Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods received his spherical below means at Augusta National on Thursday because the 87th version of the match began in heat circumstances.
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Woods discovered the golf green with a 289-yard drive from the primary tee and went on to par the par-4 gap, which has offered him with some tough moments previously.
Birdies have been in brief provide among the many early teams who took to the course after former winners Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson offered the normal ceremonial launch to the yr’s first main match.
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Temperatures have been rising all through the morning in direction of the anticipated excessive of 87 levels Fahrenheit and the skies have been overcast. Conditions have been dry though rain is forecast for later within the week and will impression the schedule.
American Kevin Na withdrew attributable to sickness after enjoying the primary 9 holes at 4-over par 40 at Augusta National.
The 39-year-old South Korean-born American was is of 18 gamers from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League who certified for the Masters.
LIV Golf is locked in bitter authorized battles with the established PGA Tour.
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This Masters is the primary time that the top-ranked gamers from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are in the identical area at Augusta.
The PGA Tour has banned LIV gamers, with their US court docket struggle set to start early subsequent yr.
Scottie Scheffler trying to defend Masters title
Just hours earlier than the beginning, a tribunal in London dominated in opposition to LIV gamers of their dispute with the DP World Tour, previously the European Tour.
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The arbitration panel dominated that the DP World Tour was entitled to sanction the gamers for showing in LIV occasions with out authorisation.
The full impression of that call will unfold within the coming weeks however gamers have insisted their focus this week is on the battle for the inexperienced jacket.
World primary Scottie Scheffler is trying to turn into simply the fourth participant to win back-to-back Masters.
The American world primary is the bookmaker’s favourite to slide into the well-known inexperienced jacket when the 4 rounds are full on Sunday night.
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Scheffler has been a mannequin of consistency over the previous 14 months, which has seen him win six PGA Tour titles, most just lately on the Players Championship in March.
Only Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods have achieved successive victories within the Masters.
Last yr’s runner-up, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, is hoping to lastly full his profession Grand Slam with a long-awaited Masters triumph.
McIlroy has been a number one supporter of the PGA Tour, for whom a nightmare situation can be the sight of a LIV insurgent celebrating within the inexperienced jacket – not a completely fanciful notion.
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Australian Cameron Smith, the reigning British Open champion, tied for third at Augusta final yr, whereas fellow LIV Golf participant Brooks Koepka has received 4 majors and Dustin Johnson, who received LIV’s first season, triumphed in Augusta three years in the past.
The PGA Tour has a a lot deeper checklist of contenders with world quantity three Jon Rahm of Spain, 2015 winner Jordan Spieth and two-time main winner Justin Thomas amongst these in with an opportunity.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
