The 88th Masters Tournament marks the first Major Championship on the 2024 DP World Tour schedule. Here are your five things to know…
Rahm defends
Jon Rahm returns to Augusta National a year after securing a fairytale Masters Tournament victory, 40 years on from his hero Seve Ballesteros' second win.
The Spaniard's second Major title came on what would have been Ballesteros' 66th birthday, hunting down third-round leader Brooks Koepka before cruising to a four-shot victory to earn his first Green Jacket and a fifth top-ten finish in seven visits to Augusta.
His route to victory was less than straight-forward, starting the week by four-putting the first hole on Thursday. And after a series of weather delays on Friday and Saturday, he had to complete 30 holes on Sunday - starting the day four shots behind Koepka. Two behind after completion of their third rounds, Rahm had wiped out the deficit in the first four holes and took a two-stroke lead into the back nine. Brilliant back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th gave Rahm a four-shot buffer and he parred his way home to sign for a closing 69 and finish the tournament on 12 under par.
He now returns for his eighth Masters appearance, and has the chance to become just the fourth player to successfully defend the Green Jacket.
The key change to Augusta National for 2024
While The Masters is renowned for being the epitome of tradition, Augusta National is not shy of making changes to its famed layout as it adapts to the length modern players hit the golf ball.
Last year, a significant change was made to the famous par five 13th hole, with the tee moved back 35 yards and elevated eight yards after acquiring land from the neighbouring Augusta Country Club. The goal was to change the hole back into a true risk and reward hole as was originally intended, following years of a drop in scoring average.
This year, the big change comes in a new tee box at the par five second hole, Pink Dogwood. Unchanged since the new back tee was introduced and the right fairway bunker moved in 1999, the new tee will move back 10 yards and to the left to make the second hole the longest on the course at 585 yards.
DP World Tour debutants
There are four DP World Tour players making their first appearance at the 88th Masters this week.
After becoming the first player in history to compete in a Ryder Cup before ever playing a Major last September, Ludvig Åberg is making his Major Championship debut this week. The Swede, who is World Number Nine and already a winner on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, hasn't finished worse than tied 30th in his last seven starts - including a top ten at the recent Players Championship.
Joining Åberg in the field is fellow Ryder Cup Europe teammate Nicolai Højgaard, who secured his first invite to The Masters by breaking into the top 50 of the world with his maiden Rolex Series victory at the DP World Tour Championship at the end of last season. The 23-year-old, who is a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, has enjoyed an impressive start to his first full season on the PGA Tour - which includes a runner-up finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach PRO-AM in February.
Also enjoying an impressive start to their first full season on the PGA Tour is Matthieu Pavon, who made history as the first French winner on the PGA TOUR since 1907 with victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in January to earn his place in this week's field. It came just three months after earning his maiden DP World Tour title in October, and the Frenchman comes to Augusta after finishing tied fifth at the recent Porsche Singapore Open.
Joining them is 21-year-old Ryo Hisatsune, who is making his first Masters appearance and Major Championship debut after receiving a special invite. The Japanese star enjoyed a remarkable rookie season on the DP World Tour in 2023 after securing his card at the Qualifying School, winning his first DP World Tour title at the Cazoo Open de France in September and becoming the first Japanese player to be named the DP World Tour's Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year. He was one of ten players to earn 2024 PGA Tour membership through his performances on the DP World Tour last year. Has two top 20s so far this season on the PGA TOUR, with his best result a tie for 11th at The American Express in January.
Chasing records
The opportunity to make records at Augusta National is something that presents itself every year. From scoring records, winning records and age-related records to the opportunity to become the first player to win the Par 3 Contest and The Masters in the same week, there are a number of historical markers players can achieve. This week, there are additionally two significant records that could be broken by two very big names in the game.
It's been ten years since Rory McIlroy has lifted a Major title, and this week marks his tenth chance to complete the Major Grand-Slam with a maiden win at The Masters. McIlroy has come close a number of times, most recently with a runner-up finish at the 2022 Masters, but is yet to break through to become the sixth player to win all four Majors. According to one report he is planning to prepare differently this year - including a later arrival and skipping the par 3 contest - as he targets his first Major title since the 2014 US PGA Championship.
Tiger Woods also makes his return from injury this week with his own chance to add to his successful Masters history. He had to withdraw last year in the third round with an injury to his heel but by then the five-time winner had already maintained an incredible record of made cuts at The Masters. He has not missed a cut since his victory in 1997, a remarkable 23 from 23 appearances in the paid ranks. If he makes the cut on this year's trip down Magnolia Lane, he will break the record he now shares with Gary Player and Fred Couples for most consecutive cuts made at Augusta. While unlikely, but more remarkably, he could also tie Jack Nicklaus for a record six Masters titles, having added his fifth with his remarkable victory in 2019.
The Masters: Record holders - Articles - DP World Tour (europeantour.com)
Fantasy Golf: The Augusta Challenge
All eyes are on Augusta National this week for the 88th playing of the Masters Tournament, but who are picking in your team on the DP World Tour's official Fantasy game?
This week, with the Masters in mind, the Augusta Challenge helps fans to get closer to the action at this year's first Major.
The rules are simple. Create a team and be automatically entered into our Augusta Challenge league. Finish in the top three points scorers for the chance to win the following:
- 1st Place - Two 2024 Season Tickets and a £250 DP World Tour Store voucher
- 2nd Place - Two DP World Tour Season Tickets
- 3rd Place - Two DP World Tour Season Tickets
Click here to view terms and conditions
If you have not done so already, you can sign up to play the official 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy game and submit your six-man team before the first round gets under way on Thursday: https://fantasy.dpworldtour.com/
The 2024 season-long winner will win a trip to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next year, enjoy a lesson with a DP World Tour professional and a round of golf on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. For more information on this amazing prize and others, read here.
For tips on who to pick, click here to find out who we've selected as Favourite, Form Horse and Wild Card for the first Major of the year.
