Five-time major champion Koepka, made par on the first playoff hole while Rahm made bogey.

Koepka, whose most recent LIV win came in May at Singapore, said it was his most prized because of his day-long fight with playing partner Rahm.

“This is probably my favourite one,” Koepka said.

“It’s always good when you have to battle good players.

“Jon is a hell of a player. For whatever reason, he has always gotten the better of me a little bit as of late. It feels nice just to get one.”

Rahm outdueled Koepka in the final round to win the 2023 Masters for his second major title but Koepka said that didn’t add motivation.

“I wasn’t thinking about it,” he said.

“Just one of those things. Let’s go play golf. It’s a good win.”

Koepka fired a seven-under par 63 in the final round while Rahm shot 65 to leave both on 19-under 191 after 54 holes at the Old White course in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

American Jason Kokrak was third on 18-under with England’s 51-year-old Richard Bland and Australian Marc Leishman sharing fourth on 17-under.

In the playoff, Rahm’s tee shot at the par-3 18th went to the back edge of a bunker. One leg in and the other out of the sand, the Spaniard blasted 20 feet beyond the hole.

Koepka missed his birdie putt but tapped in for par, then Rahm lipped out on his par putt and Koepka had the victory.

Koepka’s earlier LIV titles came at Jeddah in 2022 and 2023, Orlando in 2023 and Singapore.

Koepka collected major wins at the 2017 and 2018 US Opens and the 2018, 2019 and 2023 PGA Championships.

Rahm, who also won the 2021 US Open, jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf last December and won his first LIV event last month, taking LIV Golf UK at Centurion in England.

The 29-year-old Spaniard shared fifth at the Paris Olympics earlier this month.

Despite the defeat, Rahm remained second to Chile’s Joaquin Niemann in the season standings, with the campaign title to be decided at next month’s regular-season finale at Chicago.

Rahm sank a five-foot par putt at the 10th hole to match Koepka for the lead at 16-under and launch the back-nine battle.

Bland followed three birdies in a row with an eagle at the par-5 12th to swipe the lead at 17-under.

Koepka made a tap-in birdie at 12 to match Bland then curled in a 15-foot birdie putt on 13 to seize the lead at 18-under, Rahm making birdie at 13 as well to stay one adrift.

Jon Rahm rallies late

When Koepka curled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the 14th, he doubled his edge to two strokes.

But Rahm birdied 16 and the par-5 17th to grab a share of the lead with Koepka, whose birdie putt at 17 lipped out, and both parred 18 to force the playoff.

Rahm, who fired a 62 on Saturday, opened Sunday with a birdie to reach 15-under and lead by two.

Koepka birdied two of his first three holes to pull within a stroke and both birdied the fourth. Rahm made a bogey at six and Koepka first took the lead with a birdie at seven.

Brooks Koepka is going home $4 million richer than when he showed up in West Virginia.

In addition, Koepka’s Smash GC squad also won the team competition, taking home $1.5 million.

Rahm won’t go home empty handed for his second-place individual finish, as he pockets $2.25 million. 

Koepka’s Smash GC, with Kokrak in the line-up, won the team competition on 53-under, defeating Leishman and the all-Australian Ripper squad by three strokes.

Stinger GC struggle

For all-South African Stinger GC foursome, it wasn’t the best of tournaments.

Louis Oosthuizen, who shot a 10-under round of 60 on Sunday, fared best with a tie-eighth finish on 14-under par which was good enough for a $457 500 (R8.15 million) pay day.

Branden Grace bounced back to form with a tie for 20th on 10-under par which earned him $220 000 (R3.9 million).

Dean Burmester settled for a tie for 37th on five-under par – and $137 800 (R2.45 million).

Finally, Charl Schwartzel ended 51st in the 54-player field on one-over par and a $60 000 (R1.07 million) cheque.

With $20 million up for grabs, check out how much money each player and team earned at 2024 LIV Golf Greenbrier.

Individual prize money

Team prize money

The Northern Irishman will miss this week’s event in West Virginia and is eligible to return to competition in Chicago next month.

At the LIV event in Nashville in June, Graeme McDowell used a decongestant which included the banned substance R-methamphetamine.

“Ahead of LIV Nashville, I was struggling with severe congestion that was affecting my sleep,” McDowell posted in a statement on social media.

“In an effort to manage it, I used a generic Vicks nasal decongestant without realizing it might be on the banned list.

“As a professional golfer, I understand the importance of checking all medications and the option to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

“Unfortunately, I did not think to do this due to the over the counter nature of this medicine and I deeply regret the oversight. I fully accept the sanctions imposed by LIV.”

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

“A vibrant, colourful personality both on and off the golf course, he will be missed dearly by the PGA TOUR and those whose lives he touched in his mission to give back,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

“Chic Chi” Rodriguez always regarded an entertainer

During his three decades as a professional Rodriquez had 37 victories – including eight on the PGA Tour and 22 on the senior circuit.

Born into a poor Puerto Rican family, Rodriquez taught himself to play with rudimentary clubs carved from guava tree branches, striking crushed tin cans on baseball fields.

His father worked as a sugar cane cutter, and at age seven, he joined him to work at the plantations as a water carrier.

One day he wandered onto a golf course frequented by wealthy tourists and discovered caddies there earned more money. He joined them and only left caddying at age 19 to join the US Army.

He was always regarded an entertainer, celebrating birdies by waving his putter like a swashbuckling swordsman.

Rodriquez played local Puerto Rican tournaments before joining the PGA Tour in 1960.

He won his first tour title in 1963, and his final PGA Tour Champions title was in 1993.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

Schauffele also won the PGA Championship in May this year.

At Royal Troon he finished the 72 holes on 9-under-par, two strokes ahead of England’s Justin Rose.

Schauffele, 30, took home $3.1 million for his win and moved to No 2 in the latest golf world rankings.

From a South African point of view, eight golfers started the tournament with three making the halfway cut.

As reported by The South African website, Ernie Els pulled out ahead of the second round with a back injury.

Joining Els in failing to make the weekend and going home empty-handed were Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Louis Oosthuizen, Ryan van Velzen and amateur Altin van der Merwe.

The trio who did make the halfway cut were Thriston Lawrence, Dean Burmester and Darren Fichardt.

Lawrence finished a commendable fourth overall on 6-under par and banked $876 000 (R16 million).

He also moved from 98th to 71st in the world rankings.

Burmester finished in a tie for 19th place on 3-over par and took home $176 367 (R3.2 million), while Fichardt finished 80th – and last among those to have made the halfway cut – on 22-over par which was good enough for a $38 150 (R700 000) pay day.

Open Championship prize money payouts

The South African star struggled on day one at Royal Troon, shooting an 11-over-par 82.

Els, who won the Claret Jug in 2002 at Muirfield and then again in 2012 at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

The ‘Big Easy’ has been in brilliant form on the over-50s PGA Tour Champions this year.

Now 54-years-old, Ernie Els has six wins on the Champions Tour including three since June this year.

Ernie Els won his first senior major last week

As reported by The South African website, last week he captured his first senior major at the Senior Players Championship, called Kaulig Companies Championship, at former WGC venue Firestone Country Club.

On the regular PGA Tour, Els won 19 titles, including two US Opens and two Open Championships.

Els was due to start his second round at 08:19 (SA time) on Friday alongside American Gary Woodland and South African amateur Altin van der Merwe.

Apart from Els and Van der Merwe, there are six other South Africans in this week’s Open Championship field, namely: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Thriston Lawrence, Darren Fichardt, Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester and Ryan van Velzen.

The Northern Irishman, winner of the Claret Jug in 2014, tees off at 11:09 (SA time) in round one.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, winner of last week’s Scottish Open, sets off at 10:36 alongside England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Spain’s Jon Rahm.

Tiger Woods is among the afternoon starters and will play with fellow Americans Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, teeing off at 15:37.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is out at 16:10 with former champion Jordan Spieth and Cameron Young.

Defending champion Brian Harman will play with Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Sahith Theegala at 10:58.

American Todd Hamilton, who won The Open at Royal Troon in 2004, will hit the opening tee shot at 07:35.

There will be eight South Africans in the field, namely: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Thriston Lawrence, Darren Fichardt, Ernie Els, Altin van der Merwe (amateur), Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester and Ryan van Velzen.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1

All times SA

07:35 – Todd Hamilton (US), Justin Leonard (US), Jack McDonald (Sco)

07:46 – Tom McKibbin (NI), (a) Calum Scott (Sco), Alexander Noren (Swe)

07:57 – Michael Hendry (NZ), Vincent Norrman (Swe), Jesper Svensson (Swe)

08:08 – Daniel Hillier (NZ), Ryosuke Kinoshita (Jpn), Young-Han Song (Kor)

08:19 – Abraham Ancer (Mex), Ryo Hisatsune (Jpn), Min-Woo Lee (Aus)

08:30 – Nicolai Hoejgaard (Den), Keita Nakajima (Jpn), Adam Scott (Aus)

08:41 – Francesco Molinari (Ita), Justin Rose (Eng), (a) Jasper Stubbs (Aus)

08:52 – Sung-Jae Im (Kor), Matthew Southgate (Eng), Justin Thomas (US)

09:03 – Laurie Canter (Eng), Nick Taylor (Can), Matt Wallace (Eng)

09:14 – Matteo Manassero (Ita), Shubhankar Sharma (Ind), Sebastian Soderberg (Swe)

09:25 – Austin Eckroat (US), Zach Johnson (US), Thorbjoern Olesen (Den)

09:36 – John Daly (US), (a) Santiago de la Fuente (Mex), Aaron Rai (Eng)

09:47 – Stewart Cink (US), (a) Dominic Clemons (Eng), Chris Kirk (US)

10:03 – Stephan Jaeger (Ger), Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Adam Schenk (US)

10:14 – Christiaan Bezuidenhout (SA), Lucas Glover (US), Adam Hadwin (Can)

10:25 – Tony Finau (US), Russell Henley (US), Matthieu Pavon (Fra)

10:36 – Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Jon Rahm (Spa)

10:47 – Ludvig Aaberg (Swe), Bryson DeChambeau (US), Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor)

10:58 – Brian Harman (US), Viktor Hovland (Nor), Sahith Theegala (US)

11:09 – Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Max Homa (US), Rory McIlroy (NI)

11:20 – Keegan Bradley (US), (a) Gordon Sargent (US), Will Zalatoris (US)

11:31 – Alexander Bjoerk (Swe), Harris English (US), Maverick McNealy (US)

11:42 – Sean Crocker (US), Guido Migliozzi (Ita), (a) Tommy Morrison (US)

11:53 – John Catlin (US), Gun-Taek Koh (Kor), David Puig (Spa)

12:04 – Daniel Bradbury (Eng), Thriston Lawrence (SA), Elvis Smylie (Aus)

12:15 – Ignacio Elvira (Spa), Darren Fichardt (SA), Min-Kyu Kim (Kor)

12:26 – Mason Andersen (US), Sam Hutsby (Eng), Masahiro Kawamura (Jpn)

12:47 – Ewen Ferguson (Sco), Marcel Siem (Ger)

12:58 – Yuto Katsuragawa (Jpn), Romain Langasque (Fra), Chengtsung Pan (Tai)

13:09 – Angel Hidalgo (Spa), Rikuya Hoshino (Jpn), Richard Mansell (Eng)

13:20 – Jorge Campillo (Spa), Corey Conners (Can), Ryan Fox (NZ)

13:31 – Ernie Els (SA), (a) Altin van der Merwe (SA), Gary Woodland (US)

13:42 – Rasmus Hoejgaard (Den), (a) Jacob Olesen (Den), Henrik Stenson (Swe)

13:53 – Billy Horschel (US), Louis Oosthuizen (SA), Victor Perez (Fra)

14:04 – Jordan Smith (Eng), Sepp Straka (Aut), Brendon Todd (US)

14:15 – Denny McCarthy (US), Adrian Meronk (Pol), Taylor Moore (US)

14:26 – Byeong-Hun An (Kor), Jason Day (Aus), Rickie Fowler (US)

14:37 – Alex Cejka (Ger), Eric Cole (US), Kurt Kitayama (US)

14:48 – Dean Burmester (SA), Darren Clarke (NI), JT Poston (US)

15:04 – Dustin Johnson (US), Joost Luiten (Ned), Phil Mickelson (US)

15:15 – Padraig Harrington (Ire), Matthew Jordan (Eng), Davis Thompson (US)

15:26 – Wyndham Clark (US), Brooks Koepka (US), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)

15:37 – Patrick Cantlay (US), Xander Schauffele (US), Tiger Woods (US)

15:48 – Sam Burns (US), Si-Woo Kim (Kor), Collin Morikawa (US)

15:59 – Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Shane Lowry (Ire), Cameron Smith (Aus)

16:10 – Scottie Scheffler (US), Jordan Spieth (US), Cameron Young (US)

16:21 – Akshay Bhatia (US), Tom Hoge (US), Sami Valimaki (Fin)

16:32 – Ben Griffin (US), Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Mackenzie Hughes (Can)

16:43 – Joseph Dean (Eng), Andy Ogletree (US), Yannik Paul (Ger)

16:54 – Charlie Lindh (Swe), (a) Luis Masaveu (Spa), Ryan van Velzen (SA)

17:05 – Kazuma Kobori (NZ), (a) Jaime Montojo (Spa), (a) Liam Nolan (Ire)

17:16 – Denwit Boriboonsub (Tha), Daniel Brown (Eng), (a) Matthew Dodd-Berry (Eng)

17:27 – Sam Horsfield (Eng), Aguri Iwasaki (Jpn), Jeung-Hun Wang (Kor)

(a) denotes amateur

Els, who will turn 55 in October, triumphed at the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club’s South Course in Akron, Ohio, when he shot a final round of two-under-par 68 to finish on 10-under 270 for the tournament.

That was good enough for a one-shot win over South Korea’s Y.E. Yang.

Ernie Els is a four-time major winner on the PGA Tour

Els has now won six times on the over-50 PGA Tour Champions.

On the regular PGA Tour, Els won 19 titles, including two US Opens and two Open Championships.

“This has been a long time coming on this golf course,” Els told the PGA Tour Champions website.

“Thirty-two years ago, I started playing here… but I never got to win here. So, this was really great.”

By winning the Kaulig Companies title, formerly called the Senior Players, Els qualified for next March’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. It will be his 25th appearance at the tournament.

As a former winner, Els will also be in the field at this week’s 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Garcia beat Anirban Lahiri on the second playoff hole for his first professional win since the 2020 Sanderson Farms Championship.

The Spanish star earned himself a $4 million pay day.

For the first time on LIV Golf, there was a playoff for the individual title and team title in the same event.

Garcia’s Fireballs GC topped Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC to bring home the $3 million prize.

It was a good tournament for the four South African members of the Stinger GC team.

Louis Oosthuizen finished in a tie for fourth on 3-under par and won $900 000 (R16.34 million), while Charl Schwartzel and Dean Burmester both finished tied for 17th on 3-over par which was good enough for a $245 000 (R4.45 million) pay day each.

Branden Grace struggled to a 8-over par tie for 39th, but still banked $139 000 (R2.52 million).

The Stinger GC team finished third in the team competition and won an additional $500 000 (R9.08 million) which was split four ways (R2.27 million each).

How much money each player and team earned at LIV Golf Andalucia

Individual prize money

Team prize money

Bet Anytime, Anywhere Quick and Easy with Betway

Bradley, 38, has played in just two Ryder Cups with a lone appearance in the Presidents Cup, and is a surprise choice for the US captaincy.

Woods was long assumed to be the front-runner for the job, but multiple US reports Monday said he had opted out of contention.

That means Bradley will lead the attempt to win back the title from Europe next year at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.

Keegan Bradley won the 2011 PGA Championship

“Keegan’s past Ryder Cup experience, strong relationships and unwavering passion for this event will prove invaluable as he guides the US Team over the next year and a half,” PGA of America President John Lindert said.

“We are confident that, with Keegan at the helm, the 2025 US Ryder Cup Team will compete at Bethpage with the same confidence and determination that has defined his career.”

Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner, was a controversial omission from the US team who lost convincingly by Europe in Rome last year.

He finished just outside automatic team qualification and was overlooked for a captain’s pick by then skipper Zach Johnson.

“My passion and appreciation for golf’s greatest team event have never been stronger,” Bradley said on Monday.

“The Ryder Cup is unlike any other competition in our sport, and this edition will undoubtedly be particularly special given the rich history and enthusiastic spectators at this iconic course.”

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

Hatton finished on 19-under 194 after 54 holes at The Grove to defeat compatriot Sam Horsfeld by six strokes.

The 32-year-old Englishman birdied three of the last five holes and had eight birdies and two bogeys in capturing the title – and the $4 million top prize.

A third-place pack on 12-under included Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, Spain’s Jon Rahm, England’s Lee Westwood and Bryson DeChambeau – who won his second major title a week ago at the US Open at Pinehurst.

Tyrrell Hatton’s Legion XIII won the team competition

The victory marked the first professional title for Hatton since the January 2021 Abu Dhabi Championship, the most recent of his six DP World Tour triumphs.

Hatton’s lone PGA Tour victory came at the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Niemann remains the overall LIV Golf season leader followed by Rahm with Hatton in third.

In the team competition, Hatton and Rahm led Legion XIII to victory at 40-under par, defeating DeChambeau’s Crushers by five strokes.

Crushers remained just ahead of Legion atop the season team standings.

The next LIV Golf event is in Spain at Valderrama on July 12-14.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t the best of weekends for the four South Africans who make up the Stinger GC team.

Louis Oosthuizen finished 13th and won $340 000 (R6.15 million).

Charl Schwartzel and Dean Burmester finished in a tie for 25th place and banked $180 000 (R3.25 million) each.

Branden Grace completed the 54 holes in three-under par which was good enough for a share of 35th place and $142 800 (R2.58 million).

Individual prize money

Team prize money

The battle for the gold medal is set to take place between 1-4 August at Le Golf National.

In total 60 golfers will vie for the coveted medals on offer.

Qualification is strict. Here’s how it works:

• Top 15 in the official world golf rankings are eligible
• No more than four players can be selected from a given nation
• Outside the top 15, “players will be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15”

Notable among the absentees will be US Open champion, Bryson DeChambeau, who will not be sporting the red, white and blue in Paris.

Playing in the LIV Golf League does not award rankings points, meaning DeChambeau did not qualify despite an incredible string of performances at the year’s three majors to date, which included a T6 at the Masters, second-place at the PGA Championship and his victory at Pinehurst No 2.

DeChambeau finds himself at 10th in the rankings, BUT behind five other Americans.

As such, representing the United States at the Paris Olympics 2024 will be

• Scottie Scheffler (No )
• Xander Schauffele (No 3)
• Wyndham Clark (No 5)
• Collin Morikawa (No 7)

Schauffele is the reigning gold medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Durban-born Rory Sabbatini, who represented Slovakia in Tokyo, won the silver medal, while Pan Cheng-tsung of Chinese Taipei took home the bronze medal.

Sabbatini will not play in Paris, but Cheng-tsung has qualified for this year’s Games.

In total, 32 countries will be represented.

Apart from the United States’ four representatives, no other country has more than two players playing.

South Africa will be represented by Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen.

Bezuidenhout is currently ranked 40th in the world, with Van Rooyen in 67th spot.

Teams for 2024 Paris Olympics

According to the list that The Links Association has put together, there are only 247 true links courses in the world. 

Only one course in the whole of Africa fits the strict definitions applied.

Just 17 courses in the Southern hemisphere have made the cut with 16 of those found in Australia or New Zealand.

Humewood, South Africa’s only True Links course 

Colonel Stafford Vere Hotchkin originally laid out the 18-hole championship golf course at Humewood.

That original layout, the design of which was initiated in 1929, was a massive par 76 which featured no fewer than eight par fives.

Humewood’s original routing remains intact. Cut to par four were four of the par fives.

In the 1980s Humewood engaged Donald Steel to perform a re-bunkering exercise on the course. More recently, the greens were overhauled in 2008.

Steeped in history this course is on many bucket lists.

The dunes of Algoa Bay house a links masterpiece

Humewood, a challenging test of links golf ability, lies amid the sand dunes of Algoa Bay, just south of Gqeberha. 

Its Fairways are wide to accommodate for the high gusts that sometimes blow in off the Indian Ocean.

As with most links courses, the wind can elevate the challenge level of the course immensely.

Challenging but enjoyable

The rough and thick coastal bush that flanks many holes augment that challenge even further and ensure that Humewood challenges the golfer even on the still days.

Bunkers are sparse. That said, they can be extremely punishing to anyone unlucky enough to find themselves in one.

The signature hole on the course is undoubtedly the 449-yard, par four, 13th. The hole may be arrow straight but usually plays into a prevailing wind.

True Links endorsement

In their famous reference work True Links, authors George Peper and Malcolm Campbell wrote: “Humewood, in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth [Gqeberha], South Africa, is a bona fide links, Kikuyu and Bermuda grass – two notoriously poor links grasses – cover the fairways, and yet those fairways bounce and roll as if they were in Great Britain. Somehow Humewood not only exists but thrives, the world’s only links whose resident fauna include meerkats and monkeys.”

Visitors to Humewood note the friendly staff and unpretentious atmosphere of the club.

The club is open to visitors subject to a booking, and green fees are reasonable considering this is the only ‘True Links’ course on the continent.

McIlroy filed divorce papers to end the seven-year marriage last month, on the eve of the PGA Championship.

But ahead of this week’s US Open, the third major of the season, the Northern Irishman said there had been a change of heart.

Rory McIlroy and Erica married in 2017

“There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game,” the world number three told the newspaper.

“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning,” he added.

Erica Stoll was working for the PGA of America when she met McIlroy in 2012 at the Ryder Cup.

They began dating in 2015, becoming engaged in December that year while on holiday in Paris and marrying in April 2017 at an Irish castle.

Their daughter, Poppy, was born in 2020.

Four-time major winner McIlroy previously dated Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.

They were engaged on December 31, 2013, but McIlroy announced in May 2014 that he had ended the engagement.

The 35-year-old has been in upbeat mood ahead of this week’s contest at Pinehurst.

‘Good shape’

McIlroy, who has not won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship, has 20 top-10 major results since that decade-old triumph and is confident that he can make the breakthrough this week.

“Getting my hands on a fifth major has taken quite a while, but I’m more confident than ever that I’m right there, that I’m as close as I’ve ever been,” McIlroy said on Tuesday.

“I feel like all aspects of my game are in pretty good shape at the minute.”

He will play alongside top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and world number two Xander Schauffele in the first two rounds.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

The 33-year-old Ortiz won for the first time on the Saudi-backed circuit on Sunday after a 5-under 67 in the final round at Golf Club of Houston to claim the league’s eighth event of the 2024 season, LIV Golf Houston.

For his efforts, Ortiz took home the top prize of $4 million.

Poland’s Adrian Meronk finished runner-up, winning $2 250 000.

Louis Oosthuizen pulled out

It was a largely ‘disappointing’ week for the four South Africans in Houston.

Charl Schwartzel and Dean Burmester finished in a tie for 18th and won $235 000 (R4.4 million) each.

Branden Grace finished 52nd – and last – and took home $50 000 (R940 000).

Louis Oosthuizen withdrew ahead of the second round with a lower back injury.

Australia’s Wade Ormsby filled in for Oosthuizen for the final 36 holes.

Oosthuizen said he expects to return for LIV Golf’s next tournament in Nashville on 21-23 June.

The Stinger GC team finished 11th out of the 13 teams competing.

Meanwhile, the Cleeks GC team of Meronk, Martin Kaymer, Richard Bland and Kalle Samooja shared $3 million for winning the team competition.

With $20 million up for grabs, check out how much money each player and team earned at LIV Golf Houston.

Individual prize money

Team prize money

While much has seemingly happened since in July, it is apparent that at least from the PGA Tour’s point of view, they need to have an agreement going into the 2024 campaign.

PGA Tour deal with LIV Golf owners set to be finalised before 2024

The deadline was established in early June when the two entities and the Europe-based DP World Tour announced their merger, although the parties might agree to extend the deadline.

ALSO READ: Why the Garden Route is South Africa’s No 1 Golf holiday destination

The Saudi PIF is the primary financial supporter of PGA Tour competitor LIV Golf.

Woods revealed that the PGA Tour was upbeat on its chances of completing the deal before the end of the year.

ALSO WATCH: Christo Lamprecht hits 418-yard drive at Leopard Creek

“As of right now, (December 31) is our time frame and our deadline. That hasn’t changed,” Woods, who joined the PGA Tour board in August, told a press conference in Florida on Saturday.

“We’re trying to get a deal done with all of the different entities that we have going on here. SSG has come into the mix now.”

ALSO READ: Tiger Woods heaps praise on ‘extraordinary’ Rafael Nadal

LIV Golf alternatives

The PGA Tour said it will continue negotiations with US-based Strategic Sports Group (SSG), which might join in as a co-investor, as it rushed to finish its merger plans before the deadline.

SSG includes Fenway Sports Group, the owners of the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball and Liverpool in the Premier League. It also comprises the investment business Cohen Private Ventures, the family office of New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, and the private equity firm HighPost Capital.

ALSO WATCH: Angry Cape Cobra slithers onto South African golf course

“(SSG) have a lot of equity and a lot of name investors that have the same alignment that we have, and we are all heading in the right direction,” Woods said.

No Comment

Woods declined to comment on Masters winner Jon Rahm’s recent switch to LIV Golf.

“Well, there’s been a lot of talk over the years of certain players going, and it was speculation until it happened because there’s been rumors of names going and not going, and whether they materialized or not …” he said. “So we assumed it was just speculation until it happened.”

Matt Kuchar this week expressed the belief that LIV Golf could be a catalyst for positive changes in the sport.

“I think what’s going on with the LIV Tour is pushing the PGA Tour to make some changes,” Kutchar said. “I think some are for the good.

“Listen, if you were a player on Tour this year, you had full-field events with giant purses. This was kind of a great year to be on Tour. This coming year, if you’re inside that Top-50, it looks like it stands to be an incredible year.

“I don’t see this being the final rendition of what the PGA Tour looks like. I think we will tweak it. But I think the LIV Tour is forcing the Tour to make some good adjustments.”

In the video, a spectator was seen picking the reptile up at the course.

After grabbing the snake by its head, the fan set it on the grass and gestured for it to slither away.

While he received an ovation from surrounding fans, the bold bystander was also praised by others on social media.

A video of a second snake on the course was posted by PGA of America on X on Saturday.

The video of the fan capturing the snake has gone viral as users of the platform praised his ‘Kentucky bravery’. 

‘Kentucky golf fans are built different,’ said one X user. 

Meanwhile, American Xander Schauffele outdueled compatriot Bryson DeChambeau down the back nine on Sunday to win the PGA Championship, capturing his first major triumph with the lowest score in major history.

Schauffele sank a tension-packed six-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole for a one-stroke victory over DeChambeau to snap a two-year victory drought.

Play was delayed on Friday due to a fatal accident near the course.

According to ESPN, Scheffler attempted to drive past a police officer after the pedestrian fatality occurred, backing up traffic for miles leading up to the golf course.

Released

According to The Mirror website, the police officer attempted to attach himself to Scheffler’s car before the 27-year-old American golfer stopped his car in front of the entrance to Valhalla.

He was positioned around 10 to 20 yards from the point at which the officer first told him to stop.

At that time, the officer then screamed at Scheffler to get out of his car.

Scheffler did not move from his car for 20 to 30 seconds before rolling down his window.

After that, the officer grabbed his arm and started pulling at it.

The officer reached inside, got hold of the door and pulled Scheffler out before pushing him against the car and placing him in handcuffs.

Unconfirmed reports suggest Scheffler has since been released.

Scottie Scheffler became a father last week

Earlier, the PGA Championship confirmed that the start of round two was delayed due to a fatal collision involving a shuttle bus near Valhalla.

A statement from Louisville Metro Police Department said: “About 5:00 ET this morning, the LMPD responded to a call of a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian and a bus. Our preliminary investigation found that an adult male pedestrian was crossing Shelbyville Roadsouth to north when he was struck by a shuttle bus that was traveling eastbound in the compulsory center lane dedicated for buses.

“As a result, the pedestrian received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The LMPD Traffic Unit is investigating.”

Scheffler shot a four-under-par 67 in his first round, putting him five behind leader Xander Schauffele.

Scheffler won the Masters in April and became a father last week as he and his wife Meredith welcomed their baby boy Bennett.

Inclement weather is expected to disrupt Friday’s play.

World number two McIlroy, coming off his fourth career victory at the Wells Fargo Championship last Sunday, was at the PGA Championship at Valhalla on Tuesday on the practice range just after the news broke.

McIlroy and top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, who last month won his second Masters, are favoured for the title.

Rory McIlroy previously dated Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki

McIlroy, a four-time major champion, won his most recent major title at Valhalla a decade ago at the PGA Championship.

Erica Stoll was working for the PGA of America when she met McIlroy in 2012 at the Ryder Cup and they began dating in 2015, becoming engaged in December 2015 while on holiday in Paris and marrying in April 2017 at an Irish castle.

They welcomed a daughter, Poppy, in 2020.

McIlroy had previously dated Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki from 2011 to 2014.

They became engaged on December 31, 2013, but McIlroy announced in May 2014 that he had ended the engagement.

Later that year, McIlroy won the British Open and PGA Championship, his most recent major wins to date.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

Those flying the South African flag will be Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Dean Burmester, Thriston Lawrence, Erik van Rooyen and Ryan van Velzen.

LIV Golf invitation

As reported by The South African website, Burmester was one of 16 LIV Golf players to have received a special invitation to play in the year’s second Major.

Lawrence squeaked into the field. The top 100 in the world rankings the week before the event are extended invitations – and the 27-year-old was indeed the 100th ranked player on that list.

Ryan van Velzen, 22, won the Sunshine Tour order of merit last month, which earned him an invite to the PGA Championship as well as The Open Championship in July this year.

Bezuidenhout (53rd) and Van Rooyen (64th) both qualified by virtue of their world rankings.

Meanwhile, Louis Oosthuizen reportedly turned down an invitation to play.

The field at this year’s PGA Championship will be competing for a total prize fund of $17.5 million.

Gary Player is South Africa’s only PGA Championship winner having lifted the Wanamaker Trophy in both 1962 and 1972.

Speaking after a practice session at Valhalla for the 106th PGA Championship, which starts on May 16, Woods detailed the state of talks nearly a year after a framework merger deal was announced between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the PGA Tour.

‘Working on negotiations’

“Fans are probably as tired as we are of the talk not being about the game of golf and about not being about the players,” Woods said.

“The fans just want to see us play together. How do we get there is to be determined.

“We’ve made some progress, yes, for sure, but there’s a long way to go still.”

Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, is a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board transaction subcommittee charged with hammering out a deal.

“We’re working on negotiations with PIF. It’s ongoing. It’s fluid. It changes day-to-day,” Woods said.

“Has there been progress? Yes. But it’s an ongoing negotiation so a lot of work ahead for all of us with this process.

“We’re making steps. It may not be giant steps, but we’re making steps.”

‘Surprise resignation’

His update came a day after Jimmy Dunne resigned from the PGA Policy Board, multiple reports saying the businessman was unhappy at the slow pace of talks, which have gone well past last December’s deadline.

Dunne helped create a controversial framework merger agreement unveiled last June 6 between PIF and the PGA Tour, an announcement blindsiding most players and a sudden reversal by PGA commissioner Jay Monahan, who had pushed them to reject LIV only to seemingly wave a surrender flag less than three weeks after LIV’s Brooks Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship.

“Jimmy and the amount of work and dedication he put into the board and the PGA Tour, has been incredible,” Woods said.

“It was a bit surprising that he resigned.”

Dunne, in a resignation letter obtained by Sports Illustrated, said since players are a board majority and “no meaningful progress has been made toward a transaction with PIF, I feel like my vote and my role is utterly superfluous”.

Dunne touched upon divisions among what punishment PGA players might want for LIV players seeking a return, saying: “It’s crucial for the board to avoid letting yesterday’s differences interfere with today’s decisions.”

Tiger Woods said differing views on golf’s future is how progress is made.

“We have arguments and we have disagreements, but we want to do what’s best for everyone in golf and the tour,” Woods said.

“Without those kind of conflicts, the progress is not going to be there.”

That includes differences between Woods and Rory McIlroy, who is also on the negotiating subcommittee.

“It’s good to see it differently, but collectively as a whole we want to see whatever’s best for all the players, fans and the state of golf,” Woods said.

“How we get there, that’s to be determined, but the fact that we’re in this fight together to make golf better is what it’s all about.”

‘It’s troubling’

Golf remains a fractured sport, with top LIV and PGA stars meeting only at majors and television ratings down at the Masters and PGA events.

“If you spend a lot of time on the internet, it does feel like professional golf is crumbling,” ninth-ranked Max Homa said.

“When we’re on the grounds of events, it’s amazing. It doesn’t feel like it’s dying.

“It has got to be exhausting to be a casual golf fan. It’s troubling. I don’t like where it’s going.

“Fans of golf should not know who is on the board. That just seems like a pretty obvious one, so that would be the goal going forward.”

Homa wants golf’s finest players reunited.

“I hope at some point soon we can just get back to entertaining people,” Homa said.

“We have a lot going on here but hopefully at some point everybody can find the plot again.”

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

The PGA Championship, the year’s second Major of the year, will take place at Valhalla from 16 to 19 May.

Louis Oosthuizen ranked 125th in the world

Oosthuizen, 41, currently competes in the LIV Golf League.

In total, 16 LIV Golf stars will compete in Kentucky, including defending champion Brooks Koepka, who won his third PGA Championship at Oak Hill last May.

Eight other LIV players qualified for the event, namely Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson, Andy Ogletree, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith.

They will be joined by seven other LIV players to receive special invites: Talor Gooch, Patrick Reed, Joaquin Niemann, Dean Burmester, Adrian Meronk, Lucas Herbert and David Puig.

The glaring absentee from the list, though, was Louis Oosthuizen.

It has been reported by The Associated Press that the Mossel Bay-native opted to turn down an offer to compete due to unknown commitments in his personal life.

Oosthuizen has been in impressive form in recent months, competing across the Saudi-backed league, DP World Tour, Sunshine Tour and Asian Tour.

Oosthuizen finished has finished runner-up on two separate occasions on the breakaway circuit in Jeddah and Adelaide.

He currently sits fourth in LIV’s season-long rankings after three top-10 finishes in his last five starts.

He is currently ranked 125th in the world rankings.

No space for Sergio Garcia

Notable LIV names who did not receive invitations include Sergio Garcia, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz.

The 156-player field at this year’s PGA Championship will be competing for a total prize fund of $17.5 million.

As reported by The South African website, Tiger Woods is among those expected to tee off in next Thursday’s opening round.

Woods, a 15-time major winner, has struggled to walk four rounds in tournaments since suffering severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash but finished 60th in last month’s Masters and says he hopes to play once a month through the US and British Opens.

Tiger Woods withdrew from most recent PGA Championship

Woods, ranked 801st, has accepted a special invitation into next month’s US Open.

He withdrew after three rounds in 2022 in his most recent PGA Championship start, skipping last year after ankle surgery.

Woods and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland have each won PGA Championship titles at Valhalla – Woods in 2000 and McIlroy in 2014 in his most recent major triumph.

The PGA field includes 33 major winners, 16 of them former PGA Championship winners.

Two vacancies remain in the field of 156, awaiting winners of this week’s PGA Tour events if they are not already qualified for the showdown at Louisville, Kentucky.

The lineup includes top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, who won his second Masters title last month, and the rest of the top 103 players in the official world golf rankings.

Scheffler is skipping this week’s PGA Tour event to be with wife Meredith as she prepares to have a baby.

16 LIV Golf League entrants

Defending champion Brooks Koepka of the United States is among 16 players from the LIV Golf League who will compete in the year’s second major tournament.

Other LIV players from the world’s top 100 include fifth-ranked Jon Rahm, England’s 17th-ranked Tyrrell Hatton, Australia’s Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert, Poland’s Adrian Meronk, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and American Patrick Reed.

Other major winners from LIV include Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Martin Kaymer.

American Talor Gooch, last year’s LIV season champion, was invited into his fifth consecutive PGA Championship.

His best result was a share of 20th in 2022 but he missed the cut last year.

The field includes 21 club professionals, 20 qualifiers and Michael Block, who returns after sharing 15th last year at Oak Hill.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

The 34-year-old Koepka won for the fourth time on the Saudi-backed circuit on Sunday after a 3-under 68 in the final round at Sentosa Golf Club to claim the league’s seventh event of the 2024 season, LIV Golf Singapore.

For his efforts, Koepka will take home the top prize of $4 million.

Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith and team-mate Marc Leishman, who finished tied for second place, two shots behind Koepka at 13-under, banked $1.875 million each.

Smith and Leishman helped their Ripper GC team go back-to-back after they claimed victory last weekend in Adelaide, beating the all-South African Stinger GC team in a playoff.

South African quartet struggled

Meanwhile, the four South Africans competing this week struggled somewhat.

Dean Burmester faired best with his T14-place finish on 8-under par. That was good enough for a pay day of $287 000 (R5.3 million).

Louis Oosthuizen, in a tie for 22nd place, was next best. He took home $203 000 (R3.76 million).

Branden Grace finished on 3-under par in a tie for 32nd place and banked $155 000 (R2.87 million).

Finally, Charl Schwartzel ended the 54 holes on 2-under par in T35th which was good enough for a $146 500 (R2.7 million) cheque.

Check out how the $20 million prize fund was split among the 54 golfers at 2024 LIV Golf Singapore.

Individual prize money

Team prize money

Bet Anytime, Anywhere Quick and Easy with Betway

“I have the next three months – three majors – and hopefully that works out,” Woods said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show on Wednesday.

The 15-time major champion drew huge crowds at the Masters last month, but his 16-over par total was the highest 72-hole score of his career and left him last among the 60 golfers who made the cut at Augusta National.

Even so, Woods indicated he was looking forward to tackling the PGA Championship at Valhalla on May 16, with the US Open at Pinehurst in June and the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland in July.

Tiger Woods hasn’t played all four majors since 2019

If Woods can manage it, it will mark the first time since 2019 he has played in all four major championships.

To do so again will require detailed attention to his physical recovery.

“Cold plunge every day,” Woods said of the treatment for his sore body after the Masters.

To contend, Woods will likely have to reckon with world number one Scottie Scheffler, who followed up his second Masters title with his fourth victory of the season at the RBC Heritage a week later.

“If you just stand back and watch ball flight, there’s something different about his,” Woods said of Scheffler.

“It’s just a matter of if he putts decent, he’s going to win. If he putts great, he blows away fields.

“If he has a bad putting week, he contends,” Woods said.

“He’s just that good a ball-striker.”

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

The 41-year-old American led overnight by one and after an early bogey refocused to reel off five straight birdies on the front nine in a four-under-par 68 to finish 54 holes at the Grange Golf Club at 18-under.

In front of bumper crowds and a carnival atmosphere, South Africa’s 11-time European Tour winner and 2010 British Open champion Oosthuizen came second after seven birdies in his 65.

SA quartet in the money

Spanish two-time major winner Rahm was among a group of five to finish a further shot back after firing 64 to bank his sixth consecutive top-10 finish since defecting to the Saudi-backed league this year.

Alongside him tied for third were Charl Schwartzel, Andy Ogletree, Joaquin Niemann and Dean Burmester, who won the previous event in Miami.

It was Steele’s first LIV win since joining Phil Mickelson’s “Hyflyers” team last year following 12 years on the PGA Tour that garnered three titles.

Steele earned $4 million for his win.

The all-Australian Ripper GC quartet led by Cameron Smith won the team title on 53-under – the lowest score since LIV was launched in 2022.

But they needed the league’s first ever team playoff to do so, winning on the second extra hole from Oosthuizen’s all-South African Stinger GC team.

It was a lucrative 54 holes for the South Africans in the field.

Oosthuizen pocketed $2.25 million (R42.3 million) for finishing in second place, while Schwartzel and Burmester banked $920 000 (R17.3 million) each for their joint third-place finishes.

Branden Grace, meanwhile, took home $130 800 (R2.5 million) for his tie for 40th place.

But that’s not all!

The foursome shared $1.5 million (R28.2 million) – which works out at $375 000 (R7.05 million) – for their second-place finish in the LIV Golf team competition.

Meanwhile, as sadly reported by The South African website, Charl Schwartzel’s wife, Rosalind, revealed mid-week that she is fighting breast cancer.

LIV Golf Adelaide final individual leaderboard and earnings

Final team leaderboard and earnings

The teenaged Woods was among 84 entries in the local qualifier in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the top five advanced to 36-hole qualifying in June.

Charlie Woods’s round included three double bogeys, four bogeys and one birdie.

His score of 81 left him T61 of 74 players. Three additional players WDed, and five others DNF.

Tiger Woods won three US Open titles

His score was five strokes better than he posted in an attempt to qualify for the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Cup in February, but the nine-over round left him tied for 61st at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.

The USGA said Charlie Woods was among 10 084 golfers entering local qualifiers trying to gain one of 80 places in the field for the US Open at Pinehurst in June.

Sites in 44 US states and Canada are conducting 109 local qualifiers through May 20.

If Charlie to hoping to follow his dad’s footsteps, he still has some time.

Tiger was 16 years old when he played his first PGA Tour tournament at Riviera in 1992.

Tiger Woods, now 48, won the US Open on three occasions, in 2000, 2002 and 2008.

Thankfully, that diagnosis came early enough and treatment is now well underway with the overall prognosis looking good.

Rosalind Schwartzel is just 39.

According to the LIV Golf website, both Rosalind and Charl are now determined to make their personal ordeal count: by doing their very best to raise breast cancer awareness globally as much as they can.

“Rosalind feels like if she could save just one person’s life by getting them to go for a check-up early, then that is a big win,” Charl said.

“She wants to create an awareness for all women. Everybody has got a mom, and most men have wives or sisters, so everybody in some way will maybe get affected by it. So, if there is a way to make people aware of going for their checkups and if you catch cancer early, your survival rate or success rate is just tremendously higher. That’s what Rosalind wants.”

Charl Schwartzel won the 2011 Masters

During the build-up this week to LIV Golf Adelaide, Charl Schwartzel and his fellow South African Stinger GC team-mates, Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Dean Burmester, plus the caddies and the entire team management, all shaved their hair to stand in solidarity with Rosalind.

To commemorate that joint decision, Stinger GC posted on Twitter: “In support of the amazing Ros Schwartzel and all women around the world with cancer. If you want to show your support and join us, please send in your photos/videos of you shaving your heads and we will be posting them to help raise further awareness and hopefully save lives.”

Accompanying that Twitter post was a video, which began with Charl sitting in a barber’s chair prior to shaving off his own hair. Moments before he got to work with the razor, Charl said: “We’re doing this in support of my wife. She has been incredibly strong with her treatments for breast cancer and the Stingers are showing their support. As her husband, I love her very much. She’s a rock. Here we go.”

Charl and Rosalind began dating in 2008 and got married in 2010.

By some distance, Rosalind’s breast cancer diagnosis has been the toughest challenge they have faced together as a couple.

“This is stuff that affects your life,” said Charl, a 39-year-old from Johannesburg who will forever remain in the history books as LIV Golf’s first individual tournament champion, having won the inaugural 2022 event in London.

“Sport can provide great opportunities to make people aware of these sorts of things but it’s just something that you do as a living. The breast cancer diagnosis is real life, it’s real life.”

‘Real shock’

Asked how his wife was holding up emotionally and mentally, Charl Schwartzel replied: “It was a real shock in the beginning, when we found out. She’s young, she’s under 40 and it’s not something you really think about, so it was really a shock. But she’s been so strong and so positive and everybody around her has shown so much support and love, and it’s going really well.

“As a team, we all cut our hair because of her… her hair will mostly all fall out in the next week or two. It’s getting really thin now, and we did it just to support her and start showing some awareness of it.”

The very same day that Stinger GC’s Twitter post was published to showcase the team buzzcuts, Rosalind shared her own experience on Instagram in a bid to raise breast cancer awareness.

She described how, last November, her 4-year-old son had been playfully wrestling with her and, by accident, hurt her left breast after jumping on her.

“I was quite injured so, a couple of days later, our amazing nurse practitioner Amanda suggested that I go for an ultrasound,” said Rosalind.

“The doctor came in to say to me that the left breast was perfect, 100 percent, but they had found something in the right breast. He said it was still small at the time and we should just keep an eye on it and I should come back in six months.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to six months. Ten weeks later, I felt a lump in the right breast so I came back and had another ultrasound which showed that it had grown quite significantly and the biopsy turned out to be cancer. I have triple-negative breast cancer.”

‘Don’t wait until you’re 40’

Rosalind had always been told that women should wait until they were aged 40 before having ultrasounds or mammograms. She is no longer a believer in that.

“I got lucky because if I had waited until I was 40, in September, I would have really been in big trouble,” she said.

“My cancer would have really spread. So, my little guy definitely saved my life. My message to all the young ladies is don’t wait until you are 40. Go and have the ultrasound, or have the mammogram. We have to be our own advocates when it comes to our health and, at the end of the day, it’s just not worth taking the risk to wait.

“Look at my story. If I had waited, I would have been worse off than I am now. So, I am actually six weeks of treatments in, and I still have got quite a lot more chemo to go through, and then I will have surgery and then radiation but I have really got a strong support system, such amazing friends and family and a husband who has been my rock every day.”

Rosalind has been receiving treatment at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, one of the world’s most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.

It is the same hospital in which Phil Mickelson’s wife Amy was successfully treated 15 years ago.

In total, Rosalind will be treated by a 16-week dose-intense, chemotherapy regimen.

Meanwhile, another South African golfing legend, Ernie Els, along with his wife and two children, sent their best wishes to the Rosalind.

Writing on Facebook, Els said: “Sending our very best wishes to @rosschwartzel. We’re all with you Ros, keep up your fight. We love and support you. From the whole Els family. ❤️”

In addition, The South African website extends its best wishes to both Rosalind and Charl.

Scheffler’s latest triumph is one of his greatest, as he became a two-time Masters champion.

Scottie Scheffler’s Masters win powered by club change

As things stand Scheffler’s remarkable consistency means that he is favourite for at least two of the year’s three remaining Majors.

Scheffler has become a stronger championship threat since replacing his TaylorMade SS Proto putter with the Spider Tour X Mallet. 

“I had tried a Spider during the playoffs last year,” Scheffler said. “It was a little bit of a different type of Spider than the one I used last week. At times last year, I struggled lining the ball up in the middle of the face, so I lined the ball up on the toe sometimes, and I struggled with a tiny bit of a heel strike, and that was just — you know, just became kind of my miss. Like if I was fighting a duck hook off the tee, I was fighting a little bit of a heel miss with the putter.”

Scheffler benefits from the alignment aids of the mallet-style putter.

“This Spider putter is really easy for me to line up,” he continued. “I don’t have to use the line on the ball. I line the putter up really well, and I line up in the middle of the face, and pretty much as simple as that. Kind of gives me just a really good visual.

“It’s good for me visually, and I like the way the ball comes off the face,” he said, “and so it’s helping me just be more kind of outward with my putting than focusing on what’s going on right here, just focusing on the picture of the putt.”

Don’t overthink it

Scheffler has learnt to be content with improved results on the green and to avoid overthinking his putting game.

“At times, I think it got to the point where a ball would go in, but if that ball didn’t roll end over end, at the back of your head, you’re like, wait, did I hit that putt really good?” Scheffler said. “I think sometimes I expected perfection out of myself, and I’m like that in a lot of different things, so when it comes to the putting, now not using the line just to be more free to not try as hard, which is a heck of a lot easier said than done…

“It’s about sticking to my process and controlling what I can control,” he added, “and that’s having a good attitude and hitting a good putt, and not using the line has helped a lot in that.”

Scheffler, who also took the green jacket in 2022, won a record $3.6 million top prize after a drama-filled battle with fellow Americans Collin Morikawa and Max Homa and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who made an impressive major debut.

Scheffler birdied three of the last six holes to fire a four-under par 68 and finish 72 holes over the iconic 7 555-yard layout on 11-under 277, with Aberg shooting 69 to finish second on 281.

Two-time major winner Morikawa had a closing 74 to share third on 284 with Homa and England’s Tommy Fleetwood.

Scheffler matched Tiger Woods as the only players to win the Masters twice while atop the world rankings.

He also became the fourth-youngest multiple Masters winner at age 27 behind Woods, Jack Nicklaus and the late Seve Ballesteros.

Only one South African made the halfway cut out of the three that started the tournament.

Erik van Rooyen finished in a tie for 55th-place on 13-over par and earned $44 400 (R840 000).

Charl Schwartzel and amateur Christo Lamprecht failed to make the weekend.

MASTERS 2024 PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN

This year’s event will be the 88th tournament since the very first was contested back in 1934.

Spain’s Jon Rahm is the defending champion.

The tournament started on Thursday, 11 April.

The South Africans who were flying the flag are Charl Schwartzel, Erik van Rooyen and Christo Lamprecht.

Lamprecht is one of five amateurs in the field.

Schwartzel won the Masters in 2011.

He is one of three former winners from South Africa.

The others, Trevor Immelman (2008) and Gary Player (1961, 1974, 1978) are not in this week’s field.

Both Schwartzel and Lamprecht missed the halfway cut, leaving just Van Rooyen in the field for the weekend.

Bookmark The South African website for the latest news, scores and more from Augusta National.

ROUND 2 SCORES

138 – Max Homa (USA) 67-71, Scottie Scheffler (USA) 66-72, Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 65-73

140 – Nicolai Hœjgaard (DEN) 67-73

141 – Cameron Davis (AUS) 69-72, Collin Morikawa (USA) 71-70

142 – Ludvig Aberg (SWE) 73-69

143 – Ryan Fox (NZL) 69-74, Danny Willett (ENG) 68-75, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 72-71, Cameron Smith (AUS) 71-72, Matthieu Pavon (FRA) 70-73, An Byeong-hun (KOR) 70-73, Cameron Young (USA) 70-73

144 – Lucas Glover (USA) 71-73, Patrick Reed (USA) 74-70, Xander Schauffele (USA) 72-72, Kurt Kitayama (USA) 71-73, Adam Schenk (USA) 73-71, Sepp Straka (AUT) 73-71, Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 71-73

145 – Tiger Woods (USA) 73-72, Eric Cole (USA) 73-72

146 – Harris English (USA) 72-74, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 71-75, Brooks Koepka (USA) 73-73, Taylor Moore (USA) 71-75, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 72-74, Corey Conners (CAN) 70-76

147 – Shane Lowry (IRL) 73-74, Erik van Rooyen (RSA) 71-76, Will Zalatoris (USA) 70-77, Akshay Bhatia (USA) 72-75, Neal Shipley (USA) 71-76

148 – Phil Mickelson (USA) 73-75, Denny McCarthy (USA) 74-74, Sahith Theegala (USA) 74-74, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71-77, Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 70-78, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 75-73, Adam Hadwin (CAN) 75-73, Jason Day (AUS) 75-73, Min Woo Lee (AUS) 74-74

149 – Camilo Villegas (COL) 74-75, Jon Rahm (ESP) 73-76, Tony Finau (USA) 71-78, Chris Kirk (USA) 74-75, Keegan Bradley (USA) 78-71, JT Poston (USA) 75-74

150 – Luke List (USA) 75-75, Rickie Fowler (USA) 76-74, Russell Henley (USA) 73-77, Grayson Murray (USA) 76-74, Jake Knapp (USA) 74-76, José María Olazábal (ESP) 77-73, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 76-74, Kim Si-woo (KOR) 74-76, Kim Joo-hyung (KOR) 72-78, Adam Scott (AUS) 76-74, Thorbjœrn Olesen (DEN) 71-79

Missed the cut

151 – Mike Weir (CAN) 74-77, Im Sung-jae (KOR) 77-74, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 72-79, Justin Rose (ENG) 73-78, Zach Johnson (USA) 76-75, Justin Thomas (USA) 72-79, Wyndham Clark (USA) 73-78, Lee Hodges (USA) 74-77, Austin Eckroat (USA) 74-77, Nick Dunlap (USA) 77-74

152 – Stewart Hagestad (USA) 74-78, Christo Lamprecht (RSA) 74-78, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 71-81

153 – Brian Harman (USA) 81-72, Jordan Spieth (USA) 79-74, Sam Burns (USA) 80-73

154 – Bubba Watson (USA) 74-80, Peter Malnati (USA) 82-72, Stephan Jäger (GER) 74-80, Santiago de la Fuente (MEX) 76-78

155 – Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-81

156 – Ryo Hisatsune (JPN) 78-78, Jasper Stubbs (AUS) 80-76, Fred Couples (USA) 80-76

157 – Dustin Johnson (USA) 78-79, Gary Woodland (USA) 76-81

158 – Nick Taylor (CAN) 77-81, Adrian Meronk (POL) 78-80

159 – Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 76-83

MASTERS FIELD FOR 2024

Past champions who have confirmed they are not playing this week:

• Tommy Aaron
• Angel Cabrera
• Charles Coody
• Ben Crenshaw
• Nick Faldo
• Raymond Floyd
• Trevor Immelman
• Bernhard Langer
• Sandy Lyle
• Larry Mize
• Jack Nicklaus
• Mark O’Meara
• Gary Player
• Craig Stadler
• Tom Watson
• Ian Woosnam
• Fuzzy Zoeller

The honorary starter tradition dates back 61 years to 1963.

This year’s tournament at Augusta National is the 88th edition as 89 golfers battle for the famed green jacket.

Player has won three Masters titles, while Nicklaus and Watson have six and two, respectively, to their names.

Player is now 88 years of age, while Nicklaus is 84.

Watson, who ‘replaced’ Arnold Palmer as an honorary starter, is 74.

This year’s event will be the 88th tournament since the very first was contested back in 1934.

Spain’s Jon Rahm is the defending champion.

The South Africans who will be flying the flag are Charl Schwartzel, Erik van Rooyen and Christo Lamprecht.

Lamprecht is one of five amateurs in the field.

Schwartzel won the Masters in 2011.

He is one of three former winners from South Africa.

The others, Trevor Immelman (2008) and Gary Player (1961, 1974, 1978) are not in this week’s field.

Stay glued to The South African website for the latest news, scores and more from Augusta National.

MASTERS FIELD FOR 2024

Past champions who have confirmed they are not playing this week:

• Tommy Aaron
• Angel Cabrera
• Charles Coody
• Ben Crenshaw
• Nick Faldo
• Raymond Floyd
• Trevor Immelman
• Bernhard Langer
• Sandy Lyle
• Larry Mize
• Jack Nicklaus
• Mark O’Meara
• Gary Player
• Craig Stadler
• Tom Watson
• Ian Woosnam
• Fuzzy Zoeller

LIVE | Masters 2024 – Round 1 leaderboard

No player who has won the Par-3 Contest has captured the green jacket in the same year since Augusta National began the Masters-eve, nine-hole event in 1960.

Fowler fired a five-under par 22 for a two-stroke triumph over American JT Poston, Austria’s Sepp Straka and Mexico’s Santiago de la Fuente, one of 20 rookies in this year’s Masters field of 89.

For his efforts, Fowler takes home a crystal bowl rather than the green jacket symbolic of Masters supremacy.

Fowler got to enjoy the event with his wife Allison, whom he married in 2019, and their two-year-old daughter Maya.

“Great way to start, I guess not start the week – been working at it the last few days,” Fowler said.

“But the par-3 Contest is something special. You know, tradition of the Masters and being able to go out there and now being able to spend with it my family.

“Been around plenty of little kids over the years but a little different when we have our own out there, so special way for us first time having my daughter with my wife and I, something we’ll always have.”

11th appearance for Rickie Fowler

Fowler, 35, won his sixth PGA Tour title last July in Detroit, his first tour win since the 2019 Phoenix Open, to earn a spot in this year’s Masters, his 11th appearance overall.

“It has been kind of long time coming to get back to here. Special place. One of my favorites,” Fowler said.

“I’m looking forward to getting started tomorrow but definitely nice way to enjoy a Wednesday with the family, have some fun.”

Fowler enjoyed watching Maya play alongside three-time major winner Jordan Spieth’s son Sammy more than actually winning the contest.

“They’re four days apart so they’re basically best friends,” Fowler said.

“Just watching Maya and Sammy running around and having fun. They hit a couple shots. That was the best part.”

Fowler, the 2018 Masters runner-up to fellow American Patrick Reed, has already known something of a major curse from 10 years ago.

In 2014, Fowler shared fifth at the Masters, finished second at the US Open and Open Championship and shared third at the PGA Championship.

It marked the first time in major golf history that a player finished in the top five at all four majors in a year without winning at least one of them.

MASTERS 2024 – ROUND 1 PAIRINGS

All times SA

• 14:00 — Erik van Rooyen, Jake Knapp
• 14:12 — Jose Maria Olazabal, Taylor Moore, Santiago de la Fuente
• 14:24 — Danny Willett, Austin Eckroat, Stephan Jaeger
• 14:36 — Charl Schwartzel, Luke List, Christo Lamprecht
• 14:48 — Gary Woodland, Thorbjorn Olesen, Bryson DeChambeau
• 15:00 — Zach Johnson, Corey Conners, Jasper Stubbs
• 15:12 — Sergio Garcia, Chris Kirk, Ryan Fox
• 15:24 — Lucas Glover, Byeong Hun An, Harris English
• 15:36 — Phil Mickelson, Sepp Straka, Tony Finau
• 15:48 — Nick Taylor, Joaquin Niemann, Russell Henley
• 16:06 — Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, Rickie Fowler
• 16:18 — Hideki Matsuyama, Will Zalatoris, Justin Thomas
• 16:30 — Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap 
• 16:42 — Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele
• 16:54 — Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith
• 17:06 — Lee Hodges, Adrian Meronk, Grayson Murray
• 17:18 — Camilo Villegas, Denny McCarthy, Cameron Davis
• 17:30 — Mike Weir, Ryo Hisatsune, Neal Shipley
• 17:42 — Vijay Singh, Si Woo Kim, Emiliano Grillo
• 17:54 — Fred Couples, Adam Hadwin, Stewart Hagestad
• 18:12 — Justin Rose, Eric Cole, Peter Malnati
• 18:24 — Akshay Bhatia, J.T. Poston, Shane Lowry
• 18:36 — Bubba Watson, Nicolai Hojgaard, Adam Schenk
• 18:48 — Patrick Reed, Sungjae Im, Kurt Kitayama
• 19:00 — Keegan Bradley, Matthieu Pavon, Tyrrell Hatton
• 19:12 — Adam Scott, Sam Burns, Cameron Young
• 19:24 — Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa
• 19:36 — Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim
• 19:48 — Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala
• 20:00 — Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

LIVE | Masters 2024 – Round 1 leaderboard

Rain and scattered thunderstorms are set to move into the region at around 06:00 local time and are expected to last until 13:00, potentially causing havoc to the first round schedule.

Honorary starters Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson are due get proceedings under way at 07:40 (13:40 SA time), with the first group teeing off 20 minutes later.

However Masters organisers said late on Wednesday that gate openings for Thursday’s first round would be delayed due to weather, a clear sign that play will also be held up.

Scheffler, seeking his second title in three seasons, was in a group with four-time major winner McIlroy, who would complete a career grand slam with a Masters triumph, and Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, chasing his first major victory.

By taking the green jacket, McIlroy would join a select group including Woods, Nicklaus, Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan. McIlroy has not won a major in 10 years but has learned he needs patience at Augusta National.

“This golf course gets you to chase things a little more than other golf courses,” he said.

“It always tempts you to do something you think you can do and I’m pretty confident in my golf game. I think I can do most things.

“Sometimes you just have to take the conservative route and be a little more disciplined and patient.”

Scheffler, who won twice and finished second last month in PGA events, could join Woods as the only players to win the Masters twice while atop the rankings.

“The winds are going to be pretty high and it swirls like crazy around this place,” he said.

“You have to stay so patient and trust in all aspects of your game.”

Fifth-ranked Schauffele hopes to lose the tag as the highest-rated player without a major title.

“It’s definitely what motivates me as a golfer and as a competitor just to keep pushing,” Schauffele said of a major victory.

The feature trio is scheduled to tee off Thursday at 10:42, 12 minutes after Spain’s defending champion Jon Rahm, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and 20-year-old American Nick Dunlap.

Rahm could become only the fourth player to capture back-to-back Masters triumphs after Woods, Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.

“I do feel fresh and ready for it,” Rahm said.

Reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark, Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Australian Cameron Smith, the 2022 Open Championship winner, are together behind Scheffler and McIlroy.

Is Tiger a cut above?

Woods, returning to major golf after right ankle surgery last April but still struggling to walk 72 holes, will try to make the Masters cut for a record 24th consecutive time to break to mark he shares with Player and Fred Couples.

But the five-time Masters winner talks about another record – the six career Masters wins by Nicklaus.

“If everything comes together, I think I can get one more,” Woods said.

Woods tees off at 13:24 alongside fellow American Max Homa and Australian Jason Day.

A group behind them are 2023 Open Championship winner Brian Harman, 2023 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka and South Korean Tom Kim.

Five-time major winner Koepka and Rahm are among 13 players from Saudi-backed LIV Golf in the Masters field, with six-time major winner Phil Mickelson and Koepka sharing second last year behind Rahm, who jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV in December.

Eyes will be on LIV player results as merger talks continue between the PGA Tour and LIV’s backers, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.

There are 20 first-time Masters starters hoping to become the first rookie winner since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

This year’s newcomers include ninth-ranked Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and fourth-ranked Clark.

“Stats like that are meant to be broken,” Clark said.

“That would be an amazing accomplishment. And I like my chances.”

MASTERS 2024 – ROUND 1 PAIRINGS

All times SA

• 14:00 — Erik van Rooyen, Jake Knapp
• 14:12 — Jose Maria Olazabal, Taylor Moore, Santiago de la Fuente
• 14:24 — Danny Willett, Austin Eckroat, Stephan Jaeger
• 14:36 — Charl Schwartzel, Luke List, Christo Lamprecht
• 14:48 — Gary Woodland, Thorbjorn Olesen, Bryson DeChambeau
• 15:00 — Zach Johnson, Corey Conners, Jasper Stubbs
• 15:12 — Sergio Garcia, Chris Kirk, Ryan Fox
• 15:24 — Lucas Glover, Byeong Hun An, Harris English
• 15:36 — Phil Mickelson, Sepp Straka, Tony Finau
• 15:48 — Nick Taylor, Joaquin Niemann, Russell Henley
• 16:06 — Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, Rickie Fowler
• 16:18 — Hideki Matsuyama, Will Zalatoris, Justin Thomas
• 16:30 — Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap 
• 16:42 — Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele
• 16:54 — Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith
• 17:06 — Lee Hodges, Adrian Meronk, Grayson Murray
• 17:18 — Camilo Villegas, Denny McCarthy, Cameron Davis
• 17:30 — Mike Weir, Ryo Hisatsune, Neal Shipley
• 17:42 — Vijay Singh, Si Woo Kim, Emiliano Grillo
• 17:54 — Fred Couples, Adam Hadwin, Stewart Hagestad
• 18:12 — Justin Rose, Eric Cole, Peter Malnati
• 18:24 — Akshay Bhatia, J.T. Poston, Shane Lowry
• 18:36 — Bubba Watson, Nicolai Hojgaard, Adam Schenk
• 18:48 — Patrick Reed, Sungjae Im, Kurt Kitayama
• 19:00 — Keegan Bradley, Matthieu Pavon, Tyrrell Hatton
• 19:12 — Adam Scott, Sam Burns, Cameron Young
• 19:24 — Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa
• 19:36 — Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim
• 19:48 — Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala
• 20:00 — Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood

Gary Player won the Masters three times and was in contention for a few more across a storied career that peaked in the 1960s and 1970s.

Player was later joined by Trevor Immelman, who won the Masters in 2008 and Charl Schwartzel who lifted the trophy.

In 2024 there will be three South Africans in the field with Schwartzel returning for a shot at another Masters title alongside a pair of countrymen chasing their first Major.

South Africa rank third in terms of the nations with the most Masters wins in the bank behind Spain and the dominant United States.

What do the bookies say about South African chances at the Masters?

Sportsbooks offering a market on the top South African in the field have installed Van Rooyen as the favourite to end as the top player from Mzansi in the field.

Van Rooyen is the South African with the most recent PGA Tour title win after his triumph at the World Wide Technology Championships in Mexico last November.

He hasn’t been in the best of form lately though, missing the cut at both The Players Championship and last week’s Texas Open. However he has secured two top ten finishes this season including a tie for second at the Cognizant Classic in early March.

Form vs class

Schwartzel is among the LIV Golf contingent at the Masters, qualifying by virtue of being a former Masters champion.

Schwartzel is no longer eligible to compete in PGA Tour events or the Presidents Cup after he resigned his Tour membership when defecting to LIV Golf.

Still he has played tournament golf recently, competing on the DP World Tour in events co-sanctioned by the South African-based Sunshine Tour in November and December of last year.

A tall darkhorse

Standing at over 2 metres tall, Christo Lamprecht cuts quite some figure on the tee box and has made waves as an amateur player.

Lamprecht is currently studying in the United States, at the Georgia Institute of Technology and has made headlines with some booming drives on the Sunshine Tour.

He qualified for a Masters invitation by virtue of his 2023 victory at The Amateur Championship at Hillside Golf Club in England. Lamprecht will be among five amateurs in the Masters field this year.

Reigning Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, the world number five seeking his first major title, will complete the feature trio from the field of 89, which includes 20 Masters newcomers.

Scheffler, fancied by oddsmakers, could join 15-time major winner Tiger Woods as the only players to win the Masters twice while ranked world number one.

The 27-year-old American has seven top-10 finishes in eight starts this year, including wins at The Players Championship and Arnold Palmer Championship.

LIVE | Masters 2024 – Round 1 leaderboard

But Scheffler’s trademark discipline and composure won’t let him ponder the impact of a second green jacket in three seasons.

“I try not to look too far into the future,” he said.

“I’m excited about how I’ve been playing to begin this year.

“All I’m trying to do is put myself in contention in the tournament and hopefully finish it off. I really am not looking much past tomorrow. I’m focused on my preparation.”

McIlroy, a four-time major winner from Northern Ireland, knows all too well that a Masters triumph would complete a career grand slam. It’s the 10th time he has tried to finish the feat since winning his most recent majors in 2014.

“I’ve already got most of my prep work done, so it’s just about going out there and being relaxed and being in the right frame of mind,” McIlroy said.

“The more I can do that, the more I’ll be able to execute on the golf course.”

McIlroy, a 2022 Masters runner-up to Scheffler, has six top-10 finishes in his past nine starts at Augusta.

Among those confident McIlroy will complete the career grand slam is five-time Masters champion Woods.

“No question, he’ll do it at some point,” Woods said.

“Rory is too talented, too good. He’s going to be playing this event for a very long time. He’ll get it done. It’s just a matter of when.

“I think Rory will be a great Masters champion one day and it could be this week. You never know. I just think that the talent he has, the way he plays the game and the golf course fits his eye, it’s just a matter of time.”

It was a motivational boost for McIlroy, whose decade-long major win drought includes 10 top-five finishes and three runner-up efforts, including last year’s US Open.

“It’s flattering. It’s nice to hear, in my opinion, the best player ever to play the game say something like that,” McIlroy said.

“Does that mean it’s going to happen? Obviously not. But he has been around the game long enough to know I at least have the potential to do it. I know I’ve got the potential to do it too. It’s not as if I haven’t been a pretty good player for the last couple decades.

“But yeah, it’s nice to hear it when it comes out of his mouth.”

‘I can get one more’

Woods, a five-time Masters winner, is trying to make a record 24th consecutive Masters cut, surpassing the current mark he shares with Gary Player and Fred Couples.

The 48-year-old American says he still has what it takes to match the record six green jackets won by Jack Nicklaus despite severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash and ankle surgery last April.

“If everything comes together, I think I can get one more,” Woods said.

Woods admits he aches every day, an ill omen as he struggles to walk 72 holes at Augusta National.

“It’s certainly one of the more hillier walks that we have on tour,” Woods said.

Third-ranked Jon Rahm will try to join Woods, Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only players to win back-to-back Masters titles.

He’s among 13 players from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League in the Masters field, having made the jump from the PGA Tour last December.

Among those playing their first Masters are fourth-ranked Wyndham Clark, the reigning US Open champion, and world number nine Ludvig Aberg of Sweden.

No rookie has won the green jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

MASTERS 2024 – ROUND 1 PAIRINGS

All times SA

• 14:00 — Erik van Rooyen, Jake Knapp
• 14:12 — Jose Maria Olazabal, Taylor Moore, Santiago de la Fuente
• 14:24 — Danny Willett, Austin Eckroat, Stephan Jaeger
• 14:36 — Charl Schwartzel, Luke List, Christo Lamprecht
• 14:48 — Gary Woodland, Thorbjorn Olesen, Bryson DeChambeau
• 15:00 — Zach Johnson, Corey Conners, Jasper Stubbs
• 15:12 — Sergio Garcia, Chris Kirk, Ryan Fox
• 15:24 — Lucas Glover, Byeong Hun An, Harris English
• 15:36 — Phil Mickelson, Sepp Straka, Tony Finau
• 15:48 — Nick Taylor, Joaquin Niemann, Russell Henley
• 16:06 — Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, Rickie Fowler
• 16:18 — Hideki Matsuyama, Will Zalatoris, Justin Thomas
• 16:30 — Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap 
• 16:42 — Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele
• 16:54 — Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith
• 17:06 — Lee Hodges, Adrian Meronk, Grayson Murray
• 17:18 — Camilo Villegas, Denny McCarthy, Cameron Davis
• 17:30 — Mike Weir, Ryo Hisatsune, Neal Shipley
• 17:42 — Vijay Singh, Si Woo Kim, Emiliano Grillo
• 17:54 — Fred Couples, Adam Hadwin, Stewart Hagestad
• 18:12 — Justin Rose, Eric Cole, Peter Malnati
• 18:24 — Akshay Bhatia, J.T. Poston, Shane Lowry
• 18:36 — Bubba Watson, Nicolai Hojgaard, Adam Schenk
• 18:48 — Patrick Reed, Sungjae Im, Kurt Kitayama
• 19:00 — Keegan Bradley, Matthieu Pavon, Tyrrell Hatton
• 19:12 — Adam Scott, Sam Burns, Cameron Young
• 19:24 — Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa
• 19:36 — Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim
• 19:48 — Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala
• 20:00 — Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood

Woods, making a comeback after ankle surgery last April, made a brief morning foray onto the back nine with new caddie Lance Bennett after a front-nine stroll on Sunday afternoon as the 15-time major winner prepared for his 26th Masters start.

The 48-year-old legend hopes to make his 24th consecutive Masters cut and break the tournament record he now shares with Gary Player and Fred Couples.

Tiger Woods withdrew last year

Woods, whose most recent major title came at the 2019 Masters, withdrew last year after making the cut due to plantar fasciitis.

He later underwent ankle surgery related to severe leg injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash that have limited his ability to walk 72 holes.

The five-time Masters winner withdrew from his comeback PGA event at Riviera in February due to illness.

Spectators at Augusta National received specially made glasses for the afternoon eclipse, complete with a Masters logo, with up to 76.1 percent of totality of the moon covering the sun expected over the famed course.

Dimmed conditions are forecast at the course for about 2.5 hours during the practice session, but there was expected to be sufficient light for players to complete work on the course or at the driving range and chipping area.

Augusta National posted on X that the optimal viewing area on the course would be at Amen Corner – the famed 11th, 12th and 13th holes known more for Sunday drama than Monday stargazing.

It’s not the first time the lights have gone out on the Masters.

There was an annular eclipse, when a ring of the sun is visible around the moon, during the final round of the 1940 Masters, when Jimmy Demaret fired a 71 to defeat Lloyd Mangrum by four strokes, what was then a record win margin for the event.

Field of 89

The field of 89 for the year’s first major championship was completed by Akshay Bhatia, who qualified on Sunday by winning the Texas Open.

The 22-year-old American is the first player to reach the finals of the junior Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National and qualify for the Masters.

He competed in the inaugural edition of the youth event in 2014.

“Augusta National is obviously very special,” Bhatia said.

“As a kid going there for the first time in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt is pretty special, something I’ll always remember.”

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

The 34-year-old won for the first time on the Saudi-backed circuit on Sunday after a two-hole play-off against Spain’s Sergio Garcia at Trump National Doral.

The LIV Golf Miami stop was the league’s fifth event of the 2024 season.

For his efforts, Burmester took home the top prize of $4 million (R74.4 million).

Not bad for 54 holes of golf!

But that’s not all!

Burmester was also part of the Stinger GC team, which finished third overall, earning each of the four-player team another $125 000 (R2.3 million).

The other members of the all-South African Stinger GC team are Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel.

Oosthuizen finished in a tie for seventh on seven-under par and banked $562 500 (R10.5 million), while Grace was tied for 32nd on two-over par, which was good enough for a $153 250 (R2.9 million) payday.

Schwartzel, who will head to Augusta National this week for the year’s first Major, the Masters, finished on four-over par in a tie for 37th. That earned him $141 500 (R2.6 million).

Check out how much money each player and team earned at 2024 LIV Golf Miami.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

Team prize money

Woods, whose plane was tracked to Augusta a week ago, is listed to speak with reporters at Augusta National on Tuesday and remains among those in the tournament field on the event website rather than among non-playing champions.

But the 48-year-old US superstar, whose 82 PGA Tour wins shares the all-time record with Sam Snead, is struggling with injuries, according to his long-time pal Notah Begay.

“He’s trying to formulate a strategy and approach that he can work with given the constraints that he is presented with, and he has got some constraints,” Begay told reporters on Wednesday.

“He has got zero mobility in that left ankle and really has low-back challenges now, which he knew he was going to have.”

Woods won the 2019 Masters for his first major title since 2008, but has struggled since making his comeback from the 2021 auto accident at the 2022 Masters, finishing 47th when he struggled just to walk all 72 holes at the hilly layout.

Last year, Woods matched a Masters record by making a 23rd consecutive cut, pulling level with Gary Player and Fred Couples, but later withdrew due to plantar fasciitis and underwent ankle surgery last April.

The five-time Masters champion reportedly played Augusta National last weekend with pal Justin Thomas and Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.

So far this season, the only PGA event Woods has played was at Riviera in February, when he withdrew after one round due to illness.

Can he walk 72 holes?

The main struggle for Tiger Woods is walking a full four rounds, Begay said.

“He has been trying to find a way to recover,” Begay said.

“He can play the golf. We always knew the question was going to be, ‘Can he walk the 72?’ That’s still up in the air.

“Can he recover from one round to the next? That’s the biggest question. I really don’t know and he’s not going to know either until he gets out there and figures out whether the way he has prepared for this year’s Masters is going to work for him.”

Tiger Woods has played in only three majors since car crash

Woods has delivered some of the most spectacular shotmaking ever seen at Augusta National, creating roars that reverberated through the pines along the famed course.

He captured his first major title at the Masters in 1997, won again in 2001 to complete a “Tiger Slam” of four major wins in a row, then joined Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters winners with a 2002 triumph before taking the 2005 title.

In 2019, Woods completed a fairytale comeback by taking the Masters, having recovered from four back operations that left him wondering if he could have a normal life due to nagging pain, much less play golf again.

After his 2021 car crash, in which he suffered a shattered ankle and multiple fractures in his right leg, Woods said he was thankful to still have the leg but battled back for more than a year to make a comeback at the 2022 Masters.

Since then, however, Woods has played in only three majors, withdrawing at last year’s Masters and the 2022 PGA Championship and missing the cut at the 2022 British Open.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

The 48-year-old superstar was among 85 players listed in the field for the April 11-14 showdown rather than among the 17 listed as “past champions not playing” on the Masters website.

Woods, whose 82 career PGA Tour titles shares the all-time record set by Sam Snead, has not played since withdrawing from last month’s Genesis Invitational at Riviera after the first round due to illness.

Tiger Woods has won five Masters titles

The former world number one has won five times in 25 Masters starts, taking the green jacket in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and in 2019 in his most recent major triumph.

Woods made the cut in his 23rd consecutive Masters start last year, tying Fred Couples and Gary Player for the longest such streak in tournament history, but he withdrew in the third round due to plantar fasciitis.

After undergoing ankle surgery last April to repair injuries from a 2021 car crash, Woods did not compete again until his Hero World Challenge invitational event in the Bahamas last December.

Woods has not finished four rounds at a major since the 2022 Masters, where he finished 47th in his comeback event after suffering severe leg injuries in the 2021 crash.

He withdrew from the 2022 PGA Championship after three rounds and missed the cut at the 2022 British Open.

Jon Rahm is the defending champion.

As reported by The South African website, the Spaniard this week confirmed his menu for the Masters Champions Dinner.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

Third-ranked Rahm unveiled the menu for his Champions Dinner on Tuesday, three weeks before it will be served to past Masters winners at Augusta National Golf Club.

Rahm, who won his first major at the 2021 US Open, captured his first green jacket last April, earning the chance to select the foods for this year’s edition of the annual gathering.

“I wanted to put a little bit of my heritage and my family into this dinner. I wanted to make sure the Basque heritage was there,” Rahm said, according to the Daily Mail.

“I’m hoping they really like it. I’m going to try a few things they may not have seen before.”

Rahm called upon famed Spanish-born chef Jose Andres, whose World Central Kitchen provides meals to those in need worldwide after natural disasters, to help produce the flavours Rahm adores.

A starting tapas selection includes pork loin, Basque spicy chorizo, chicken fritters, Spanish omelette, cheese and truffle and a lentil stew.

Andres called Rahm’s grandmother for the stew recipe and pushed for chorizo.

“That was Jose’s doing,” Rahm said of the spicy meat dish.

“I’m going to trust him on that one.”

Jon Rahm will give a speech to the gathering of legends

After a Basque crab salad with potatoes, the menu offers two main course options – whitefish with asparagus or a seared rib-eye steak with peppers.

“That’s my favourite,” Rahm said of the steak.

“When I go home usually I try to eat that.”

A pastry cake with custard and cream will be served for desert while Spanish wines will accompany the meal.

Making his debut among the Masters winners means Rahm will give a speech to the gathering of legends, a challenge unlike anything offered on the iconic Augusta National course.

“This is living rent-free in my head,” Jon Rahm said of the speech.

“I usually have no problem with public speaking. Just the image of having all of those great champions looking at me in that room, it’s quite daunting.”

Rahm isn’t certain just what he will say to the group.

“I’m just going to speak from the heart. I’m not sure what I’m going to say,” Rahm said.

“Hopefully one or two glasses of wine will help me.”

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

“Man, I made that so hard on myself,” a relieved Ancer said after holing a four-foot putt to win the $4 million first prize in the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit event.

Ancer had started the day five clear of the pack on 15-under after bogey-free rounds of 63 on Friday and 62 on Saturday at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

But the Mexican saw his ultra-smooth swing of the first two days desert him in chilly and wet conditions on Sunday, as he returned a two-over 72 in front of big crowds, who turned out in force despite the deteriorating weather.

Englishman Casey holed a spectacular bunker shot for a birdie at his final hole, the 16th, to complete a six-under round of 64 and draw level with Ancer and Australia’s Smith (66) on 13-under par.

But he found a fairway bunker off the tee in the playoff to end his hopes.

“I played some great golf,” said Casey, whose ‘Crushers’ won the team competition and a $3 million first prize to go with his $1,875,000 for a share of second place.

For the four South Africans in the 54-player field, it wasn’t as lucrative an event as last week in Saudi Arabia.

Dean Burmester fared best, finishing his 54 holes on 10-under par in a tie for eighth place. That was good enough for $396 071 (R7.4 million).

Louis Oosthuizen ended in a tie for 19th on 8-under par and took home $245 000 (R4.6 million).

Charl Schwartzel won $129 375 (R2.4 million) for his tie for 41st on 2-under par, while Branden Grace had to be content with $124 167 (R2.3 million) for finishing on 1-under par and in a tie for 45th place.

FINAL LEADERBOARD, SCORES AND EARNINGS

Team prize money

The five richest golfers in the world

Here we try to track the top give golfers when it comes to net worth in 2024.

5 Gary Player $250 million

Gary Player‘s prolific course design work has kept him up in rarified territory when it comes to wealth.

Player’s famous company has designed more than 400 golf courses including both courses at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club.

As a golfer, he recorded 118 international wins and was the third man to complete a career Grand Slam.

4 Jack Nicklaus $400 million

Jack Nicklaus must now be fairly confident that he will never see his Major wins record broken.

He has slipped away from the top of the richest golfers lists and could slide further with a number of players getting massive pay packages from LIV Golf.

Nicklaus still generates income through his involvement in course design and renovation.

3 Greg Norman $400 million

While Greg Norman has also been involved with LIV Golf, he has not been offered the kind of money the top playing talents have received.

Still, his appointment as LIV Golf CEO has helped him stay ahead of Jack Nicklaus.

Norman’s role with LIV Golf has made him unpopular in certain circles but his net worth has been bolstered.

2 Phil Mickelson $875 Million

Phil Mickelson’s actual net worth is the subject of conjecture, but he claims to be ‘almost a billionaire’.

The most generous estimates of his current net worth suggest it might be in excess of $900 million.

Mickelson received an enormous bump from his LIV golf deal but the extent of that deal is not exactly known.

1 Tiger Woods $1.1 billion

Tiger Woods is purported to have earned nearly $2 billion as a direct result of his golfing career.

In 2022, Forbes certified him as the first golfer to become a billionaire.

Woods reached that position despite reportedly turning down a “mind-blowingly enormous” offer from LIV Golf. LIV CEO Greg Norman told the Washington Post the deal’s value would have been in the “high nine digits.”

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann won for the second time in three starts this season, taking home the $4 million top prize.

For South African quartet Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester and Branden Grace, it was also a lucrative three rounds at Royal Greens Golf Country Club.

Oosthuizen and Schwartzel finished in a tie for second place at 13-under par and each earned $1 875 000 (R35.7 million).

Meanwhile, Burmester and Grace finished their 54 holes at 7-under par which was good enough for a tie for 15th place and a cheque of $262 143 (R5 million).

WATCH | Standoff between mongoose and Cape cobra at Western Cape golf course

But that’s not all!

The quartet, who all represent that Stingers GC team, finished second overall on 34-under par and split $1.5 million (R28.6 million).

That equated to an additional $375 000 (R7.15 million) each.

That means Oosthuizen and Schwartzel banked a cool R42.85 million each, while Burmester and Grace took home R12.15 million apiece.

Individual prize money

Team winnings

While Chile’s Joaquin Niemann won for the second time in three starts this season, taking home $4 million, for Mzansi quartet Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester and Branden Grace, it was a lucrative three rounds at Royal Greens Golf Country Club.

Oosthuizen and Schwartzel finished in a tie for second place at 13-under par and each earned $1 875 000 (R35.7 million).

Meanwhile, Burmester and Grace finished their 54 holes at 7-under par which was good enough for a tie for 15th place and a cheque of $262 143 (R5 million).

WATCH | Standoff between mongoose and Cape cobra at Western Cape golf course

But that’s not all!

The quartet, who all represent that Stingers GC team, finished second overall on 34-under par and split $1.5 million (R28.6 million).

That equated to an additional $375 000 (R7.15 million) each.

Individual prize money

Team prize money

As reported recently by The South African website, an epic battle took place between a Banded mongoose and a Cape cobra at Atlantic Beach Golf Club near Cape Town.

Watch what happened HERE

Meanwhile, this week there was another standoff, this time at Pinnacle Point Estate in Mossel Bay between two Cape grey mongooses and another Cape cobra.

It appears that the encounter concluded without any casualties.

PICTURE | Gary Player holds Rugby World Cup trophy

The 15-time major champion, who returns to competition later this week at Riviera in the PGA Genesis Invitational, has a leaping tiger logo in place of his former “TW” stamp.

Woods, 48, has not played competitively since last year’s Masters, where made the cut for a record-tying 23rd consecutive time.

He withdrew in the third round due to plantar fasciitis and underwent season-ending right ankle surgery two weeks later.

SAD NEWS | Bernhard Langer’s final Masters in doubt after torn Achilles

Woods has won 82 PGA Tour titles, level with Sam Snead for the all-time record.

His new brand, a separate business under the TaylorMade umbrella, plays off Woods’ habit of wearing red shirts in Sunday final rounds after his mother, Kultida, said it was a powerful colour in her homeland of Thailand.

SEE | Christo Lamprecht hits 418-yard drive at Leopard Creek – WATCH

Tiger Woods said he hopes to play in one tournament a month if he stays healthy, a schedule that could allow him to compete in four majors for the first time since 2019 – the year he won his most recent major title at the Masters.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

WATCH | THIS LEOPARD DID NOT LIKE THE TEE SET-UP AT SKUKUZA GOLF CLUB!

Galvin Green analysed Google Keyword Planner and Instagram data to determine which courses and prestigious clubs have attracted the most golfers to their landing pages and social following over the past year. 

ALSO READ: How do the World Rugby Rankings work during a World Cup?

The study combined 12 popular golf club search phrases to determine the average monthly search traffic worldwide for each course and the number of hashtags used for each site.  

Golfer’s dream destinations top 10

ALSO READ: The latest PSL transfer rumours

Augusta National takes the top spot with the highest combined golf index score of 98.62 out of 100. Due to the highest combination of Instagram hashtags and search volume the club is the clear top choice for a dream round.

ALSO READ: Springbok stalwart credits willingness to learn as key to RWC

 Augusta National is searched 54,050 times on average each month globally and has over 100,000 posts (107,199) on Instagram under the hashtag #AugustaNational. Based in Georgia, the site is famous for hosting The Masters. 

Home of The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass is the second most popular course among golfing fans. 

ALSO READ: Former Springbok coach would be shocked if Handre Pollard isn’t called up

Each month, there an average of 73,717 searches from across the world for visiting and playing at TPC Sawgrass. 

There are also 56,552 Instagram posts using the hashtag #TPCSawgrass, the second highest amount, leading TPC Sawgrass to have a golf index score of 95.26 out of 100. 

St Andrews Old Course ranked in third with more than 55,317 monthly searches. Often hailed as the ‘Home of Golf’, pictures of St Andrews Old Course have also been posted on Instagram 45,658 times, resulting in a golf index score of 92.39. 

With more than 10,000 average monthly searches (10,650), Emirates Golf Club is the fourth most-searched-for golf course in the world. The 36-hole golf course in Dubai has a golfing index score of 81.02 out of 100, due to its combination of high search volume and 26,650 Instagram posts under the hashtag #EmiratesGolfClub.  

Pebble Beach represents

In fifth place is Pebble Beach Golf Links. The Californian course is searched 18,325 times on average each month and has been posted 12,015 times on Instagram. This volume of interest gives the famous Pacific coast course an index score of 79.01 out of 100. 

The sixth most popular golf course among golfing fans is Bandon Dunes with an index score of 76.78 out of 100. This score is based on an average monthly search volume of 25,625 per month and 5,352 Instagram posts for the respected Oregon facility that boasts six courses designed to reflect the true spirit of Scotland’s ancient links. 

Abu Dhabi Golf Course and Turnberry (Ailsa course) rank seventh and eighth respectively. The Abu Dhabi Golf Course has a golf index score of 74.56 out of 100 with 8.675 Instagram posts and an average search volume for the course being 5,200. 

There are 9,514 Instagram posts under the Turnberry (Ailsa) hashtag, as well as 3,700 average monthly searches for the course, giving the famous Scottish destinationa an index score of 70.83. 

Commenting on behalf of Galvin Green, which has garments stocked at 24 of the world’s top 30 golf course venues, Global Marketing Manager Annelie Backgård Ginstman said: “There are so many fantastic golf courses around the world and the top 10 courses in our survey would grace any golfer’s bucket list. What this study shows is just how much interest there is in these top-quality golfing locations and the extent to which golfers want to share their appreciation of them with others.”  

Golfer’s dream destinations

What is your idea of a golfer’s dream destination?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article. Alternatively you can email us at info@thesouthafrican.com or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.

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PICTURE | Gary Player holds Rugby World Cup trophy

“Excited to be host next week,” Woods posted on social media.

The 48-year-old last competed in an official PGA Tour event at the 2023 Masters tournament in April but played in two events in December.

Woods played with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in Orlando on December 18 after playing in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas earlier in the month.

SAD NEWS | Bernhard Langer’s final Masters in doubt after torn Achilles

The 15-times major champion, has struggled since suffering severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash and he underwent ankle surgery after the Masters in April.

The Genesis Invitational is held from February 15-18 and Woods is the host of the event.

Last month Woods said he was ending his long-standing partnership with sportswear company Nike and it will be interesting to see what equipment and clothing he features in at Riviera.

WATCH | THIS LEOPARD DID NOT LIKE THE TEE SET-UP AT SKUKUZA GOLF CLUB!

After playing at the PNC Championship, Woods said he felt in shape to carry out his plan of monthly competitive action this year.

“I’ll be able to walk and play,” Tiger Woods said after the final round of the Orlando event.

“We’ve been working out hard, been able to recover. We’ve been training every day, which is great. It’s been nice to knock off a lot of the rust and some of the doubt that I’ve had because quite frankly I haven’t hit a shot that counted in a long time,” he said.

SEE | Christo Lamprecht hits 418-yard drive at Leopard Creek – WATCH

The Masters will be held at Augusta National the week of April 8.

The 2024 schedule sees the PGA Championship in May, the US Open in June and the British Open in July.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

PICTURE | Gary Player holds Rugby World Cup trophy

“Yesterday, during training exercises in Boca Raton, I tore my Achilles tendon,” Langer said in a statement released through the PGA Tour.

“I will have surgery (Friday) to repair the injury, which will cause me to miss time playing competitive golf as I recover.

“Throughout my career, faith and family have been my bedrocks, providing me strength and guiding me through difficult times,” Langer added. “I will lean on both as I work towards a return to competition.”

WATCH | THIS LEOPARD DID NOT LIKE THE TEE SET-UP AT SKUKUZA GOLF CLUB!

Langer gave no timetable for a return, but the injury usually requires several months of recovery, making look unlikely he would be ready to play the Masters April 11-14.

Last year Langer broke Hale Irwin’s record for PGA Tour Champions victories, the circuit for 50 and over pros, when he won twice and reached 46 titles.

He won the first of his two Masters titles in 1985, when Seve Ballesteros, Raymond Floyd and Curtis Strange tied for second.

RIP | Golf world mourns the death of The Open starter Ivor Robson

In 1993 Langer won by four strokes over Chip Beck.

Langer said in January he had planned to make his final appearance at the Masters this year.

Even if he can’t make it this year he could say his goodbyes next year since all Masters champions have a lifetime exemption into the field.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

SEE | Christo Lamprecht hits 418-yard drive at Leopard Creek – WATCH