The first golf major of the year returns to action this week with the 2023 Masters.
The tournament sees the world’s best compete against each other at Augusta National Golf Club to win the famous green jacket.
Jack Nicklaus has won the most Masters tournaments with six. The former golfing legend won in 1965, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986. Tiger Woods is close behind Nicklaus with a total of five wins. His last win at the tournament was in 2019, one shot ahead of Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka.
Both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the two names many golf fans will keep a close eye on throughout the week.
Sports mail summarizes everything you need to know ahead of this year’s Masters tournament, including the prize money, when it starts and how to watch.
The Masters is the first golf major of the year that pits the world’s best against each other
Jack Nicklaus has won the most Masters in the tournament’s history with six
When does it start?
This year’s Masters will take place from Thursday April 6 to Sunday April 9.
As always, the tournament will take place at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
The promotion starts at 2pm in the UK on the first two days and 4pm on the last two days.
Play starts at 2pm in the UK for the first two days, with the action in the US starting at 9am ET and 8am CT.
The last two days of the tournament will start at 11am ET and 10am CT.
How to watch
Sky Sports broadcasts all the action all week. The run-up to the tournament started yesterday prior to opening day on Thursday.
The coverage of the featured groups will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf from 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Golf fans can also stream the action via the official Sky Go app.
The main action starts at 7.30pm UK time.
The tournament takes place at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia
What is the prize money on offer?
According to Sports lensthe total purse is £12.1 million ($15 million) – which will be distributed to the players depending on where they finish in the tournament.
The reported £12 million purse for this year’s tournament is the same as last year.
The winner of this year’s tournament will earn approximately £2.2 million ($2.7 million), while the runners-up will take home £1.3 million (1.6 million).
The player who finishes third in the tournament will receive just over £800,000 (£1 million).
What was said?
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has had a successful year so far, winning the Phoenix Open and The Players Championship.
Heading into the Masters, Scheffler revealed that he now knows Augusta National well enough and there are no surprises.
“There are always a few greens that are different from the rest depending on which one they replaced and I noticed that,” Scheffler said.
“I think I’ve been on the golf course a lot where I kind of know what’s happening and I have a good feel for what’s happening and if you’re going to play at this time of year it’s still very different from the tournament because the green speeds are not exactly the same and the pin locations are of course slightly different.’
Scheffler believes there will be no surprises on the track as he knows Augusta well
Who won it last year?
Scheffler is the current holder of the Masters, having won in 2022.
The American dominated the process from start to finish at the top of the standings.
The No. 1 golfer in the world finished the tournament 10-under par 278 ahead of second place Rory McIlroy.
Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to retain the Masters trophy following his 2022 win
Rory McIlroy is the second favorite to win this year’s tournament according to Paddy Power
Jon Rahm will try to win his first Masters title this year, his best finish came in 2018 when he finished fourth
Chances
Scottie Scheffler wins – 6/1
Rory McIlroy wins – 13/2
Jon Rahm wins – 8/1
Jordan Spieth wins – 14/1
Justin Thomas wins – 18/1
All odds through Paddy Power and correct at the time of publication.