Masters 2023 Highlights: Everything You Need To Know

There were plenty of storylines in The Masters Tournament in 2023, from LIV tour player participation to Tiger playing to falling trees and one of the most successful amateur performances in history. 

The Masters Tournament is the Super Bowl of the golfing world. Based on my love and passion for this glorious showpiece, I have compiled a detailed guide on this iconic tournament. 

From statistics, history, and current interesting facts, it has everything you need to boost your knowledge on The Masters… to a master’s level. 

Before learning about the history of the Masters and covering some interesting facts to impress your friends, you’ll learn about the most recent highlights from this years tournament.

Masters Tournament 2023: Highlights & Quick Takes

 

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Masters 2023 Dates

The 2022 Masters main event kicked off on Thursday, April 6, and ran until Sunday, April 9. The Par 3 tournament occurred on Wednesday, April 5, while the Champions Dinner went off on Tuesday, April 4.

Who Won the Masters in 2023? Congratulations to Jon Rahm!

In his first Masters win and second major win, Rahm was impressive down the stretch, not giving Brooks Koepka or anyone else a window of opportunity. Even with Phil’s late run by posting an early -8 in the clubhouse, Rahm remained calm and kept hitting fairways and greens relentlessly. 

Who Won the Masters in 2022?

Scottie Scheffler powered to victory at Augusta National to claim his first green jacket and major title. The Texan finished on -10, with a 72-hole total of 278, to continue a fairytale year. His work was sufficient for a 3-shot victory over former world number 1 Rory McIlroy. 

In 2023, Scottie shot his worst round ever (75) and had a disappointing showing. 

Notable Moments from the Masters 2023

 

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• Phil Mickelson shot 65 and was the early clubhouse leader at 8 under until more than 2 hours later; he was bested by Rahm’s 12-under in the final group. 
• We’ve just seen one of the most remarkable performances by an amateur this week in Sam Bennett. He is the only amateur to record a bogey-free first round since 1965 and only carded one in his second round. Although not the longest hitter, he proves that short game and course management are traits that will always prevail. 
• LIV golfers performed relatively well, seeing as 3 of the top 5 were from there. I’m still not used to seeing those guys wearing LIV tour gear, but it seems they are keeping their games sharp, which probably doesn’t sit well with Rory, JT, and Bubba (who all missed the cut this week) 

What’s The Easiest Hole At The Masters in 2023?

The 18 handicap hole this year at the Masters was the 2nd hole. Measuring 575 yards, it produced a scoring average of 4.6367. The weather was a factor as this hole played more difficult than in years past, as there were more than six double bogeys (or higher). 

Interestingly, there were almost as many birdies as there were pars, with 120 to 121, while 8 eagles were celebrated.

What’s The Hardest Hole At The Masters in 2023?

The 5th hole posed a challenge in the 2023 Masters, proving to be the most difficult hole on the course. This hole saw no eagles all week; however, the pros managed 13 birdies, 170 pars, and 87 bogeys. It was also responsible for 8 double bogeys or worse.

What’s the Winners Purse At The Masters in 2023?

 

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Prize money for the 2023 Masters reached a record $18 million. The winner Jon Rahm walked away with $3.24 million. That is near equal to the total purse offered in 1997 when Tiger claimed his first Masters.

What’s the Lowest Putting Average at the Masters in 2023?

Putting stats were also led by a couple of LIV tour participants, with Patrick Reed and Cam Smith showing off their skills. Patrick had an average of just 1.51 putts per green in regulation and led the tournament in the fourth round with a staggering 1.33 putts per green. Jon Rahm was in the top 20 with an overall average of 1.60. 

Who’s the Most Accurate Driver at the Masters in 2023?

Hitting fairways is a must if you want to succeed at Augusta however, that did not help Shane Lowery too much as he led the field with an 89.92% of fairways hit all week. Jon Rahm was fourth by hitting almost 86%, while Brooks Koepka was only hitting 76%.

Who Has The Best Greens In Regulation at the Masters in 2023?

Next to putting, this has to be the most important stat as it gives golfers the most chances at making birdie. Scottie Scheffler led the field this week by hitting over 76% of the 72 holes he played. Jon Rahm was close behind him with 72% of greens hit. This is thanks to his accurate driving all week as well. 

What’s The Eagles Summary at the Masters in 2023?

 

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Of the 25 eagles made this year, eight were made on the par-5 second. Sam Burns eagled it two out of four days. 

Here is a breakdown of the eagles scored:

Hole	Total Eagles
2	8
13	7
15	5

Who Shot The Most Birdies At The Masters in 2023?

It may come as no surprise if you watched the final round that Phil Mickelson is a leader in the birdie count this year with 21. He was tied by Jordan Speith, and behind them was Jon Rahm with 19. 

Who Shot The Most Par 3 Birdies At The Masters in 2023?

Making birdie on a par-3 is something special as it requires at least one amazing shot. This year Joaquin Niemann led the way with 6 by making at least one every round. Phil was right behind him with 5, and Jon Rahm was way down the list with only 2. 

Who Shot The Most Par 4 Birdies At The Masters in 2023?

As to be expected, the long ball hitters dominated the par 4 birdie leaderboard. Cameron Young and Jordan Speith each had 9 throughout the week, with Jordan making 6 in the fourth round alone. Guess who was in second place in this category; Jon Rahm with 8. 

Who Shot The Most Par 5 Birdies At The Masters in 2023?

 

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Surprisingly, a Masters rookie led the way in the most par 5 birdies. I’d say this was a successful outing for Sahith Theegala as he not only made the cut in his Masters Debut but was right there on Sunday afternoon, giving it all he’s got right to the very end. Ultimately, Rahm was just too solid, as he finished third in this category with 9 birdies throughout the week. 

Who Has Best Sand Save Record At The Masters in 2023?

It’s hard to gauge this aspect because if a player was only in one bunker throughout the week and managed to get up and down, then their success rate is 100. Having said that, Harold Varner III found himself in eight bunkers and saved seven of them, which puts him atop my leaderboard for this year. 

How Many Pars Were Made In The Masters 2023?

In 2023’s Masters Tournament, there were 3041 pars made throughout the 4-round tournament.

YEAR	YARDS	TOTAL PAR	AVERAGE SCORE	EAGLES	BIRDIES	PARS	BOGEYS	DOUBLE BOGEYS +
2023	7477	72	73.99	25	878	3041	940	126

A Brief Overview of Masters History

There is no captivating story here, only a logical explanation. Legendary golfer Bobby Jones and Investment Broker Clifford Roberts founded Augusta National in 1933. The two decided they needed an event for the golf course to make its mark on the world.

Roberts proposed that the pair call the event The Masters to symbolize the caliber of golfers who would appear at the event. However, Jones had no time for the poncey name, and instead, the tournament started life as the Augusta National Invitational. In 1939, it was decided to rebrand and label it the Masters.

Even today, the event is invitation-only and operates outside the PGA Tour, and only the best golfers on the planet crack a nod and get to be part of Masters history.

How Does The Masters Tournament Work?

When Is The Masters Golf Tournament?

The tournament is hosted every year in the first full week in April. For example, if the 1st of April falls on a Thursday, the Masters will likely commence on the 8th of April.

Only the 2020 Masters Tournament carried a different date because of the global pandemic. The tournament was moved to November, a rarity in its history.

Which Course Hosts The Masters?

The Masters is played at Augusta National every year. It’s an iconic course that every golfer will know. The lane driving up to the clubhouse is one of the most beautiful in the world, with Magnolia trees that are 160 years old. Then, each hole is named after a plant grown by the nursery that previously owned the property. 

How Do You Qualify For The Masters Tournament?

There is no qualification for the Masters. You can only be invited. However, to be invited, you need to fall into one of the below categories:

• Past Masters Champion (Lifetime Exemption)
• Major Winners (Past 5-years)
• Players Champions (Past 3-Years)
• Current Olympic Gold Medalist
• Current U.S. Amateur Open Champion, and Runner Up
• Current British, Asia -Pacific, Latin American and U.S. Mid Amateur Champions
• Top 12 From Previous Masters
• Top 4 From Every Major (Previous Year)
• FedEx Cup Tour Championship Finalists (Previous Year)
• Top 50 OWGR Players

When Is the Par 3 Tournament at the Masters?

The par 3 tournament is a fun event held on Wednesday before the actual event tees off. During this tournament, you often see the players with their families. Holes range from 70 to 140-yards, and the course is located in the northeast of the property.

The Masters par 3 tournament in 2021 was canceled. As was the previous year, due to the pandemic restrictions. 

What Is the Format at the Masters Golf Tournament?

The Masters is a strokeplay tournament. The field is cut after 36-holes, and the player with the lowest score after 72-holes wins the tournament.

How Are the Masters Golf Tournament Tee Times Structured?

On the first two days, players are grouped into 3-balls and tee off from the crack of dawn through to the late afternoon. Groups usually tee off every 11-minutes. After the field is cut, the players are grouped into 2-balls for the weekend.

Play on Saturday and Sunday usually begins in the late morning to early afternoon.

How Many Days Is The Masters Golf Tournament?

The actual tournament play last four days, from Thursday to Sunday. However, if you include the fanfare of the par 3 event and the practice rounds, it is a seven-day event.

Golfers who enter the tournament the week before the Masters generally arrive on Sunday evening or Monday morning. They typically play two practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday and then participate in the Par 3 contest on Wednesday.

You will also find some players arriving at Augusta early Fans are allowed to attend all three days before the official tournament commences.

What’s The Payout For The Masters Tournament?

2023 winner Jon Rahm made $3,240,000 for taking the green jacket. The total purse was $18 million. 2022 winner Scottie Scheffler banked $2.7-million for efforts. The total purse amounted to $15-million. Here is a list of the winners cheque and total purse for each year dating back to 2010:

Year	Winners Purse	Total Purse
2010	$1,350,000	$7,500,000
2011	$1,440,000	$8,000,000
2012	$1,440,000	$8,000,000
2013	$1,440,000	$8,000,000
2014	$1,620,000	$9,000,000
2015	$1,800,000	$10,000,000
2016	$1,800,000	$10,000,000
2017	$1,980,000	$11,000,000
2018	$1,980,000	$11,000,000
2019	$2,070,000	$11,500,000
2020	$2,070,000	$11,500,000
2021	$2,070,000	$11,500,000
2022	$2,700,000	$15,000,000
2023	$3,240,000	$18,000,000

Read More: Wondering how golfers get paid? Check out our in-depth article.

What Channel Is The Masters Tournament On?

If you are watching in the United States, you will find the Masters on CBS and ESPN. ESPN usually airs the first 2 rounds, while CBS is your channel of choice for the weekend. Fans in Canada can watch on TSN and in the UK on Sky Sports. 

You can also watch the event from Masters.com with live streams of the:

• Masters on the Range
• Holes 4, 5, & 6
• Amen Corner
• Holes 15 & 16
• Featured Groups of Golfers
• Broadcast

How Can I Get Masters Tournament Tickets?

Legend has it that only the Super Bowl is harder to get tickets for than the Masters. It showcases elitism at its finest, but it is what makes the tournament prestigious. 

You need a patron badge to enter, which can be acquired in an annual lottery. If you win a badge, you can hold onto it for $375 a year. Those that have my luck and cannot see themselves winning the lottery can acquire tickets through alternate methods.

For example, you can purchase through ticket brokers or vendors, who charge a fortune for a day’s pass and do not allow you to hold onto the badge. 

Once you own a patron badge and pay the annual fee of $375, it is yours for good. However, when you die, only your widow can use it. If your other half has no desire for the badge or has passed on, it goes back into the pool for the next lottery.

Read more: How To Get Official Tickets To The Masters

What Color Jacket Do Masters Golf Tournament Winners Receive?

Masters Tournament winners receive the prestigious green jacket. The actual shade is a rye green color known as Pantone 342. Bobby Jones got the idea for the jacket from a dinner at Royal Liverpool. Club captains attending the dinner donned matching jackets to highlight their titles.

Have The Winners Always Received A Green Jacket?

In 1937, Jones suggested that the members at Augusta wear green jackets to distinguish them from visitors. It was not done to invoke classism but rather to identify which attendees needed guidance around the facilities.

New York-based Brooks Uniform Company was tasked with crafting the first jackets, which were a flop. The members found the material thick and unbreathable in warm conditions. The board immediately switched suppliers. 

Little was known about the manufacturer until 1967, when Hamilton Tailoring Co took over. According to the PGA, the Cincinnati operation is still the exclusive tailor of the green jacket.

Only members had the honor of wearing the rye green between 1937 and 1948. The event was canceled from 1943 through 1945 due to World War 2. In 1949, the decision was made to hand the winner of the Masters a green jacket. 

Which Golfer Received The First Green Jacket?

The late Sam Snead had the privilege of being the first to don the prestigious green jacket. However, jackets were issued to all past winners, dating back to the tournament’s inception in 1934.

Masters Tournament Statistics

Historical Masters Tournament Stats

Year	Tournament Dates	Winner	Score	Winners Purse	Winner Total Pars
2010	April 8 – 11	Phil Mickelson	272 (-16)	$1,350,000	47
2011	April 7 – 10	Charl Schwartzel	274 (-14)	$1,440,000	46
2012	April 5 – 8	Bubba Watson	278 (-10)	$1,440,000	44
2013	April 11 -14	Adam Scott	279 (-9)	$1,440,000	51
2014	April 10 -13	Bubba Watson	280 (-8)	$1,620,000	45
2015	April 9 – 12	Jordan Spieth	270 (-18)	$1,800,000	35
2016	April 7 – 10	Danny Willett	283 (-5)	$1,800,000	51
2017	April 6 – 9	Sergio Garcia	279 (-9)	$1,980,000	50
2018	April 5 – 8	Patrick Reed	273 (-15)	$1,980,000	37
2019	April 11 – 14	Tiger Woods	275 (-13)	$2,070,000	43
2020	November 12 – 15	Dustin Johnson	268 (-20)	$2,070,000	46
2021	April 8 – 11	Hideki Matsuyama	278 (-10)	$2,070,000	47
2022	April 7 – 10	Scottie Scheffler	278 (-10)	$2,700,000	33
2023	April 6 – 9	Jon Rahm	276 (-12)	$3,240,000	43

2024 Masters Tournament

Dates

Clear your calendar because the dates for the 2024 Masters are out. The 88th edition of the Masters takes place from April 11 – April 14, 2024. You can apply for tickets at the Masters official website. 

Eligible Players

Jon Rahm will return to Augusta in April 2024, looking to become the fourth player to retain the green jacket. Other eligible players include past champions such as Hideki Matsuyama, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, and Phil Mickelson.

Masters Odds Pre-Tournament 2024

Rory Mcilroy is the pre-tournament favorite for 2024. If you take a punt now, you will get 12-to-1 odds on the Northern Irishman. Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, and Scheffler are all priced at 14-to-1. Dustin Johnson rounds out the top five at 16-to-1.

Masters Tournament 2022 Highlights

2022 Masters Tournament Dates

The 2022 Masters main event kicked off on Thursday, April 7, and ran until Sunday, April 10. The Par 3 tournament occurred on Wednesday, April 6, while the Champions Dinner went off on Tuesday, April 5.

Who Won the Masters in 2022?

Scottie Scheffler powered to victory at Augusta National to claim his first green jacket and major title. The Texan finished on -10, with a 72-hole total of 278, to continue a fairytale year. His work was sufficient for a 3-shot victory over former world number 1 Rory McIlroy.

I left Scottie out of my picks for this Masters because I felt that he couldn’t keep up his winning form. He proved me wrong, and now he has a green jacket, and I am eating humble pie.

Notable Moments from the Masters 2022

There were a couple of spectacular shots for the highlights reel in this edition of Masters. However, I will focus on a few standouts.

On Saturday, my compatriot, the South African Charl Schwartzel, holed out for an eagle 2 at 10. 

Then, playing partners Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, sunk their bunker shots at 18 to close out the week.

However, besides Scheffler’s antics and Tiger’s return to golf, this year’s top moment goes to Stewart Cink. The veteran used his experience to ride the slope on the 16th and aced the par 3.

Easiest Hole in Masters 2022

The stroke 18 in the Masters was the 2nd hole. Measuring 575-yards, it produced a scoring average of 4.5830. Only one double bogey was carded the entire week, but there were 20-bogeys.

Interestingly, there were as many birdies as there were pars, with 128, while 6-eagles were celebrated.

Hardest Hole in Masters 2022

The 11th hole proved a challenge in the 2022 Masters and the most difficult hole on the course. The stroke 1 saw no eagles all week. However, the pros managed 10 birdies, 155-pars, and 96-bogeys. It was also responsible for 22-double bogey’s or worse.

Winners Purse in Masters 2022

Prize money for the 2022 Masters reached a record $15-million, $3.5-million more than the previous highest. The winner Scottie Scheffler walked away with $2.7-million. That is equal to the total purse offered in 1997 when Tiger claimed his first Masters.

Lowest Putting Average in Masters 2022

Justin Thomas topped the rankings for the best putting average in the 2022 event. He averaged  1.49 putts per hole, which was good enough to beat Australia’s Min Woo Lee by 0.01. Will Zalatoris and Shane Lowry recorded an average of 1.51, while eventual winner Scheffler, returned 1.53 putts per hole.

Most Accurate Driver in Masters 2022

Four players tied for the title of the most accurate driver in 2022. Shane Lowry, Lucas Glover, Jason Kokrak, and Kevin Na hit 82.14% of fairways. Kevin Na deserves a mention for finding all 14-fairways in round 2.

Best Greens In Regulation in Masters 2022

Kevin Na hit 51 out of 72 greens in the four rounds, giving him an average of 70.83%. That was enough for the best record of the week, 1.4% better than second-place Cameron Champ. Na recorded 14 greens in regulation in the final round, taking his daily tally to 77.78%.

Eagles Summary in Masters 2022

Seventeen players recorded eagles in the 2022 Masters. None of them scored more than one during the week. Stewart Cink enjoyed the only ace for the week, while the 2nd hole produced the most eagles.

Here is a breakdown of the eagles scored:

Par	Total Eagles	Hole With Most Eagles
3	1	16th
4	3	10th
5	13	2nd

Most Birdies in Masters 2022

Australian Cam Smith led the field with 22 birdies, beating out the champion Scheffler by one. Smith carded 8 birdies in round one and two on the second day. He scored a further 6 each on Saturday and Sunday.

Most Par 3 Birdies in Masters 2022

Another Australian who made waves at the 2022 Masters was Min Woo Lee. He tied for 15th and scored the most birdies on par 3’s in the field. His 6 birdies were 1 better than his compatriot Cam Smith.

Most Par 4 Birdies in Masters 2022

After a stellar 2021 performance, Will Zalatoris showed his class again, carding the most birdies on par 4’s. He birdied ten par 4 holes for the tournament. That was one more birdie than Justin Thomas, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson.

Most Par 5 Birdies in Masters 2022

This stat tells a story. Cam Smith and Scottie Scheffler tied for the most par 5 birdies in 2022, with nine. These two players were also the final pairing on Sunday, and had Smith not put his ball in the drink on 12, he would have been a close second in the standings.

Best Sand Save Record in Masters 2022

Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood, and Tom Hoge all returned a 100% sand save record. Fleetwood and Garcia finished 5 from 5 out of the bunker, while Hoge had 3 fewer attempts.

How Many Pars Were Made In The Masters 2022?

In 2022’s Masters Tournament, there were 3008 pars made throughout the 4 round tournament.

YEAR	YARDS	TOTAL PAR	AVERAGE SCORE	EAGLES	BIRDIES	PARS	BOGEYS	DOUBLE BOGEYS
2022	7510	72	73.9505	17	827	3008	1092	150

The Masters FAQs

What Is The Masters Known As?

The Masters is one of four annual majors in the world of golf. It is also known as the U.S Masters or the Masters Golf Tournament.

Do You Get A Green Jacket Every Time You Win The Masters?

You earn a green jacket the first time you win the Masters. Then, you wear the same green jacket on successive wins, within reason. Winning gives you the honor to wear the coat for the next year until the following edition tees off. However, if a player picks up a few pounds or hits a growth spurt, they receive another jacket.

When Did Augusta National Allow Black Members?

According to Bloomberg, 9-members of the exclusive Augusta National are African-American. The first African-American to join the club was Ron Townsend in 1990.

Has Anyone Won The Masters 2 Years In A Row?

Only three players have won the Masters 2 years in a row, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Nick Faldo. Nicklaus went back to back in 1965 and 66, while Faldo did it in 1989 and 1990. Tiger kept his green jacket in 2001 and 2002.

Are Masters Practice Rounds Televised?

There is limited coverage of practice rounds and the par 3 contest. However, you can find it on ESPN +.

Who Won The 2019 Masters Tournament?

Tiger Woods won the 2019 Masters Tournament to win the 15th major title of his career. After winning 14-majors in his first 46 outings, he had struggled to win one in his last 28-appearances. The victory left him three behind Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18-major victories.

Who Won The 2021 Masters Tournament?

Hideki Matsuyama won the 2021 Masters tournament, becoming the first Japanese and second Asian male to win a major. Matsuyama held off the challenge of rookie Will Zalatoris to finish -10 for the tournament, with a total score of 278.

Final Thoughts

Although the Masters Tournament is not a Championship like the other Majors, it is arguably the best event on the golf calendar. A thrilling 2023 tournament saw Jon Rahm win his second career major, while Phil Mickelson returned to the first page of the leaderboard in a while.

2024 promises to be another emphatic display of golf around the Bobby Jones masterpiece. Rahm will look to hold onto his green jacket while a host of talented up-and-comers look to earn their slice of major glory.

Read more: Wondering what the other major golf championships are? Check out our in-depth article.