The greatest week of the golf season is officially upon us…it is Masters week! For the 88th time, the top golfers in the world will head to Augusta, Georgia to compete for a Green Jacket at Augusta National Golf Club. Below are some storylines to look out for ahead of the 2024 Masters Tournament.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 08: Jon Rahm of Spain, Cameron Young of the United States and Justin Thomas of the United States cross the Hogan Bridge on the 12th hole during the continuation of the weather delayed second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
But before that, here are some notes on The 2024 Masters!
The defending champion will be Spaniard Jon Rahm. Rahm won his second major championship with a four shot victory over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.
Jack Nicklaus has won the most Green Jackets in Masters history with 6. Nicklaus last won the Masters in 1986 and last competed in the Masters in 2005. Tiger Woods is just one behind Nicklaus with 5 career Green Jackets.
Only three golfers have won back to back Masters. The last to do it was Tiger Woods when he won in 2001 and 2002. He joined Jack Nicklaus (1965 & 1966) and Nick Faldo (1989 & 1990) as the only golfers to do it.
The last Masters to be decided by a playoff was in 2017. Spaniard Sergio Garcia defeated Englishman Justin Rose on the first playoff hole to win his first career major championship.
The tournament will play 7,555 yards in 2024. The longest hole on the course is the par-5 2nd hole, which will play 585 yards at its longest. The shortest hole on the course is the par-3 12th hole, which will play 155 yards at its shortest. Augusta National plays overall to a par-72 (it’s a par-67 to Bryson DeChambeau though!)
Can Jon Rahm repeat?
Jon Rahm of Spain poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.
As mentioned earlier in this piece, no one has successfully defended their title at Augusta National since 2002 when Tiger Woods did it, so Rahm will be looking to do that this week. Since making his jump to the LIV Tour, Rahm has been a bit underwhelming. That’s not to say he’s been bad, because he’s yet to finish outside the top-10. However, the $600 million dollar man being winless (in the solo competition at least) through five appearances isn’t exactly what he was hoping for. Throwing his winless start to 2024 aside, you can never count out the Spaniard in a major, especially at Augusta National. In seven appearances at The Masters Rahm has five top-10 finishes. He knows how to contend here and he obviously knows how to win here. Can he make some history this week and go back to back?
Will Scottie Scheffler stay hot?
Scottie Scheffler of the United States reacts to his hole-in-one on the ninth green during the Par 3 contest prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 05, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.
The 2022 Masters Champions enters the week with two wins and a runner-up in his last three starts. He is without a doubt the best golfer on the planet at the moment (on the men’s side). Two years ago Scottie entered Augusta on a similar stretch and claimed the Green Jacket. Can he do it again in 2024? If his putter cooperates then he’ll be tough to stop.
Will we get a first major appearance winner?
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Ludvig Aberg of Sweden reacts to his putt on the seventh green during the third round of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on February 17, 2024 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The last time someone won a major championship in their first major appearance was in 2011 when Keegan Bradley (a fan of the Felger & Mazz program) won the PGA Championship. Somebody that will be looking to change that in 2024 at The Masters is Ludvig Aberg. Aberg will be entering his first ever major appearance having already won on the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and a Ryder Cup. He brought in a veteran caddie in Joe Skovron because he wanted someone on his bag that had loads of major experience, and Skovron had 3 top-10 finishes on the bag of Rickie Fowler at Augusta National. Aberg will be looking to make history this week and become the first golfer since 2011 to win in his first major appearance and the first golfer to win their first Masters since 1979 when Fuzzy Zoeller pulled it off.
What can we expect out of Tiger Woods?
Apr 14, 2019; Augusta, GA, USA; Tiger Woods celebrates with the green jacket and trophy after winning The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Can we expect anything out of the 5-time Masters champ? Woods has only made one appearance on Tour this season, which was cut short when he withdrew from the Genesis Invitational with an illness. He made the cut at the Masters in 2023 before withdrawing with an ankle injury. So can we expect much at all from Tiger in 2024? I honestly don’t think he’ll be around for the weekend. However, I thought he’d never win another major and then he won here in 2019, so I’ve been wrong on him before.
Can Rory FINALLY complete the career Grand Slam?
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 07: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and caddie Harry Diamond walk up the 18th green during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
When Rory McIlroy made the turn on Sunday at The Masters in 2011 he led the tournament. Three holes later he was FIVE shots behind the leaders. A triple bogey-bogey-double bogey start to the back nine took McIlroy out of contention. Since that Masters, McIlroy has won four major championships but still hasn’t crossed the finish line at Augusta National as the winner. So the question is…can he FINALLY complete the career grand slam in 2024?
Who owns the top-10….the PGA Tour or LIV?
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 09: Jon Rahm of Spain is awarded the Green Jacket by 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler of the United States during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
At last year’s tournament the LIV Tour had three guys who finished in the top-10 and ties and added a fourth when the champion, Jon Rahm, eventually joined LIV. So the question in 2024 will be, who owns the top-10…the PGA Tour or LIV? The PGA Tour’s overall talent pool is deeper, but the LIV tour has a ton of major champion heavyweights like Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, and more. The PGA vs LIV storyline has been an interesting one over recent years and this year’s Masters could add to it.
My pick…..
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 07: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and his caddie caddie Harry Diamond react on the eighth green during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
I will continue to pick Rory every year until he finally wins it or he can no longer play. The Northern Irishman has worked hard to get into form, the latest being getting some help from legendary swing coach Butch Harmon. He’ll need to finally put 72 good holes together to get it done, but I like the chances of McIlroy finally completing the career grand slam this week at The Masters.
