family matter, while the tournament still features top players such as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
Justin Thomas hit the 116th hole‑in‑one in Masters Par 3 history at Augusta, then cheekily told his playing partners Jordan Spieth and Max Homa that they owe him $1,000 each for the ace. There’s no prize money in the Par 3 contest, just a crystal vase, and JT’s dig comes against the backdrop of Spieth and Homa’s long‑track careers (and a nod to Thomas’s own 2016 Par 3 ace with Rickie Fowler).
CBS Sports executives said they will not speculate about Tiger Woods' Masters participation following his DUI arrest, opting to focus on covering the Masters tournament while addressing Woods’ status only as news dictates, given his legacy and the developing story.
Tiger Woods’ latest DUI arrest renews questions about his health and future in golf—whether he has a substance issue tied to painkillers, if the PGA Tour would discipline him, whether he’ll play the Masters, and whether he could still be Ryder Cup captain in 2027, with a possible comeback on the Champions Tour more likely than another major win on the PGA Tour; his legacy will continue to be colored by off‑the‑course events even as he remains a revered figure in the sport.