Forcing players out of their comfort zones, the 2023 Masters Tournament showcased players of old and champions for the future !

Jon Rahm Captures the 6th Green Jacket for Spain!

During the BMW Championship back in August, Jon Rahm referenced Ted Lasso when discussing mindset in professional golf. The Spaniard made it clear he wanted to be like a goldfish with the ability to live in the present and forget about the recent past. On Thursday at the 2023 Masters, Rahm revealed how well he’s mastered this act. After landing his drive on No. 1 in the fairway, just left of the bunker, the Spaniard hit his approach into the center of the green. Lagging his first putt about 6 feet passed the cup, everything seemed decently routine. From here, Rahm began playing ping pong. For par, he blew it by 4 feet. For bogey, a similar miss. Finally, the man known for boiling over, tapped in his double bogey and cleared his mind. Birdies on 2 and 3 brought his score back to par en route to a 33 on the first nine, capped off by a “simple” looking eagle on the par-5 eighth. On the second nine, Rahm shot a 32 with 4 birdies. Hitting 14 of 14 fairways and 17 greens in regulation during the first round, Rahm revealed his ability to roll with the punches. In the past, we’ve witnessed his frustration. Not this week. His scores of 69-73-69 would see him win the Masters by 4 strokes. While Rahm winning on Seve’s birthday leads us to reflect on those who inspired the young Spaniard, the people who find inspiration from the newly-minted Masters champ will cement his legacy.

Sam Bennett, the 2022 U.S. Amateur Champion, Thrives at Augusta National Golf Club!

With all of the amateur news buzzing around Vanderbilt’s Gordon Sargent and his swing speed, Sam Bennett flew under the radar—a position he knows all too well. Never mind the club-twirling Aggie from small-town Texas won the 2022 U.S. Amateur. Perhaps, due to his lack of distance off the tee, Bennett gets overlooked. Although, I am not sure Sam Bennett would have it any other way. On the biggest stage in golf, he transitioned into a threat. As the week began, people in his corner cheered for him to win Low Amateur. As the week progressed, those same folks cheered for him to win the Green Jacket. On Thursday, paired with Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa, the fifth-year Texas A&M Aggie went bogey-free. That’s the first bogey-free opening round by an amateur since 1965. Coming up a hair short, Bennett tied for 16th place, capturing the Low Am with a final score of two under par. He was the first amateur to finish inside the top 20 since Ryan Moore in 2005. Etched on his left forearm, Bennett wears the words “Don't Wait to do Something” in honor of the advice his late father offered him in his final moments. Without a doubt, these words fueled his performance at Augusta and will remain etched in our minds for years to come.

The X-Factor of the 2023 Masters: Mother Nature!

An opponent no one saw coming: Mother Nature. She bucked her ugly head in more ways than one. On Friday, in lightning-speed fashion (pun intended), we experienced the quickest weather delay in Masters history. That same afternoon, two towering pines collapsed on 17 tee like Greg Norman in 1996. Thankfully, no one was injured from the fall, but Twitter had a field day. Rumors about root stability circled the interwebs. As quickly as Black Friday shoppers, grounds crew members moved in to start securing the scene and chopping up the tremendous trunks. Come Saturday, rain entered the chat. Greens looked like lakes as competitors drowned in the dismal conditions. Finally, around 3:15 p.m., the horns blew, and play stopped for the entirety of the day. Thankfully, Sunday arrived, the weather cleared and Rahm enjoyed his coronation under a delightful evening sky.

Brooks Koepka Channels his Past Major Success En Route to a Second Place Finish at the Masters!

From the Netflix Full Swing episode where Brooks appeared sheepishly vulnerable to his LIV victory at Orange County National last week, golf fans were confused at the current Koepka competitor—myself included. Obviously, we recognize his accomplished past, but what were we supposed to make of his convoluted present? Before the start of the Masters, Koepka entered as the #118 ranked player in the world. His last PGA Tour victory took place in 2021 at the Phoenix Open. People remember the big game hunter who bagged four majors in the span of two years between 2017 and 2019. But, was that killer still within him? Yes! This week offered golf fans the opportunity to see him use his current body to conjure up former mastery. Seemingly fully healthy, Koepka opened with a 7-under 65. He complimented that absurd score with a tidy 67 on Friday. Unfortunately, Koepka’s weekend play let him down with a 73-75. Brooks admitted to smashing his fist against his windshield in frustration with missing the cut during the 2022 Masters. This year, Koepka smashed expectations with a tie for second place. Moving forward, here is a stat worth keeping top of mind. When entering the final round of a major with the 54-hole lead, Koepka was 3 for 3 in capturing wins. Last week, his perfect record shifted to 75%. Still, when healthy, Brooks Koepka’s prowess reveals itself. 

The Masters Tournament Evokes the Heartfelt Connection to the Game of Golf!

When I reflect on the 2023 Masters, I’ll remember those who weathered the storm. Despite being stuck in the bad half of the draw, Jon Rahm plugged along. Brooks Koepka surfaced on the biggest stage (of course he did!) and nearly won (wait really?). Three-time Masters champion, Phil Mickelson, shot an incredible 65 on Sunday in the midst of his awkward Augusta return. While his Sunday charge provided insight into his game, Lefty’s post-round thoughts captured the tournament to a tee: “If you love golf, when you come here, it's more of a spiritual experience, where you feel this appreciation for this great game and the gratitude we all have for it.” Cheers!