Masters fever has started to grip golf fans as they eagerly anticipate the tournament at Augusta next week.
The first major of the season is slated to tee off at the legendary Georgia course between April 10 and April 13. The bulk of the competitors were finalized after last week’s Houston Open, which was the final opportunity for golfers to secure invites by breaking into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.
But, there’s still a coveted Masters spot on the line for the winner of the Valero Texas Open. After an impressive opening round at the Oaks Course, Sam Ryder leads the pack at nine under par, holding a narrow one-shot advantage. Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler seems on the brink of squandering his last shot at making this year’s Masters call-up.
Fowler’s issue
Back in 2018, Fowler was a hair’s breadth from glory at the Masters, conceding the green jacket to Patrick Reed by just one stroke. Since then, the ex-world No.4 has wrestled with finding steady form and once again finds himself scrapping for a spot at Augusta; he’s made it to only one of the past four majors there.
During the TGL season, where his New York squad advanced to the SoFi Cup finals, Fowler expressed hopes of bringing the success from the innovative simulated format to traditional play. “I need to play better on the real golf course to work on that,” he remarked, adding, “Maybe a win [this] week might give me some momentum to go win a tournament.”
Fowler is facing an uphill battle in his final bid to qualify for the Masters at the Valero Texas Open. Currently ranked 110th globally, he didn’t do his chances any favors after carding a +3 in the opening round. His lackluster start leaves him in a precarious T120 position.
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Reed’s scouting mission
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed has returned from a trip to Augusta and shared his observations. Following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene last year, Reed visited the hallowed grounds to survey the damage before the upcoming tournament, and his findings were unexpected.
“I heard obviously that with the awful hurricane that came through that they lost a ton of trees,” Reed told Sports Illustrated. “I was expecting it to look a lot different and play a little different, right? Because with less trees it might play different.
“There’s definitely some trees gone, some areas that were really, really thick and now you can see a little more through them. But the actual playability of the golf course hasn’t changed. All the trees that come into play, all the trees down the edges of the fairways… All those are still there. All of those that are in the way.”
LIV Golf’s Reed was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the course, noting: “‘The golf course looked amazing,” and adding: “The green at [No. 16] was completely destroyed. They had to redo the whole thing. I mean, it’s still the same diabolical fun green. Obviously the people who have been there are going to see a bit of a difference, but the playability to me didn’t really change at all.'”
(Image: Lauren Sopourn/Getty Images)
Mickelson gives McIlroy verdict
Phil Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion, has weighed in on Rory McIlroy’s chances at Augusta, where he seeks to complete a career grand slam. Despite the attention McIlroy will receive, Mickelson doesn’t see the pressure affecting his performance.
Asked about how McIlroy will block out the pressure, Mickelson told BBC Sport: “That’s challenging. But he’s done it so many times in his ability to win tournaments. He’s been able to compartmentalize that. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue for him.
“His ability to compartmentalize all the things that have transpired in the past is a strength of his, so I don’t think it’ll be an issue, or I don’t think that’s what’s holding him back from winning the Masters.”
Mickelson believes that McIlroy’s driving skills will be a major factor in his quest for the coveted Green Jacket. McIlroy will head into Augusta with confidence after an impressive start to 2025, with wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players.
(Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)
Westwood’s Ryder Cup dream
Meanwhile, Lee Westwood is holding onto his ambition of captaining Europe in the Ryder Cup. Despite being a LIV Golf star who defected from the PGA Tour and owing $1.1 million (£857,000) in fines for participating in unauthorized LIV events, Westwood still aspires to lead the team.
Although he is no longer part of the DP World Tour and currently ineligible for the captaincy, Westwood has not given up on finding a solution. “I’d love to be Ryder Cup captain,” he told The i Paper.
“They sounded me out for [the last Ryder Cup in] Italy. I thought you can’t go from playing in one to being captain in the next. I feel you should at least give yourself a chance to play another one.
“Also, I knew LIV was on the horizon, so I didn’t want to put myself in the position Henrik [Stenson] found himself in. So, for a few reasons it didn’t feel like the right time. If I was asked to be captain at Adare Manor (in 2027) I would jump at the chance. But certain things have to change. Rapprochement is necessary. I don’t know that the PGA Tour are willing to give up anything, I don’t think they are willing to bend at all.”
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
