Storylines to observe in The Masters: Can Tiger actually compete?

How will Tiger Woods carry out this week at The Masters? Can Rory McIlroy full the Grand Slam profession? We choose 5 axes to proceed at Augusta Nationwide…

Is Tiger an actual contender for the Masters?

Barely six weeks in the past, Tiger Woods’ participation within the Masters match appeared like nothing greater than to attend Tuesday’s Champions Dinner, however the sports activities world is now watching with curiosity to see how the previous world primary makes his long-awaited comeback. .

Woods was nonetheless not sure of a aggressive return date as quickly as February’s Genesis Invitational, because the 46-year-old was fueling hypothesis a couple of large return when he went on a coaching run on the Augusta Nationwide final week.

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Tiger Woods confirmed that he plans to make his long-awaited return to the courtroom at The Masters on Thursday.

The 15-time champion mentioned on Sunday he would make a “game-time choice” on whether or not to play after which delight golf followers when he confirmed on Tuesday he would doubtless play it, his first aggressive begin since November 2020.

Woods instructed reporters he thought he may nonetheless win the primary males’s championship of the yr, lower than 14 months after a career-threatening automotive accident, together with his comeback dominating the narrative in preparation for the Masters.

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Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas follow their pool collectively within the tenth inexperienced competitors at The Masters in Augusta.

There may be nonetheless intrigue about whether or not Woods’ leg will deal with a 72-hole course on undulating golf, with all of the logic suggesting a win-back can be an excessive amount of, regardless that previous expertise proves you possibly can by no means write off a five-time Masters champion.

Will McIlroy proceed his profession within the Grand Slam?

When Rory McIlroy gained The Open in 2014 – his first two large wins that yr and his third totally different main title – it appeared unbelievable to suppose that McIlroy would nonetheless be searching for a Grand Slam profession some eight years later.

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Rory McIlroy says enjoying a passive, much less aggressive recreation on Sunday is a great recreation plan as a result of he believes it is essential to remain disciplined on the primary 54 holes.

McIlroy has scored six locations within the Augusta Nationwide’s high ten, together with three previously 5 years, though the Northern Irishman continues to be trying to find an elusive win that may make him the sixth participant in historical past to finish a Grand Slam.

The previous world primary missed the reduce eventually yr’s occasion and made a removed from spectacular begin to his 2023 marketing campaign, with McIlroy reaching this yr’s males’s championship opener after a disappointing week at The Gamers and lacking a reduce. On the Valero Texas Open.

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Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy share a dialog as they each prepare in Augusta forward of this week’s Masters Match.

McIlroy has had lower than common rounds on the Augusta Nationwide over the previous decade than another participant though he’s hoping for a faster begin to his primary debate than in current editions, with the 32-year-old giving him an above-average opening run in every of the three years. earlier.

Gene Sarrazin, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods accomplished the Grand Slam on the primary try, whereas Gary Participant and Jack Nicklaus secured their place in golf historical past on the third out of query, and McIlroy’s final likelihood was his eighth try to hitch a well-known main. .

Can DeShampoo conquer the demons of Augusta?

The previous US Open champion struggled for health and health throughout an injury-plagued begin to the yr, lacking title protection Arnold Palmer, in addition to The Gamers with wrist and hip points.

Can Bryson Deschamps impress this week’s The Masters?

DeChambeau didn’t advance from the group stage on the WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play and missed the reduce on the Valero Texas Open final week, elevating doubts about his preparedness for one more assault on the Augusta Nationwide.

A tied rating of 46 in final yr’s competitors was a disappointing comeback for De Champo, who failed to attain within the high 20 in 5 makes an attempt on the Masters and likewise failed to put any larger than final yr’s four-year tie 26.

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Bryson DeChambeau states that he admits to being utterly unfit earlier than The Masters, and divulges that he had no current contact with Phil Mickelson.

DeChambeau all the time felt he may use his further energy and distance off the tee round Augusta Nationwide, the place the course was previously referred to as a par-67 structure, regardless that he at present averages 72.35 from his 20 runs across the Georgia spot.

He admitted he is again from harm sooner than he is suggested as a way to put together for the Masters and is barely “80 per cent” this week, although he instructed the media in his pre-tournament press convention that he was “actually shut” to having his A-game chop and put.

Who will win the race for world no 1?

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We requested golf followers who they suppose will win the 2023 Masters, which begins Thursday dwell on Sky Sports activities.

Scotty Scheffler is beginning off because the world’s primary this week, chasing his fourth win in his final six begins, though the American is one in every of six gamers who may end the week on the high of the rankings.

The 25-year-old’s closest problem comes from John Ram, who held the highest spot from July till Schaeffler’s win on the WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play, whereas Colin Morikawa, Victor Hovland and Patrick Cantlay may also safe a world primary spot. Victory.

Hovland may additionally go Schaeffler by taking second place, relying on different outcomes, whereas Morikawa or Ram may additionally be capable of transfer to primary with no win if different eventualities go their approach.

World quantity 6 Cameron Smith may also catapult an athlete to world No. 1 with a win, a month after claiming his second win of the season at The Gamers, because the Australian seems to be to change into the primary participant since Tiger Woods to beat TPC Sawgrass and Augusta Nationals in the identical yr. .

Will Matsuyama be match to defend his title?

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I am about to attend for this yr’s males’s championship opening, with in depth protection from the Augusta Nationwide dwell on Sky Sports activities devoted to the Masters.

Solely three gamers have gained consecutive editions of The Masters, and Hideki Matsuyama is trying to observe swimsuit after making historical past in final yr’s competitors.

Matsuyama turned the primary Asian recipient of the inexperienced jacket and the primary Japanese man to win a significant with a one-stroke win in 2023, and the world quantity 12 is now trying to observe Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to the Masters title. in successive years.

The 30-year-old withdrew from the Gamers Championship shortly earlier than the beginning of the primary spherical with a again harm after which withdrew earlier than the second spherical on the Valero Texas Open final week with a neck downside, elevating doubts over whether or not he’ll accomplish that. You can play it on the Augusta Nationwide this week.

Matsuyama admitted that the harm was a “battle” when he spoke by way of an interpreter at Tuesday’s press convention, though he mentioned he’s optimistic he can be 100 per cent match when he begins his protection this week.

Watch The Masters dwell this week on Sky Sports activities completely. Reside protection begins Thursday at 2pm on Sky Sports activities Golf, with further feeds and bonuses throughout all 4 rounds accessible through the crimson button.