The anticipation for the 2023 Masters is immense. There are some highly-compelling storylines as players from LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are set to descend on Augusta National Country Club for the first major of the season. What’s more, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Rory McIlroy are all in contention for the No.1 spot in the world. Here are the biggest questions ahead of the tournament.
Tiger Woods’ fitness is always going to be a major storyline. Last year’s Masters was a huge question mark as it was re-entering competitive golf after a 508-day absence. Woods played exceptionally well in the first two rounds but the cold weather eventually caught up with his back and leg limiting his performance in the last two rounds. Now, with his right leg being stronger and marked improvement at the Genesis tournament, Woods is likely to make the cut again. While a top 25 finish is not unimaginable, a lot of that will depend on how he fares during the long walk of the tournament.
Phil Mickelson, who had skipped the event for a year, will be in complete focus as well. He’s taking part in the tournament after average performances at LIV Golf’s three tournaments this season. With the 5-time champion avoiding a formal media conference, all eyes will be on Mickelson during practice and the first rounds. There will be some cheers from patrons, but overall, the expectations from him will be low.
The impact of LIV Golf’s 18 players, who will be playing for the first time at the Masters, on the tournament is also something to watch for. While there are a few contenders in the bunch such as Cam Smith, who has finished runner up in 2020 and shared third place spot in 2021, no one is sure how they will fare in the tournament. History suggests that it might take a superstar effort to win the Masters when playing a Team competition but still, with the Range Goats rallying around, it is possible to look past the big names and home in on someone.
The dark horses to watch out for are Sungjae Im and Jason Day. Im, who has played superbly in his first two tries at the Masters with a runner-up finish in 2020 and leader in round 1 2021, has solid all-around game. Day, on the other hand, is making a comeback with 11 top-20 finishes this season following a top 5 finish at the 2019 Masters.
Lastly, although he is one of the best in the world, Patrick Cantlay’s performance in majors has been a bit perplexing. He shares just a single top-5 in a major from the 2019 PGA Championship and a top-10 finish from the 2019 Masters. It might not be this week for him, but his light switch might just be about to turn on.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf is shaking up the world of golf with their unique and innovative approach to a Team tournament format. Founded in 2021, the golf entertainment company is focused on revolutionizing the golf experience and bringing the joys of Team competition to a traditional Individual sport. With 18 tour-level players selected to compete in the Masters, LIV are looking to revolutionize the sport and bring an exciting new competition to the table.
The name Jason Day is synonymous with golf. The 34-year-old Aussie has seen a long-running career, with a Masters win in 2011 and two world number one finishes under his belt. Although his form has been up and down in recent years, Day is back in the top-5 again and still has time to make a strong finish in the 2023 Masters. He has the experience, the form, and the game to go far this weekend and could pull off an unexpected win with a bit of luck.
