World primary Scottie Scheffler launches his Masters title defence tonight (AEST) centered on tackling the intricacies of Augusta Nationwide slightly than the prospect to affix a choose band of back-to-back champions.
Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods are the one gamers to win two straight Masters titles, however Scheffler — who additionally gained in 2022 — says ideas of becoming a member of them are the furthest factor from his thoughts.
“Once I take into consideration preparing for this week, after I step on the primary tee on Thursday, I’m going to remind myself that I’ve carried out what I wanted to do to play effectively, and it’s all about going out and competing now,” Scheffler mentioned.
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Aussies at The Masters – Full Preview | 08:15
World quantity two Rory McIlroy has the same mindset as he tries to affix Nicklaus, Woods, Gary Participant, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in finishing a profession Grand Slam — one thing he’s been unable to do in 10 prior makes an attempt.
“It’s simply narratives. It’s noise,” mentioned McIlroy, who gained the latest of his 4 main titles in 2014 however arrived at Augusta with two PGA Tour victories in 2025.
Scheffler begins his marketing campaign at 12.15am tomorrow morning with McIlroy starting his first spherical at 3.12am Australian time.
Cameron Smith is the primary of 5 Australians to tee off, at 10.52pm on Thursday evening. See the full tee occasions for Spherical 1 and a pair of right here.
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AUSSIE STAR SMITH TURNS HEADS WITH BOLD FASHION MOVE
Smith, in the meantime, turned heads on the eve of the match by rocking as much as the observe vary in … a dashing darkish navy swimsuit.
Whereas it’s often compatriot Jason Day making trend statements as of late, 31-year-old Queenslander stole the present together with his daring and baffling look.
Did the previous British Open champ lose a guess? It didn’t seem so, with the swimsuit sporting distinct logos of LIV Golf and his crew, Ripper GC.
Commentators even theorised it could have been an uncommon tactic by Smith to assist iron out some bugs in his golf swing earlier than the match,
“This we don’t see usually,” one mentioned. “… Cam tends to get his swing a bit lengthy, his arms will type of get away from him at occasions.
”While you placed on a jackey you pressure the arms to remain close to each other. It seems to be good and formal, however you additionally do restrict movement.”
‘I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT’: ACES GALORE IN PAR-3 CONTEST
Colombia’s Nicolas Echavarria defeated American J.J. Spaun in a playoff to win the Masters Par-Three Contest, risking a inexperienced jacket curse on the eve of the yr’s first main showdown.
Echavarria, who certified for his first Masters by successful final yr’s PGA Zozo Championship in Japan, birdied the second further gap whereas Spaun made bogey to take what has been a poisoned chalice triumph.
No Par-Three Contest winner has ever donned the Masters champion’s inexperienced jacket in the identical yr.
“It feels superior,” Echavarria mentioned. “Being my first time and successful this, it feels unimaginable.
“Hopefully we alter the custom of by no means successful the Masters Par-Three Contest and the match itself. We’ll see about that.”
The competition, performed since 1960, provides a relaxed ambiance within the hours earlier than the tension-packed match tees off Thursday morning.
Non-competing previous champions and contributors are invited to play within the made-for-fun occasion, the place kids caddie and generally hit pictures for his or her fathers, getting an unforgettable probability to really feel part of the motion on one in every of golf’s grandest levels.
The Par-Three Contest winner receives a crystal pedestal bowl whereas those that make aces are given a crystal vase.
There have been 115 holes-in-one within the occasion, three being added this yr.
Keegan Bradley, captain for this yr’s US Ryder Cup crew, aced the 140-yard sixth gap and hugged his kids in pleasure.
“That was so enjoyable,” Bradley mentioned. “It was up there with my favourite moments of my golf profession, possibly even my life. I’ll always remember that ever.
“I’ll do not forget that as a lot as any golf shot I’ve hit, with my household proper there. It was fairly particular.
Bradley celebrates epic ace with household | 01:12
Additionally making a hole-in-one on the sixth was five-time main winner Brooks Koepka. “It’s nice to have such a calming occasion,” Koepka mentioned whereas with one-year-old son Crew.
American Tom Hoge, the 2023 Par-Three Contest winner now at his third Masters, aced the 90-yard fourth gap, his second hole-in-one within the occasion after the eighth gap in 2023.
“I don’t know if there are numerous keys. Simply fortunate I assume,” Hoge mentioned. “Each of them hit past and spun into the outlet.”
Second-ranked Rory McIlroy, who would full a profession Grand Slam with a Masters victory, was out together with his four-year-old daughter Poppy as caddie.
“The build-up to this occasion is rather a lot,” McIlroy mentioned. “It’s good to have this. It means extra when you’ve gotten a household.” As for skipping potential observe time for light-hearted household moments, four-time main winner McIlroy mentioned, “In case you’re not prepared by now, you don’t actually have an opportunity
McIlroy’s daughter stuns with loopy putt | 01:11
CRICKET ROYALTY AT AUGUSTA
South African cricket legend A.B. de Villiers was stunned at Augusta Nationwide on Wednesday due to his {golfing} pal Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
De Villiers served as caddie for 57th-ranked Bezuidenout within the Par-Three Contest, performed on the eve of the 89th Masters, and examined his luck with a sand wedge.
“I hit a pleasant little sand wedge in there, discovered the inexperienced, spun again to the entrance fringe space. I’m fairly completely satisfied,” de Villiers mentioned. “I used to be utterly numb. Might hardly breathe. I’m proud of the outcome.
“Absolute privilege,” he added. “Glad to be right here. I’ve been watching this occasion since I used to be three-years outdated. It’s nice to be right here with my mate and stroll the golf course.” The Par-Three Contest offers gamers a calming afternoon earlier than the depth of the yr’s first main begins.
“It was nice to have one in every of my associates right here as effectively to caddie for me,” mentioned Bezuidenhout, who’s making ready for his fourth Masters look.
“We’ve in all probability identified one another 10, 12 years. We’ve performed plenty of golf collectively. We performed plenty of pro-ams collectively again in South Africa.”