The first golf major of the year is finally upon us as the world’s best players arrive at Augusta National for the Masters.
With Covid restrictions now lifted, patrons can return in full numbers for the first time since 2019 as fans look forward to one of the highlights of the sporting calendar.
It’s even more highly-anticipated as rumours continue over Tiger Woods’ potential participation this week - the five-time Masters winner is at Augusta stepping up his preparations.
Should he play, he will be one of 18 former champions in the field, including Hideki Matsuyama who is looking to become the first player to win back-to-back Masters since Woods did so in 2002.
Rory McIlroy will be desperate to finally win the Green Jacket and complete the career Grand Slam, while Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler are two of the game’s stars looking for their first major win.
Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Brooks Koepka are among those who have at least one major to their name but are yet to come out on top at Augusta.
With so many potential winners going into the tournament, it promises to be a thrilling four days at Augusta.
When is the Masters?
The action gets underway at Augusta this Thursday, April 7.
This year’s winner will put on the Green Jacket on Sunday night UK time, bringing an end to one of the year’s most hotly-anticipated sporting events.
How to watch the Masters
TV channel: The four days of the tournament will be televised on Sky Sports Golf and Main Event.
Featured group coverage begins at 2pm BST on Thursday and Friday, before full coverage is shown from 7:30pm.
On Saturday it’s selected coverage from 3pm and full coverage at 7:30pm, while for the final round on Sunday fans can enjoy the initial broadcast from 3pm and then full coverage from 6.30pm.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch all the action online via the Sky Go app.
Is Tiger Woods playing?
A question likely to be asked more than any other in the build-up to the tournament.
Woods was at Augusta last week, playing a practice round with son Charlie and Justin Thomas, and on Sunday he revealed he would be travelling back to continue his preparations.
He tweeted: “I will be heading up to Augusta today to continue my preparation and practice. It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete.”
The key factor is likely to be whether Woods feels he is capable of walking 72 holes over four days at an incredibly hilly course. He looks set to leave that decision to the very last-minute.
Masters prize money
Last year the full prize money breakdown was not announced until the Saturday of the tournament, and no confirmation of this year’s purse has yet been given.
However, it’s likely to be very similar to what was awarded in 2021.
Matsuyama picked up $2,070,000 for winning the Green Jacket, with Will Zalatoris taking home $1,242,000 as he finished second in his first Masters appearance.
Tony Finau received $299,000 for coming in a share of tenth, Phil Mickelson’s T21 was good enough for $119,600 and Bryson DeChambeau, who finished in a tie for 46th, still won $33,503.
Latest odds
Rahm leads the market, unsurprisingly considering he has a top-ten finish in each of his last four appearances at the Masters.
Thomas is also well-fancied, and will hope the addition of Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, Mickelson’s former caddie, on his bag can help him put four good rounds together.
Cameron Smith is in action for the first time since winning the Players, while Dustin Johnson has a superb revent Augusta record aside from last year, when he missed the cut as defending champion.
Three wins in six weeks have moved Scheffler up to world number one, Morikawa has the approach game to win at any course in the world, and this is the tournament more than any other that McIlroy wants to win.
Few are more comfortable at Augusta than Jordan Spieth, and few are more comfortable at majors than Koepka. Both will be popular picks this week.
Jon Rahm 11/1
Justin Thomas 12/1
Cameron Smith 14/1
Dustin Johnson 14/1
Scottie Scheffler 14/1
Collin Morikawa 16/1
Rory McIlroy 18/1
Jordan Spieth 18/1
Brooks Koepka 18/1
Viktor Hovland 18/1
