The NBC Sports Predictor App is back for NBA and offering a 50K Jackpot! Check out the eight questions here or on the app for your chance to win! (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)
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AUGUSTA, Ga. — The opening round of the Masters is almost upon us, and, per usual, there’s no lack of storylines to keep track of come Thursday. To get you prepared for the opening round, here are 5 Things to Know about this year’s Masters. 1. A HISTORIC START: The honorary starters are a beloved tradition at the Masters, allowing the tournament to embrace its history before more is made over the next four days. This year, the ceremony will honor an important Masters milestone. Lee Elder, the first Black man to compete at Augusta National, will join Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player on the first tee at 7:45 a.m. Thursday. Elder, who made his Masters debut in 1975, is the first honorary starter added to the ceremony since Player in 2012. Nicklaus hit his first honorary tee shot in 2010 and Arnold Palmer took part until his passing in 2016. 2. THE FIRM: The course conditions this week are a stark contrast to what we saw in November, when Johnson tied the lowest 72-hole score in relation to par in a major championship (20 under par). It’s been several years since players have seen the course this firm in the days leading up to the event. Jose Maria Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion, said, “If the weather stays like this, we’re going to see Augusta as good as ever.” Another former champion, Fred Couples, said the course could play as difficult as it has in a “long, long time.” A firm and fast Augusta National accentuates the genius behind Alister Mackenzie’s masterpiece and often draws the best players to the top of the leaderboard. When Augusta plays fast, the extreme slopes on the course’s famed putting surfaces can funnel good shots toward the hole while increasing the penalty for mishits. This could be the first time since 2017 that the winning score is single digits under par. The average winning score in the last three Masters is 16 under par. 3. FORE(!)-CAST: The weather is the one thing Augusta National can’t control (we think). There is a chance of precipitation this week, which could dramatically alter how the course plays but the rain is far from guaranteed to fall. As of noon Wednesday, there was a 20% chance of rain Thursday evening and 70% chance of scattered thunderstorms Friday afternoon. There’s also a 60% chance of late-afternoon thunderstorms Saturday. Temperatures are expected to be in the high 70s and low 80s every day this week, which should help the course stay firm. 4. QUESTION TIME: Many years, it feels like a handful of players establish themselves as Masters favorites. This year, it feels like there are more questions than answers. Here’s a few to ponder: – Despite three consecutive finishes outside the top 25, can Johnson become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2001-02 to go back-to-back at Augusta? Johnson has finished in the top 10 in five straight Masters. – How will new father Jon Rahm fare after arriving at Augusta on Wednesday? “My concern is that … from Thursday to Monday I didn’t sleep much, didn’t hit a single golf shot,” he said Wednesday. Rahm’s three consecutive top-10s at Augusta National is the second-longest active streak. – Can Rory McIlroy’s new swing coach help him win his first Masters and complete the career Grand Slam? “I think being a little bit more in control of what I do, … that’s the sort of golfer that I want to be going forward,” he said. That could be helpful here. The big number has plagued him several times at this tournament. He had a round of 77 or higher in six Masters appearances in a seven-year span (2010-14, ’16). A decade ago, he famously shot a final-round 80 after taking a four-shot lead into the final round. – Is Brooks Koepka’s surgically-repaired knee strong enough for him to contend at Augusta National? He’s one of just four players to finish in the top 10 in the past two Masters. – What will a bigger Bryson DeChambeau’s second crack at the Masters look like? He finished T34 here last year while struggling with physical issues. DeChambeau said Tuesday that low oxygen was the culprit. “The brain was stressed … and wasn’t feeling that great. And they were like, well, let’s check out your oxygen levels. … And immediately from after changing the way I was breathing, the way I was feeling that day from breathing, it took it out. It literally just went away.” – Can Jordan Spieth win again after last week’s victory at the Valero Texas Open, his first since 2017. Spieth, has four top-3 finishes in seven Masters, including his win in 2015, and the lowest career scoring average (70.46) at Augusta National among players with at least 25 rounds. 5. EXPERIENCE MATTERS: There have been just three Masters rookies to win the Green Jacket, and two of them were in the first two Masters (Horton Smith, 1934; Gene Sarazen, 1935). No rookie has won since Fuzzzy Zoeller in 1979. There’s a good chance that streak continues this year. There are just six first-timers in this year’s field, including just three professionals who are making their Masters debut (Will Zalatoris, Carlos Ortiz and Bob MacIntyre). The three amateurs in this year’s field tie a tournament low; there were also just three amateurs in the 2008 and 1942 Masters. Several big names – including Collin Morikawa, Matthew Wolff, Sungjae Im, Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Champ – are playing their first April Masters this week. Considering the severe contrast in course conditions, there is some limit to what can be learned from last year’s Masters. The course was much softer in November, and there were no patrons last year. A limited number of patrons will be on the grounds this week.
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The Bills have added more depth for their offensive line, agreeing to terms with guard Forrest Lamp on a one-year deal. The Chargers selected Lamp in the second round back in 2017, but he missed his rookie season after tearing his ACL during training camp. While Lamp was able to get through the 2018 season [more]
Update on April 7 Tiger Woods tweeted an update following his traffic accident in February and thanked those who assisted him. Update on March 16: Tiger Woods is back at home in Florida to continue his recovery from leg injuries suffered in a single car accident in Los Angeles last month. The 82-time PGA TOUR winner wrote on social media that he had been released from hospital care in California and was back in his state of residence on the East Coast. He used the opportunity to thank those helping him through the process of healing from the comminuted open fractures in both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula, and extensive damage to his ankle, suffered when his vehicle rolled over. “Happy to report that I am back home and continuing my recovery. I am so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement that I have received over the past few weeks,” Woods said in his statement. “Thank you to the incredible surgeons, doctors, nurses and staff at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. You have all taken such great care of me and I cannot thank you enough.” Woods gave no update on the progress of his recovery other than to say, “I will be recovering at home and working on getting stronger every day.” Update on March 10: Speaking ahead of his title defense at THE PLAYERS Championship, Rory McIlroy revealed Tiger Woods is hopeful of returning home to Florida in the near future. Joining Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show”, McIlroy revealed the 82-time PGA TOUR winner has been talking about making the move from his hospital bed in Los Angeles back to Florida to continue his recovery from the accident. “I’ve spoken to him a little bit,” McIlroy said. “He’s doing better. I think all the guys have reached out to him. Hopefully if things go well over the next week or so, he might be able to get home and start recovery at home, which would be great for him. See his kids, see his family. But yeah, he’s doing better. And I think all of us are wishing him a speedy recovery at this point.” McIlroy also revealed Woods’ trademark humor and ribbing hasn’t diminished since he suffered multiple leg fractures in the single-vehicle accident. The Northern Irishman received texts during and after the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard where he was in contention before fading to a T10 finish. “He texted me some words of encouragement before the final round of Bay Hill on Sunday,” McIlroy added. “And things didn’t quite go to plan, and he was the first one to text me and be like, ‘What’s going on here?’ So even from the hospital bed, he’s still giving me some heat.” Update on February 28: Golfers from the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, LPGA Tour and even the maintenance staff at the Puerto Rico Open wore red and black on Sunday to support Tiger Woods. Woods shared his appreciation for the gesture on Twitter. Update on February 26: LOS ANGELES – Tiger Woods is “recovering and in good spirits” after receiving further procedures on the injuries he suffered in a single-car accident earlier this week. Woods underwent unspecified follow-up procedures at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after being transported from the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday night. Cedars-Sinai has catered to professional athletes on numerous occasions due to a renowned Sports Medicine Institute and a rehabilitation program for sports-related and orthopedic injuries. “Tiger has moved to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and received follow-up procedures on his injuries this morning. The procedures were successful, and he is now recovering and in good spirits,” a statement on Woods’ twitter account said. “Tiger and his family want to thank you all for the wonderful support and messages they have received over the past few days. We will not have any further updates at this time. Thank you for your continued privacy.” RELATED: TOUR players, sports world, celebrities wish Woods well Update on February 24: Tiger Woods suffered significant injuries to his right leg and remains hospitalized after a single-car accident in Rancho Palos Verdes on Tuesday morning. The 82-time PGA TOUR winner underwent surgery after suffering comminuted open fractures to the upper and lower sections of his right leg along with significant trauma to his ankle. “As previously communicated, Tiger was involved in a single-car accident earlier (Tuesday) morning in California. He has undergone a long surgical procedure on his lower right leg and ankle after being brought to the hospital,” a statement on Woods’ Twitter account from the TGR foundation team read, before passing on an update on his condition from the hospital. “Mr. Woods suffered significant orthopedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by Orthopedic trauma specialists at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, a level one trauma center,” Dr. Anish Mahajan, Chief Medical Officer & Interim CEO at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center added. “Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia. Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle was stabilized with a combination of screws and pins. Trauma to the muscle and soft tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.” The statement closed by confirming Woods is in recovery. “He’s currently awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room. Thank you to the wonderful doctors and hospital staff at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department and the Fire Department. Your support and assistance has been outstanding. “There are no further updates at this time and we continue to thank you for your well-wishes and privacy for him and his family.” Woods, who was in town to host The Genesis Invitational last week, was driving alone in an SUV when his vehicle rolled over while traveling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said via statement earlier Tuesday. “On February 23, 2021, at approximately 7:12 AM LASD responded to a single vehicle roll-over traffic collision on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes. The vehicle was traveling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard at Blackhorse Road, when it crashed. The vehicle sustained major damage,” the statement read in part. “The driver and sole occupant was identified as PGA (TOUR) golfer Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods. Mr. Woods was extricated from the wreck … then transported to a local hospital by ambulance for his injuries.” The Sheriff’s Department said Woods was conscious when first responders reached his side and was calm and lucid. He was extricated with the help of a Halligan tube (pry bar) and an axe to get him through the front windshield before being transported to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. “He was alive, and he was conscious. There was no evidence of impairment at the scene,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Deputy Carlos Gonzalez, the first to respond to the scene, confirmed Woods was wearing his seatbelt. “The fact that he was wearing his seatbelt, I would say, it greatly increased the likelihood it saved his life.” Gonzalez said. PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan said the entire TOUR community had Woods’ well-being in their thoughts. “We have been made aware of Tiger Woods’ car accident today. We are awaiting further information when he comes out of surgery. On behalf of the PGA TOUR and our players, Tiger is in our prayers and will have our full support as he recovers,” Monahan said via statement. The 45-year-old Woods stayed back after the tournament to film GOLFTV content that included giving celebrities golf lessons – actors David Spade and Jada Pinkett Smith were among those who tweeted about their encounters on Monday prior to the accident. On Sunday Woods told the CBS broadcast he was unsure of when he would return from his recent back surgery, a fifth such procedure since April 2017. The last time he played competitive golf was with his son Charlie in December’s PNC Championship. “I’m feeling fine,” Woods said Sunday. “I’m a little bit stiff. I have one more MRI scheduled so that we’ll see if the annulus (fibrosus) is scarred over finally and see if I can start doing more activities. But still in the gym, still doing the mundane stuff that you have to do for rehab, the little things before I can start gravitating towards something a little more.”
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Living in the home of the Masters, Seth Straughn has seen professional golfers from afar when they are in town to compete at Augusta National. He’d never met one until Tuesday afternoon, however. And it happened at a most unexpected location, Lake Olmstead Park’s disc golf course. While most Masters participants were grinding on the driving range and scouting out potential hole locations, DeChambeau was decompressing by playing a different form of golf. With this week also serving as Spring Break for Augusta’s schools, Straughn went to Lake Olmstead with his youngest son, Parker, and one of Parker’s friends. There was a large group ahead of them, and by the sixth tee the threesome behind the Straughns had caught up to them. “We were chatting and I noticed that one of them looked familiar and he was wearing Puma,” Seth Straughn said. “I said, ‘Hey, what’s your name?’ He said, ‘Bryson.’ That’s when it clicked.” Seth Straughn, an 8 handicap in traditional golf, quickly realized that he was sharing the tee with the reigning U.S. Open champion and one of the favorites in this week’s Masters. DeChambeau told Seth that he was playing disc golf for just the second time in his life. It was a new activity he’d taken up to take his mind off of his day job. The two groups joined up at 2:30 p.m., and DeChambeau and his two friends spent the next 90 minutes playing with Straughn and the two boys. “My first thought was, ‘Stay calm,’ Seth Straughn said. “It was surreal because you expect these guys on TV to appear larger than life but that was not the case. He was so nice to take pictures with us, but as time passed by it was just like chatting with anyone else. He was really cool. “He seemed like a guy just trying to relax and have some fun. As a dad, the fact that he enjoyed the company of the boys and had a good time with Parker meant a lot. I’ll be a fan of his forever now.” He was impressed that DeChambeau’s group stuck with them even after they skipped ahead of the large group in front of them. It would have been a perfect opportunity for DeChambeau’s group to split off on their own. “He was cutting up quite a bit with the boys,” Seth Straughn said. “I was able to give Bryson some pointers, which felt weird giving him tips on playing better golf, even though it’s a different kind of golf.” As a beginner, DeChambeau struggled to replicate his long tee shots on the disc golf course, but Seth said DeChambeau improved as the round went on. After the round, they went to an empty tee and worked on DeChambeau’s tee shots. “I got to see a bit of his competitive spirit come out,” Straughn said. “After we finished, we worked on his driving off the tee. We emptied my entire bag. He definitely started picking up on it.”
