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☆ Masters final-round telecast ratings hit five-year high
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 11 (Reuters) - The final-round Masters showdown between eventual victor Jon Rahm and LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka was the most-watched golf telecast on any network in five years, CBS said on Tuesday. The telecast, during which Rahm came back from a two-shot deficit on Sunday to win his second major and reclaim the world number one ranking, averaged 12.06 million viewers, up 19% compared with Scottie Scheffler's win at last year's Masters. Ratings for Rahm's victory peaked at more than 15 million viewers from 7:00-7:15 p.m ET (2300-2315 GMT), as Rahm was putting the finishing touches on his four-shot victory over Koepka and Phil Mickelson. The Masters has long been one of the most anticipated golf events, but the 2023 edition had added intrigue given it was the first since the start of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, which drew in a prominent group of players like Koepka and Mickelson. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ LIV Golf contingent leave mark on Masters leaderboard
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Patrick Reed, who won the Masters in 2018, was a further shot back with a share of fourth, while Joaquin Niemann was the next best from LIV Golf as he ended up tied for 16th. This year's Masters was the first since LIV Golf launched last June, and 18 players from the lucrative circuit, whose 54-hole tournaments with no cuts have raised talk about their competitiveness, teed it up in the year's first major. Koepka said nobody should be surprised to see that he and his LIV Golf peers posed a threat at Augusta National, which is one of the game's biggest stages. Although it proved too little too late for Mickelson, the six-time major said he and the others from LIV Golf were not out to prove a point to other players in the field. Augusta National cleared the way last December for eligible players from LIV Golf to compete in the year's first major.

☆ 'This one was for Seve,' says Rahm after Masters triumph
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Golf - The Masters - Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, Georgia, U.S. - April 9, 2023 Spain's Jon Rahm thanks the late Seve Ballesteros during his speech after winning The Masters REUTERS/Brian SnyderAUGUSTA, Georgia, April 9 (Reuters) - Spaniard Jon Rahm captured the biggest win of his career at the Masters on Sunday and said he felt the presence of his idol, the late Seve Ballesteros, helping pull him through. Ballesteros, who died of brain cancer in 2011, inspired a generation of golfers in his country and counts two Masters titles among his five major championships. With victory all but sewn up, Rahm pulled his drive into the trees on the last and hit a provisional. "For me to get it done on the 40th anniversary of his win, his birthday, on Easter Sunday, it's incredibly meaningful," said Rahm. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Jon Rahm Rallies to Win the Masters
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Andrew Beaton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

AUGUSTA, Ga.—When Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm stepped onto the first tee for the final round of the Masters on Sunday, they were more than just two of the world’s best golfers vying to add another major win to their résumés. They were also proxies representing both sides of golf’s great divide. Koepka, who led by two strokes after 54 holes, had a strong chance to become the first player to win a major championship after joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit last year. Rahm, meanwhile, remained at the top of the PGA Tour—and was the player with the best chance of chasing down Koepka at Augusta.

☆ Koepka and Rahm set for Masters showdown as Woods withdraws
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Critics of LIV Golf have branded the Saudi-bankrolled big-money venture as uncompetitive and little more than a sportwashing enterprise by a country eager to polish its human rights record. A Koepka victory will not end the human rights questions but would give the rebel circuit some of the credibility and legitimacy it craves. The 47-year-old American has won the Masters five times, most recently in 2019, but he has struggled since his car crash. "I am disappointed to have to WD (withdraw) this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis," Woods said on Twitter. "Thank you to the fans and to The Masters who have shown me so much love and support.

☆ Woods withdraws from Masters due to foot injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Golf - The Masters - Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, Georgia, U.S. - April 8, 2023 Tiger Woods of the U.S. reacts on the 18th green during the second round REUTERS/Brian SnyderAUGUSTA, Georgia, April 9 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the Masters due to injury after completing seven holes of his third round, tournament organisers said on Sunday. "I am disappointed to have to WD (withdraw) this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis," Woods said on Twitter. But in unforgiving conditions on a cold Saturday with heavy rain falling, Woods was visibly limping and made back-to-back double bogeys. Last year, in his second start after the crash, Woods withdrew from the PGA Championship after carding one of his worst rounds at a major tournament -- a nine-over 79. American Brooks Koepka leads Spaniard Jon Rahm by four shots with the third round of the Masters yet to be completed.

☆ Koepka extends Masters lead before round three suspended due to rain
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/8] Golf - The Masters - Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, Georgia, U.S. - April 8, 2023 Brooks Koepka of the U.S. after playing out from a bunker on the 7th hole during the third round REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstSummary Play to resume Sunday at 8:30 a.m. It marked the second consecutive day that rain interrupted play at the year's first major as 39 golfers returned early on Saturday to complete their second round. Play will resume Sunday at 8:30 a.m ET followed by the final round starting at 12:30 p.m. "I'm pretty sure I'll be up for it considering it is the Masters. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia; Editing by Ken Ferris, Pritha Sarkar and Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Weather-hit Masters resumes at rainy, chilly Augusta
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Golf - The Masters - Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, Georgia, U.S. - April 8, 2023 General view of the 14th green as play resumes during the second round REUTERS/Brian SnyderAUGUSTA, Georgia, April 8 (Reuters) - The weather-interrupted second round of the Masters resumed under steady rain on Saturday with Spaniard Jon Rahm looking to catch clubhouse leader Brooks Koepka at Augusta National where tournament officials hope to get the major back on track. With temperatures around 48 Fahrenheit (8 Celsius) and the rainy and windy conditions expected to persist throughout the day, players will be in for a gruelling session. If Woods makes the cut, he would tie Gary Player and Fred Couples for most consecutive cuts made at the Masters (23). First-round co-leader Viktor Hovland was one over through his first 10 holes before Friday's play was halted and six shots behind Koepka. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ McIlroy's career Grand Slam bid officially ends with missed cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

One of the pre-tournament favourites, McIlroy's disappointment dragged on into Saturday as 39 players returned to complete their weather hit rounds where the cut line was set at three over. Major winners Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson along with Jason Kokrak all missed the cut. Tiger Woods made the cut but by the skin of his teeth when good friend Justin Thomas bogeyed the 17th moving the cut line to three over. "I've always loved this golf course, and I love playing this event," said Woods at the end of his round before the cut line had been set. Couples also became the oldest player in Masters history to make the cut when the 63-year-old returned a second round two-over 74 for a one-over total.

If you're outside of the US, we can show you how to get access to that free Masters live stream too via the use of a VPN. You can follow individual golfers at Masters.com and through The Masters Tournament app. Where to watch the Masters in the USYou can watch the 2023 Masters Tournament on ESPN, CBS, and the Masters.com website. If you're outside the US right now, you might be in an area that doesn't have access to the free live stream of the Masters. Click "watch live" to choose a feed between the available holes and featured groupsCoverage will be available from April 6 to 9.

☆ LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka Surges to the Masters Lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Andrew Beaton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Brooks Koepka finished the second round of the Masters at 12-under par. AUGUSTA, Ga.—Brooks Koepka shrugged his shoulders in disappointment on Friday when his bunker shot on the second hole just missed going in for an eagle. It was one of the signs that Koepka is back: the player who for a period of time was once the most dominant force at majors, then vanished for a while, was again expecting greatness from himself. After settling for a birdie there, he had to wait only six more holes to card an eagle. That type of play over the first two days at the Masters took him to 12-under par and a commanding clubhouse lead on Friday afternoon during the second round at Augusta National Golf Club.

☆ Day nursing 'kick in the gut' at Masters after late mistakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Yeah, I'm actually very disappointed with how I finished," said Day. "It feels good, but today kind of ruins it for me," Day said with a laugh. The highlight of Day's second round came at the par-four 11th where he missed the green with his approach shot but managed to chip in for birdie from 22 yards. Day said seeing his ball drop did not make him recall Larry Mize's miraculous chip-in on the same hole to defeat Australian Greg Norman in a playoff in the 1987 Masters. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Koepka storms into Masters lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Koepka, who shared the overnight lead with Norway's Viktor Hovland and Spain's Jon Rahm, returned a spotless five-under 67 to set a 12-under target for the afternoon wave that headed out under menacing skies. Resurgent Jason Day had looked poised to challenge Koepka until he stumbled to a double-bogey, bogey, par, bogey finish for a disappointing 72 that put the Australian in the clubhouse seven behind. While Rahm, winner of three events already this season, was always expected to contend at the year's first major, Koepka was not. "I just take it one shot at a time, one hole at a time, whatever I got in front of me," said Koepka. As Koepka was putting the finishing touches on his round, five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods was teeing off.

☆ Resurgent Koepka enjoying life in the fast lane at Masters
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

First time didn't go, so figured try it again," said Koepka. Now Koepka, who also missed the 2021 Masters cut when he played three weeks after ligament surgery on his right knee, enters the weekend looking to restore his identity as major-championship specialist. "I mean, I've got a completely different knee, so the normal is a little bit different. Koepka also admitted that his decision to join LIV Golf would have been tougher if he was in full health and playing as well as he currently is but added that he was "happy with the decision" he made. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pine trees fall near Masters patrons, nobody injured
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Augusta National Golf Club said nobody was injured from the trees that fell down as breezy northeasterly winds ushered in colder conditions. Threatening weather forced officials to suspend play for a second time at 4:22 p.m. "The safety and well-being of everyone attending the Masters Tournament will always be the top priority of the club," Augusta National Golf Club said in a statement. Moments after the two trees came down under darkening skies, there were several crew members on sight cleaning up the debris. Many of the pines found in the original forested part of Augusta National are over 150 years old while many others were planted when the course was built.

"I don't know what that reaction is going to be," said Woods, who will tee it up at the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational this week. "I know that some of our friendships have certainly taken a different path, but we'll see when all that transpires. Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka are among the big names who have left the PGA Tour for the lucrative, Saudi-backed LIV Golf. While banned from PGA Tour events, LIV players have been invited to compete at the Masters. Woods called world number one Rory McIlroy the PGA Tour's "ambassador" and said he had been extraordinary at navigating the new, and at times hostile, terrain.

☆ Aces high as Johnson leads team to LIV Golf team title
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Oct 30, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; 4Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson celebrates after winning the individual championship during season finale of the LIV Golf series at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsMIAMI, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Captain Dustin Johnson led the 4 Aces to the first LIV Golf team championship and the $16 million winner's purse on Sunday at Trump National Doral to bring the curtain down on the Saudi-back venture's tumultuous inaugural season. That total also does not include the reported $150 million LIV paid to lure Johnson away from the PGA Tour, and make him one of the rebel circuit's marquee recruits. Johnson's 4 Aces team mates Pat Perez, Patrick Reed, and Talor Gooch, who all defected from the PGA Tour, also pocketed $4 million. A total of 12 team took part in the $50 million team final with the last four teams splitting $1 million for a single round of golf.

☆ LIV captains play for laughs ahead of finale
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Oct 26, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Brooks Koepka and Ian Poulter share a laugh during a press conference before the LIV Golf series at Trump National Doral. LIV Golf has challenged the traditions of the sport, opting for a rock-and-roll party vibe that offers a departure from classic golf etiquette and promising, 'Good vibes, great eats and live music". "You probably don't know this because you've never been number one in the world," said four-time major winner Koepka to Mickelson. Trying to replicate the excitement generated by hugely popular team competitions such as the Ryder and Presidents Cups, LIV Golf incorporated a team component into all eight events. Mickelson, once an anchor of U.S. Ryder Cup squads, candidly described the LIV team event as a fun competition.

☆ LIV seasons ends with Trump and eye-popping prize money
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MIAMI, Oct 26 (Reuters) - LIV Golf's tumultuous inaugural season concludes this week at Trump National Doral Golf Club where the eye-popping prize money and the former-president may well be the main attraction. He instead praised the Northern Irishman on his great season while warning critics they had better get used to having LIV Golf around because it is not going away. LIV Golf will grow from eight to 14 events next season with Trump resorts, which hosted two of the eight stops this year, once again expected to figure prominently. "I think LIV has been a great thing for Saudi Arabia, for the image of Saudi Arabia," Trump told the Wall Street Journal. Play gets underway on the 'Blue Monster' on Friday with 12 four-man teams chasing a $16 million first-place prize.

☆ PGA Tour sues LIV Golf's Saudi backers to force evidence discovery
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The PGA Tour has filed a lawsuit against LIV Golf backers, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, an entity controlled by the Saudi crown prince, in an effort to force evidence discovery in ongoing legal battles. LIV Golf sued the tour alleging anti-competitive practices for banning its players, and the tour recently countersued LIV Golf, claiming the upstart league was itself stifling competition. "LIV Golf is just beginning its process and is in active discussions with several companies about broadcasting the LIV Golf League. Meanwhile, the PGA tour has taken to Washington D.C. to lobby against LIV Golf, and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, a former PGA Tour star, made his own visit to Capitol Hill in mid-September to "educate members on LIV's business model and counter the Tour's anti-competitive efforts." The LIV Golf championship will take place starting Oct. 28 at the Trump National Doral in Miami.

☆ Brooks Koepka: 'I didn't know if my career was over,' says US golfer as he reflects on horror injury after bumper LIV Golf win
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An emotional Brooks Koepka clinched playoff victory in the final individual event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Victory secured the 32-year-old a $4 million cut of the tournament prize money, with runner-up Uihlein taking home $2.1 million. Amer Hilabi /AFP via Getty ImagesAlongside brother Chase Koepka, Uihlein, and Jason Kokrak, the four-time major champion also secured victory in the corresponding team leaderboard. Later this month, a team tournament in Miami will offer a $50 million prize pot – marking the final event of the inaugural LIV Golf Series. “Honestly to me the big thing today was getting the team win,” Koepka said.

☆ Justin Thomas on LIV's rankings gripe: 'It's their fault'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsJustin Thomas understands why LIV Golf players are fighting hard to receive world rankings points for their events, but he strongly disagrees with their stance. "I don't understand," Thomas said when asked about LIV's petition at the Presidents Cup on Tuesday. But that's their own fault for making the decision they made, and they knew very, very well going into it there's a good chance they won't have World Ranking points, and they took that risk. Billy Horschel will make his Presidents Cup debut this week on the United States team along with Thomas. "To my eye, it seems like they should get World Ranking points," he said.

☆ International underdogs up for Presidents Cup fight
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sep 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; The International Team poses for a team photo during a practice day for the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. Even the American players have expressed sympathy for the challenge facing Immelman who will send a out record eight debutants into the Presidents Cup at the Quail Hollow Club. "It's never been done before, and I'm not a stats guy, but I'm going to say the percentage of it being done is very low. "We've still got to go out there and compete, and there's still a really good international team over there with a lot of up and coming players. Being installed as the favourite is not a new experience for the U.S. when it comes to the Presidents Cup, but seldom have the predictions of a runaway rout been so sweeping.

☆ No LIV players but rebel circuit set to dominate Presidents Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The PGA Tour organises the Presidents Cup while LIV Golf, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has been busy poaching players, luring away some of golf's biggest names with staggering sums of money. South African Louis Oosthuizen, Chile's Joaquin Niemann and Mexico's Abraham Ancer are also unavailable to International captain Trevor Immelman, who has called up a record eight Presidents Cup debutants. Australian Adam Scott, playing his 10th Presidents Cup and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama his fifth are the only members of the squad to have played in more than one event. Every other Presidents Cup has gone to the United States with the exception of 2003 in South Africa that ended in a draw. "We look forward to the Presidents Cup every time.

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