As the long-awaited 84th Masters Tournament arrives, here are five things to know about this unusual November week in Augusta.
Autumn in Augusta
It’s known as ‘a tradition unlike any other’ but this will certainly be a Masters Tournament unlike any other, not least because of a new November date which means it becomes the final Major of the year.
The tournament usually marks the start of the annual Major schedule, but with its usual April slot affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Augusta National Golf Club postponed the event to this one-off November slot.
All four Majors in 2020 were affected by the pandemic in some capacity, with the US PGA Championship moving to August, the U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot rescheduled to September and The 149th Open Championship postponed until 2021.
A different Masters
The autumnal colours at Augusta National Golf Club and the absence of patrons on the grounds for the first time in the tournament’s history have been much discussed in the lead up to The Masters in 2020, but one notable difference just announced this week will be a change to the rules surrounding the cut mark.
Since 2013, the cut mark has been the top 50 and ties, or those within ten shots of the leader. In 2019, 65 players made the cut. However, the rule of being within ten strokes of the leader has been removed ahead of this year's event in a bid to reduce the weekend field, with significantly fewer hours of daylight available at this time of year.
The shorter days have also led to the introduction of a two-tee start, with groups going off in two waves from the first and tenth tees for the first two rounds.
This year will also mark just the second time since the tradition began in 1960 that there will be no Par-3 Contest. In 2017 bad weather caused the cancellation of the popular Wednesday event, while the COVID-19 pandemic determined this week’s outcome.
Tiger Woods defends
Tiger Woods completed one of the most memorable career comebacks in sporting history when he sealed his first Major victory for 11 years at the 2019 Masters. It was the fifth Green Jacket of his career – and his first since 2005 - and his 15th Major overall.
He returns this week looking to tie Jack Nicklaus’ record of six Green Jackets and could become the first golfer in history to win the Masters in consecutive years twice. It’s something he achieved in 2001-2002, following in the footsteps of Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.
Key Storylines
Rory McIlroy has one of the most consistent records at Augusta, with five top 10s in his last six starts. Looking for his first Major title in six years, McIlroy could make history by becoming just the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam.
World Number One Dustin Johnson was the runner-up in last year’s Masters and is targeting a second Major title as he heads to Augusta in exceptional form, having recorded one victory, three runner-up finishes and two further top tens in his last six starts on Tour. However, the battle for the top of the Official World Golf Rankings continues and could see either Jon Rahm or Justin Thomas regain the accolade: They each have two wins apiece in 2020, and finished tied for second place at the recent ZOZO Championship.
Elsewhere, three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson is seeking to become the oldest Major champion in history, while Bryson DeChambeau, who has dominated headlines of late, could become the first player to win back-to-back Major titles since Jordan Spieth in 2015, following his maiden Major win at the U.S. Open.
Making their debut
There are 26 players in this week’s field making their debut at Augusta National including US PGA Champion Collin Morikawa and three recent European Tour winners in Victor Perez, Erik Van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
The Masters would have been the first Major appearance for Alfred Dunhill Links Championship winner Perez if the date had been kept to April, but since its postponement the Frenchman has played in both the U.S. Open and the US PGA Championship, where he finished tied for 22nd. Heading into the event, he recently recorded a runner-up finish at the BMW PGA Championship behind Tyrrell Hatton.
For South African pair Erik Van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, The Masters will complete the quartet of Major appearances. Van Rooyen made his Major debut during the 2017 Open Championship and has a best Major record of tied 8th in last year’s U.S. PGA Championship. Bezuidenhout made his first Major start in the 2019 Open Championship, and his best result so far is tied 55th in the 2020 U.S. PGA Championship.
