‘WE NEED THE MASTERS TO REUNITE THE GAME’
IONA STEPHEN
It has been a very bumpy ride for professional golf over the last 24 months, with the divisions caused by players leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV, and that turbulence is likely to continue for some time still. That fact makes me appreciate golf’s four Majors more than ever before. They feel more elevated and important than they ever have done – a kind of certainty at a time of great uncertainty. The Masters couldn’t have come at a better time.
I’ve been lucky enough to cover the tournament on three occasions, first in 2019 and most recently last year, working for CBS and commentating on holes 15 and 16 as well as interviewing players on the range. It’s an absolute honour and a privilege to be there.
This year I will be back with the CBS team on commentary and interview duty, and I cannot wait. Anyone who’s been to The Masters before will know there are certain things that make you very excited to be heading back to Augusta. The sights, the sounds and, for me, the smells.
Nothing stands out to me more than Augusta’s aromas. From the moment you arrive, the senses come alive with a symphony of scents that weave through the air, adding another layer to the experience of this iconic golfing event. There’s a moisture in the air that seems to sit at the bottom of the towering trees – its warm air keeps your ankles warm! It draws out the woody aroma from the loblolly pines that mixes with the sweeter, lighter scent of the azaleas and magnolias in bloom.
And then of course there’s everything else: the famous Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich, watching the honorary tee shots, the first walk down to Amen Corner, and sitting on the bank to the left of the 16th hole during the practice rounds. And that’s all before the tournament even begins.
I think we can all agree that it is great news for golf that so many of the world’s best players – minus
Talor Gooch – will be back to battle it out for the prestigious Green Jacket. The line-up is looking extremely strong, but at the time of writing, it’s still too early to confidently make any picks to win it. We know how important the two weeks before are in revealing who’s peaking at just the right time, but right now
I’m looking at Jason Day, Ludvig Aberg, Jon Rahm and, of course, Rory Mcllroy.
Although many minds may jump to Mcllroy’s well-documented collapse in 2011, the stats tell a different story about his relationship with Augusta’s Alister Mackenzie-designed layout. His scoring average of 71.38 at the course is the third best in Masters history – behind only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson – and stands as proof that he has what it takes to finally get that Green Jacket and complete his Career Grand Slam.
I have no doubt he can do it. It really feels like his move away from the PGA Tour Policy Board has reduced his responsibility as spokesperson for the PGA Tour and made way for his golf to again do the talking. I really hope we see the Rory we all know at Augusta this year.
Jon Rahm returns to defend the title and perhaps has a bit of a point to prove following his controversial move to LIV, but he clearly has the game to prove himself. Ludvig Aberg may lack experience of Augusta’s hallowed ground, but he has the iron play to make a run for the title. He has already proven himself as one of the game’s elite ball strikers and tee-to-green performance seems to determine the winner of the Masters year after year.
Jason Day is currently my outside pick. With three top 10s in his last five outings on the PGA Tour and a very solid record at Augusta National, he looks to be in very good shape going in.
I’m also looking forward to seeing Mexico’s Santiago De La Fuente, who claimed the last amateur invitation. He won the Latin America Amateur Championship in January and how he hits 2-iron has to be seen to be believed. We all know that amateurs don’t win the Masters any more, but I’m expecting big things from him.
Obviously a lot can and will happen between now, as I write this, and the second week in April. What is certain is that we can all look forward to the best players reuniting to make up the field again. Perhaps now we’ll start to appreciate what we previously had, something we maybe all took for granted.