Tag: Mickelson

Rory McIlroy had five birdies but a double-bogey at the seventh and three more dropped shots saw him card an even-par 72; Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka share the lead at seven under; Watch the second round exclusively live on Friday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf

Rory McIlroy was left frustrated by an “untidy” opening round at The Masters that has him seven shots off the pace heading into Friday at Augusta National.

McIlroy has fallen foul of sluggish starts before at The Masters and has once again left himself an uphill task to turn things around after an even-par 72 on day one.

McIlroy carded five birdies in his round, but a double-bogey at the seventh proved costly, while there were further shots dropped at the third, 11th and 17th holes.

“It felt like a bit of a scramble all day, to be honest,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.

“I missed a couple of tee shots left and paid the price for that on seven and 17. I was just a little bit untidy in some other areas as well.

“I made enough birdies, I usually always do that, it’s just about keeping mistakes off the card. Today I didn’t quite do that.

“I salvaged an even-par round. There’s still 54 holes of golf left and a lot of things can happen.”

McIlroy, who was part of one of the last groups out on the course, admitted that the low scoring of Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm from earlier in the day did play on his mind. They were ultimately joined by Brooks Koepka in a three-way tie for the lead at seven under.

With storms expected at Augusta over the coming days, it’s unlikely that scoring is going to be as easy as it proved for some on day one, but McIlroy is hoping he can get ahead of the weather with his earlier tee-off time on Friday and mount a charge up the leaderboard.

“You’ve got three guys at seven under on the leaderboard, so it’s hard to stay patient when you just want to try to get yourself in there,” McIlroy told the media after his opening round.

“I didn’t feel like I was too far away today. I’m probably two or three shots behind how I’d like to be, but nothing that’s not insurmountable.

“I’ve got a quick turnaround overnight and I’m looking forward to getting back on the course pretty quickly and obviously trying to get myself back in the thick of things.

“Hopefully we get some decent conditions in the morning and I can shoot something in the mid-60s and get myself back in the tournament.”

During his round, McIlroy rather surprisingly provided some incredible insight for viewers by speaking to the host broadcasters while playing the par-four ninth hole.

Asked how the opportunity came about, McIlroy said: “I thought it would be a cool thing to do.

“I did it in Austin [at the WGC Match Play] and didn’t feel like it took me out of my rhythm in any way or made me think about things too much.

“It’s nice to provide the audience at home a little bit more insight into what’s going on out here.”

Scheffler: I didn’t think about being defending champion

Reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler finds himself again in the mix with a solid four-under opening round of 68, though he did let a few gettable birdie opportunities get away during his round.

Asked whether it felt any different playing the golf course as the defending champion, Scheffler said: “I didn’t think about it really at all today.

“The only reason I would think of being the defending champion is because I was playing with [amateur] Sam Bennett.

“Just because I’m defending doesn’t mean I start any more under par. Starting at even, it was just about going out there and getting settled into the round, which I did a good job of.

“I got a lot of looks early, made some nice par putts there on six and seven, but didn’t see much go in the rest of the day.

“But four under is a solid start to the week.”

Davies: McIlroy hung in there

Dame Laura Davies on Sky Sports:

“The cream has risen to the top – you see major champions galore on that leaderboard.

“The three stars of the show obviously were Hovland, Rahm and Koepka, all three of them shooting beautiful 65s, all playing fantastic golf.

“I think Rahm’s though was the standout. He double-bogeyed the first with a four-putt, and then to come back like that. For me, he’s had the best day.

“For Rory, he hung in there. He fought for every shot, and level par – seven back – is not the end of the world.

“Scheffler was in cruise control today. Although he will be frustrated at missing a few putts, he knows how well he is playing and being three shots behind is absolutely nothing.”

Due to potential inclement weather on Friday, all starting times will be moved up 30 minutes and play will begin at 7.30am local time (12.30pm BST). Live coverage from the second round begins on Friday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf!

Rain is expected throughout the tournament at Augusta National, with cold and windy conditions over the weekend; threat of thunderstorms also in the forecast ahead of The Masters, which has not gone to a Monday finish since 1983

The major season finally gets under way this week at The Masters, where uncertainty remains around how much the weather could impact the tournament at Augusta National.

Rain has been experienced in over half of the previous 86 editions of the event, while adverse weather has forced at least one suspension in play over each of the past four years.

Hot and dry conditions welcomed the field for Wednesday’s final practice round and the traditional par-three contest, following a foggy start to the day, although conditions are scheduled to worsen during the tournament itself.

Another humid day is expected on Thursday, where there is an outside chance of a thunderstorm later in the afternoon, while wet and windy conditions are expected for the rest of the week and set to add to the challenge.

Rain is likely on Friday and thunderstorms are possible during the second round, with temperatures falling in the afternoon and winds expected to reach 20-25 miles per hour.

A cold, cloudy and windy day on Saturday will see as much as 1.5 inches of rain and temperatures struggle to get into double figures, increasing the possibility of weather delays, while conditions are expected to remain chilly and breezy for Sunday.

The limited 88-man field gives plenty of scope to get the tournament back on schedule, should there be any significant stoppages in play, although the questionable forecast over the coming days does bring the possibility of a rare Monday finish into consideration.

This year’s contest marks the 40th anniversary of when The Masters was last dragged into a fifth day, where Seve Ballesteros won the Green Jacket for the second time and claimed the third of five major titles.

Will players struggle in the conditions?

Cold and wet conditions will not suit the battered body of five-time major champion Tiger Woods, who makes just his second start since missing the cut at The Open last July.

“Yeah, I’ve seen it,” Woods responded with a rueful smile when asked about the forecast.

Augusta National has been increased to a record length ahead of this year’s contest, with the par-five 13th extended by 35 yards, while heavy rain is only to make things tougher for those in the field.

Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson said: “I actually think with a little bit of weather, a little bit of moisture, it [Augusta] is going to play long and difficult. It plays so different when it’s wet.

US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick added: “I think the condition of the golf course drastically changes but I imagine the SubAir will be on to try to keep it as firm as possible. Depending on how much rain there is, it’s obviously always difficult.”

When is The Masters on Sky Sports?

Wall-to-wall coverage from the tournament begins at 2pm over the first two rounds, with Featured Group action and regular updates from around the course available to enjoy on Sky Sports Golf until the global broadcast window begins at 8pm on Thursday and Friday.

There will be lots of extra action throughout all four days via the red button on Sky Sports Golf, along with Sky Q and Sky Glass, providing plenty of bonus feeds and allowing you to follow players’ progress through various parts of Augusta’s famous layout.

The notorious Amen Corner stream will also be available for all four rounds and focuses on the famous three-hole stretch from the 11th, with that coverage also live – for free – on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel and Sky Sports App.

The same additional feeds and coverage will be available from 3pm over the weekend via the red button, with Sky Sports Golf showing build-up content and occasional live updates from the course until full coverage can begin on Saturday from 8pm and Sunday from 7pm.

Who will win the Green Jacket? Watch The Masters throughout the week live on Sky Sports Golf! Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf.

Eddie Pepperell questions ‘strategic alliance’ between PGA Tour and DP World Tour after American-based circuit reveals plans for no-cut events with reduced fields; Englishman also tips Matt Wallace to push for Ryder Cup selection; listen to Sky Sports Golf Podcast now

Eddie Pepperell says no-cut events have “no place in the top table of golf” as he raised concern about the PGA Tour’s ‘strategic alliance’ with the DP World Tour.

The PGA Tour has ratified changes for 2024 that will bring in reduced-field designated events of around 70 to 78 players with no cut, although these will not apply to the majors, The Players or FedEx Cup Playoffs.

The PGA Tour and DP World Tour have joined forces in the fight against the Saudi-backed LIV Golf with the American-based tour offering spots to the top 10 players on the European money list.

Pepperell, speaking on the latest Sky Sports Golf Podcast, said: “No cuts and smaller fields, I don’t think have any place in the top table of golf.

“I think cuts bring about a great storyline and are unique to golf. They can elicit some really important lessons you can learn from.

“Matt Wallace himself said he missed the cut at The Players by one or two shots and then look what he did [winning his maiden PGA Tour title a few weeks later at the Corales Puntacana Championship]. That’s why you have a cut.

“Missing the cut at The Players was gut-wrenching for someone like Wallace but he went home and won his next tournament. What are we trying to breed as an industry and into our top players? I don’t think it’s any good.”

McIlroy, Horschel in favour of PGA Tour changes

World No 2 Rory McIlroy: “I am certainly not one to reward mediocrity. This is the most aspirational Tour to play in the world and we have to keep it that way. It isn’t as if the PGA Tour hasn’t had no-cut events.

“We have had no-cut events since I have been on Tour for the last 15 years. The no-cut thing just became a big deal when LIV came around.”

World No 24 Billy Horschel: “I hope there isn’t a division and once it all comes out and is all laid out, everyone can see the opportunities that are there.”

Pepperell: Where is the strategic alliance?

On the PGA Tour’s relationship with the DP World Tour, Pepperell said: “I think the strategic alliance is not under threat but certainly it would make sense to put more of a microscope on it and say ‘where is the alliance?’

“I know these latest round of changes have taken people high up on our tour aback. These changes on the PGA Tour were player-driven, not by [commissioner] Jay Monahan and his team but by 25 top players.

“Jay doesn’t really have much choice but to go along with them by and large if he wants to keep a few big players on his tour so you can see why they get implemented.

“But make no bones about it, it certainly raises the alarm bells for us a tour to say where is this strategic alliance and how is it going to work? Another layer has been put in.

“When these 10 [PGA Tour] cards were agreed upon, you could argue it weakens our tour the year after but remember the incentive that brings guys to come and play our tour as well.

“That has been made even harder now with these latest changes.”

Wallace in Ryder Cup contention?

Wallace followed missing the cut at The Players – the sixth time in seven PGA Tour events he had failed to make the weekend – by finishing seventh at The Valspar Championship a week later and then winning the Corales Puntacana Championship for his first win worldwide since claiming his fourth DP World Tour title at the Made in Denmark in 2018.

Pepperell says the Londoner would be a great addition to the European Ryder Cup team in Rome in September.

On Wallace, Pepperell added: “I think he made some decisions around equipment a few years back which held him back a bit but he is clearly back on the straight and narrow.

“He feels much happier about his swing. I saw a clip of him hitting hit an iron shot and I thought it looked beautiful, well balanced.

“You can probably expect him to kick on and challenge for a Ryder Cup spot and I would say he is exactly the kind of guy we should want in our team.

“I think it’s clear and obvious that we are not going to have as strong a team on paper as the Americans. We are going to need great match play players, gutsy players and good putters and I think he fills all those three.”

Could the Match Play return?

Pepperell also said he would like to see a major match play tournament as part of the PGA Tour’s designated series events or towards the end of the year on the DP World Tour.

Last week’s WCG-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin – won by Sam Burns as he thrashed Cameron Young 6&5 in the final – is scheduled to be the last edition, a decision world No 3 Jon Rahm lamented when he spoke ahead of the event in Texas.

The World Match Play on the DP World Tour was last held in 2014.

Pepperell said of the Dell Technologies Match Play: “I thought it was a really good match play course when I played it and it’s a great city, so I think it is a real shame that tournament is no longer [in Austin].

“There is definitely an opportunity next year for the PGA Tour to create a new event as part of the designated events series, or for the DP World Tour to use the end of the year in 2024 to put in some decent money and maybe even look at getting it back in the UK.

“I think you would get a good field and certainly a great crowd.”

Scottie Scheffler earns $4.5million and replaces Jon Rahm as world No 1 after victory at The Players; Tyrrell Hatton secures second after brilliant finish at TPC Sawgrass, with Viktor Hovland tied-third alongside Tom Hoge

Scottie Scheffler secured a sixth PGA Tour title in 13 months and moved back top of the world rankings with a dominant five-shot victory at The Players.

Scheffler took a two-shot lead into the final day of the PGA Tour’s flagship event and never left top spot during an entertaining Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, with five consecutive birdies around the turn seeing him pull clear of the chasing pack.

The American – who only needed a top-five finish to reclaim world No 1 from Jon Rahm – carded a final-round 69 to end the week on 17 under and secure the $4.5million jackpot, with Scheffler comfortably ahead of nearest challenger Tyrrell Hatton.

Hatton closed a sensational back-nine 29 with five consecutive birdies to finish on 12 under, while Ryder Cup team-mate Viktor Hovland ended the week a further two strokes back in tied-third with Tom Hoge and ahead of Hideki Matsuyama in fifth.

Scheffler the superstar at Sawgrass

Min Woo Lee – playing in the final group – immediately reduced the overnight advantage with a six-foot birdie at the first and then benefited from a drop near a sprinkler head in the rough to scramble a par at the next, where Scheffler also made a five after being unable to replicate the chip-in from the rough the previous day.

Scheffler slipped back into a share of the lead when he missed from five feet to save par at the third, where his playing partner got up and down to save par, although jumped three clear when Lee had to pitch out of thick rough and then found water at the fourth on his way to a triple-bogey seven.

Lee scramble par on his next two holes and drained a 30-foot birdie at the seventh to briefly get back within two, only for the Australian to bogey the next and found himself four behind when Scheffler chipped in from off the eighth green.

Hatton reached the turn level-par but followed a 20-foot birdie at the 10th by converting from six feet at the driveable 12th, with the Englishman then responding to a missed chance from 10 feet at the next by birdieing each of the final five holes to equal the lowest back-nine total in tournament history.

A 10-foot birdie at the last saw Hatton move to 12 under and temporarily within two of Scheffler, only for the Masters champion to take advantage of the par-five ninth and convert from 18 feet at the next to jump four clear of the field.

Scheffler two-putted from 70 feet to continue his run at the par-five 11th and holed from close range at the driveable next to make it five consecutive birdies, taking him six ahead, although had to settle for bogey at the 14th after pitching out from behind a bush.

Two-putt pars over the next three holes kept Scheffler in total control of the tournament heading to the par-four last, where he pitched out after a wayward drive hit a spectator before nailing a 20-foot par-save putt to seal an impressive victory in style.

“I did a really good job of staying patient, trying not to force things,” Scheffler said. “I got hot in the middle of the round and tried to put things away as early as I could. I am just trying to improve, not overthink things. I am seeing results and wins and am very thankful.”

Hovland threatened a charge for victory when he made four birdies in a five-hole stretch from the ninth, only to par his final five holes and remain on 10 under, while Hoge – who broke the course record on Saturday with a 10-under 62 – also had to settle for tied-third after a final-hole bogey.

Matsuyama also bogeyed the final hole to card a four-under 68, while Lee carded a four-over 76 on an eventful final day to end the week in the large group tied-sixth that also contained Justin Rose and Max Homa.

What’s next?

The PGA Tour stays in Florida next for the Valspar Championship at the Innisbrook Golf Resort, with early coverage live on Thursday from 11.30am on Sky Sports Golf.

Scheffler’s next two starts will see him attempt to defend titles, starting with the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas from March 22-26 before The Masters takes place at Augusta National from April 6-9.

Scottie Scheffler takes a two-shot lead over Min Woo Lee into the final day of The Players; English pair Aaron Rai and Tommy Fleetwood both in contention at TPC Sawgrass; Watch the final round live on Sunday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf

The Players reaches its climax on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, with a host of possible storylines and scenarios to look out for on the final day at TPC Sawgrass.

Scottie Scheffler takes a two-shot lead into the final round after a brilliant seven-under 65 at the TPC Sawgrass, with Australia’s Min Woo Lee heading the chasing pack as he chases a first PGA Tour title.

A marathon Saturday saw Tom Hoge break the course record with a bogey-free 62 and Aaron Rai post the second hole-in-one of the week at the par-three 17th, with plenty of more interesting scenarios still a possibility at the PGA Tour’s flagship event…

Will Jon Rahm remain world No 1?

Rahm came into the week chasing a fourth win of 2023 and a sixth victory in 11 worldwide starts, only to be forced to pull out ahead of the second round due to illness and leave Rory McIlroy in a two-ball alongside Scheffler.

McIlroy missed the cut for a sixth time in his Players Championship career after rounds of 76 and 73 over the first two rounds, leaving Scheffler as the only player who can leapfrog Rahm at the top of the standings this week.

Scheffler just needs a top-five finish now to move to world No 1 for a third time, having held the ranking for a week between last month’s WM Phoenix Open title defence and Rahm’s Genesis Invitational victory.

The Masters champion will go out in the final group on Sunday as he chases a second win of the season and a sixth PGA Tour title in 13 months, with the victory offering the added incentive of a significant gap over his two nearest rivals at the top of the standings.

A breakthrough English victory?

It has been mentioned on numerous occasions throughout the week that The Players has never produced an English winner, although three Englishman in this week’s field still have a chance to create their own piece of history.

Five of the eight English players involved made it through to the weekend, with Justin Rose the first to play his way into contention despite finishing his third-round 67 with a bogey.

Rose sits in the group on seven under and still with an outside opportunity to challenge for victory, with Tommy Fleetwood and Rai both two strokes closer to the lead after producing brilliant scoring bursts to each card a seven-under 65.

Fleetwood made five birdies in a seven-hole stretch to set an early clubhouse target on nine under, while Rai matched his compatriot’s total after posting birdies either side of that stunning ace at the par-three 17th.

Rai becomes the first golfer in history to finish birdie-eagle-birdie eagle at The Players, with both he and Fleetwood looking to challenge for their maiden PGA Tour titles on Sunday.

A shock winner at Sawgrass?

Every previous Players Championship winner has been tied-11th or better heading into the final day, with Fleetwood and Rai joined by a host of other players inside that spot and chasing an elusive PGA Tour victory.

Lee is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour but yet to enjoy success on American soil, while Christiaan Bezuidenhout – who posted an opening-round 65 the year the tournament was cancelled because of Covid-19 in 2020 – is also in the running going into the final day.

A third-round 66 lifted Taylor Montgomery into a share of 11th and in the group on seven under, but will the American be too far back – given the last 12 Players champions were within three strokes of the lead going into the final round?

Who will win The Players? Watch the final round live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of featured groups, featured holes and bonus groups begin behind the red button, with full coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 2pm.