The Masters 2024 A Review of the Action

Was it ever in doubt? Scottie Scheffler’s performances over the last 3 years has been nothing short of Tigeresque, and the world number one didn’t seem to break a sweat in picking up his 2nd green jacket in 3 years.

Day one

With it being the first major of the year, The Masters always carries just that little bit of extra anticipation, however, we were made to wait a few extra hours before seeing the world’s best compete in the 2024 Masters due to overnight storms. The overnight rain meant that the course conditions for the early starters were soft which played into the hand of some of the bigger hitters like Bryson DeChambeau, who took full advantage shooting a 7 under par 65 to be the overnight leader after round one.

Day two

Day two provider a much sterner test with wind speeds gusting over 40mph making scoring much more difficult. Many players commented that it was some of the toughest conditions they had seen at Augusta National and they really had to battle just to make the cut - which was +6, the highest it’s been since 2018. Some notable players to lose that battle were 2023’s Fedex Champion Viktor Hovland, 2015 Masters Champion Jordan Spieth and the reigning Open Champion, Brian Harman.
However, at the top of the leaderboard we had a three-way tie for the lead, with Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa all on -6 at the halfway point of the tournament.

Day three

Day three saw the winds die down but the green firm up resulting in Augusta National playing much more like Augusta National we all love and know. In typical Masters fashion the lead exchanged hands a number of times during moving day, but it was the world number one with a birdie on the 18th who took a one-shot lead going into the final round. However, behind him he now had two-time major champion Collin Morikawa who’s 69 on day three now put him at -6 for the tournament.

The Final

Sunday’s final round was shaping up to be a four-man race, with only three shots separating Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa and Ludwig Aberg. The Swedish rookie Aberg has made quite an impact since coming on tour, and the fact he was competing in his first major championship didn’t seem to phase him as he set his sights on becoming the first ever debutant to win The Masters. It was the European who would make the biggest move on Sunday and by hole seven we had a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with Scheffler, Morikawa and Aberg all on -6.

Things were really starting to shape up for an all-time classic Masters battle but by the time Scheffler had finished playing the iconic par three 12th hole, that had been the demise of so many people in the past, he had a three shot lead as one by one his challengers faltered. From here the tournament just seemed a formality and as the saying goes - ‘the cream always rises to the top’, and Scheffler went on to record a comfortable four shot victory and pick up his 2nd green jacket.

So, that’s the first major in the bag, did we enjoy it? Yes. Was it a classic? No. And if we’re being honest, it almost felt like it was a bit of an anti-climax. It had all the potential to be a great Masters with the quality and closeness of the leaderboard going into the final round but in the end it kind of felt like one of those movies where you know exactly what’s going to happen, but you still watch it anyway.