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Masters Tournament

Augusta National Golf Club

A HISTORY OF EVERY HOLE AT AUGUSTA

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EVERY HOLE AT AUGUSTA

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Payday at SentryWorld

Here's the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2023 U.S. Senior Open

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Patrick McDermott

Just when you thought Bernhard Langer was done surprising people with what he could do on the golf course comes his performance at the 43rd U.S. Senior Open. The 65-year-old German, on the precipice of becoming the all-time winningest golfer in PGA Tour Champions history, cruised to a two-shot victory over Steve Stricker Sunday at SentryWorld in Wisconsin, a margin that is deceiving when he was up by seven strokes at one point early in the back nine.

With a one-under 70 on Sunday after bogeys on the final three holes, Langer posted a seven-under 277 total that gave him his 46th senior title, passing Hale Irwin, who he had shared the mark with since February. In the process, Langer won a senior major for the 12th time, and became the oldest winner of the U.S. Senior Open by eight years, passing Allen Doyle’s previous mark of being just shy of his 58th birthday when he won in 2006 at NCR Country Club.

With the win, Langer also claimed the first-place prize money payout of $720,000 from an overall purse awarded by the USGA of $4 million. Here’s the prize money payouts for each golfer how made the cut in Wisconsin.

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Win: Bernhard Langer, 277/-7, $720,000

2: Steve Stricker, 279/-5, $432,000

3: Jerry Kelly, 280/-4, $267,672

T-4: Rob Labritz, 282/-2, $171,954

T-4: Brett Quigley, 282/-2, $171,954

T-6: Steven Alker, 283/-1, $125,127

T-6: Retief Goosen, 283/-1, $125,127

T-6: Dicky Pride, 283/-1, $125,127

T-9: Alex Cejka, 284/E, $97,136

T-9: Y.E. Yang, 284/E, $97,136

11: K.J. Choi, 285/+1, $84,880

T-12: Joe Durant, 287/+3, $75,805

T-12: Ernie Els, 287/+3, $75,805

T-14: Craig Barlow, 288/+4, $62,932

T-14: Miguel Angel Jiménez, 288/+4, $62,932

T-14: Justin Leonard, 288/+4, $62,932

17: Tom Gillis, 289/+5, $55,419

T-18: Bob Estes, 290/+6, $46,026

T-18: Padraig Harrington, 290/+6, $46,026

T-18: Vijay Singh, 290/+6, $46,026

T-18: Paul Stankowski, 290/+6, $46,026

T-18: David Toms, 290/+6, $46,026

T-23: Paul Broadhurst, 291/+7, $34,089

T-23: Tim Herron, 291/+7, $34,089

T-23: Lee Janzen, 291/+7, $34,089

T-23: Colin Montgomerie, 291/+7, $34,089

T-27: Billy Andrade, 292/+8, $27,134

T-27: Dave Cunningham, 292/+8, $27,134

T-27: Paul Goydos, 292/+8, $27,134

T-27: Richard Green, 292/+8, $27,134

T-27: Rod Pampling, 292/+8, $27,134

T-32: Darren Clarke, 293/+9, $22,337

T-32: Harrison Frazar, 293/+9, $22,337

T-32: Jeff Maggert, 293/+9, $22,337

T-35: David Branshaw, 294/+10, $19,452

T-35: James Kingston, 294/+10, $19,452

T-35: Mike Weir, 294/+10, $19,452

T-38: Phillip Archer, 295/+11, $16,582

T-38: Clark Dennis, 295/+11, $16,582

T-38: Jeff Gove, 295/+11, $16,582

T-38: Bob Sowards, 295/+11, $16,582

T-42: Alan McLean, 296/+12, $13,362

T-42: Michael Muehr, 296/+12, $13,362

T-42: Phillip Price, 296/+12, $13,362

T-42: Ken Tanigawa, 296/+12, $13,362

T-42: Mark Strickland, 296/+12, Amateur

T-47: Hiroyuki Fujita, 297/+13, $10,719

T-47: Mark Hensby, 297/+13, $10,719

T-47: Mike Small, 297/+13, $10,719

50: Joakim Haeggman, 298/+14, $9,618

T-51: Stephen Ames, 300/+16, $8,822

T-51: Adilson da Silva, 300/+16, $8,822

T-51: John Huston, 300/+16, $8,822

T-51: Mark O'Meara, 300/+16, $8,822

T-51: Tom Pernice Jr., 300/+16, $8,822

56: Brad Adamonis, 301/+17, $8,451

T-57: Woody Austin, 302/+18, $8,290

T-57: Marco Dawson, 302/+18, $8,290

T-57: Keiichiro Fukabori, 302/+18, $8,290

T-60: Jesús Amaya, 304/+20, $8,009

T-60: Tom Lehman, 304/+20, $8,009

T-60: Kenny Perry, 304/+20, $8,009

T-60: Kirk Triplett, 304/+20, $8,009

T-60: Christian Raynor, 304/+20, Amateur

65: Takashi Kanemoto, 305/+21, $7,807

66: Harry Rudolph, 308/+24, $7,714

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5 Major Tournaments of The Senior Golf Tour | Tour Champions

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PGA Tour Champions also known as the Senior Tour in 2023. Photo taken on the green at En-Joie Golf Club at the Dick's Sporting Goods Championship. Audience is watching the golfers approach the green.

Table of Contents

The PGA Tour Champions (commonly known as the Champions Tour) is a senior golf tour specifically made for golfers above the age of 50. The Professional Golfers Association officially founded the tour over 40 years ago in 1980.

The beauty of golf is that it ages like fine wine. You’re never too old to play golf! Even if you want to play in a USGA Senior Amateur Championship .

This article goes in-depth about the senior golf tour five major tournaments. It highlights renowned championships, golfer stats, and a few fun facts.  However, for a more detailed review of the PGA TOUR Champions, you’ll want to read our ultimate guide .

Origin & History of the Senior Golf Tour

PGA Tour Champions, senior tour at the En-Joie Golf Club

The Senior PGA Championship has been unofficially active since 1937 as a high-profile tournament. It was exclusive for golfers above the age of 50. 

However, in 1978, a profitable tournament between teams of the best senior golfers called the ‘Legends of Golf’ gave birth to the idea of an official senior golf tour.

The PGA formally established the ‘Senior PGA Tour’ in 1980. This senior tour was designed for golfers aged 50 and above to showcase their talent. 

The 1980 tour consisted of only four events. For comparison, the 2021 tour consisted of 25 events. A lot has changed over the years!

The total prize money in 1980 was $475,000, which would be worth $1,707,901 today.

The next ten years, from 1980-1990, saw a considerable increase in the popularity of the senior tournament. The 1990 season consisted of thirty-eight official events with four major tournaments. 

The entire prize money for the 1990 season was a whopping $17.8 million. In 2022, this prize money would be worth around $40,349,753.63 ! 

Fun Fact: Lee Trevino won 7 tournaments in the 1990 senior golf tour season. The most during the season.

Evolution of the PGA Tour Champions Name

In 2002, the tour was renamed the ‘Champions Tour’ till the 2015 season. The name PGA Tour Champions was adopted for the 2016 tour and onwards. 

Qualifying & Playing on the Senior Golf Tour

Competitors in the senior golf tour have to play multiple tournaments throughout the season. These events are usually played over three rounds or 54 holes. 

However, the five major championships of the tour are played over four rounds (72 holes) and have a 36-hole cut. Playing an additional round ensures bringing the best talent to the top of the standings.

Fun Fact: The average male golfer is estimated to hit a 219-yard drive. While the Senior Golf Tour’s average driving distance in 2022 was 282.0 yards . The longest drive of the tour was 308.8 yards by Padraig Harrington.

Senior Tour Age

With age comes wisdom. And the opportunity to qualify for the senior golf tour!

Here are a few requirements to qualify for the PGA Tour Champions:

  • The Senior Tour age requirement is 50 years old minimum.
  • Compete and qualify in the 72-hole Regional Qualifying Stage.
  • All successful qualifiers and exempt players must come in the top 12 of the Final Qualifying Stage between 78 golfers.

Spots in the Senior Golf Tour

Understanding the qualification system of the PGA Tour Champions is complicated, and hardly anyone understands it, according to Bobby Clampett , a professional Golf player, and analyst.

PGA Champions from previous years make up 30 of the 81 players on the field. Another 30 spots are given to players in the top 70 of the PGA Tour and Tour Champions.

The rest of the players include the World Golf Hall of Fame members and winners of previous PGA tours. 

Players competing in the qualifying sessions also have a few spots reserved for them.

The 5 Senior Major Golf Championships & Their Winners

PGA Senior Tour with Senior Golfers making their final putts on the En-Joie Golf Course in NY

The Senior Major championships are a big deal in the tour. The best of the best golfers participate in Majors. Meaning that only players that meet certain criteria are given a spot in the Major tournament.

Major champions have their names go down in history books. This is one of the reasons why golfers praise Major events.  

There are five major championships in the PGA Tour Champions. These championships differ from the other tours as they are played over four rounds (as opposed to 3 in the standard events). 

Here are the five majors of the PGA Tour Champions, along with their relevant winners.

Read Next: The 34 Best Arnold Palmer Quotes on Golf, Life, & Success

1. Senior PGA Championship 

The Senior PGA Championship is the oldest of the five senior major championships. The Championship was established in 1937. 

It was first played at the Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia, United States. 

The event was one of the four events in the inaugural of the PGA Tours Championship in 1980. The Championship event was played in Florida in 1980. Over the next 42 years, the event has taken place on 17 different courses in various cities.

The eligibility criteria for the Senior PGA Championship are slightly different. The criterion includes:

  • The previous winners of the Senior PGA Championship. 
  • Winners of other major tournaments are also eligible.  
  • Members of the Ryders Cup team and top European and Japanese Senior Tour players can also qualify.

2022 Senior PGA Championship Winner: Steven Alker won the 2022 Championship held in Michigan.

Most wins in the Senior PGA Championship: Since 1980, the record number of wins in this championship is held by Hale Irwin . Irwin claimed the trophy in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2004. 

2. The Tradition

The Tradition, or the Regions Tradition , is one of the five senior major championships. This championship was established in 1989 in Arizona. In 2003 the event relocated to Oregon and has since moved to Alabama. 

The event is now hosted at the Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. where players complete four rounds on the course and play 72 holes. 

The most recent event was held in 2022, marking its 30th year of play.

2022 Regions Tradition Winner: Steve Stricker took the trophy for the 2022 Tradition championship. The winner earned $375,000 for his victory in the tour. 

Most wins in the Regions Tradition: The record for the most number of wins in the Tradition is held by Jack Nicklaus . Nicklaus won the championship four times: in 1990, 1991, 1995, and 1996. 

3. U.S. Senior Open

Senior Golf Tour: US Open 2013.  By: Jonathan Palombo Photography

The U.S. Senior Open is one of the most renowned five major championships in the PGA Tour Champions. The championship is administered by the United St ates Go lf Association . The PGA has recognized it as a major championship since its establishment.  

The championship was introduced in 1980 and was one of the four events in the first PGA Tour Champions in New York. It is currently played at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Pennsylvania.

The US Senior Open is open for both amateurs and professionals. However, experienced players tend to dominate the championship, like any other. 

2022 U.S. Senior Open Winner: The most recent champion is Padraig Harrington . He received  $720,000 for his winning share.

Most wins in the U.S. Senior Open: The record for most wins in the event is held by Mille r Barber , who won 3 events in 1982, 1984, and 1985. 

Read Next: The 10 Best & Craziest Animal Golf Head Covers for Gifts

4. Senior Players Championship

The Senior Players Championship is currently known as the Kaulig Companies Championship. It is also recognized as a major championship in the PGA Tour Champions. 

The Championship was first held in 1983, 3 years after the establishment of the PGA Senior Golf Tour. It was most recently held at the Firestone Country Club in Ohio. 

2022 Senior Players Championship Winner: The 2022 champion was Jerry Kelly , who received $450,000 for his victory in the event. 

Most wins in the Senior Players Championship: Bernhard Langer holds the record for winning the most trophies in the Senior Players Championship. He won the majors consecutively in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

5. The Senior Open Championship

The Senior Open Championship was recognized as a major in the PGA Tour Champions much later in 2003. 

The Championship was established in 1987 in the United Kingdom. Currently, it’s known as the Senior Open Championship by Rolex for sponsorship reasons.

Fun Fact: The Senior Open Championship i s the only senior major championship in the PGA seniors tour held outside the United States.

2022 Senior Open Championship by Rolex Winner: The 2022 champion for the Senior Open Championship is Darren Clarke. He earned $432,080 for winning the major title.

Most wins in the Senior Open Championship by Rolex: Bernhard Langer also holds the title for most wins in Senior Open Championship. He won the tournaments in 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2019.

Other Noteworthy Senior Tours

Everyone deserves to play competitive golf. At every stage and age. 

Let’s have a look at some well-known senior tours. 

Legends of the LPGA (Women’s Senior Golf Tour)

Legends of the LPGA is a women’s senior golf tour. It’s a tour of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) for women over the age of 45.

The tour was established in 2000 by 25 retired LPGA players who modeled it after the men’s senior tour. 

From its initial days, the tour grew from two annual events to eleven events in 2013. 

In 2017, the Senior LPGA Championship was also inaugurated. This tournament is an annual tour event alongside the Senior Women’s Open. 

2022 Senior LPGA Winner: Karrie Webb won the 2022 Senior LPGA championship. She got prize money of $60,000 for her win.

Most wins in the Senior LPGA Championship: Trish Johnson holds the most wins in the Senior LPGA Championship. She won the championship twice in 2017 and 2021.

⛳️ Related: Top 25 PGA Tour Champions to Watch This Year

Senior Amateur Golf Tour

Senior Amateur Golfer preparing for his fairway shot with his iron

The Senior Amateur Golf Tour was established in 1999 for amateur players above the age of 50. 

It’s open to play for golfers of all skill levels. The only requirement is to be above the age of 50 and get a membership.

Players can get a membership to play in their local flights. Membership cards cost between $85 to $100 annually. The price variation depends on your location.

Moreover, you’ll need to pay a tournament fee to enter each tournament. The price again varies on your location but ranges from $65 to $100. 

Note: This price includes your green fee, golf cart, and range balls. The winning prize is also calculated from the tournament fee.

Players earn points by regularly playing in their local flights. 

Players can then compete in stroke-play tournaments locally. The tour concludes with a National Tour Championship. 

Top amateur players from across the country can compete with each other for the title. The golfers need a set number of points to qualify for the National Championship.

The Sunbelt Senior Golf Tour

The Sunbelt Senior Golf Tour was one of the most recognized golf tours to prepare yourself for the PGA Tour Champions or the European Senior Tour. Although no longer active, this Senior Golf Tour allowed golfers ages 49 and above to experience a competitive senior golf tournament beforehand.

⛳️ Read Next: The Amazing Ben Hogan Golf Story: 5 Lessons to Inspire You

Senior Golf Tour Final Thoughts

So that’s a wrap on Senior Golf Tour Major Tournaments. This series of tournaments is truly an incredible offering for golfers above 50.

If you enjoy reading about the senior golf tour events, you may also enjoy reading some of our “what’s in the bag” articles listed below.

What are the 5 senior majors?

The five senior majors on the PGA Tour Champions are the Senior PGA Championship, The Tradition (Regions Tradition), U.S. Senior Open, The Senior Players Championship, and the Senior Open Championship.

What Age for the Senior PGA Tour?

The Senior Tour age requirement is to be at least 50 years old.

What age is senior LPGA?

Legends of the LPGA is the official senior tour of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. You must be 45 years old at a minimum to be eligible.

Related Senior Golf Articles

Mike Weir WITB 2023 | The 2003 Masters Champion’s Clubs
The 10 Best Golf Clubs for Senior Women [Expert Review]
The 58 Greatest Golf Quotes of All Time
Who is Bernhard Langer? Remarkable Rags to Riches Golf Story
8 Best Tips for Speeding up Your Pace of Play in Golf
Trish Johnson: The Long Bumpy Road to Golf Success

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Erin has spent over 17 years as a healthcare executive working with seniors in nursing homes, skilled nursing, assisted living, and independent living communities. She also holds a Masters Degree in Social Work and other advanced degrees related to seniors.

Erin grew up playing golf in a family of golf fanatics. She started this site to help others add more enjoyment to the game of life through golf.

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2024 u.s. senior open tickets: newport country club (r.i.), june 26-30, daily founders club.

  • All tickets will also provide complimentary general parking and shuttle transportation to and from Newport Country Club.
  • Also includes access to the grounds of Newport Country Club to watch players, walk the course, access grandstands, and purchase food and beverage at on-site concession stands

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  • General Admission to the grounds of Newport Country Club
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  • All tickets will also provide complimentary general parking and shuttle transportation to and from Newport Country Club

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  • Includes a variety of seating options, live television network coverage and access to executive restrooms
  • For each transaction of two (2) or more Weekly Founders Club packages, one (1) complimentary VIP parking pass will be included, while supplies last
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2023 US Senior Open final results: Prize money payout, leaderboard and how much each golfer won

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The 2023 US Senior Open final leaderboard is headed by winner Bernhard Langer, who earned the win on the 2023 PGA Tour Champions schedule at SentryWorld in Stevens Point, Wis.

Langer set the all-time PGA Tour Champions record for wins, overtaking Hale Irwin for the solo record with his 10th major title in the 50-plus set.

Langer beat Steve Stricker by two shots on 7-under 277 total, while Jerry Kelly finished in solo third place, a shot behind his good buddy.

Langer won the $720,000 winner's share of the $4,000,000 purse.

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US Senior Open recap notes

Langer wins the 13th PGA Tour Champions title of the year, getting into the winner's circle again on the 50-plus tour.

The money Langer -- and every player in the field -- earned is converted into Charles Schwab Cup points, with every dollar converted into two points during the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs.

There is no cut on PGA Tour Champions-run events, including the major championships they run. However, the USGA runs this event and had a cut to the top 60 and ties. Every pro who finished the tournament was paid.

The 2023 PGA Tour Champions schedule continues next week.

2023 US Senior Open final leaderboard, results and prize money payouts

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Welcome back to the Masters, where we can all be together again

Masters champions and the Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament Fred S. Ridley at the 2024 Masters Club Dinner prior to the start of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — On Tuesday night the most exclusive group in one of the most private clubs in the United States had its annual dinner. They drank wine and enjoyed a menu chosen by its newest member, a traditional Basque feast that spoke to his ancestry.

They sat and told stories. Of Seve Ballesteros, a Spaniard who played the game of golf four decades ago with such joy and artistry he defied convention and blazed his own way. He was a member of this group once, but taken away too soon. Those who knew him will never tire of speaking about him, and those who didn’t, including Jon Rahm, the man of honor on this night, will hang on every word of those tall tales.

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It was a wonderful night full of laughter and camaraderie, those who attended the Champions Dinner at the 88th Masters said, and at the end of it, Tom Watson asked Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley if he might mind if Watson spoke to the other 33 men in the room. Ridley urged him to do so.

“I’m looking around the room, and I’m seeing just a wonderful experience everybody is having. They are jovial. They are having a great time. They are laughing. I said, ‘Ain’t it good to be together again?’” Watson says.

There was a pall across the room as the eight-time major champion spoke these words, and then Raymond Floyd, 81 and a Masters champion in 1976, stood up and said his goodbyes. The night ended, and the new normal returned.

Professional golf is broken. The PGA Tour over here and LIV over there. There’s four events a year where all the best players in the game share a driving range. Everyone is richer than they were at this time two years ago, but at what cost? Even those who swear a deal must be made to mend fences can remain naive to how much their greed was the original sin.

It cannot continue to survive like this. I know that. Tom Watson knows that. Do they know that?

Watson’s ambition, the reason he stood and said those words, was that he was hoping Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm were all listening. The players have the control. They can bring us together again. Now what are they going to do about it?

“I hope that the players themselves took that to say, you know, we have to do something. We have to do something,” Watson said.

Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player began this Masters Thursday with an opening tee shot, a symbol of their place in the game of golf and the respect the game has for each of them. They’ve won titles and trophies all over the world, and amassed fortunes doing so. Today’s players should not be begrudged for doing the same, but we can also fairly ask when enough is enough and when legacies will matter more than a new yacht.

Augusta National is a club where every member has money but no amount of money can make you a member. It is not a club immune to progress, understanding that even though original architects Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones created a masterpiece, they also did so 92 years ago. There is always tinkering with these 18 holes, lengthening them or removing trees or adding trees. It extends to the patron experience, where millions are poured into improving efficiency but a cup of Crow’s Nest beer will run you $6 and a pimento cheese sandwich $1.50.

There’s something to be learned in there. The most important thing is always the most important thing, and you should never forget it.

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A Masters winner’s new purpose? Bringing ‘humanity’ to its broadcast

Something about golf is inherently personal: you shoot your score, and no one else’s. “You hit it. You’ve got to go chase it,” Nicklaus said. But it’s also a game where everything about it feels connected, every shot and every round a remembrance of a time, a place, and the company. It’s a predominant reason why the Masters feels so much bigger than the other three majors, the consistent venue providing us with a shared language to revisit each April.

This is my first Masters. On Wednesday afternoon, as most of the action was across the way at the par-3 course, I took a stroll to Amen Corner. I sat in a nearly-empty grandstand and took it in, feeling the wind pick up and watching the pines softly sway around me. I thought about my dad, who we lost in 2020, and how much he would have loved it. How many Masters he watched on television, and how the men he watched in their prime at the old Bing Crosby Clambake are now among the oldest in the green jackets.

I felt connected to my dad in that moment. I’m not the only one who has had a similar experience, who wore his dad’s old golf shoes or their mom’s favorite hat to their first trip to Augusta National and just took it all in. That’s what this place does for us, the power in its history and commitment to it.

We all feel together again at the Masters. It’d just be nice if we could feel that way more often.

(Top photo: Courtesy Augusta National Golf Club)

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Hugh Kellenberger is the senior managing editor of The Athletic's golf group. A native of North Carolina, Kellenberger previously served as sports editor and columnist for the Jackson (Mississippi) Clarion Ledger. He first covered Ole Miss for the paper, and in the past has covered Indiana for the Bloomington Herald-Times and the ACC for the Rocky Mount Telegram. Follow Hugh on Twitter @ KellenbergerCBB

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Fred couples vowed not to shoot 80 at masters, but did. now he promises to return in 2025, share this article.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fred Couples’ legion of fans can breathe easy.

The popular 1992 Masters Tournament champion missed the cut for the fifth time in the past six years, but he expects to be back in 2025 – and 2026.

“I’m planning on being healthy and making the cut and telling Fred [Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley] I’m coming back the next year, too,” said Couples, who has struggled with back problems since blowing it out on the range at Doral in 1994.

“It’s shot,” Couples said Friday.

But has soldiered on, and even made the Masters cut by two shots in 2023 after rounds of 71-74, setting the mark for oldest player (63) to make the cut .

Couples, the oldest player in the field this week at 64, vowed during a Tuesday interview that he wouldn’t tolerate shooting 80s in the tournament.

“The last thing I want to do is come out and embarrass myself by a bad score,” he said. “I know I can hit the ball. What is that? I don’t know if that’s a 73 or a 75, but I’m not shooting 80. There’s no way. I’m just not that kind of person. I wouldn’t do that. Can I shoot 80? Of course I can. But I’m not planning on it.”

But he did open up with 80 on Thursday, and that made some think he might retire from the Masters. It was only the second time in his 39 Masters starts that he shot in the 80s. The other time was his in the third round of his Masters debut in 1983, when he had 81.

He followed Thursday’s 80 with 76 to finish at 12-over 156.

Former Masters champions Larry Mize and Sandy Lyle called it quits at Augusta National after the 2023 Masters. Lyle was 65 and Mize 64. Couples isn’t ready to follow them despite his struggles this week.

“I can’t hit an iron,” Couples said. “My body won’t let me do it. I don’t want to say no fun because it’s Augusta, but swinging was a chore.”

He’s only missed one Masters because of his back ailment. He withdrew before the 2016 Masters. But he thought about doing it during Thursday’s first round.

“Yesterday there were several times I should have not played, but I thought I could help these guys that I was playing with a little bit even though they’re out-driving me by 50 yards with the wind, so I didn’t want to quit.”

He felt a little better on Friday, but after the round he needed help stepping down from a podium after his interview.

Check out the latest from Augusta with our live Masters leaderboard and coverage .

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Check out best custom Masters gear at Augusta National

(David Cannon/Getty Images)

(David Cannon/Getty Images)

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A tradition unlike any other, the Masters offers an ideal setting for golf manufacturers – and players – to show off their creative side. When the PGA TOUR heads to Augusta National for the season’s first major, anything and everything is on the table when it comes to custom golf bags, clothing and gear.

There is a plethora of options for inspiration, and some stick to the traditions for stimulation: the Masters green jacket donned by patrons across the property, blooming azaleas lining Amen Corner or the iconic logo, a yellow United States outline with a red flagstick pinned in Georgia. Others go off-piste, thinking outside the box (like Waffle House-themed golf shoes in years past).

Some of the items promoted by the pros at Augusta National are available for purchase, or through company giveaways, while others were made specifically for players or caddies at the event. Take a look below at the best gear seen both at Augusta National and what is available for those watching at home.

TaylorMade traditional staff bags

TaylorMade’s 88th Masters edition staff bag sees a clean and traditional green-and-white color scheme with subtle design notes paying tribute to the ethos of the first major of the year. The company opted for the classic TaylorMade logo on the sides of the bag, while the more modern “T” logo is created with pink azaleas on the front. The handle displays commendation to Amen Corner with gold flags numbered 11 to 13 highlighted with a halo. Across the white sections of the bag, embossed azaleas bring a subtle 3D effect. In contrast, a collection of birth orange peaches lines the bag’s pockets, synonymous with Georgia’s state fruit.

(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Callaway colorful staff bags

For 2024, Callaway decided on a fully white bag with the traditional Masters green as trim. The bag’s main feature is a floral collage of pink, purple, red and orange azaleas on each side of the bag. The same can be said for the headcovers and putter covers.

(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Spieth’s standout nametag

The 2015 Masters champion is known for his unique black-and-neon blue AT&T staff bag seen weekly on the PGA TOUR. However, Augusta National allows Jordan Spieth to change things up. This year’s Masters sees Spieth’s familiar caddie Michael Greller carrying a green-and-white version of the bag but with one standout feature. On the front of the bag is a metallic gold, flashy nametag displaying “Jordan Spieth.”

(Andrew Redington & Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

(Andrew Redington & Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Viktor’s vivacious clothing script

(J.Lindeberg)

(J.Lindeberg)

Thomas’ custom Premiere Series FootJoys

The 15-time PGA TOUR winner debuted a slick pair of custom PLAYERS Championship spikes for TPC Sawgrass earlier in the season. This week in Augusta, Justin Thomas has been seen wearing a pair of Premiere Series FootJoys with a custom light pink azalea on the heel and a green-and-white gradient sole.

 (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Gear available for those watching at home

Tp5x pix season opener.

The TaylorMade Pix range for TP5 and TP5x golf balls has offered various versions of logos from supporting college teams to Nelly Korda’s donut-printed design. This year for the Masters, TaylorMade has opted for unique placements of peaches across the golf ball. Each fresh “batch” comes in a textured box similar to the skin of a ripe Georgia peach.

(Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

(Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Callaway Chrome Tour Major Series

Similar to the Pix design, Callaway’s Chrome Tour balls are available in a number of different designs. The Masters edition for 2024 has a springtime-inspired flower pattern celebrating the iconic April major championship.

Under Armour Drive Pro LE Golf Shoes “Patron’s Pack”

Look back to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, and between the storms Jordan Spieth was seen with a custom pair of Under Armour Drive Pro golf shoes. Fast forward to April, and Under Armour has released a Masters-themed version of the shoes that both Spieth and Maverick McNealy spent months designing. This version sees white-and-tan mesh with a classic Masters green-and-yellow trim and outsole. The insole features a Masters green checkered pattern with a playful Under Armour-branded pimento cheese logo.

(Under Armour)

(Under Armour)

PUMA PHANTOMCAT NITRO “Garden”

The aptly named “Garden” edition of the Puma PHANTOMCAT NITRO features a white leather design with green trim. The green-and-white sole of the golf shoe displays a black azalea with their re-imagined, bright yellow FLEXSPIKE.

(Puma Golf)

(Puma Golf)

COBRA DARKSPEED Season Opener X Driver

While the term “Darkspeed” may contradict the colorful palette synonymous with the Masters, Cobra combines the iconic azalea blooms with the all-black look of DARKSPEED. The sole of the driver shows black-shadowed outlines of the Rhododendron with traditional green-and-yellow trim.

(Cobra Golf)

(Cobra Golf)

Alistair is a senior staff member at the PGA TOUR. Born and raised in England, he played golf professionally on the European Alps Tour before joining the PGA TOUR. Follow Alistair Cameron on Twitter .

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2024 Masters: How to watch the tournament live today, tee times, TV channels, full schedule and more

Golf fans, get ready, because the Second Round of the PGA Tour Masters Tournament is in full swing today. From Apr. 11-14, the biggest golf stars will gather on the green at Augusta National Golf Club, including the defending champ and his newly-donned green jacket , Jon Rahm, Rory Mcllroy, who is looking to get the first grand slam of his career and Tiger Woods, who seems to have the odds stacked against him headed into his 26th Masters. Are you ready to follow all the action at Augusta National? Here’s how to watch the 2024 Masters, including tee times, the full TV schedule and more.

Looking for live updates of The Masters ? Yahoo Sports has you covered.

How to watch The Masters 2024:

Stream the masters, directv choice, watch cbs, espn.

Date(s): Apr. 11-14

Location: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA

TV channel: ESPN, CBS

Streaming: ESPN+, Paramount+, Fubo

When is The Masters golf tournament?

The PGA Tour Masters Tournament is set to take place Apr. 11-14.

What time does The Masters start?

This Friday, the 2024 Masters teed off with the remainder of Round 1 (after yesterday's rain delay). Second Round coverage will air on ESPN starting at 3 p.m. ET.

What channel is the 2024 Masters on?

For US viewers, the Masters tournament will air across a mix of ESPN and CBS. With select coverage streaming on ESPN+ and Paramount+. ESPN will air the first two rounds of the tournament on Thursday and Friday, and CBS will cover the third and final rounds this Saturday and Sunday.

Both ESPN+ and Paramount+ will have early coverage before the ESPN and CBS broadcasts all four days of the tournament, starting at 8:45 a.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10:15 a.m. this weekend. Masters coverage will also stream live on the 2024 Masters website , starting at 8:15 a.m. ET Thursday morning. So if you want to tune in before the televised first round begins on ESPN, that’s your best bet.

How to watch the Masters without cable:

For streaming The Masters on both CBS and Paramount+, you'll need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, available for $12. The subscription is ad-free and includes live access to your local CBS channel.  

In addition to sporting events like The Masters, March Madness, Premier League and Champions League games, Paramount+ offers a host of other hit shows, new and classic movies and live sporting events. Unlike a lot of other streaming services these days, Paramount+ still offers a one-week free trial — so new subscribers can sign up to watch the tournament this weekend and check out the rest of the Paramount+ library totally free for seven days.

Stream select Masters coverage

For ESPN+ subscribers, early Masters coverage will stream daily through the tournament. An ESPN+ subscription starts at $11 a month and grants you access to exclusive ESPN+ content, including all UFC PPV prelims, select F1 races, other live events, fantasy sports tools and premium ESPN+ articles.

How to watch The Masters for free:

If you don't want to subscribe to a service that offers ESPN or CBS, coverage of The Masters will air free in Australia on the Channel 9 streaming platform 9Now . If you're based in the US, you can still access free Masters coverage with the help of a VPN. To learn more about VPNs, check out Endgadget's guide to the best VPNs .

Endgadget's pick for best streaming VPN

ExpressVPN offers “internet without borders,” meaning you can tune into The Masters coverage totally free on 9Now, Channel 9's streaming platform, as opposed to paying for ESPN, ESPN+ and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for US coverage of the tournament. All you'll need to do is sign up for ExpressVPN, change your server location to Australia, and then tune into 9Now's live streaming coverage in full HD. 

ExpressVPN’s added protection, speed and range of location options makes it an excellent choice for first-time VPN users looking to stretch their streaming abilities. The service has servers in 94 countries including Australia, and it's easy to use with an app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, Apple smart TVs and Amazon Fire streaming sticks. Plus, it's Engadget's top pick as the best VPN for streaming . New users can save 49% when they sign up for ExpressVPN’s 12-month subscription. Plus, the service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you're nervous about trying a VPN for the very first time.

Endgadget's pick for Best VPN

2024 masters broadcast schedule:.

Friday, Apr. 12:

Holes 4,5 and 6: 8:45 a.m. (ESPN+)

Featured Groups: 9:15 a.m. (ESPN+, Paramount+)

Amen Corner: 10:45 a.m. (ESPN+, Paramount+)

Holes 15 and 16: 11:45 a.m. (ESPN+, Paramount+)

Welcome to The Masters: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (ESPN)

Second-round coverage: 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, Apr. 13:

Holes 4,5 and 6: 10:15 a.m. (ESPN+)

Featured Groups: 10:30 a.m. (ESPN+, Paramount+)

Amen Corner: 11:45 a.m. (ESPN+, Paramount+)

Holes 15 and 16: 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Masters on CBS: 3-7 p.m. (CBS)

Sunday, Apr. 14 :

Amen Corner: 11:45 a.m. (ESPN+, Paramount+

The Masters on CBS: 2-7 p.m. (CBS)

Who is playing in the 2024 Masters?

Jon Rahm will be defending his Green Jacket at this year’s tournament, alongside big golf names including World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka.

2024 Masters tee times :

Thursday, Apr. 11:

10:18 a.m.: Hideki Matsuyama, Will Zalatoris, Justin Thomas

10:30 a.m.: Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap

10:42 a.m.: Scottie Scheffer, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele

10:54 a.m.: Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cam Smith

1:24 p.m.: Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa

1:36 p.m.: Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim

1:48 p.m.: Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala

2:00 p.m.: Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood

Where is the 2024 Masters being played?

The Masters is always held in the same place: Augusta National Golf Club.

More ways to watch the 2024 Masters golf tournament:

Watch golf central live from the masters.

While Peacock and NBC may not be airing the 2024 Masters Tournament, the platform will have Golf Central Live From The Masters available for golf fans. The Program will offer 50+ hours of studio coverage of the event, with expert commentary from host Rich Lerner, analysts Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley and more. 

A $5.99/month ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC and thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office and even recent theatrical releases. 

Or for $12 monthly, you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.

Hulu + Live TV

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Playing the Masters Is by Invitation Only. Here’s How Golfers Get One.

There’s a long list of possible ways, like being a past winner, but the creation of LIV Golf has complicated the process.

Stephan Jaeger holds a golf putter in his right hand while squatting on cropped grass and looking at a small white ball.

By Paul Sullivan

Despite a missed putt on the 18th hole at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Stephan Jaeger still punched his ticket to Augusta National Golf Club, where he will be playing in his first Masters Tournament this week.

There are many ways to get an invitation to the Masters, and Jaeger, 34, found one of them.

But first, he missed a putt that would have clinched a victory over the former Masters champion Scottie Scheffler . Then Scheffler missed a shorter putt that would have forced a playoff with Jaeger.

In the end what mattered was that Jaeger won the tournament, not how he did it, and in doing so he earned an invitation to the Masters.

“I couldn’t have thought, dreamed up a better week to do it,” he said after his victory.

The Masters, the season’s first major for men, is an invitational, which means it is up to the members of Augusta National to send invitations and create the field of men who will compete for the coveted green jacket. This is unique among the major championships.

This year extra attention has been paid to how players secure their invitation largely because of the rise of LIV Golf, the league that has poached a dozen top players. (More on that later.) But how players earn their Augusta invitations has been part of a bigger story around getting into the PGA Tour’s top tournaments, which have the strongest fields and high prize money.

Fair to say that some golf fans are confused, and that some players are upset about being excluded.

What drew new interest in the qualifying process was Joaquin Niemann ’s journey to play well, win and get the attention of Fred Ridley, Augusta National’s chairman, who could grant him a special invitation.

Niemann, 28, from Chile, had played in four Masters tournaments. His first invitation came in 2018 after he won the Latin American Amateur Championship, which Augusta supports and whose winner gets an invitation. Last year, he finished tied for 16th place, his best Masters finish.

Normally, a player like that would have enough world ranking points to qualify easily for a Masters invitation. But Niemann went to LIV in 2022, and his ranking fell from 18 in 2022 to 91 today. That put him outside the top 50 who get invitations.

Even though he has played well this year on LIV, the league does not qualify for world ranking points because of its staggered starts, shorter tournaments and team format. Other LIV players in the field have exemptions if they are past major champions or were in the top 50 at the end of last year.

These include Jon Rahm, the defending champion ; Phil Mickelson, a past champion who contended last year; and Brooks Koepka, who finished second last year before winning the P.G.A. Championship , which comes with five years of Masters invitations.

So Niemann, whose representative declined to make him available, took to the global road and played on various international tours to showcase himself to Augusta National. He won the Australian Open last year and notched top 10 finishes in three other international tournaments in Australia; Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; and Oman. He also won two LIV events.

Augusta has a history of inviting the best international players. In the 1980s, it introduced Bernhard Langer of Germany, Greg Norman of Australia and Seve Ballesteros of Spain to the world of golf.

Neimann’s plan worked. He received one of three special invitations that went to international players not already in the tournament.

“The Masters Tournament has a longstanding tradition of inviting leading international players who are not otherwise qualified,” Ridley said in February in announcing the special exemptions. “Today’s announcement represents the tournament’s continued commitment towards developing interest in the game of golf across the world.”

Niemann was the only LIV player who wasn’t a former Masters or major champion to get a special invitation. Talor Gooch was ranked 58th in the world when he tied for 34th place at last year’s Masters. He received that invitation because he had been within the top 50 at the end of 2022, which is one of the criteria. He then went on to win three times on LIV that season en route to being named LIV’s player of the year.

Yet Gooch, who is ranked 550th in the world, did not receive an invitation this year and wasn’t happy about it.

“If Rory McIlroy goes and completes his grand slam without some of the best players in the world, there’s just going to be an asterisk,” he said. “It’s just the reality.” McIlroy has won three of the majors, but lacks the Masters.

Few agreed.

So what are the various ways into the Masters? The most coveted is as a past champion. They get a lifetime invitation, though they’re encouraged to stop when they’re not competitive. This year was supposed to be Langer’s final Masters at 66, before he was injured.

Next to that, winning one of the other three major championships gets a player five years of invitations, the Players Championship gets three, and an Olympic gold medal winner gets one invitation.

To honor the tournament’s amateur roots, invitations go to the winner and runner-up of the United States Amateur Championship and the winners of the British amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur and the Latin America Amateur. The winner of the N.C.A.A. championship also receives an invitation.

Stewart Hagestad, the reigning United States Mid-Amateur champion and a Walker Cup stalwart, will be playing in the Masters for the third time, having won the Mid-Amateur in 2016, 2021 and 2023. He made the cut in 2017, his first year, and won the award for the low amateur.

The rest of the invitations are based on how people have played in recent major championships as well as anyone who won a PGA Tour event in the previous year.

This year it totals about 90 players, a small field for a major championship. The other three majors have qualifying processes. The United States and British Opens are for anyone who can play their way in. The PGA Championship creates its field from touring and club pros.

Yet the split between the PGA Tour and LIV has created a complex situation beyond the Masters: which players get to play into the new Signature Events on the PGA Tour. These events have large purses, limited fields and in some cases no cuts. They’re not majors, but they’re at top courses with stout competition.

Like the Masters, the top 50 in the world golf rankings get into the Signature Events. But then it’s a scramble to fill other, limited spots at some other events. And it’s all new this year.

So, the PGA Tour partnered with Aon, the risk management consultant, to brand the groups that swing into and out of contention, the so-called Aon Next 10, the players who have moved into spots 51 to 60, and the Aon Swing 5, those who do well in the tournaments leading up to the Signature Events.

It’s been even more confusing for fans, and a scramble for players, because who gets into what is a moving target.

Andy Weitz, chief marketing officer at Aon, who said the company brought the idea to the PGA Tour, sees it differently. That confusion is an opportunity to show how the best golfers in the world play over the season.

“We were impressed by the modeling that showed a lot of movement in the top 50 in the course of the year, particularly in numbers 30 to 50,” Weitz said. “It’s fluid in a meaningful way. It creates interesting moments.”

Paul Sullivan , the  Wealth Matters  columnist from 2008 to 2021, is the founder of  The Company of Dads , a work and parenting site aimed at fathers. He is also the author of  The Thin Green Line : The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy and  Clutch : Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don’t.  @sullivanpaul More about Paul Sullivan

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Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping professional, collegiate and amateur athletics..

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As golf’s civil war rages, all the top PGA Tour and LIV players are at the Masters this week

Jon Rahm, of Spain, walks to the 10th green during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, walks to the 10th green during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Brooks Koepka hands over his club on the second hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Bryson DeChambeau hands his driver to his caddie on the eighth hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, reacts on the 12th hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, hits on the 12th hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, and Nicolai Hojgaard, of Denmark, walk onto the 12th green during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Brooks Koepka, from left, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay hits on the second hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Bryson DeChambeau tees off on the eighth hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — In some ways, golf finds itself at a point in time not unlike pro football in the 1960s, when two rival leagues duked it out but found a path to reconciliation that produced a game far bigger than anyone could’ve envisioned.

Bryson DeChambeau, for one, is hopeful that the still-smoldering split between the established PGA Tour and upstart LIV Golf could lead to a Super Bowl-like extravaganza that brings everyone together.

“You can look at it like the NFL and you could have NFC-AFC sort of working in their own fields and at the end they come together, put on a huge event at the end of the year,” said DeChambeau, who plays on the LIV circuit. “That could be really cool.”

If nothing else, major championships such as the Masters , which begins Thursday at Augusta National, provide a brief detente in this civil war of the links.

All the top players — from reigning Master champion Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka representing Team LIV to world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy teeing it up for the old guard — will be looking to not only claim a green jacket, but score bragging rights for their de facto team.

Wyndham Clark hits from the fairway on the second hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

“Obviously, the more togetherness that you get, the better it is for everyone. There’s no doubt about that,” said Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters winner who bolted for LIV. “But there’s room for everyone. I don’t think that’s a problem at all.”

Even though LIV appears to have strengthened its hand with its stunning signing of Rahm , who was on the PGA Tour when he won at Augusta a year ago, there are actually five fewer players from the new tour than the 18 who played in 2023.

That’s largely because LIV events — with their smaller fields and 54-hole format — do not receive world ranking points, one of the main conduits for entry into the Masters.

Still, the Saudi-funded circuit has demonstrated that its top players can compete with the best of the PGA Tour.

Koepka and Phil Mickelson were runner-ups to Rahm a year ago at the Masters, and Koepka went on to capture his fifth career major title at the PGA Championship . Of the 27 major championships that have been staged since the beginning of 2017, 13 were won by golfers who now call LIV home.

Koepka took issue with those who say the split is ruining the game.

“Look, the best players in the world never got together week in, week out. I think that’s kind of forgotten,” Koepka said Tuesday. “It was the majors, (World Golf Championship tournaments) ... those were pretty much the 10 events where everyone was, for sure, going to be there. And then it was just kind of sprinkled in everywhere else. I think that’s kind of how it is” now.

But hard feelings remain, especially since a supposed merger agreement announced 10 months ago had yet to be finalized.

Just listen to Fred Couples, the 1992 Masters champion and outspoken critic of LIV.

“I don’t think I’ll ever understand it,” he said. “Now, everything can get better. But let me tell you, if the LIV tour is better for golf, I’m missing something there.”

Rahm acknowledged that when he accepted a reported $350 million offer to join LIV in December, he was hopeful that it would spur the two sides to reach some sort of reconciliation by the time the Masters rolled around.

Now, with a divide that seems as gaping as ever, he’s one of the most prominent faces on a tour that has been called everything from the future of the game — with its shotgun starts and team element — to a refuge of sellouts who are helping the Saudis sportswash the image of a repressive regime.

“It’s a bit of a detour on my path,” Rahm said. “But change can be better.”

Just how much things have changed was apparent from the attire he donned a year ago as he departed Augusta National to what he picked out for his practice rounds leading into this Masters.

Gone was the green jacket. Now he’s wearing a shirt emblazoned with a Legion XIII logo.

The team he now leads in LIV.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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