Masters Wrap : Final results / prize money Leader Board
When Masters chairman Fred Ridley was presiding over the immaculately groomed closing ceremony, he asked the gathering to "hold their applause until he'd thanked every organization that made this week possible....USGA, R&A, PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA, etc..." massive applause..
Nowhere in the group was any mention of the LIV.
The LIV was the elephant in the room everywhere else, except all week at Augusta, and was never mentioned on a CBS broadcast during play, nor by any Masters officials, who in fact were covered because the 18 LIV golfers all qualified one way or another on their own merit, outwith their play on LIV.
Brooks Koepka, left, congratulates Jon Rahm, of Spain, on Rahm's winning the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (Charlie Riedel/AP
If you watched big Jon Rahm, who was brilliant on Sunday afternoon with his -3 69, 4 shot win on Seve's birthday no less, give his acceptance speech, humble, respectful, proudly Spanish, and of course a staunch supporter of everything in golf.... except the LIV... I couldn't help but think how awkward and controversial it could have been had Koepka emerged the winner.
Brooks had just won $4,000,000 the week before the Masters at an LIV event in Orlando. You or I never saw it, unless we had an obscure US Cable feed. They play in obscurity, except for the majors, because some insanely rich Saudi's are determined to try to improve the image of their country to the rest of the world
Their vision has not made a jot of a difference to worldwide opinion, apart of course from the 50 golfers now in their employ, and in a twist of fate to the top golfers on the DP World and PGA Tours who are now playing for $20,000,000 purses.
Do you not think Brooks would have felt obliged to thank his employers at LIV who have given him near $50,000,000. Do not think he would have been peppered (if allowed) in his post match press conference by LIV questions from the world's media.
As it is Brooks (75 T2) and Phil Mickelson (65 T2) Patrick Reed (68 T4) have given Greg Norman and his group a tremendous boost to their credibility, but Brooks didn't win and all the Masters attention went to Jon Rahm, saving them from any possible controversy, or even unwanted discussion at least on the grounds of Augusta.
In fact I believe controversy means more viewers, which is good for golf. Although there were no issues between players at the Masters, sport has always benefitted from it.
Remember Wimbledon 1980 when John McEnroe (the brat) was the villain while Bjorn Borg (the iceman) was the good guy in the 'Match of the Century'. I was there, it was electric.
Pro wrestling is no sport, but thrives on the good guy vs villain in every match, and oh by the way Clint Eastwood made his fortune off it.
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The big Spaniard made sure there was no issue, the PGA /DP world Tours have their winner, LIV series had a great week and this chapter in Masters rich history will remain unsullied.
Prize Money
Purse $18,000,000
1st $3,240,000
T2nd $1,594,000 each Koepka, Mickelson
3rd $1,224,000
T4th $744,000 each Spieth Reed, Henley
T29th $127,800 Hughes, Kim, Varner, Burns
Mac Hughes
* 76 69 74 70 +1 T29. $127,800 Having made the cut after an opening 76 with his 2nd round 69 was one of the highlights of Mac's week looking back. He says he was encouraged by his play this week.
" Yeah, lots of good things in my game too that I'm encouraged about. I saw some things around this place that give me hope that one day I can slip on that Green Jacket maybe"
* He has been inconsistent so far this season, (in 8 events in 2023 he has MC 3 times.T50 T61 T5 T29) and that was the story again this week, albeit in some awful conditions on Friday afternoon and of course Saturday. By the way TV really did not do justice to how windy Sunday afternoon was.
* He made 2 doubles and 14 bogey's, He made 1eagle and 15 birdies to underscore the point.
Phil Mickelson
T2 71 69 75 65 -8 $1,594,000 Looking fit at 53 Mickelson had a terrific Masters after playing very poorly on the LIV series, he has been a non factor.
However this week gives more fuel to the fire that the same guys keep on playing well specifically at August National. Angel Cabrera is a perfect example would play lightly in Europe or Argentina all year yet he won the Masters in 2009, was in the final group in 2011 T7 and was in the final group again in 2013 2nd. His powerful long high draws were a perfect fit.
Phil says he has been due to go on a tear, "turning 67's into75's recently" and we'll see how he plays when he returns to LIV and when he next surfaces mainstream at the PGA Championship.
Next
* The PGA Tour moves down the coast to South Carolina for the newly elevated RBC Heritage where Corey Connors, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Taylor Pendrith, Mac Hughes, Adam Svensson are all playing.
*The purse $20,000,000 so the world's top 19 are playing including Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
* Jordan Spieth is the defending champion.
Bryan Angus
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