2023 Masters begins soon: Everything to know for 87th at Augusta National
For the 87th time, Augusta National Golf Club will host the biggest event in golf.
The Masters Tournament, the first major of the 2023 PGA Tour season, is scheduled to begin later this week, as the sport’s best battle for the famed green jacket. Last year’s winner, American Scottie Scheffler, will look to be the first consecutive champion since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. In fact, only three golfers – Woods, Nick Faldo (1989 and 1990) and Jack Nicklaus (1965 and 1966) – have successfully defended their title from the previous year.
In December, Augusta National issued a statement in which it made clear that all players eligible to receive invitations under current criteria, including LIV Golf players, will be offered the chance to compete in the Masters.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Masters Tournament.
When does the Masters start?
The 2023 Masters Tournament will run from Thursday, April 6 and will conclude Sunday, April 9. The Par 3 Contest will be the day before the start of the tournament, on Wednesday, April 5.
Live Leaderboard: Latest Masters Tournament Scores, Schedules, Pairings and more
Where is the 2023 Masters Tournament?
As it is every year, the Masters takes place at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
Masters coverage: Where can you watch the 2023 tournament?
Television coverage for the Masters will be split between ESPN and CBS for weekday and weekend coverage.
On Thursday, April 6 (first round), and on Friday, April 7 (second round), ESPN will broadcast coverage starting at 3-7:30 p.m. ET. For early coverage on both days, Masters.com and the Masters app will offer streaming coverage of featured groups, Amen Corner and select holes.
On Saturday, April 8 (third round), CBS will broadcast coverage from 3-7 p.m. ET. On Sunday, April 9 (final round), the network will broadcast coverage from 2-7 p.m. ET.
The Par 3 Contest will air on ESPN (3-5 p.m. ET) and Masters.com and the Masters app from 12-5 p.m. ET.
Who is the defending Masters Tournament champion?
American Scottie Scheffler, 26, the No. 1 player in the World Golf Rankings, won the 2022 Masters Tournament after he dominated play starting with the second round. Scheffler shot a 10-under par throughout the tournament, which was three strokes ahead of second-place finisher Rory McIlroy, currently the No. 2 player in the world. It marked Scheffler’s first career major victory.
Scheffler has seven top 10 finishes in the 2022-23 season, including two victories: at the Phoenix Open and The Players Championship. He ranks third in the FedEx Cup standings.
How big is the field at the 2023 Masters Tournament?
The Masters sent 89 invitations, with one spot reserved for the winner of the Valero Texas Open that was held this past weekend. Seven amateurs have been invited.
Who are the favorites to win the 2023 Masters Tournament?
Here are the 10 favorites to win the Masters Tournament, as well as the odds of other notable names in the field; odds provided by DraftKings as of April 3.
Scottie Scheffler +700
Rory McIlroy +700
Jon Rahm +900
Jordan Spieth +1600
Patrick Cantlay +1800
Tony Finau +2000
Justin Thomas +2000
Xander Schauffele +2200
Jason Day +2200
Dustin Johnson +2200
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Cameron Smith +2200
Brooks Koepka +3500
Patrick Reed +5500
Tiger Woods +6500
Bryson DeChambeau +9000
Adam Scott +10000
Sergio Garcia +13000
Bubba Watson +25000
Phil Mickelson +25000
LIV players in the Masters
Among the LIV Golf players invited to compete are Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson Dechambeau, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Cameron Smith, Louis Oosthuizen, Talor Gooch, Kevin Na and Charl Schwartzel.
Is Tiger playing in the Masters 2023?
Though he has not publicly committed to competing at the Masters, Woods is expected to join the field, after he has reiterated that he intends to play in very few PGA Tour events other than the majors. Woods has played in only one event this season, the Genesis Invitational in mid-February, skipping out on the Players Championship, the Tour’s flagship event. The official Twitter account of the Masters, however, did post a tease on Sunday more or less confirming the news.
Woods, 47, was injured in a single-car crash February 2021, when he had to be extricated from his car. Woods had multiple open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of his right tibia and fibula, the two main bones in the lower leg.
What is the cut line at the 2023 Masters Tournament?
The Masters Tournament approaches mid-tournament cuts differently than other PGA Tour events, offering a smaller field to advance after the second round. At the Masters, the top 50 players (including ties) after the second round will be eligible to complete the tournament, compared to the top 65 and ties.
What is the projected weather for the 2023 Masters Tournament?
The initial forecast at Augusta National appears rather ominous, though that of course is subject to change. According to AccuWeather, conditions are expected to vary significantly throughout the scheduled days of the tournament.
Thursday: The high temperature is projected to be a balmy 85 degrees with an overnight low of 66. Humidity is expected to be high throughout the day, with a thick cloud cover and the potential for passing thunderstorms. Wind gusts are expected to reach up to 15 miles per hour. There is 55% of rain with a 33% probability of thunderstorms.
Friday: The temperature is expected to cool for the second round, with the projected high at 68 and the overnight low at 49. Winds are projected to pick up some from Thursday, though extended periods of cloud cover are expected, likely yielding to thunderstorms. One hour of rain is expected, with an 88% chance of precipitation and a 53% chance of thunderstorms. Rain and drizzle are expected to continue into the evening, possibly affecting play on Saturday.
Saturday: The third round should continue the trend of cloudy and likelihood of rain. The high is expected to be 53 degrees, with the overnight low also at 53. There is a 82% chance of rain, with a 49% probability of thunderstorms. Wind gusts are expected to top out at 23 miles per hour, with two hours of precipitation forecasted.
Sunday: The final round is shaping up to also deal with precipitation, with a high of 70. Wind is projected to be 10 miles an hour, with gusts of up to 18. There is a 60% chance of rain, with a 24% probability of thunderstorms. Four hours of rain are expected.
The last two times the final round was pushed to Monday because of weather was 1983, when that Friday’s second round was postponed because of rain, and 1973, when that Saturday’s third round was also postponed because of rain.