“What a missile I hit” – Digital Samachaar
The Masters is an occasion of traditions and due to this fact, so as to not lose good customs, the three Spaniards taking part within the match, Jos Mara Olazbal, Sergio Garcia y Jon Rahm, They met on the eve of the beginning of the match on the tee of gap 1 at 10 within the morning.
All three have a reserved place within the winners’ car parking zone, get pleasure from a locker within the champions’ locker room and naturally can put on their inexperienced jackets within the amenities of probably the most unique membership on the planet.
The sequence was harking back to 2023, when Olazbal hugged an already profitable Jon Rahm, though too many issues have occurred in these one year. The turbulence within the international golf scene has given method to a discouraging silence. All actors proclaim to the 4 winds that the settlement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is essential – tv audiences are falling by round 20% – however peace is a very long time coming.
Rahm’s preview
“What an awesome recreation you made,” Sergio mentioned sarcastically to the defending champion. The one from Barrika endured, stoically, the jokes of the Fireballs captain, earlier than hitting a spectacular 3-wood on the primary begin in Augusta. “What a missile I hit,” he confessed to Olazbal whereas he rigorously stored his stick. Jon Rahm appeared way more relaxed after final evening’s dinner, an genuine feast of Basque delicacies that was painstakingly designed by the chef. Jos Andr. The phrase that finest defines the assembly of the residing champions of the Masters (the one ones lacking had been Sandy Lyle y Angel Cabrera) was camaraderie.
Rahm arrives on the Masters with a good preparation, in all probability removed from perfect. He has competed in solely 5 LIV Golf tournaments, reaching all of the finals, though with out reaching any victory. He isn’t an issue within the three rounds of LIV, though Rahmbo acknowledges that enjoying 4 rounds advantages him. And it’s not a matter of aggressive ambition both. “I need to win as a lot as I wished to win earlier than I transfer on to LIV. That doesn’t actually change,” he mentioned in his assembly with the media the place he once more admitted to lacking the PGA Tour. “I nonetheless love the PGA Tour and I want all of it the most effective. I nonetheless hope that in some unspecified time in the future I can compete there once more,” he responded forcefully earlier than clarifying that he doesn’t remorse his bounce to LIV Golf the place he sees many constructive issues.
Rahm will depart on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. native time (4:30 p.m. in Spain) together with Matt Fitzpatrick, the English winner of the US Open final yr, and Scott Dunlap.
Garcia’s good second
Sergio García, winner of the Masters in 2017, arrives at Augusta along with his second place a couple of days in the past on the LIV Golf in Miami, the place the participant gave his finest efficiency in years. Regardless of shedding within the tiebreaker, García’s lengthy recreation was harking back to what led him to win his first main right here. Moreover, because of the recycling of an previous putter from 25 years in the past, it’s establishing a hopeful regularity on the greens. This can be a Scotty Cameron mannequin that Sergio utilized in his well-known second place at Medinah in 1999 the place he stood as much as himself. Tiger Woods.
Garcia will debut on Thursday accompanied by Chris Kirk and Ryan Fox from 3:12 p.m. Spanish time.
The trio of Spaniards was closed by José María Olazbal, winner in 1994 and 1999. In coaching along with his compatriots he hit the drive on gap one with all his coronary heart and nonetheless remained 20 meters behind the three woods of García and Rahm. He performs one other match, however the feeling is that simply being there for 9 holes is way more helpful than even Olazbal may think about.
Woods’ combat
On the worldwide stage, Tiger Woods as soon as once more captured the primary consideration. “He appears excellent at golf,” they are saying from these round him, however the combat can be one other. In opposition to his physique, the demanding slopes of Augusta Nationwide and the forecast of rain on Thursday. “What’s your feeling about what you’re able to doing this week?” one of many journalists requested him on Tuesday. “If every thing goes effectively, I feel I can get yet another main. Do I want to enter extra element or are we high-quality like this?” Woods answered emphatically.
