AUGUSTA, Ga. – Justin Harding was playing the Valero Texas Open last week when he asked fellow South African Ernie Els for advice on how to play Augusta National. Preparing for his first career start in the Masters Tournament at age 33, Harding figured there was no one better to ask about it than Els, the 2019 Presidents Cup captain, who amassed six top-10 finishes, including two runner-up finishes, in 23 starts. Els proffered some advice on where to aim and where not to miss, adding that he’d never hit it in the water at the tricky, par-3 12th hole. “I said, ‘Thanks a lot, you just jinxed me,’â€� Harding said with a laugh after shooting a 3-under 69 in his first-ever round, good enough to take the early first-round lead despite a bogey at 18. Harding made par at the 12th, and if anything could only fault his play on the four par-5s, which he played in just 1 under par. Otherwise, nothing much bothered the late-bloomer, who uses a long putter and is mostly unknown to American fans. He was 422nd in the world a year ago, but his maiden European Tour win in Qatar earlier this season, plus a T2 the next week and three other top-10 finishes, pushed him all the way to 49th and punched his ticket to Augusta. “It’s more about, I guess, how I’m handling myself out on the golf course,â€� Harding said after hitting 10 of 14 fairways, and only 10 greens in regulation but taking just 25 putts. “Not really getting too worked up, no longer going through the highs and lows of emotions.â€� Also, he added, now that he’s started playing well, he can’t seem to stop. “Golf is purely momentum-based,â€� Harding said. “If you take enough confidence into the rounds then you’re bound to play well just pretty much need to get out of your own way.â€� Harding has worked his way up to seventh in the International Presidents Cup standings, meaning he could be playing for Captain Els at Royal Melbourne in December. “It’s in the back of my mind,â€� he said, “but way in the back.â€� Conners rides momentum after win In other news with Presidents Cup implications, Canada’s Corey Conners, who won last week’s Valero Texas Open to get to 10th on the International list, opened the Masters with a 2-under 70. The round was 10 shots better than his Masters debut in 2015, when he went 80-69 to miss the cut. He was first off the tee at 8:30 a.m., and watched Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit the ceremonial first tee shots. He also accepted congratulations from Nicklaus on his first PGA TOUR win. “That felt pretty special,â€� Conners said. “Never thought in a million years that Jack Nicklaus would know who I am and it just felt pretty cool.â€� Weir shoots best round in five years It’s been a rough stretch for Canada’s Mike Weir, 48, the 2003 Masters winner and eight-time PGA TOUR winner who has been trying to fight his way back on the Web.com Tour. After going 3 over for his first seven holes, Thursday looked like more of the same, but Weir, who has a new coach (Mark Blackburn) turned it around with three birdies to card an even-par 72. It was his best round since a second-round 72 in 2014, the last year he made the cut here. “All in all, very happy,â€� said Weir, who will serve as one of Els’ assistants at the Presidents Cup in December. “Hit the ball great. I’ve got to sharpen up the putting a little bit.â€� Weir took 31 putts.
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| 3rd Round 3 Ball - C. Phillips v R. Hisatsune | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Ryo Hisatsune | -120 |
| Chandler Phillips | +130 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round Score - Ludvig Aberg | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 67.5 | -135 |
| Under 67.5 | +105 |
| 3rd Round Score - Thomas Detry | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 68.5 | -145 |
| Under 68.5 | +110 |
| 3rd Round Score - Matt McCarty | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 68.5 | -150 |
| Under 68.5 | +115 |
| 3rd Round Score - Shane Lowry | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 67.5 | -150 |
| Under 67.5 | +115 |
| 3rd Round Score - A. Putnam | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 68.5 | -165 |
| Under 68.5 | +125 |
| 3rd Round Score - V. Perez | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 68.5 | -150 |
| Under 68.5 | +115 |
| 3rd Round Score - Thorbjorn Olesen | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 68.5 | -125 |
| Under 68.5 | -105 |
| 3rd Round Score - Sam Burns | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 67.5 | -150 |
| Under 67.5 | +115 |
| 3rd Round Score - Jake Knapp | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 68.5 | -135 |
| Under 68.5 | +105 |
| 3rd Round Score - Cameron Champ | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 69.5 | +110 |
| Under 69.5 | -145 |
| 3rd Round Score - Richard Lee | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 69.5 | -165 |
| Under 69.5 | +125 |
| 3rd Round Score - Nick Taylor | |
| Type: 3rd Round Score - Status: OPEN | |
| Over 68.5 | +110 |
| Under 68.5 | -145 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - C. Conners v L. Aberg | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Ludvig Aberg | -115 |
| Corey Conners | -105 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - L. Aberg v T. Detry | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Ludvig Aberg | -175 |
| Thomas Detry | +190 |
| Tie | +750 |
| American Family Insurance Championship | |
| Type: Winner - Status: OPEN | |
| Bjorn/Clarke | +300 |
| Green/Hensby | +800 |
| Cejka/Kjeldsen | +900 |
| Jaidee/Jones | +1400 |
| Bransdon/Percy | +1600 |
| Cabrera/Gonzalez | +1600 |
| Els/Herron | +1600 |
| Stricker/Tiziani | +1800 |
| Kelly/Leonard | +2000 |
| Appleby/Wright | +2200 |
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| 3rd Round 2 Ball - J. Lower v D. Riley | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Davis Riley | -115 |
| Justin Lower | +125 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - K. Roy v H. Norlander | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Henrik Norlander | -105 |
| Kevin Roy | +115 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round Six Shooter - L. Aberg / S. Lowry / T. Pendrith / S. Burns / C. Conners / N. Taylor | |
| Type: 3rd Round Six Shooter - Status: OPEN | |
| Ludvig Aberg | +350 |
| Shane Lowry | +400 |
| Corey Conners | +425 |
| Sam Burns | +425 |
| Taylor Pendrith | +425 |
| Nick Taylor | +550 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - C. Conners v S. Fisk | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Corey Conners | -160 |
| Steven Fisk | +175 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - P. Peterson v A. Schenk | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Adam Schenk | -125 |
| Paul Peterson | +135 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - R. Hoey v M. Anderson | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Rico Hoey | -145 |
| Matthew Anderson | +160 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - A. Hadwin v P. Fishburn | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Adam Hadwin | +100 |
| Patrick Fishburn | +110 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round Six Shooter - M. Hughes / C. Young / R. Hojgaard / R. Fox / W. Clark / BH An | |
| Type: 3rd Round Six Shooter - Status: OPEN | |
| Cameron Young | +400 |
| Mackenzie Hughes | +400 |
| Rasmus Hojgaard | +425 |
| Ryan Fox | +425 |
| Wyndham Clark | +425 |
| Byeong Hun An | +475 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - W. Clark v BH An | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Wyndham Clark | -115 |
| Byeong Hun An | -105 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - P. Malnati v J. Suber | |
| Type: Request - Status: OPEN | |
| Jackson Suber | -145 |
| Peter Malnati | +120 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - J. Suber v W. Clark | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Wyndham Clark | -150 |
| Jackson Suber | +170 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - K. Mitchell v BH An | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Keith Mitchell | -110 |
| Byeong Hun An | +120 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - M. Hughes v T. Olesen | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Mackenzie Hughes | -115 |
| Thorbjorn Olesen | -105 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - L. Hodges v M. Hughes | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Mackenzie Hughes | -115 |
| Lee Hodges | +125 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - J. Svensson v B. Hossler | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Beau Hossler | +105 |
| Jesper Svensson | +105 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - J. Pak v T. Mullinax | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Trey Mullinax | -130 |
| John Pak | +110 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - D. Skinns v T. Mullinax | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Trey Mullinax | -115 |
| David Skinns | +125 |
| Tie | +750 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | |
| Type: Bryson DeChambeau - Status: OPEN | |
| Top 5 Finish | -500 |
| Top 10 Finish | -1600 |
| Top 20 Finish | -10000 |
| Jon Rahm | |
| Type: Jon Rahm - Status: OPEN | |
| Top 5 Finish | -250 |
| Top 10 Finish | -800 |
| Top 20 Finish | -5000 |
| Joaquin Niemann | |
| Type: Joaquin Niemann - Status: OPEN | |
| Top 5 Finish | -200 |
| Top 10 Finish | -600 |
| Top 20 Finish | -3300 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | |
| Type: Tyrrell Hatton - Status: OPEN | |
| Top 5 Finish | +650 |
| Top 10 Finish | +200 |
| Top 20 Finish | -225 |
| Patrick Reed | |
| Type: Patrick Reed - Status: OPEN | |
| Top 5 Finish | +150 |
| Top 10 Finish | -190 |
| Top 20 Finish | -900 |
| Carlos Ortiz | |
| Type: Carlos Ortiz - Status: OPEN | |
| Top 5 Finish | +650 |
| Top 10 Finish | +200 |
| Top 20 Finish | -225 |
| Cameron Smith | |
| Type: Cameron Smith - Status: OPEN | |
| Top 5 Finish | +400 |
| Top 10 Finish | +130 |
| Top 20 Finish | -335 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - K. Yu v V. Perez | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Victor Perez | -115 |
| Kevin Yu | -105 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - K. Yu v P. Malnati | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Kevin Yu | -165 |
| Peter Malnati | +180 |
| Tie | +750 |
| Brooks Koepka | |
| Type: Brooks Koepka - Status: OPEN | |
| Top 5 Finish | +800 |
| Top 10 Finish | +250 |
| Top 20 Finish | -175 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - C. Young v R. Hojgaard | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Cameron Young | -115 |
| Rasmus Hojgaard | -105 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - S. Lowry v T. Pendrith | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Shane Lowry | -110 |
| Taylor Pendrith | -110 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - T. Pendrith v C. Young | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Taylor Pendrith | -115 |
| Cameron Young | +125 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - M. McCarty v J. Pak | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Matt McCarty | -135 |
| John Pak | +150 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - M. Manassero v D. Willett | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Matteo Manassero | -135 |
| Danny Willett | +115 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - D. Willett v R. Hojgaard | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Rasmus Hojgaard | -145 |
| Danny Willett | +160 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 2nd Round 3 Balls - C. Iwai / P. Tavatanakit / A. Iwai | |
| Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN | |
| Chisato Iwai | +115 |
| Akie Iwai | +150 |
| Patty Tavatanakit | +325 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - S. Burns v N. Taylor | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Sam Burns | -120 |
| Nick Taylor | +100 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - S. Burns v M. Manassero | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Sam Burns | -170 |
| Matteo Manassero | +185 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 2nd Round 3 Balls - J. Thitikul / M. Sagstrom / L. Strom | |
| Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN | |
| Jeeno Thitikul | -160 |
| Madelene Sagstrom | +240 |
| Linnea Strom | +450 |
| 2nd Round 3-Balls - B. DeChambeau / P. Mickelson / M. Kaymer | |
| Type: Outright - Status: OPEN | |
| Bryson DeChambeau | -225 |
| Phil Mickelson | +320 |
| Martin Kaymer | +475 |
| 2nd Round 3-Balls - T. Hatton / L. Oosthuizen / B. Campbell | |
| Type: Outright - Status: OPEN | |
| Tyrell Hatton | +105 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | +200 |
| Ben Campbell | +275 |
| 2nd Round 3-Balls - D. Johnson / A. Ancer / D. Lee | |
| Type: Outright - Status: OPEN | |
| Dustin Johnson | +120 |
| Abraham Ancer | +165 |
| Danny Lee | +300 |
| 2nd Round 3-Balls - J. Rahm / J. Niemann / A. Lahiri | |
| Type: Outright - Status: OPEN | |
| Jon Rahm | +115 |
| Joaquin Niemann | +135 |
| Anirban Lahiri | +400 |
| 2nd Round 3-Balls - M. Leishman / T. Pieters / G. McDowell | |
| Type: Outright - Status: OPEN | |
| Marc Leishman | +135 |
| Thomas Pieters | +160 |
| Graeme McDowell | +250 |
| 2nd Round 3-Balls - P. Reed / B. Watson / P. Uihlein | |
| Type: Outright - Status: OPEN | |
| Patrick Reed | +110 |
| Bubba Watson | +220 |
| Peter Uihlein | +240 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - S. Lowry v C. Del Solar | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Shane Lowry | -240 |
| Cristobal Del Solar | +275 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 2nd Round 3 Balls - H. Shibuno / A. Valenzuela / A. Corpuz | |
| Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN | |
| Allisen Corpuz | +140 |
| Hinako Shibuno | +170 |
| Albane Valenzuela | +225 |
| 3rd Round Six Shooter - T. Olesen / J. Knapp / A. Putnam / V. Perez / R. Lee / C. Champ | |
| Type: 3rd Round Six Shooter - Status: OPEN | |
| Thorbjorn Olesen | +350 |
| Jake Knapp | +375 |
| Andrew Putnam | +400 |
| Victor Perez | +400 |
| Richard Lee | +500 |
| Cameron Champ | +600 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - A. Putnam v J. Knapp | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Andrew Putnam | -110 |
| Jake Knapp | -110 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - R. Fox v J. Knapp | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Ryan Fox | -110 |
| Jake Knapp | +120 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 2nd Round 3 Balls - J. Kupcho / J.H. Im / A. Buhai | |
| Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN | |
| Jin Hee Im | +160 |
| Ashleigh Buhai | +165 |
| Jennifer Kupcho | +200 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - N. Taylor v V. Perez | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Nick Taylor | -115 |
| Victor Perez | +125 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round Match Up - C. Champ v R. Lee | |
| Type: 3rd Round Match Up - Status: OPEN | |
| Richard Lee | -115 |
| Cameron Champ | -105 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - T. Olesen v R. Lee | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Thorbjorn Olesen | -130 |
| Richard Lee | +145 |
| Tie | +750 |
| 3rd Round 2 Ball - C. Champ v A. Putnam | |
| Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN | |
| Andrew Putnam | -115 |
| Cameron Champ | +125 |
| Tie | +750 |
| Major Specials 2025 | |
| Type: To Win A Major 2025 - Status: OPEN | |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +500 |
| Jon Rahm | +750 |
| Collin Morikawa | +900 |
| Xander Schauffele | +900 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +1000 |
| Justin Thomas | +1100 |
| Joaquin Niemann | +1400 |
| Shane Lowry | +1600 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +1800 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | +1800 |
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| US Open 2025 | |
| Type: Winner - Status: OPEN | |
| Scottie Scheffler | +275 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +700 |
| Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
| Jon Rahm | +1200 |
| Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +2200 |
| Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
| Justin Thomas | +3000 |
| Joaquin Niemann | +3500 |
| Shane Lowry | +3500 |
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| The Open 2025 | |
| Type: Winner - Status: OPEN | |
| Scottie Scheffler | +400 |
| Rory McIlroy | +500 |
| Xander Schauffele | +1200 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +1400 |
| Collin Morikawa | +1600 |
| Jon Rahm | +1600 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +2000 |
| Shane Lowry | +2500 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +2500 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | +2500 |
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| Ryder Cup 2025 | |
| Type: Winner - Status: OPEN | |
| USA | -150 |
| Europe | +140 |
| Tie | +1200 |
