Golf

Golf Masters Tournament Preview – All You Need to Know About the Masters 2023

Golf Masters Tournament Preview – All You Need to Know About the Masters 2023

The 2022-2023 PGA Tour schedule has turned the page to its first major of the year and arguably most prestigious: the Masters Tournament.

So far, there are 89 golfers set to compete for the Green Jacket, with every player in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking currently in the field.

Golf Masters dates and where to watch

Augusta National will play host to the 87th Masters golf tournament from April 6-9. Coverage of the event will be split between ESPN and CBS. ESPN will broadcast the first two rounds in the United States on Thursday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET. 

CBS has owned the television rights to the tournament since 1956 and will broadcast Saturday (3 p.m. to 7 pm. ET) and Sunday’s final round (2 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET). Paramount Plus users can also stream the CBS broadcast if you prefer to watch Masters live streams to TV options.

Sky Sports will broadcast all four rounds for U.K. viewers. The golf Masters TV schedule for Sky Sports are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1930-0030 and Sunday from 1830-0300.

Tee times for Thursday and Friday

The opening tee time featuring Kevin Na and former champion Mike Weir is slated for 8:00 a.m. ET. The featured group consisting of Tiger Woods, Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland will get underway at 10:18 a.m. ET.

For more tee times, visit the Masters website.

How to get Masters tickets

If you prefer watching golf in person and not on a screen and, more importantly, have the opportunity to go to Augusta for the Masters, there are a few ways in which you can get your hands on the Masters tickets:

Ticket lottery

The safest way to purchase Masters tickets is by entering the Augusta National ticket lottery. Customers can apply for tickets in a lottery-based method which picks fans at random to be eligible for ground passes for specific rounds of the tournament.

The first selection by Augusta National is for tournament rounds. After customers are selected, and the tickets have been sold, Augusta National will select and sell tickets for practice rounds.

On the secondary market

Fans can also buy tickets on the secondary market. These tickets can be bought online or in person. The prices will be steeper than the lottery and sell for around $1,100 to $4,000 per round, depending on the retailer and the day bought. Tickets for an individual for Masters week will cost about $10,000.

There will also be vendors around Augusta, Georgia, and near the course selling tickets. It’s essential to make sure these aren’t fake.

Top players in the Masters golf 2023 field

The Masters will boast arguably the strongest field of any event on this year’s PGA Tour schedule, so it will be tough to find reliable Masters betting tips.

There will be many former champions competing, current winners from this PGA Tour season as well as a handful of LIV golfers. With that in mind, perhaps each-way betting for Masters is the smarter way to go.

LIV golfers are eligible to compete in all four major championships but are currently banned from normal PGA events.

Tiger Woods

The five-time Masters champ is expected to tee it up this week for his 25th appearance at Augusta National. The 47-year-old has made 23-of-24 cuts and boasts 14 top-10 finishes at the event, so at the very least, Woods should be able to make the cut at Masters.

After suffering a significant leg injury in 2021, Woods has played sparingly on the PGA Tour. This season, he’s made one appearance at the Genesis Invitational, finishing in a tie for 45th.

The 82-time PGA Tour winner won the 2019 Masters at 43 years old with an 11-year gap between major victories and 14 years after his 2005 Masters win. Woods has lifted 15 major championship trophies, which is second in history behind Jack Nicklaus (18). So, given his odds to win it this year, perhaps Woods is one of the better sleeper picks for Masters.

Scottie Scheffler

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will try to become the fourth player to defend his Green Jacket.

The 26-year-old is competing in his fourth Masters. In last year’s edition, Scheffler found himself on the top of the golf Masters leaderboard after 36 holes and held on to win his first major. 

The Texan has five PGA Tour victories and, in 2023, has successfully defended his title at the Phoenix Open and won the Players Championship.

Jon Rahm

The Spaniard has been one of the hottest players on earth this year, already capturing three titles. The 2021 U.S. Open winner has finished in the top ten four times in six appearances at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy

The World No. 2 is a Masters victory short of the career grand slam. McIlroy has tasted victory at the U.S. Open, PGA Championship (twice) and Open Championship.

The 23-time PGA Tour winner recorded a top-10 finish in every major in 2022. McIlroy will try and build from his solo second a year ago at Augusta.

Phil Mickelson

The three-time Green Jacket winner is making his 30th appearance at Augusta National. 

Mickelson is a six-time major champion and holds 45 titles on the PGA Tour, with his most recent coming at the PGA Championship in 2021. The World Golf Hall of Fame member became the oldest player to win a major when he won the PGA at 50.

Masters golf 2023 odds

The defending champion Scottie Scheffler is once again the main favourite to win the title here, followed closely by Rory Mcllroy, who finished second last year. John Ram is also among the main favourites, while others are a bit behind in terms of average odds for winning the Masters.

The following list contains the average odds of winning the 2023 Masters outright:

  • Scottie Scheffler @ 7/1 (8.00)
  • Rory McIlroy @ 15/2 (8.50)
  • Jon Rahm @ 9/1 (10.00)
  • Cameron Smith @ 16/1 (17.00)
  • Collin Morikawa @ 18/1 (19.00)
  • Jordan Spieth @ 18/1 (19.00)
  • Justin Thomas @ 20/1 (21.00)
  • Patrick Cantlay @ 20/1 (21.00)
  • Dustin Johnson @ 22/1 (23.00)
  • Tiger Woods @ 50/1 (51.00)

Masters 2023

Course details

Course: Augusta National (hosted since 1934)

Length: 7,545 yards

Fairway grass: Bermuda

Green grass: Bentgrass

The iconic par-5, 13th hole nicknamed “Azalea” was extended from 510 to 545 yards for the 2023 edition of the tournament.

What does the winner receive?

Any player who wins the Masters is awarded the Green Jacket, the Masters Trophy and a lifetime exemption to the tournament. 

The Champion also receives a five-year PGA Tour exemption, entry to the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January, and a spot in the US Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship for five years.

Tournament history

The first Masters was held on March 22, 1934. The tournament was initially named the Augusta National Invitation Tournament until it was changed to the “Masters Tournament” in 1939. 

Since 1940, the tournament has been held during the first whole week of April. Amateur champion golfer Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts founded the tournament.

Most wins

  • Jack Nicklaus – 6 (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986)
  • Tiger Woods – 4 (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019)
  • Arnold Palmer – 4 (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964)
  • Jimmy Demaret – 3 (1940, 1947, 1950)
  • Sam Snead – 3 (1949, 1952, 1954)
  • Gary Player – 3 (1961, 1974, 1978)
  • Nick Faldo – 3 (1989, 1990, 1996)
  • Phil Mickelson – 3 (2004, 2006, 2010)

Consecutive Masters winners

Jack Nicklaus – 1965 and 1966

Nick Faldo – 1989 and 1990

Tiger Woods – 2001 and 2002

Wire-to-wire champions

Craig Wood – 1941

Arnold Palmer – 1960

Jack Nicklaus – 1972

Raymond Floyd – 1976

Jordan Spieth – 2015

Lowest winning scores

Dustin Johnson – 2020, 65-70-65-68=268 (-20)

Tiger Woods – 1997, 70-66-65-69 = 270 (-18)

Jordan Spieth – 2015, 64-66-70-70=270 (-18)

Youngest winner

Tiger Woods – 1997 (21 years and 104 days)

Oldest winner

Jack Nicklaus – 1986 (46 years 82 days)

Largest margin of victory

Tiger Woods – 1997 (12 shots)

Lowest round

Nick Price – 63 strokes (1986)

Greg Norman – 63 strokes (1996)

Most appearances

Gary Player – 52

Arnold Palmer – 50


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