Golf: Augusta National postpones the Masters due to coronavirus

This year's Masters tournament, the season's first major golf championship, has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley announced Friday.

"Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone the Masters tournament," Ridley said in a statement.

The outbreak, which has prompted a virtual shutdown of American sport, also forced Ridley to postpone the Augusta National Women's Amateur and youth Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.

"Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision," Ridley said.

"We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters tournament and our amateur events at some later date."

Augusta National typically closes soon after hosting the world's top players, reopening later each year, so the possibility remains that it could be rescheduled later in the year, potentially in the autumn after the 2019-20 US PGA season is complete given the schedule already booked through August.

The US PGA Tour has canceled this week's Players Championship and every other tune-up event for the original Masters date, leaving its next event currently on the calendar as the Heritage tournament, set to start on April 16. 

The next major championship on the schedule is now the PGA Championship on May 14-17 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, an area having been especially hard hit by coronavirus cases already.

"Unfortunately, the ever-increasing risks associated with the widespread coronavirus COVID-19 have led us to a decision that undoubtedly will be disappointing to many, although I am confident is appropriate under these unique circumstances," Ridley said.

"We will continue to work with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Department of Public Health, the City of Augusta and all other local authorities."

Ridley asked for patience from Masters patrons.

"We will share any additional information as soon as it becomes available," he said. "As COVID-19 continues to impact the lives of people everywhere, we seek your understanding of this decision and know you share our concern given these trying times."

The Masters has been played every year since 1945, when the British Open was the only men's golf major contested.

The event, which began in 1934, was halted from 1943-1945 due to World War II.

'A wise decision' 

Jack Nicklaus, whose record 18 major titles include six Masters green jackets, backed Ridley's decision.

"I don't think anybody wants to go to Augusta and get sick," Nicklaus said. "People come to the Masters from all over the world and the chances of somebody bringing something there are great.

"I think they made a wise decision and I support it."

Nicklaus, 80, serves as an honorary Masters starter each year. He said it would have been "strange" to stage the event without spectators.

He also doubted the Masters would be played this year even at a later date.

"I can't see any way they would play it at a later date. It wouldn't be fair to any other tournament," Nicklaus said. "I think we're going to miss the Masters this year."

Nicklaus continues with plans to host his US PGA Memorial tournament two weeks before June's US Open but understands much remains uncertain.

"Who knows what it's going to be a month or six weeks from now? I'm hoping this thing dies down as the warm weather comes on and we can resume," Nicklaus said.

"We don't know. For us to be smart, I think we need to take a step back. We don't need to panic. We need to do the things we're supposed to do and not spread it."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Golf: Kupcho makes history as first woman to win at Augusta

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Jennifer Kupcho struck a blow for gender equality and entered golf history books on Saturday when she was crowned Augusta National Women's Amateur champion by firing a final-round five-under 67 for a four-shot win over Maria Fassi.

Following the first women's competitive round played at Augusta National, it was a double celebration for Kupcho as she hoisted the silver and gold Tiffany-designed cup at a club that just seven years ago did not have a single woman member.

"You are now part of history of Augusta National along with all the great Masters champions who have been right here in this Butler Cabin," Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said as he presented Kupcho with her trophy in the same location where the Masters champion is presented with the winner's green jacket.

With Augusta National set to host the Masters next week, Fassi and Kupcho proved that women can also produce nerve-jangling drama with a back-nine battle worthy of any major.

Kupcho's elation was mixed with relief as she struggled with a migraine and blurred vision from the eighth through 11th holes that threatened to scuttle her title hopes. "I actually got a migraine on the eighth green and kind of over to the left I just couldn't see it was blurry," said Kupcho. "I told my caddie I'm looking for you to read the putts and tell me where to hit it and I will do my best to hit it there.

"Amazing enough, I have gotten these migraines before so I knew the blurriness would go away and I would just have a headache. On the 11th tee was where it finally started to go away and I could finally see."

The Masters is often decided on the back nine on a Sunday and that was the case for the women who played their final round on Saturday, as Kupcho played the final six holes in five under.

Showing why she is the world's top-ranked amateur, the 21-year-old carded birdies at 15, 16 and 18 along with a brilliant eagle on the par five 13th that wiped out Fassi's two stroke lead.

Opened for play in 1933, Augusta National became the private sanctuary for some of the world's most powerful men and it was almost 80 years before the club welcomed its first women members in 2012, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and financier Darla Moore.

GREAT STAGES

After the opening two rounds of the 54-hole tournament were held at Champions Retreat in nearby Evans, the women finally got the opportunity to step on to one of the sport's great stages.

The first competitive round played by women at Augusta National attracted a large crowd but it was not the typical gallery seen at the Masters.

The crowd more resembled one you might find at a U.S. women's soccer game with plenty of teenage girls and mothers and fathers with children in tow.

While the sight of women battling for a trophy was new for Augusta National, so were the sounds as the galleries offered encouragement with shouts of "Atta girl" and "Way to go girls".

There were plenty of Augusta members in their iconic green jackets who mingled among the crowd cheering on the golfers while others offered support on social media.

"So cool seeing these women live out their dreams right now," tweeted Rory McIlroy, who will be in Augusta next week looking to complete a career grand slam.

Following a Masters tradition, the round began with ceremonial tee shots. LPGA greats Nancy Lopez, Pak Se-ri, Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam did the honours.

After American Anna Redding struck the first competitive shot, the focus shifted to Kupcho and Fassi, the two close friends and college rivals sharing an emotional hug before teeing off.

The two embraced again on the 18th green, promising more battles in the future.

"I did all I could, she played a great game she finished really strong and I am really proud of her and I know we are going to be battling for wins in the future," said Fassi. "Yes we were competing against each other but we were friends before all of that.

"Making it at Augusta National, being the first time, it is just a dream come true." 

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar and Ed Osmond)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Day smiling again, focuses on Masters after difficult time

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Augusta National is a happy place for many elite golfers and the smell of Azaleas and Georgia pines had a smile back on Jason Day's face on Tuesday as the Australian wrapped up a U.S. Masters practice round.

While it was the type of sun-kissed morning that had everyone from Augusta groundskeepers to Green Jacketed members grinning from ear-to-ear, Day had much more to smile about as he reported his mother Dening was winning her battle with lung cancer and might even make it to the Masters to cheer on her son.

It was a far different Day facing the world's media on Tuesday from the emotionally shattered young man who announced he was pulling out of the WGC-Dell Match Play after a handful of holes last month as tears of despair dripped down his face while he explained he had to go be with his mother.

Certainly it has not been the ideal buildup to the year's first major for Day, dealing with his mother's illness, a sore back and a stalled campaign that has produced just one top-10 finish.

The world number three will consider himself a big winner this week no matter what the result.


"As everyone knows, my mum, she went through a successful surgery on her left lung and she was told by the doctor, don't have to do chemo," a beaming Day told reporters. "I feel kind of a lot lighter in a sense that my mind is not weighing very much heavily on the situation that my mum was going through.

"So to be able to have that happen and then be able to come here and get my mind off things, is quite nice."

A return to the Masters has been a form of therapy for Day who has gained comfort from sharing his pain and insecurities with his wider golfing family.

"I feel like everyone is my family now because I've been hurt in front of you guys, I've cried in front of you guys now, practically everything," said Day. "The only thing I haven't done is showered in front of you guys yet.

"I'm in a really good situation being able to sit up here in front of you guys and be able to talk about the situations that I'm going through and to be able to tell you honestly and truthfully from what's coming inside my heart."

Not all Masters memories are happy ones.

Day has had his share of heartache at Augusta National finishing runner-up in 2011 and letting a two-shot lead with three holes to play slip away in 2013 and watching compatriot Adam Scott become the first Australian to don the Green Jacket.

But after recent events a reflective and philosophical Day was better able to put his career and life into perspective. "We're very selfish in our ways," said Day. "You just forget that maybe you should have spent a little bit more time with your family and spending more time with them and just enjoying your life.

"We're all going to go at some point and we have to enjoy ourselves while we're here."

(Editing by Andrew Both)

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Fil-Aussie Jason Day yearns for Masters win after near-misses

AUGUSTA -- Jason Day has chased a green jacket since he watched Tiger Woods win the 1997 Masters in record-smashing fashion, spurred on by a 2011 runner-up debut effort and third in 2013.

Now the 27-year-old Filipino-Australian has healed a nagging thumb injury and enters the 79th Masters with confidence after a victory at Torrey Pines in February, fueling a hunger to win at Augusta National unlike any other event.

"To win this tournament, this is one of those things that has always been a life-long goal of mine," Day said Monday.

"We've been gearing my golf game ever since I was 12, 13, to try and attack this golf tournament, building my game toward winning this tournament.

"Whatever I win after, that would be a bonus."

But Day knows any weakness in his game is a doorway to doom on the back nine on Sunday at unforgiving Augusta National.

"Knowing that I've been close a couple times already in such a short time, it gives me a lot of confidence in my abilities," Day said.

"But I've got to make sure I'm confident in my game, that I manage my emotions and attitude. You have to have everything in line -- in your personal life, on the golf course -- because if there's one little chink in the armor, everything can unravel here.

"Once you start making mistakes out here, they can compound and you could pretty much play yourself out of the tournament pretty quickly."

Day just missed a playoff two years ago when Adam Scott won to become the first Aussie to capture the Masters crown, but that near-miss and lost opportunity at homeland sports history did not diminish Day's desire.

"I just want to win it even more now," he said. "I would love to be able to slip on the green jacket. It would be an unbelievable feeling. I'm always going to try and improve and get better each and every year here, and that goes for every other tournament. But this one is that much more special.

"The two main goals I've always had, winning this tournament and getting to number one in the world. That's all I've ever wanted."

His Day at long last?

Day is conscious that he can want the victory so much that he makes it a harder prize to obtain, but he also figures that perseverance will pay off.

"The more times I try to put myself in contention, I think the easier it becomes," Day said. "I just want to keep knocking at the door I think the more times I do it, hopefully it will fall my way soon. I just have to go out and try, but not try too hard."

Day has spent hours the past few days working on chipping and putting angles all over the course, dodging passing groups playing rounds to test potential shots he might see in the tournament.

"The biggest thing for me is preparation, being able to come into an event like this with the expectation I can go out there and win it. I just have to finish it off," Day said.

"I kind of involve myself heavily into the preparation just to try and distract myself away from (expectations) because this is one tournament that it's been a dream goal of mine to win."

But that also brings a pressure unlike any other Day has felt worldwide.

"I feel the most pressure here," Day said. "It's just a feel about the patrons and the people watching around the world. There's much more buzz here. I feel like the way I've played here has definitely helped myself get over to that next hurdle, to be able to be a lot more consistent, to know I can go out there and win.

"The next step is mental and how much heart you've got is obviously huge. There's so much that practice and natural talent can get you, but it's all about the want and the will to get the ball in the hole."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mickelson expects 'sharp' Woods at Masters

LOS ANGELES -- Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson isn't surprised that Tiger Woods will tee it up at the Masters next week -- and he thinks the four-time winner will be ready.

"That's a tough tournament to miss," Mickelson said of the first major championship of the season in the lush confines of Augusta National.

"I just don't think anybody would miss it if they were in it, if they were physically able to play," Mickelson said at the Houston Open on Friday, after Woods confirmed he would end his self-imposed layoff from tournament golf.

He hasn't played in a tournament since withdrawing at Torrey Pines on February 5 with back pain.

That followed a dismal showing at the Phoenix Open, and the 14-time major champion announced the following week that he was taking an indefinite break until he could improve his game to a competitive level.

Pundits have pointed to the glaring weaknesses displayed this season in Woods' once-mighty short game as making Woods an unlikely contender.

But Mickelson, who has endured struggles of his own this year, believes Woods has had enough time to sort things out.

"He's had such a good short game and such a great game throughout his career, I think it's going to be an easy fix," Mickelson said. "I think his game will be sharp."

Woods' decision to play the Masters, revealed on his website and in a Twitter posting by the 14-time major champion, sparked immediate reaction on social media.

"@TheMasters isn't the same without @TigerWoods," tweeted fellow pro Bill Horschel. "Glad to see him back playing again. Going to be an electrifying week as always! #cantwait"

"Was it ever really in doubt," tweeted England's Ian Poulter. "Best show on earth just got better."

The news even caught the eye of Olympic swimming superstar Michael Phelps.

"Pumped to watch @TigerWoods at the masters," the 18-time Olympic gold medallist tweeted.

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