Event of the Day: The Masters Day 1
Our event of the day is the opening day of the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The 82nd edition of the first of four major championships in professional golf will see the world’s best golfers contest on this famous course over the next four days, until Sunday. The prestigious Masters is an invitational event, part of the PGA, European and Japan Golf Tours, and has always been held on the Augusta course. The tournament has been dominated by American players - Jack Nicklaus has won a record six titles from 1963 to 1986, while Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods have four triumphs each.
The golf world is excited that Tiger is back and could be in contention this week. Last season Sergio Garcia from Spain was victorious after beating Englishman Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff, to win his first major title. The favourites this year include the two leading players in the world golf rankings - Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas, as well as the winner of four Majors, Rory McIlroy. However, there are plenty of past champions in the field who will aim to win the famous green jacket once again. These include 2016 winner Danny Willett of England, and three-time Major champion and world number four Jordan Spieth who won the 2015 Masters with a record score of 270, 18 under par – same as Woods in 1997. Another home favourite, Bubba Watson, will chase his third career Major in Augusta, where he triumphed in 2012 and 2014. Phil Mickelson is after his fourth victory, which would see him emulate Palmer and Woods’ achievement. Four days of golf magic await at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Honorable mentions around the globe go to the Premier League Darts at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. It is Week 9 of the season – the last event in Phase 1 and is called Judgement Night as the two bottom players will be eliminated. Austrian Mansur Suljović goes head-to-head with leader Michael van Gerwen in an attempt to reach Phase 2. In MLB, the New York Yankees face the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium in New York City. It’s Day 2 of the 21st Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. In the Europa League 1st leg of quarter-final games, Arsenal host CSKA Moscow at the Emirates Stadium in London; while Atlético Madrid take on Sporting Lisbon at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. It’s Day 4 of the WTA Volvo Car Open at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston. In the NHL, there are big games in the fight for the final playoff spots - New Jersey Devils face off with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Prudential Center in Newark, whilst the Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus. In the final stages of the NBA regular season, the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers meet at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, while the Denver Nuggets clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by The Masters