March and April are terrific months for sports. People get excited for huge events like March Madness, NBA and NHL playoffs and MLB opening day. However, just days away is one of the most historic and important sporting events of the year: The Masters.
This is the time of year where the best golfers in the world flock to Augusta National Golf Club to battle for the green jacket. A tradition unlike any other, the classic nature and tremendous atmosphere of The Masters entices golf fans from around the world.
The historic traditions of The Masters contributes to the event’s incredible aura. Patrons may not use technology, including walkie-talkies and drones. In addition, there is no running or heckling allowed, with patrons who do commit these offenses facing immediate removal from the club. While tickets are almost impossible to get, the food at the tournament is extremely affordable, with items like a pimento cheese sandwich costing as low as $1.50 in some years. These age-old conventions make The Masters memorable.
Another reason for The Masters’ success is its exclusivity. There are very rigorous criteria to qualify and compete in the tournament. Past Masters champions get lifetime invitations to compete, while others receive invitations by winning majors, Professional PGA Tour events or prestigious amateur tournaments, or by being ranked in the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking. As a result, many top golfers do not get the opportunity to compete every year, with elite golfers such as Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Tom Kim and Sahith Theegala all missing this year’s tournament.
There are plenty of amazing storylines entering this year’s Masters. The most prominent is certainly No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler’s recent struggles. Although Scheffler has not had the start to the golf season he would have liked, he is still formidable in every tournament and is currently the betting favorite to win. Plenty of eyes will be on him this weekend as he seeks to secure his third green jacket in five years.
In addition to Scheffler, many will be watching out for last year’s Masters champion Rory McIlroy. Last year, McIlroy won in playoff holes against fellow European Justin Rose to secure the Grand Slam, winning all four major championships. He will be looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Tiger Woods in 2000 and 2001.
Lots of hot players will be determined to secure their first Masters wins. Among these players is Bryson DeChambeau, a player on the LIV tour who has become popular thanks to his increased presence on social media platforms like YouTube. DeChambeau plays an exciting brand of golf with his powerful driving, and has had success leading up to the tournament, winning back-to-back events on LIV. He has also finished inside the top 10 leaderboard at the end of each round in the past two Masters, meaning he will be hungry to finally top the leaderboard this year.
Another exciting player to watch is former Demon Deacon Cameron Young. After winning the Players and picking up the biggest win of his career, Young is coming into the tournament with confidence. He currently sits at No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and has finished top ten in two previous Masters tournaments. Young would be the first Wake Forest alumni to win the Masters since Arnold Palmer in 1964.
Other top players including Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Aber and Jon Rahm are amongst the top players in terms of betting odds to win the Masters, with Rahm being the only player who has already won a Masters. They are all entering the week playing great golf, and hope they show they are among the world’s best players for a reason.
Despite the great talent at the top, there are plenty of other golfers who could come alive and deliver on the biggest stage. Proven players like Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose and Hideki Matsuyama have shown they can perform on the highest level when needed. Younger athletes like Akshay Bhatia, Matt Fitzpatrick and Collin Morikawa will seek to prove themself and make an even bigger name for themselves. In general, the storylines for this year’s Masters are truly endless.
There will be plenty of things to look forward to about this year’s Masters. Like every year, the anticipation leading up to the tournament creates excitement and intrigue. Millions of fans will be tuning in to experience the magic that Augusta National produces year after year.
