The Masters Tournament has concluded, and as always, it’s a bittersweet feeling to see another year go by. The week was fantastic, and I’m already anticipating the return of golf to Augusta. Throughout the weekend, I observed several noteworthy occurrences, and I’ve put together my takeaways from the 2023 Masters Tournament below. Enjoy!
Rahm Dominates
Mr. Jon Rahm’s victory at the Masters Tournament was well-deserved, and he’s truly a world-class golfer who is unstoppable at the moment. Despite starting with a 4-putt double bogey, Rahmbo emerged as the only Masters winner since Sam Snead in 1952 to win after such a start. Rahm’s exceptional shots and his ability to overcome a 2-shot deficit on Sunday showcased why he’s the best golfer in the world currently. Throughout Sunday, he maintained total control after taking the lead, and he appears to rise to the occasion every time he plays in a major tournament. With this being his second major victory following his win at the 2021 US Open, there is little doubt in my mind that he will achieve the career grand slam and ultimately win another green jacket. He will undoubtedly be a consistent presence in every tournament he plays in for years to come.
Is Koepka back?
Brooks dominated the first three rounds of the tournament and appeared to be unstoppable. He was completely in control of his game and looked fully healthy. Brooks had all the necessary shots and was even making the crucial 6-10 foot putts required to win at Augusta throughout the first three rounds. Unfortunately for Brooks he fell out of form on Sunday and could not get anything going. He fired a disappointing 3-over 75 which is something you can’t do when trying to win any golf tournament. When asked about his health and about LIV, he stated that if he were as healthy then as he is now, it would have been a tougher decision to join the new golf tour. While we can’t be entirely sure if that’s true, it’s undeniable that he tends to perform his best on the biggest stage.
Tiger’s setback
It’s a bittersweet feeling to see Tiger make the cut, as he’s overall very rusty. Nonetheless, he demonstrated glimpses of his vintage self and showcased his remarkable shot-making abilities during rounds 1 and 2. In fact, he even tied the record for most consecutive cuts made at the Masters. However, the rain delays and bad weather took a toll on him, and given his current situation, it’s no wonder he struggled. Walking Augusta is a challenge for anyone, and with Tigers’ physical condition, it was particularly challenging . Unfortunately, the weather and long walk caught up to him early in round 3, and things took a turn for the worse quickly. Ultimately, Tiger was forced to withdraw after aggravating his plantar fasciitis. Hopefully Tiger can heal up and be ready for the remaining Majors this season.
Canadians disappoint
The Canadians had a disappointing week, with only Hughes making the cut. It was a challenging time for all Canadian players, with Hughes finishing in an underwhelming tie for 29th place. Of all the Canadians, Corey Conners was the most disappointing, as he was considered a real contender to win the green jacket, especially after winning the previous week. While Canadian golf is in good hands, it’s disheartening when they are unable to perform as expected on the biggest stage.
Hello Sam Bennett
Sam Bennett is an absolute stud. As an amateur, he played phenomenally well for the first two days. Playing with the biggest stars of the game, he exuded confidence during his Masters and major debut. He hits the ball an incredible distance and appeared to have a perfect grasp of where to hit every shot during his first two rounds at Augusta. He was the only amateur to make the cut, and he even managed to finish tied for 16th place. I’m eager to see Bennett turn pro and witness what he’s capable of as a full-time Tour member.
Rory Struggles
Once again, Rory had a chance for the career grand slam, but he uncharacteristically missed the cut at this year’s Masters. After an even-par first round, he fired a disappointing 5-over 77 in the second round, ultimately missing the cut by two strokes. It’s unfortunate, as there was a lot of hype around Rory coming into the week as the favorite. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get anything going, and it’s starting to look like winning at Augusta might be too much for him. Hopefully, that’s not the case, but he’ll need to be firing on all cylinders for a chance to win next year.
Scottie’s Putter Failed Him
Scottie shows why it’s hard to repeat as a winner. Scottie finished T-10, which was the best Masters finish by a repeat winner since Spieth in 2015. He hit the ball great all week but just couldn’t make any putts. Despite his struggles on the greens, it was still an impressive showing, as he was T-2 in greens in regulation throughout the week. However, as we all know, you can’t win a green jacket if your putter fails you. Scottie will remain a favorite at Augusta for years to come if he can continue to play at the same level.
Rain Delays are the worst
The constant horn blowing by tournament officials was very frustrating. As a viewer, it’s disappointing when you have your day planned around watching golf only to have the play suspended. It must have been even worse for the players who had to reset their focus and momentum. Although the grounds crew at Augusta did their best to keep the course playable, Mother Nature ultimately prevailed, as she often does.