Scottie Scheffler backed up all the pre-tournament hype, at Augusta National, while Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were left to rue challenges that were all but over before the weekend got going.
Day one of 2024 Masters didn’t start until 10:30am (3:30pm Irish time) due to a two and a half hour weather delay and nearby electrical storms.
Winds gusted over 40 miles per hour on day two, which resulted in a scoring average of 76.08. +6 was the halfway cut and major champions Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose and Wyndham Clark all settled for a disappointing weekend off at Augusta.
Amen Corner is a famous three-hole stretch at Augusta from 11 to 13 which includes all greens with risky water hazards.
There were plenty of storylines for this year’s edition with Tiger Woods competing, 13 players from LIV Golf participating, Rory McIlroy attempting to win all four majors and Scottie Scheffler’s challenge at a second green jacket. But all he could think about in the aftermath was getting home.
“I love you and I’m coming home,” he said in a message to his wife Meredith after the win.
“In my head, all I can think about right now is getting home. I’m not thinking about the tournament.
” I’m not thinking about the green jacket. I’m trying to answer your questions and I’m trying to get home.
I wish — I wish I could soak this in a little bit more. Maybe I will tonight when I get home.
Augusta was the winner, though, as only eight players finished 2024 Masters under par.
Scheffler shot rounds of 66, 72, 71 and took a one-shot lead, on -7, into Sunday’s final round.
Scheffler played in the final group with his nearest challenger Collin Morikawa (-6). The world number one played holes one to three in -1 due to multiple up and downs. Scheffler made his second bogey of day four at the seventh hole and dropped back to -6. The 2024 Masters was Ludvig Aberg’s first time to play Augusta. Aberg shot rounds of 73,69,70 and started day four -4.
The Swedish star played in the second last group with Max Homa (-5). Aberg’s front nine of -3 included holing an amazing long-range birdie putt at the ninth hole.
Morikawa made his first birdie of day four at eight to reach -7 after an excellent up and down from 107 yards. Homa reached -6, after playing the front nine in -1. Scheffler hit a sensational second shot from 102 yards to tap-in distance at nine and took a one-shot lead on -8 over Aberg -7 to 10th tee.
Homa advanced to -7 with a birdie at the difficult 10th hole.
However, the 2022 Masters champion stretched his lead at the top of leaderboard to two shots as a birdie at 10 was good enough to reach -9.
Aberg made his first mistake of that final at 11 – his second shot found a penalty area and resulted in a double bogey. Homa pulled his tee shot left at 12 and had to settle for a disappointing double bogey.
Morikawa’s chances of winning came to an end due to playing holes nine to 11 in +4. Scheffler showed why he is world number one with playing holes 13 to 15 in -2 to reach -10.
Aberg kept his chances of a win alive due to two birdies in a row at 13 and 14 to reach -7. The Swede missed the fairway at the par five 15th and had to settle for a disappointing par, though. Scheffler put one hand in the jacket with a birdie at 16 to reach -11. Aberg finished second, on -7, due to an under par round of 69. Two pars at 17 and 18 was good enough for Scheffler to win his second Masters. Scheffler has now received prize money of $12.1 million for his three 2024 wins at Bay Hill, Sawgrass and Augusta.
Tommy Fleetwood started day four -1 and shot an impressive round of 69.
Fleetwood finished tied third on -4 and a great performance from the Englishman considering he was without his caddie Ian Finnis.
Homa and Morikawa shot over par rounds to finish alongside Fleetwood -4 tied third. Day one leader -7 Bryson DeChambeau followed up his 65 with three rounds in the 70s to finish tied sixth on -2. The highlight of Cameron Smith’s round was an eagle at two and the Australian -2 finished alongside DeChambeau in tied sixth. Xander Schauffele -1 finished eighth and Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Young, Will Zalatoris made up the top 10, on level par.
Rory McIlroy got off to a solid start with an opening -1 71 and was within six shots of the lead starting Friday’s round.
McIlroy struggled in high winds on day two and shot a round of 77. The Northern Irishman shot rounds of 71 and 73 to finish tied 22nd on +4. McIlroy struggled to move up the leaderboard at Augusta especially in playing 16 par 5s in a disappointing -3. He will have to wait until 2025 for another grand slam attempt at Augusta. 2024 PGA Championship in May is at Valhalla – the venue were McIlroy won his last major.
Shane Lowry made the halfway cut and started Saturday’s round +3. The highlight of Lowry’s third round was holing his second shot for an eagle at 14. Lowry shot a final round of 74 and finished tied 43rd on +8. Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods made his 24th consecutive cut at Augusta, which was a new record.
It was an achievement that Woods made the cut due to only playing one competitive round in 2024 before Augusta. Sunday’s final round was Woods 100th competitive round at Augusta but he unfortunately finished +16.
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