Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Weir and Ali Stafford look again at a few of the storylines from the follow days at The Masters, together with Rory McIlroy, questionable outfits and backyard gnomes…
Woods continues to dream
Tiger Woods could make extra Masters historical past this week with a record-breaking twenty fourth consecutive minimize, however the former world No 1 continues to have eyes on a much bigger prize and an unlikely bid for a sixteenth main title.
Woods has accomplished a 72-hole event simply 3 times since his unsuccessful title defence at Augusta Nationwide in November 2020, with the 48-year-old having to withdraw mid-round from final 12 months’s event and unable to complete the Genesis Invitational in February.
Tiger Woods insists he’s able to profitable a sixth Masters if ‘every little thing comes collectively’ in Augusta this week.
Patrons lined the fairways for Woods’ again 9 follow with Will Zalatoris on Monday and the entrance 9 the next morning, the place he had common enjoying companions Justin Thomas and Fred {Couples} for firm, with little doubt he nonetheless drives pleasure greater than another golfer.
Woods mentioned in his press convention that he felt he may nonetheless be a contender for extra main glory, if every little thing comes collectively, however the problem of finishing 4 rounds on an undulating structure will present a bodily and psychological problem.
Sky Sports activities’ Tim Barter discusses whether or not Tiger Woods will have the ability to face the bodily calls for of enjoying at The Masters.
We have all been responsible of writing Woods’ hopes off up to now and being left with egg on our faces when he proves us incorrect. Seeing him in competition on Sunday could be a feat arguably larger than something we have seen from him earlier than.
Final in, final out for McIlroy?
Rory McIlroy has tried virtually each approach potential to arrange for The Masters, along with his pre-event visits to Augusta Nationwide, his pre-tournament follow and his early-season schedule repeatedly tweaked to attempt to assist him safe his solely lacking main.
Rory McIlory says he’ll have to be affected person and disciplined, as he makes an attempt to lastly full a profession Grand Slam at The Masters.
This 12 months has been no totally different, with McIlroy electing to tee it up at Valero Texas Open final week after which being the final of the 89 gamers to register at Augusta Nationwide, solely arriving on the venue round noon on Tuesday.
McIlroy had full concentrate on The Masters in his pre-tournament media duties, solely taking eight questions on his recreation and his main hopes in a shortened press convention, with the Northern Irishman additionally limiting his follow forward of the event beginning on Thursday.
As The Masters approaches, watch a collection of the perfect and worst photographs from Rory McIlroy at Augusta Nationwide.
The previous world No 1 mentioned he has “all of the instruments” to finish his decade-long main drought and make it sixteenth time fortunate for Masters victory, regardless of a sluggish begin to the PGA Tour season, with the discussions round his potential Grand Slam hopes prone to dominate the narrative.
He performed 9 holes on Tuesday afternoon, adopted by one other 9 on Wednesday afternoon, with him skipping the Par-3 contest within the course of additional proof that he is attempting to remain in his bubble and simply focus solely on the golf this week.
The Masters – Dwell
Thursday eleventh April 2:00pm
Child look ahead to the favorite!
Scottie Scheffler is the overwhelming favorite so as to add to his main tally this week, having already gained twice this 12 months and been in such sensible type, though the world No 1 may nonetheless see his consideration drift away from the event.
Scheffler’s spouse Meredith is closely pregnant and the couple predict their first little one later this month, whereas Ryder Cup team-mate Sam Burns and his spouse Caroline are as a result of have a child subsequent week.
Sky Sports activities’ Tim Barter tells the Sky Sports activities Golf Podcast how impressed he’s with Scottie Scheffler’s consistency on the golf course.
Burns and Scheffler are staying collectively with out their wives this week, with Golf Channel reporting that the 2 gamers are ready to withdraw from the event mid-event if their spouse goes into labour sooner than anticipated.
May we face the state of affairs the place Scheffler takes an enormous lead into the ultimate day, or Burns tops the leaderboard and is closing on a maiden main, just for them to drag out of the event to get house for the delivery? Each will hope that the one arrival this week is a Inexperienced Jacket.
The Masters – Dwell
Thursday eleventh April 7:30pm
Fleetwood’s style splits opinion
On Tuesday, Tommy Fleetwood – all the time one for a natty cardy – divided opinion with a mauve quantity. The DP World Tour even put out a Twitter ballot to garner individuals’s opinions on Tommy’s knitwear.
Fleetwood himself advised us that he does like a cardigan, joking that he’ll by no means be Arnold Palmer, however that it is a look he can pull off. He did a minimum of concede that he ought to perhaps have given it an iron beforehand!
Lowry to go well with within the storms?
Shane Lowry’s biggest second in fact was profitable an Open Championship at Royal Portrush in 2019, when the climate was sometimes Irish – 4 seasons in in the future.
The forecast for Thursday’s opening spherical appears to be like horrific, with torrential rain, thunderstorms and excessive winds forecast, with a notion constructing over time that Lowry thrives in antagonistic circumstances.
Sky Sports activities Information’ Jamie Weir explains why there could possibly be a possible delay to the beginning of The Masters, with heavy rain and thunderstorms anticipated in Augusta.
“I hate it!” Lowry advised us. “There is a cause I left Eire and moved to Florida!”
Lowry did admit that he appears to manage in poor climate higher than most – he could need to through the opening spherical!
Gnomes a prized possession!
The sprawling Masters store all the time generates loads of pleasure and large queues, with the No 1 sought-after for this 12 months’s occasion being a backyard gnome.
The Masters backyard gnome has been a preferred buy by patrons at The Masters!
Numbers every day are restricted and with the store opening at 7am each morning, the final of the little backyard ornaments are often gone not lengthy after! The queues have typically needed to be shut at instances this week, given the volumes of patrons hoping to spend their {dollars}.
Aesthetically, we’ll allow you to resolve what you consider them, however they definitely appear to have developed a sure kitsch worth, which has the patrons dashing for the store the second gates open. We’re definitely going to purchase one!
Who will win The Masters? Watch stay this week completely on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection begins with Featured Teams on Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream The Masters and much extra golf with NOW.
Advert content material | Stream Sky Sports activities on NOW
Stream Sky Sports activities stay with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instantaneous entry to stay motion from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket and a lot extra.
