2023 Masters
- Thread starter Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat
- Start date
You shut your mouth when I’m talking to you.
I was able to grab Scheffler a few weeks ago at +900 when he was third favorite. Looks like he’s jumped up to favorite now.
Took Friday off of work. Have to take the kids to Boston for an exhibit in the morning but I’ve cleared my weekend schedule. Sunday we’re hosting Easter for about 20 but I’ve let it be known I am not planning on leaving the family room past 1pm.
Current odds on Fanduel for outright winner
Scheffler +750
Rory +750
Rahm +900
Spieth +1700
Cantlay +1900
Cam Smith +2100
JT +2200
Morikawa +2500
Xander +2500
Cam Young +2700
Day +2700
DJ +2800
Max +3200
Brooks +3600
Sungjae +3600
Zalatoris +3700
...Tiger +8500
Haven't done a ton of research but the name that jumped out on that group is Max down at +3200. He does not have a good major track record, and specifically at Augusta. He's missed the cut twice and finished T48 last year in his only made cut. I would say performance wise on Tour this year he's the leader of the second group of elite players behind Scottie, Rory and Rahm. His strokes gained stats are all really good, no real weakness. He's 54th on Tour in SG off the tee which is his 'worst' but I don't think you have to drive the ball great there to win. SG approach, around the green and putting are all elite and he's like 5th in total strokes gained. Just seems to be good value at that price.
Hard to figure what to make of the LIV guys. Brooks won their event yesterday. Cam has been pretty bad, the last 2 LIV events he's finished 26th and 29th (in a field size of 48). I would probably stay away from him, but then again who knows how these guys will turn up in an actual event. DJ has been a bit better, he's usually around their top 10. Bryson has been a full on disaster on LIV, he only has 2 top 10's in 9 starts. As always, we'll be measuring his score against Bryson par this week.
Biggest change to the course this year is they moved the 13th tee back. I wasn't a huge fan of them lengthening 15 last year. I thought it took away some of the risk/reward as it became primarily a 3-shot hole for everyone. I don't believe anyone made an eagle on 15 in last years tournament. We'll see how 13 pays.
Scheffler +750
Rory +750
Rahm +900
Spieth +1700
Cantlay +1900
Cam Smith +2100
JT +2200
Morikawa +2500
Xander +2500
Cam Young +2700
Day +2700
DJ +2800
Max +3200
Brooks +3600
Sungjae +3600
Zalatoris +3700
...Tiger +8500
Haven't done a ton of research but the name that jumped out on that group is Max down at +3200. He does not have a good major track record, and specifically at Augusta. He's missed the cut twice and finished T48 last year in his only made cut. I would say performance wise on Tour this year he's the leader of the second group of elite players behind Scottie, Rory and Rahm. His strokes gained stats are all really good, no real weakness. He's 54th on Tour in SG off the tee which is his 'worst' but I don't think you have to drive the ball great there to win. SG approach, around the green and putting are all elite and he's like 5th in total strokes gained. Just seems to be good value at that price.
Hard to figure what to make of the LIV guys. Brooks won their event yesterday. Cam has been pretty bad, the last 2 LIV events he's finished 26th and 29th (in a field size of 48). I would probably stay away from him, but then again who knows how these guys will turn up in an actual event. DJ has been a bit better, he's usually around their top 10. Bryson has been a full on disaster on LIV, he only has 2 top 10's in 9 starts. As always, we'll be measuring his score against Bryson par this week.
Biggest change to the course this year is they moved the 13th tee back. I wasn't a huge fan of them lengthening 15 last year. I thought it took away some of the risk/reward as it became primarily a 3-shot hole for everyone. I don't believe anyone made an eagle on 15 in last years tournament. We'll see how 13 pays.
This is quite the foursome
View: https://twitter.com/rexhoggardgc/status/1642878129352876033?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw
View: https://twitter.com/rexhoggardgc/status/1642878129352876033?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw
Nope. Temps dip pretty far down after Thursday too.
Thursday--40% chance of showers high of 88
Friday--70% chance of showers high of 71
Saturday--60% chance of showers high of 58
Sunday--40% chance of showers high of 64
Going to miss most of it for the first time in years, flying to Miami on Thursday and coming home Sunday. One of my buddies from college is getting married and I told him last summer that if I hit the Masters lottery, I wouldn't be attending, but struck out again!
The tweet wasn't at fault too - the media center posted that it was Bryson out with them but then changed it to Rory. Probably just a mixup with the competitor numbers.
I think I'm going to root for LIV Tour players to fail as much as I'm going to root for guys like Rory, Tiger, JT, etc. to win.
Fuck them and their "we don't want to travel and work hard and play that much golf" Tour.
But that's just me.
Fuck them and their "we don't want to travel and work hard and play that much golf" Tour.
But that's just me.
Damn, that Saturday weather is abominable.
Tomorrow and Wednesday look like sunny and mid 80s and then just rain and cold. I hope there aren't too many delays but with the rain, it won't look as good.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the Champion's dinner tomorrow. Phil, DJ, Reed, Sergio, Bubb there from the LIV side and aside from DJ who nobody seems to care one way or another about, they aren't the most likeable guys to begin with. Do they sit together? Hang around in a group by themselves? Augusta roll out a kids table for them behind the main table? Any hostilities? Freddy called Phil a nutbag recently so it should be a hoot.
DJ says 13 is most likely a 3-shot hole for him.
View: https://twitter.com/willknightsTFE/status/1642976261298352129?s=20
They moved the tee back 35 yards so the hole is 545 now. I'll reserve judgment until we see how it plays in the tournament, but I have some skepticism. Going that far back probably takes away the need of shaping the tee shot right to left. It might just be blast it anyway you like and you won't reach the pine straw no matter what. Especially if they get rain and the course is softer than normal. Then for a 2nd shot they'll be facing 250-260 yards in from a sidehill lie which is probably a layup for the majority of the field. If it becomes a 3-shotter for most of the field, that will bring some of the variance out of the hole and thus make it less interesting. Maybe I'm over thinking it.
View: https://twitter.com/willknightsTFE/status/1642976261298352129?s=20
They moved the tee back 35 yards so the hole is 545 now. I'll reserve judgment until we see how it plays in the tournament, but I have some skepticism. Going that far back probably takes away the need of shaping the tee shot right to left. It might just be blast it anyway you like and you won't reach the pine straw no matter what. Especially if they get rain and the course is softer than normal. Then for a 2nd shot they'll be facing 250-260 yards in from a sidehill lie which is probably a layup for the majority of the field. If it becomes a 3-shotter for most of the field, that will bring some of the variance out of the hole and thus make it less interesting. Maybe I'm over thinking it.
The soft and wet conditions have to favor the bigger hitters moreso than it usually does at Augusta. Big hitters that are great wedge players are going to have a field day.
This has been a common theme in other stories leading up to the tournament. Will be interesting to see if they actually follow through come tourney time.
That will take a lot of the boom or bust drama from the 2nd shots on 13. Most guys are going to lay up now.
Maybe the chosen tees on 13 will be moved up on Sunday. I agree that both 13 and 15 turning into 3-shotters likely removes some of the fun and drama.
Went to the practice round today. Takeaways:
-DJ nuked his drive on 13 (~20+ yards in front of the other 3) so interesting to hear him say that
-Max was the last guy on the range working driver
-JT spent a ton of time after the round on short putts
-16 had the best seat in the house IMO
-Augusta is very hilly and my feet hurt after 25K steps
-DJ nuked his drive on 13 (~20+ yards in front of the other 3) so interesting to hear him say that
-Max was the last guy on the range working driver
-JT spent a ton of time after the round on short putts
-16 had the best seat in the house IMO
-Augusta is very hilly and my feet hurt after 25K steps
LIV guys apparently have to wear their team logos this week. Phil strollin the hallowed grounds in HyFlyers garb!
This is basically what happened to 15 last year and I wholeheartedly agree. Forced layups for 95% of guys are equally as boring as everyone hitting 8-9 iron in. Want a good mix of people on the edge deciding whether to go for it or not.
Although watching Live From on golf channel and guys who can draw the tee shot can go for it. Min Woo Lee said he went driver, 7 iron when we hit a good draw around the corner. DJ said he would have gone for it from his driver today but he'd be unlikely to hit a draw like he did in the tourney.
It'll be really interesting to see how it plays out.
It'll be really interesting to see how it plays out.
Groupings come out today. Bring me Rory and Reed:
View: https://twitter.com/jamescolgan26/status/1643244598272172032?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw
View: https://twitter.com/jamescolgan26/status/1643244598272172032?s=46&t=23orJRFkAhpzRtm4p3-oEw
Im am fully rooting for the LIV players, i don't get the hate from idiot PGA players towards players who got a better deal elsewhere. Now because of what the LIV tour is offering guess what, the PGA tour has had to open their slush fund account a bit wider for the players.
Facts are because of LIV golf and the bigger names who signed onto it, now all players in the PGA tour make more money because of that. These idiots on the PGA tour should be thanking every LIV player they come across.
This masters has more hype surrounding it this year then in the heydays of Tigers run imo! This crossover of leagues is why this masters will probably crush it in the ratings, time for the PGA tour to embrace this if they actually care about the sport of Golf.
I'm kinda sick of the whole LIV story. I think it'll die a slow death, and then it becomes how and to what extent the LIV players are allowed back on DP or PGA tour. I'm not in favor of lifetime ban, that's for sure, but there should be some sort of pain involved.
I think for the younger guys, (Bryson, Smith, DJ, Reed, some others), it was a bad move to go to LIV. The Sergio's and Phils of the world - enjoy your ride into the desert sunset.
The golf media insists on keeping this going, of course. Hopefully more interesting stories comes along. Although a fistfight between Patrick Reed and Rory at the champions dinner would be compelling.
I'm not sure how to predict how the LIV players will do. They are motivated to do well, I think, but there's some pressure there, more than normal. Also, I don't think the LIV schedule (or lack thereof) has prepped them well. But who knows? I could see Cam Smith, DJ or Brooks do well. Reed too, although no love lost for that guy.
I think for the younger guys, (Bryson, Smith, DJ, Reed, some others), it was a bad move to go to LIV. The Sergio's and Phils of the world - enjoy your ride into the desert sunset.
The golf media insists on keeping this going, of course. Hopefully more interesting stories comes along. Although a fistfight between Patrick Reed and Rory at the champions dinner would be compelling.
I'm not sure how to predict how the LIV players will do. They are motivated to do well, I think, but there's some pressure there, more than normal. Also, I don't think the LIV schedule (or lack thereof) has prepped them well. But who knows? I could see Cam Smith, DJ or Brooks do well. Reed too, although no love lost for that guy.
The whole thing about the PGA tour opening up their slush fund is completely and totally false. Everyone knew that when the newest TV contract started last year there would be more money for everyone, LIV Tour or not.
LIV is far from harmless. This isn't 1968 (ABA) or 1971 (WHA) where athletes are so grossly underpaid that a rival league with just a few normal rich owners could raise player wages by offering stars money to jump leagues. Both rival leagues were unsustainable but brought about better deals for the players after the mergers. The Saudis can throw good money after bad in perpetuity hurting the PGA for as long as they want.
There are golfers who declined huge amounts of money from LIV because they wanted to preserve the history and the integrity of the PGA tour, and because they wanted to give themselves the opportunity to play in the most prestigious events. They knew that there would be consequences to joining LIV and they turned down the money. OK, fine.
There are other golfers who took giant pots of money from LIV even though it meant they may not get to play in certain events, or ever return to the PGA tour. OK, fine.
The only "idiots" I've seen are LIV members who are whining or suing because they are upset that the known potential consequences of their choice were in fact the actual consequences of their choice.
There are other golfers who took giant pots of money from LIV even though it meant they may not get to play in certain events, or ever return to the PGA tour. OK, fine.
The only "idiots" I've seen are LIV members who are whining or suing because they are upset that the known potential consequences of their choice were in fact the actual consequences of their choice.
Groupings are out for the first 2 rounds"
https://www.masters.com/en_US/players/pairings/index.html
Notables for Thursday:
10:18am Tiger/Viktor/Xander
10:42am JT/Rahm/Cam Young
10:54am Cam Smith/Hideki/Sungjae
1:24pm: Fitzpatrick/Morikawa/Zalatoris
1:36pm: Scheffler/Max/Bennett (A)
1:48pm: Tom Kim/Rory/Sam Burns
2:00pm: Spieth/Finau/Fleetwood
Bolded are my guesses for Thursday's Featurned Groups, but those won't be made official until tomorrow afternoon. Tiger is a pretty safe bet to get one, can't remember the last time he wasn't included regardless of how he was playing. The second one can sometimes be dicey.
Edit: They did announce the featured groups today. I went 3/4, only change is the Spieth group is featured, not Rory.
https://www.masters.com/en_US/players/pairings/index.html
Notables for Thursday:
10:18am Tiger/Viktor/Xander
10:42am JT/Rahm/Cam Young
10:54am Cam Smith/Hideki/Sungjae
1:24pm: Fitzpatrick/Morikawa/Zalatoris
1:36pm: Scheffler/Max/Bennett (A)
1:48pm: Tom Kim/Rory/Sam Burns
2:00pm: Spieth/Finau/Fleetwood
Bolded are my guesses for Thursday's Featurned Groups, but those won't be made official until tomorrow afternoon. Tiger is a pretty safe bet to get one, can't remember the last time he wasn't included regardless of how he was playing. The second one can sometimes be dicey.
Edit: They did announce the featured groups today. I went 3/4, only change is the Spieth group is featured, not Rory.
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Augusta feels like the kind of place where Pistols at Dawn would be allowed while all the green jackets surround the 12th green for the duel.
And whining about being mocked while their "teams" parade around for 3 days while 15000 people watch on Channel 12 from Melonville.
But the participants would have to wear formal dueling attire, adorned only with the Masters logo.
I''m not sure LIV has much ammo left to fire . The Saudi's can run it at a loss in perpetuity but what they have now is likely what they will have in the near and long term future. The changes on the PGA Tour has essentially locked up the needle moving star players. Maybe LIV grabs a grumpy rank-and-file player but losing a handfull of that level player is meaningless to the Tour. In fact, at this point, there's more rumors of LIV players (Brooks Koepka) wanting back on the PGA Tour than there is Tour players flirting with LIV.
LIV has a shitty TV deal with the CW. They scheduled their tournaments alongside the crappy, lower tier PGA Tour events and the PGA Tour dominates the ratings. Like 5 times more people watched Chris Kirk and Eric Cole duke it out at the Honda than watched DJ, Brooks, Bryson, etc at the LIV event. Multiple high level corporate executives have resigned from LIV over the past 6 months. LIV is 0-for the courts thusfar, including today losing their lawsuit against the DP World Tour. The lawsuit against the PGA Tour is pending, but they've lost all the hearings and motions thusfar. The players aren't going to get world ranking points any time soon. Within 3-5 years only those with past champion status will be playing in the majors. The rest will fade to oblivion.
As I said, the Saudi's will keep funding it but they are just going to fade into oblivion. To regain some momentum, they probably need their players to ball out at the majors while they are in them. If the LIV guys can maintain competitiveness in majors while playing the exhibition style events, maybe that changes some minds. I think that is a long shot though.
The women's Augusta Amateur last weekend had some pretty tough stretches in there, too. But not THAT bad.
Got to watch them on 17 and tee off 18 at practice yesterday (lottery luck!). Tiger looks nice and relaxed, yucked it up with a few fans. Freddy of course was just there to hang out. This group and DJs group were the most relaxed. DJ next to Harman, that guy is even shorter and smaller than TV shows. Being day 1 lotta golfers still hadn't arrived.
The new 13 tee box is wayyyyy back behind 12 but it is also elevated, yet pretty much everyone drove it to the leg to have an approach to the green or a layup before the bunkers.
The azaelas looked pretty crappy, sounds like they bloomed 7-10 days ago and are on the downswing.
Only a light drizzle for 30 min yesterday, otherwise just dreary and overcast, warmed up around 3ish. But weather looks crappy all week, will be interesting what rounds happen when if the forecast holds up.
I was there yesterday too and the funniest was Freddy on the practice range. Hit a ball, shoot the shit for 5 minutes, hit another ball, talk for another 5 minutes.
Unless I missed one, it looks like they split all the LIV guys up, no more than one in any group
Gotta love these prices.
Front Office Sports
@FOS
The 2023 Masters concessions prices are here. For $66, you could buy one of every item.
Front Office Sports
@FOS
The 2023 Masters concessions prices are here. For $66, you could buy one of every item.
Kokrak and Gooch are together, with Sandy Lyle. But that’s it, the rest of them are distributed 1 at a time
They totally buried Phil. 12:24 with Hoge and Si Woo on Thursday. 9:12am on Friday. Basically will only be on the course during the TV window for the back nine on Thursday. For a beloved 3-time Champion, that’s about 1 step removed from making him go off first with Larry Mize.
