LIV’s future? Tiger’s future? Augusta’s future? Get ready for one helluva Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Before we scene-set, earlier than we attempt to encapsulate all which will or could not come on this Masters week like none different, earlier than we do something, let’s eat. Specifically, I desire a Georgia peach ice cream sandwich. They have been off the menu right here final yr, and the center, together with the abdomen, yearn. But let’s stroll to get one collectively, OK? Cool. 

[Walking …]  

There’s Rory! He’s stepping out of caddie eating, to the fitting of the driving vary. 

There’s the present store! Ooh, no line! 

There’s the financial institution of free-to-use telephones! I’m endlessly engaged by these. You can’t deliver cellies into Augusta National — however you’ll be able to nonetheless name your family members to allow them to know you dropped a small fortune within the cease within the paragraph above. 

There’s a patron with a digital digital camera! Almost one other relic lately. But you’ll be able to deliver ’em in throughout the follow rounds. The girl tells me she lastly received the ticket lottery this yr. But she needed to come alone — her husband bought sick on the final minute — and questioned if I may snap a pic of her. Sure! 

There’s the massive oak tree! There’s the clubhouse! There are the inexperienced jackets! There’s the road for pictures at Founders Circle! A Pinkerton safety guard yells at me as a result of I attempted to cross a avenue too rapidly. He did ask the place I used to be from — Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I mentioned — and he kinda smirked. I’m undecided what meaning. 

BUT THERE ARE NO ICE CREAM SANDWICHES! In the big concession space close to the present store, the coolers have been naked. I requested a employee. That’s all that they had, he mentioned, kindly, apologetically. Damn. I seize a pimento cheese sandwich, a bag of chips, and a soda — for $5.40 — and stroll over to a spot close to the primary fairway. 

So … possibly not a lot is totally different round right here. In these unsure occasions, on this Masters week like none different, ANGC will nonetheless scent like pines, and the Masters will nonetheless hand out a inexperienced coat come Sunday. But to whom? 

After all, on that very same stroll  …   

Ooh, right here’s some drama! 

There’s Tom Kim, PGA Tour wunderkind, who’s hitting irons on the vary — proper subsequent to Brooks Koepka, LIV Golf’s newest winner. They went about their work. 

Ooh, Abraham Ancer is carrying a shirt adorned with the brand from the Fireballs, his group with LIV. He’s standing within the press space to the fitting of the primary fairway. 

With that then, let’s scene-set. Snack time’s over. Here’s what we’ll be chewing on this week. 

The LIV Golf query 

Eighteen LIV Golf gamers, together with six Masters winners, are right here. They have been allowed to play following an announcement by Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley — 5 days earlier than final Christmas, no much less — although that observe additionally promised that “any modifications or changes to invitation criteria for future tournaments will be announced in April.” And now it’s April. 

So may this be the final Masters with any LIV Golf participant?

What if Phil Mickelson received one other Masters?

What if any LIVer received the Masters?

If one did, would the 17 others collect en masse and have a good time on the 18th inexperienced of Alister Mackenzie and Bobby Jones’ masterpiece — in entrance of the patrons, in entrance of the members, on CBS? Greg Norman, LIV’s CEO, is promising it. 

Speaking of champions, what’s going to go down on the Tuesday night time Champions Dinner (and we’re not speaking Scottie Scheffler’s cheeseburger sliders)? LIV’s six former winners (Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson) will break bread with Tiger Woods and Fred Couples and a bunch of others, who, briefly, imagine LIV ought to, effectively, die. 

Would a LIV win validate the Saudi-backed league? 

Would a LIV poor displaying sink it?

If Ridley does enable LIV to proceed to play — and the PGA Tour continues its ban — are we going to see all of golf’s finest doubtlessly solely at majors going ahead?

Is {that a} good factor?

Does the truth that we’re asking these sorts of questions show that sportswashing is working?

The Tiger query 

Woods, the 15-time main winner and five-time Masters champion, is taking part in. It’s his fifth match since his automotive crash in late February of 2021. 

Can he win? 

Can he contend?

If he doesn’t, the place does that depart issues?

What’s his shelf life? How many extra Masters will he play?

Will he discuss concerning the authorized points along with his former girlfriend?

The golf ball query

The USGA is proposing to roll again the golf ball, although it is going to be left to tournaments to implement it. The majority of execs aren’t in favor. LIV could preserve the previous ball; David Feherty, now an analyst with the league, instructed as a lot on Sunday’s broadcast.

What will the Masters do?

Can they preserve lengthening holes?

The way forward for Augusta National query 

Please take a couple of minutes and read this wonderfully reported piece by Golf Digest’s Joel Beall. It explores what could possibly be coming at Augusta National. 

Will there be a lodge on the grounds?

Will there be a second course on the grounds?

Would that second course host the Augusta National Women’s Amateur?

Would that second course be open to the general public?

Will Ridley give any element on it?

The precise golf questions! 

There might be a match, too. Wild. 

Is this lastly Rory McIlroy’s yr? When he’s been the defender for over a yr of all that’s good and holy to him concerning the PGA Tour? When he’s been tinkering along with his driver and putter? 

Can Scottie Scheffler defend? Nothing he’s executed over the previous yr ought to inform you no. 

Will we get a shock winner once more? It’s been some time. 

Could Harrison Crowe win? He’s the Asia-Pacific Amateur winner. And it’s essential to see this trick shot.

Could Matthew McLean win? He’s the U.S. Mid-Amateur champion. In actual life, he’s an optometrist. 

Could Larry Mize or Sandy Lyle win? Mize, the 1987 winner and an Augusta native, is taking part in his final Masters. Lyle, the winner a yr after Mize, could possibly be taking part in his last Masters too; a couple of weeks in the past, he mentioned he was executed with PGA Tour Champions occasions. 

How will 13 play? The tee field has been moved again 35 yards. Will it play extra sincere? Will it’s much less entertaining if gamers are laying up?

Will it rain? Shhh. But yeah, it doesn’t good. There hasn’t been a Monday end right here since 1983. Hmm, 40 is a pleasant, spherical quantity.  

One last enjoyable factor

Back to the stroll. 

Alayna Finau, Tony Finau’s spouse, and their oldest son, Jraice, have been strolling out of the members present store, to the fitting of the primary fairway. They have been a part of Netflix’s Full Swing; Tony and his household have been prominently featured. 

And now they’re stars, too. 

I overheard this from some patrons:

“There’s Alayna! There’s Tony Finau’s wife!”

“There’s Jraice!”

Maybe surprisingly, he was strolling with out a bag out of the store — it’s the one spot the place you should buy merch with the Augusta National Golf Club emblem; the patron present store has Masters objects. 

“He’s not the shopper I’d be.”

Indeed.