Was the 2023 Masters the best in the history of the event?
There have been many great moments in Masters history, but the 2023 edition had enough collective moments, both good, bad and sad to make it stand out as something special.
So, let’s begin with the good. Jon Rahm (Callaway Chrome Soft X) proved once again that he is the pre-eminent star this year on the PGA Tour. His victory in the tournament is the latest example of how the Spaniard has risen above the rest on the pack in the PGA Tour since the start of 2023. I was skeptical because he had not looked good in two of the three tournaments he played leading up to the Masters, while a stomach sickness halted him after one round in the other tournament.
His win was breathtaking considering it looked as though Brooks Koepka (Srixon Z-Star) was going to win after leading by two strokes after the third round, but Rahm proved to be too much.
The battle between Rahm and Koepka provided an interesting story line between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf in the first significant tournament involving players from both circuits. Should be interesting to see how this is all captured in the second season of the Netflix series Full Swing. There was enough material over the course of the four days to create a few episodes in the eight-part series. Last year, the political battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf added an interesting element to the first season of Full Swing. I didn’t think there would be a second season, but clearly the Masters provided enough story lines. Rahm never wavered in his support of the PGA Tour. Koepka joined LIV Golf last season when he was struggling with knee and confidence issues. Coming off a win in LIV Golf’s second tournament of the season, Koepka looked dialed in the Masters for the first three rounds.
At least the weather co-operated because it was painful watching the players have to slog it through the rain, wind and cold. It certainly took its toll on Tiger Woods (Bridgestone Tour B XS), who barely survived the cut, but it was obvious after he started out poorly in the third round that he was physically laboring. So, when the decision was made to postpone the third round after a few holes because of the brutal rain and carry it over to Sunday, Woods made the decision to withdraw.
He posted on Twitter that reaggravated his plantar fasciitis and couldn’t continue.
“Thank you to the fans and to the Masters who have shown me so much love and support,” he said in his post.
It was actually sad because he puts so much work to allow his body to withstand the mental and physical grind that collectively makes the Masters such a demanding tournament. At age 47, you have to wonder how many more times the five-time Masters winner will be able to come back to Augusta National. Woods joined Gary Player and Fred Couples (Bridgestone Tour B RXS) by making the cut for the 23rd consecutive time. The 63-year-old sagged in the final round shooting four-over par and finishing at nine-over par, but there were younger players who finished below him.
And how about Phil Mickelson (Callaway Chrome Soft X), who at age 52 became the oldest player in tournament history to ever finish inside the top-five. He never ceases to amaze. For all the flak he’s taken by joining LIV, he reached into his golf bag of tricks with a performance that can only be described as stunning, firing a tournament-best seven-under par of all the players in the final round.
And beyond just his play, what was interesting to see was the reaction of the crowd. They were happy for him, proving that spectators aren’t too concerned with the battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Mickelson gave absolutely no indication since joining LIV that he had anything left in his competitive tank. Yeah, winning the Masters three times gave him a firm understanding of the course, but what he was able to do was stunning.
One final thought, one of the lasting memories I will take away from this year’s Masters was Justin Thomas looking so disappointed when he failed to make the cut and how his caddie, Jim (Bones) Mackay, did his best to console him. It has not been Thomas’ year but make no mistake he has pride.
