The 2014 Masters - Latest News from the Augusta National Golf Club
The Washington Times has teamed up with the Augusta Chronicle to deliver the latest news and analysis on the 2014 Masters Tournament held April 7-13 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.
Masters 2014: Bubba Watson wins his second green jacket
By David Westin - The Augusta Chronicle
Bubba Watson didn’t need a miracle shot from the pines in sudden death to win his second Masters Tournament in three years. Just the only round in the 60s among the contenders on Sunday. Published April 13, 2014
Recent Stories
With a second green jacket in closet, Bubba Watson knows more work is ahead
Bubba Watson was reminded of that hard work when he won the Masters by three shots over 20-year-old Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt of Sweden.
Masters 2014: Jordan Spieth fades after taking lead, still ties for second in first appearance
As the errant shots began to pile up, Jordan Spieth swung his club angrily and spewed out his frustration for everyone to hear. Finally, after three brilliant days, the kid showed his age
Masters 2014: Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth tied in tight field
Jordan Spieth has lived up to his billing as the next big thing in golf all week long. Now the 20-year-old Texan has the opportunity to become the youngest Masters Tournament champion – and the first player in 35 years to win in his first start at Augusta National Golf Club.
Without Tiger, Phil, Masters weekend 'not as exciting'
The absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson from the final two rounds of the 2014 Masters was a disheartening sight for many golf fans Saturday, but few were ready to concede that the two stars’ glory days are behind them.
Masters 2014: Gary Woodland shoots 30 on front side
With the leaders still waiting to tee off, Gary Woodland put on quite a show for the early arrivers at Augusta National.
Masters 2014: Couples' round stirs memories of '92
Fred Couples' luck on No. 12 at Augusta National seems to have no expiration date.
Masters 2014: Phil Mickelson misses cut for first time since 1997
Mickelson will be watching the final two rounds of the Masters from home for the first time in 17 years, and won't be hard to figure out why — two triple bogeys.
Masters 2014: Marc Leishman misses cut hours after taking lead
The Australian was alone at 5-under before the wind curtailed his momentum and started a free-fall. After he took the lead with birdie on No. 3, Leishman carded five bogeys and two double-bogeys from No. 4 to No. 13, losing nine strokes in a 10-hole stretch.
Masters 2014: Larry Mize makes cut after gamble on 15th
“It makes me feel great,” said Mize, 55. “It’s been a few years since I did play on the weekend. I’ve really been looking forward to this week all year to try to get back to be playing on the weekend. I’m excited to be playing.”
Strong finish lifts Lucas Glover to personal best at Masters
Glover, 34, of Greenville, S.C., finished with back-to-back birdies to cap his best round at Augusta National — 3-under-par 69 — and pumped his fist to applause from patrons surrounding the last green.
Masters 2014: Bubba Watson leads after blazing round 2
Joining David Toms, Gary Player, Geoff Ogilvy and Hale Irwin as the only players to run off nothing but birdies from the 12th to 16th holes, Watson pulled four strokes ahead of first-round leader Bill Haas, who had an afternoon tee time.
Masters 2014: Phil Mickelson's bid for a fourth title off to a rocky start
When Phil Mickelson finally finished with the seventh hole, he had a triple-bogey on his scorecard. That summed up Lefty's wild ride on the opening day of the Masters.
Masters 2014: Kevin Stadler soars, father Craig sinks
Kevin, the 34-year-old Masters rookie, finished the tournament's opening round comfortably at 2-under and sat near the top of the leaderboard as the early groups finished play. Craig, the 60-year-old veteran and 1982 Masters champion who shot 10-over 82.
Masters 2014: Bill Haas leads with 2 prior champs close behind
Haas, who is playing in his fifth Masters, shot 4-under-par 68 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over defending champion and World No. 2 Adam Scott, 2012 winner Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen, who lost a playoff to Watson that year.
Masters 2014: Nicklaus, Palmer, Player tee it up in Augusta
As a group, the three combined for 147 Masters Tournament appearances, with 13 wins. They also won seven years in a row, from 1960-1966.
Masters 2014: Networks not worried about Tiger-free tourney
It’s no secret that Tiger Woods boosts television ratings when he plays. But his absence at this week’s Masters Tournament isn’t expected to detract from what is traditionally golf’s highest-rated telecast.
Masters 2014: Tiger Woods is topic even when absent
Whether he’s in a tournament or not, Tiger Woods is the 800-pound elephant in the room.
Sergio Garcia enters 16th Masters with momentum
Garcia has finished in the top 25 in each of his six PGA Tour events this year, including four top-10 finishes. He finished third in the Houston Open on Sunday.
Masters 2014: With brother on bag, Dustin Johnson a threat at Augusta
Austin Johnson caddied for his brother in his victory in the WGC-HSBC Champions in November. They've combined for two runner-up finishes since then. Last week's withdrawal from the Houston Open after an opening-round 80 has been Johnson's only blemish this season.
The Masters can inflict pain like no other tournament
The scars of finishing second linger because players return to the same course year after year.
HARRIS: Masters has plenty of appeal in Tiger's absence
While the presence of Woods, especially when he's playing well, adds something to any event, the idea that the tournament is somehow lessened this year because he isn't playing is worthy of a simple, one-word response: Oy.
Masters 2014: Adam Scott hungry for second helping
Last year's winner has worked out all the bugs for his return to Augusta – both on the course and for the Champions Dinner.
Masters 2014: Rory McIlroy is veteran in grouping
As McIlroy prepares for his sixth Masters Tournament, he goes in as the experienced one in his Thursday and Friday group. First-time Masters participants Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed are scheduled to tee off with him.
Masters 2014: Henrik Stenson takes patient approach
Henrik Stenson's dry Swedish wit was on full display Tuesday as he talked about his quest for a Masters Tournament title this week — and the world No. 1 ranking that would go with it.
Masters tee times, groupings for Thursday, Friday rounds
Defending champion Adam Scott and his group tee off Thursday at 10:41 a.m. Scott is playing with Jason Dufner and U.S. Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Masters 2014: Talented rookies aim to join exclusive club
Fuzzy Zoeller is the only living member of the most exclusive club in Augusta National history — rookie Masters Tournament winners. The time might be ripe for another one to join him.
Masters 2014: Jason Day returns from thumb injury to place he loves
As a child, Day would awake at 4 a.m. to watch the Masters Tournament. The 26-year Australian remains just as enthusiastic about the event.
Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara not as close as they used to be
O’Meara didn’t even know Woods had back surgery last week — which will keep him out of the Masters this week — until after the fact.
Masters 2014: Tiger Woods, Ike's Tree notable in their absence
It wasn’t what the early arrivals for the 78th Masters Tournament saw on an overcast Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club that was so jarring to them. It was what was missing.
Masters 2014: Phil Mickelson has fruitful decade since Augusta win
It took 12 sometimes excruciating years after turning pro before Phil Mickelson broke through to win his first major. It hardly seems like another decade has flown past with all the accomplishments he’s piled up since.
1964 Masters brought Arnold Palmer last major title
After a meteoric run through golf’s biggest events – including four wins at Augusta in a seven-year span – Palmer’s number of major championships would end with seven.
2014 Masters: Bubba Watson rejoicing in simply being on PGA Tour
Bubba Watson calls 2014 the “year of rejoicing.” It’s working out better so far than the year after the green jacket.
Five winners on PGA Tour made stops at Georgia first
These days, the road to victories and riches on the PGA Tour starts in Athens, Ga., where University of Georgia golf coach Chris Haack is turning out battle-tested players ready to win. Haack’s never had a deeper and more talented group playing the PGA Tour than right now.
No April Fools' joke: Tiger Woods won't play Masters
Since 1994, Augusta has never experienced a Masters Tournament without Tiger Woods.
Mickelson wants Grand Slam - and a fourth Masters
Tiger Woods was PGA Tour player of the year, Adam Scott was global golfer of the year and Henrik Stenson was the champion of the year on two tours. Phil Mickelson, however, was the story of the year in 2013.
From The Vault
Masters 2013: Angel Cabrera gracious in sudden-death defeat
Cabrera's quest for a second Masters Tournament win would end at the second playoff hole, with a congratulatory hug for Adam Scott.
Adam Scott wins 2013 Masters, edging Angel Cabrera in playoff
Adam Scott made history Sunday, becoming the first Australian to win the Masters Tournament. Scott, who also became the first player to use a long putter to win a green jacket, drained a 15-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Angel Cabrera.
Masters 2013: Tianlang Guan legend grows with 60-foot putt
His popularity was obvious off the first tee when a throng of patrons watched his drive and then pretty much all departed with him. "The kid is good" constantly could be heard through the crowd. A group chanted his name on the 17th tee.
No. 4 continues to be tough hole
When Augusta National Golf Club moved its tee back on No. 4, it transformed the par-3 into one of the most difficult holes on the course.
Masters 2013: Defending champ Bubba Watson says Tiger Woods 'is playing the best'
The high standard Tiger Woods sets for himself at Augusta National Golf Club — nothing short of a victory — hasn’t been met since 2005. He seems primed to change that starting Thursday with the first round of the 77th Masters Tournament.
Condoleezza Rice shoots round with Phil Mickelson
Condoleezza Rice, the former U.S. secretary of state and one of Augusta National's first two female members, completed a round Sunday with three-time Masters Tournament champion Phil Mickelson.
Three wins before Masters is special, but no guarantee
So you’re ready to bet the farm that Tiger Woods will win the Masters this year? Not so fast.
