Masters looks to get back to normalcy

Just five months after the pandemic-delayed 84th Masters, golf ’s most prestigious golf tournament returns Thursday to Augusta National Golf Club. Here’s what you need to know:

THE BASICS

■Length: 7,475 yards.

■Par: 36-36—72.

■Purse: To be determined ($11.5 million in 2020).

■Field: 88 players (3 amateurs).

■Cut: Top 50 and ties.

■Defending champion: Dustin Johnson.

■Television: Thursday-friday, 3-7:30 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday, 3-7 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 2-7 p.m. (CBS).

LAST YEAR

In the first autumn Masters because of the COVID19 pandemic, Dustin Johnson set the scoring record at 20-under 268 for a fiveshot victory over Sungjae Im and Cameron Smith. So thorough was this victory that no one had a lower score than Johnson in three of his four rounds, including his 68 on Sunday. This truly was a Masters unlike any other. Along with being held in November, no tickets were sold, the Par 3

Contest was canceled and all four rounds featured a two-tee start because of limited daylight.

THIS YEAR

Tiger Woods will not be playing the Masters as he recovers from a serious leg injury in a single-car crash in Los Angeles.

This will be the fourth time in the last eight years Woods is not playing the Masters because of injury.

After not having spectators in November, the Masters sold a limited number of badges for this year. The club did not release how many.

THE PLAYERS

■Grand Slam, Act VII: Rory Mcilroy tries for the seventh time to win the Masters and complete the career Grand Slam.

■The odds: Dustin Johnson is the favorite at 8-1 (Westgate Superbook), followed at 12-1 for Jon Rahm, Bryson Dechambeau and Justin Thomas. Jordan Spieth was at 14-1.

■Key statistic: Only two players have shot 63 at the Masters, the fewest of the four majors.

■Noteworthy: Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 was the last Masters champion to win in his first appearance. Carlos Ortiz, Robert Macintyre and Will Zalatoris are the only professionals making their Masters debuts.

QUOTEWORTHY

“It wouldn’t bother me if I only had it for a day.”

— Dustin Johnson on whether he feels shortchanged keeping the green jacket for only five months.

CURTIS COMPTON/AJC 2020 2019 Masters champion Tiger Woods presents Dustin Johnson his first green jacket after winning the 2020 Masters on Nov. 15 in Augusta.