Planet Golf News for Sunday, April 14, 2024

Scottie Scheffler is leading the tournament and proving to be a formidable opponent for other players. Despite his previous mistakes, Scheffler's impressive performance and lead have put him in a strong position. However, players like Bryson DeChambeau, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, and Ludvig Åberg are determined to challenge him and secure their own Masters' greatness.

Scottie Scheffler, currently leading The Masters at 7-under, has walked back his promise to leave the tournament if his wife goes into labor. He now states that he will only leave if his wife goes into labor before the start of the final round, a subtle but notable difference from his previous stance. Scheffler tees off in the final round at 2:35 p.m. ET.

Tiger Woods had his worst round in a major championship at the Masters, shooting a 10-over 82. Struggling with his swing and putting, Woods fell out of contention and will play his 100th round at the Masters on Sunday far from the spotlight. This marks only the fifth time Woods has shot in the 80s as a professional and the third time in a major.

Ludvig Åberg is contending at The Masters Tournament, aiming to become the first rookie since 1979 to win in their first appearance. After posting his third straight under-par round, Åberg sits in solo fourth place, three shots behind the 54-hole leader, Scottie Scheffler. Despite being a Masters rookie, Åberg is playing conservatively and embracing the opportunity to compete for the title. He credits his caddie, Joe Skovron, for his performance and will be paired with Max Homa for the final round.

Collin Morikawa has made a strong comeback at the 88th Masters Tournament, improving his score each day and moving into the final pairing on Sunday. Despite changing his putter and facing doubts, Morikawa's performance has proven his critics wrong. He will need an exceptional round to secure his first Green Jacket.

Tom Kim, who trains with Scottie Scheffler, warns the Masters field about the 54-hole leader's mental state and consistency. Scheffler's performance in the windy conditions at Augusta National has impressed others, and Kim believes that the conditions in Dallas are similar. Kim expresses his support for Scheffler and advises others not to expect him to have an off day.

Tyrrell Hatton expressed frustration after finishing his second round at Augusta National with a four-putt double bogey, dropping him to a one-over 73. Hatton, who has struggled at Augusta in the past, lamented his inability to score well on the course and expressed disappointment with his performance.

Collin Morikawa made a surprising putter switch during the Masters tournament, which has propelled him to be one shot off the lead. After struggling with his original putter in the first round, Morikawa switched to a TaylorMade Spider Tour X mallet and saw immediate improvement in his putting performance. This change has put him in contention for the Masters title.

During the Masters tournament, Bryson DeChambeau moved a sign on the 13th hole, prompting questions about whether it was permitted. According to Rule 15.2, players can remove movable obstructions without penalty, as long as it can be done with reasonable effort. While the definition of "reasonable effort" is open to interpretation, tournament committees have some latitude in deciding what qualifies as a movable obstruction. DeChambeau was not penalized for moving the sign, indicating that Masters officials likely regarded it as an object that could be moved with reasonable effort.

During the Masters Tournament, Jason Day confirmed that Augusta National officials asked him to remove a sweater vest with "Malbon Golf Championship" stitched on it. Day, who has an apparel deal with Malbon Golf, complied with the request and removed the vest for his second round. The club did not provide an explanation for the request.

At the Masters tournament, caddies wear numbered white boiler suits based on the order of their registration at Augusta National. Rory McIlroy was the last to register this year, receiving the number 89. The first person to arrive does not get the number 1, which is reserved for the previous year's winner. The caddies wear the number on the front left of their suits, with the player's name on the back.

In addition to the green jacket and prize money, Masters champions receive a silver trophy depicting the clubhouse, a scaled-down version with engraved signatures of every player in the field that year. Champions have the opportunity to buy duplicate trophies for specific recipients, as long as they are used to celebrate and promote the tournament. They also receive a gold medal, a gold locket in the shape of the Masters logo, and get to create the menu and pay for the Champions Dinner during Masters week.

The Masters has introduced a new Apple Vision Pro app that offers a virtual reality experience, allowing users to watch every shot of the tournament, view multiple screens simultaneously, and access a 3D tournament leaderboard. The app is seen as a beta test for the future of the Vision Pro, a virtual reality headset from Apple that could revolutionize computing. While the headset is still in its early stages, it has the potential to become as groundbreaking as the iPhone. The Masters has a history of innovation in golf TV, and the Vision Pro app is the latest example of their commitment to viewer experience.

After spending two hours behind the 12th tee at Augusta National during The Masters, the author learned several key insights. Firstly, reading the wind in this area is extremely difficult due to the flag fluttering in different directions and the swirling trees. Secondly, there is a slight reddish haze that settles over the 11th and 12th holes, caused by the pathways and foot traffic behind the grandstands. Thirdly, there is a meticulous post-shot clean-up operation on the course, with a man in a white boiler suit filling divots and ensuring the area is spotless. Fourthly, the rules officials for the 11th and 12th holes hide in the bushes and come out when a ball lands in the water to assist the players. Lastly, sitting behind the 12th green provides a distant view of the players and the width of Rae's Creek is wider than it appears on TV. Additionally, there is ample room to the right of the 12th green, making it more forgiving for left-handed golfers.

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