photo credit: Michael Madrid USA Today
By: Ed Smith @EdSmith7133
The Masters 2024 race has been a wild ride for many. However, Scottie Scheffler entered the tournament week with a defiant statement that told everyone about the priorities he holds most dear. He stated publicly in many instances that he was willing to leave the pre-eminent Major on the tour calendar no matter where he stood if his wife called him to say that she had gone into labor. A call that every expectant father can’t wait to receive but as the number one golfer in the world, it is a call that has to include a “what if” scenario.
Scheffler went to Augusta, Georgia to compete in the Masters, a week-long list of festivities that are “A Tradition Unlike Any Other”. Also while discussing what this week would look like for him he made it clear that golf was third on his mind, shortly behind his faith and family. To have this perspective is scary for the rest of the field going into any tournament. These fears became justified as Scheffler became anointed as the first two-time winner of the Green Jacket since Bubba Watson thirteen years ago.
The Masters tournament started with a two-hour delay on Thursday morning due to storms that passed through the area Wednesday night into Thursday. Once that weather passed the tournament went through 54 holes having some of the toughest wind conditions that had ever been seen on this weekend in east central Georgia. These conditions knocked out much of the field and made the chances of winning for most of the others virtually impossible. Previous winners who did not make the cut after the first two rounds included Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and Fred Couples. Given the punishing conditions, Scheffler rolled right along, tied for the lead at six under par going into the weekend. On Saturday his co-leaders Bryson DeChambeau both fell off the pace as Scottie took sole possession of the lead at seven under.
Sunday saw a total of four golfers tied for the lead going into the ninth hold. From that point, the three other golfers, rookie Ludvig Aberg, Max Homa, and Colin Morikawa all hit disastrous shots that led to double bogeys while Scottie played safe and clean the rest of the way which led to four birdies on the back nine. No phone call from his wife as Scheffler walked up the eighteenth fairway of the Masters course in what felt like a coronation as the most dominant stretch of golf we have seen since Rory McIlroy became one of the first players to challenge Tiger’s dominance in the late 2000s. As it stands currently Scheffler has three wins this year – all within the last six weeks.
Tiger Woods did make the cut at Augusta for the 24th straight time which is a course record. Woods finished the tournament at plus 11 over par. There were times when it was mentioned by broadcasters that he might not complete the tournament due to injuries and pain felt in the grueling event. His willingness to continue to complete the tournament despite his ailments shows how much it means to the five-time Masters Champion
Ludvig Aberg was the biggest surprise of the Masters tournament, posting a second-place finish in his first start at a major tournament. He qualified by finishing in the top eight at The Players Championship. A newcomer to the tour, Aberg finished his amateur status in the middle of 2023 when he made the official leap to the PGA Tour. He finished his amateur career as the number-one ranked player in the world.