Men who made news this year at Augusta..

Here are a few pictures of the some of the players who made news at the 88th Masters

With a first, first and second in his last three starts on the PGA TOUR coming into the Masters, for many it was hard to look beyond Scheffler – and so proved the case. 

Now a two-time Green Jacket holder, the American is proving to be a class above the rest. While he was by no means the best player across several of the key statistical barometers, he did produce at times when it counted most.

 But for the time being his attention appears set to switch to the impending birth of his first child. “I’ll be home as quick as I can. It’s a very special time for both of us. I can’t put into words what it means to win this tournament. I really can’t put into words what it’s going to be like to become a father for the first time.”

Not since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 as a rookie won the Masters. Only two others – Horton Smith and Gene Sarazen – won at the first attempt. This time last year Ludvig Åberg wasn’t even a professional. Yet, in less than 12 months he has gone on to win on both sides of the Atlantic and play an influential role in Team Europe regaining the Ryder Cup.

Prior to that appearance in Rome last September, Luke Donald described Åberg as a “generational talent”. Amid his undoubted talent, it is perhaps his composure that continues to stand out the most.In the second round on Friday, a day in which conditions were at their toughest with swirling winds and greens starting to firm up, Åberg was the only player in the field to break 70.

"Just to be in this situation and feel the nerves and feel the pressure walking down the last couple of holes is what you dream of," he said.

After his best performance on record at Augusta National, the reflections were deservedly positive from the English fan favourite Tommy Fleetwood. 

In his eighth appearance, the 33-year-old finished in a tie for third alongside American pair Homa and Morikawa. A flawless 69 in the final round helped him to his best Major result since he was solo second behind Shane Lowry at The Open in 2019.

His record at golf’s biggest events was already impressive but he has now finished in the top five at all four, and with three to come over the space of the next three months, his hopes will only have been strengthened that he can get a win.

Tiger Woods means a lot to the Masters and the Masters means a lot to Tiger Woods.

Since his debut as an amateur in 1995, the American great has made 26 appearances and won the Green Jacket on five occasions, most recently defying the odds to do so in 2019 after a series of injury problems.

While the weekend didn’t play out as he would have hoped, recording scores of 82 and 77, the 48-year-old continues to receive adoration from the Augusta patrons unlike any other current player.

It remains to be seen how many more occasions we do get to see Woods at the Masters, but his intention in the very near future is to target appearing at the remaining three Majors of the year.

Others like Matthieu Pavon carded a level-par 72 in the final round to finish at two over in a tie for 12th ensuring his return to Augusta next year, with Nicolai Højgaard, who momentarily held solo possession of the lead during the third round, a shot further back.

Ryo Hisatsune, the fourth and final DP World Tour member making their Masters debut, missed the cut in what was also his first Major start, like Åberg.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)