Jon Rahm will start as favourite to claim his first Green Jacket despite losing his spot as the world No 1 just a week before the tournament.
Golf talk has been dominated in recent weeks and months by the potential formation of a subversive Saudi Super League. So it is perhaps fitting that the first Major of the year takes place, at the familiar and much-loved Augusta National, which has played host to The Masters since its inception in 1934.
Among those bidding for the trophy and coveted garment that comes with it are Rahm and his Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy, who is yet to taste success in this competition despite six top-10 finishes at Augusta.
The Northern Irishman has not added to his haul of Majors since 2014, but comes into this event in good form, having finished third in January’s Dubai Desert Classic.
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Will Tiger Woods make another sensational return?
Despite having not competed on the PGA Tour since suffering traumatic injuries in a car accident in February 2021, Woods remains on the official list of participants for the Masters.
Since then Woods has been patient with his recovery, using a golf cart to get around the course of the PNC Championship – something which no golfer is allowed on the PGA Tour – which he played with his son Charlie in December.
But he fuelled speculation that he could make yet another dramatic return to competitive action last week when he was seen practising at his home course of Medalist in South Florida.
When asked in February if he would be at the Masters, Woods would only confirm that he would be there for the Champions Dinner which takes place on Tuesday ahead of the par-3 tournament the next day.
But fans are now wondering if Woods will stay for the duration of the event, having practised at Augusta this week.
Woods has previous for making a near-impossible return in this competition: after undergoing four back surgeries and telling friends that he believed his career was over, he produced one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time to claim victory at the 2019 Masters.
On that occasion Woods competed on the circuit for over a year, registering a second-place finish at the 2018 PGA Championship prior to his Masters triumph.
Having not played in an official tournament since the 2020 Masters, the chances of repeating that feat seem slim, but any tournament with Woods is sure to generate more attention than one without his genius.
A new No 1
Scottie Scheffler jumped to top spot in golf’s world rankings this week with victory at the WGC-Dell Technologies World Match Play.
That was his third piece of silverware this year, following successes at the Phoenix Open and Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Scheffler’s rise to the top even pipped Woods’ for speed. He shattered the record for fewest days between a first PGA Tour title and reaching the No 1 spot, achieving the feat in just 42 days. Comparatively Woods took 252 days to claim top spot after winning his first Tour title in 1996.
But the 25-year-old Scheffler is yet to win a Major, with his best finish to date coming in the 2020 PGA Championship when he finished in a tie for fourth.
This time Scheffler faces the additional psychological pressure of starting a Major as world No 1 having replaced Spaniard Rahm.
He certainly has the short game to compete at Augusta, as demonstrated in two of his recent matchplay wins. Yet his two previous appearances here indicates a golfer still grappling with the demands of a course that places a notoriously high value on local knowledge, yielding a highest finish of 18th.
Even greats like Greg Norman and Ernie Els failed to find the mental resolve to win at Augusta. So for Scheffler to do so at such an early stage in his career would be the greatest achievement of his burgeoning career to date.
When is The Masters 2022?
- Dates: Thursday 7 April – Sunday 10 April
- Times: First group tee time expected to be 1.30pm BST (7.30am local time)
- TV coverage: Sky Sports Golf (Sky channel 405) and Sky Sports Main Event (Sky channel 401)
- Live stream: Watch on the NOW app on mobile, tablet or smart TV (£33.99 per month; £11.98 for 24-hour pass) or via the Sky Go app for existing subscribers
Saudi Super League is not going away
Speaking of Norman, the commissioner of the Saudi Super League laid out plans for the competition on March 15.
The eight-tournament schedule, which will begin at St Albans’ Centurion Golf Club in June, boasts a total prize fund of £191m.
As yet, not one professional has publicly committed to the new league and many, including McIlroy, have instead declared their allegiance to the PGA Tour.
Following his controversial comments surrounding the new league, Phil Mickleson is taking a sabbatical and will not feature at The Masters, where he has won on three previous occasions.
In his absence, Bryson DeChambeau can expect a fresh inquiry into his position as the other high-profile star to have been most heavily linked to the breakaway group.
The American released a statement that said: “While there has been a lot of speculation surrounding my support for another tour, I want to make it very clear that as long as the best players in the world are playing the PGA Tour, so will I.”
Given the lack of outright dismissal of the Super League, questions on his loyalty to the PGA Tour are bound to resurface, with this the last Major before the new league begins.
Longer, tougher Augusta
Holes 11, 15 and 18 have been altered this year despite none of the three ranking among the easiest at last year’s Masters by scoring average.
Already a long par 4, the longer tees and recontoured fairways on the 11th may incentivise tee shots closer to the pond on the left of the hole, therefore bringing the water into play on approach shots.
Meanwhile the tees have been moved back 20 yards on the famed par-5 15th, possibly discouraging players from going for the green in two, which DeChambeau said was “no problem” for him at the 2020 Masters. That may result in greater use of fairway woods on the approach, which would bring the two ponds flanking the green even more into play.
Changes on the 18th are minimal, but adjustments to all three holes will merit a change in strategy and affect the way the tournament is played.