Morikawa’s hot start continues, sits at 11 under

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The arrival of the Masters brings hope, a commodity whose value has risen exponentially in the past year. Players know they're on the precipice of a potentially life-altering week, one that could give their calendar a permanent April engagement. Patrons on the grounds and fans around the world look forward to seeing more history made at a course they know so well. In a fast-moving world, Augusta National's familiarity may be its biggest appeal. Few have played the course but so many know Augusta National's holes by sight. RELATED: What’s on DJ’s Champions Dinner menu? | Nine things to know about Augusta | Preview Masters storylines Tradition forms the bedrock for the Masters. A lifetime of invitations makes a Masters victory invaluable. There aren't many places in the world more difficult to get into than the Champions Locker Room. The weight of the accomplishment was enough to make Dustin Johnson cry. The Champions Dinner on Tuesday and Par-3 Contest on the tournament's eve give a familiar cadence to the week. There will be no Par-3 Contest for a second consecutive year but this Masters marks a return to the tournament's April date and of the patrons whose roars create the soundtrack of the second nine. Fall's muted colors provided a unique backdrop for Johnson's record-setting win but it's better when the canvas is brightened by the blooms of azaleas. Spring is synonymous with renewal and the Masters is an important part of that season. A golf tournament can't reverse a pandemic but it can lift spirits. That's what the arrival of the Masters promises to do. The sun shone brightly on Augusta National on Sunday as competitors took part in the Drive, Chip and Putt while professionals prepared for the Masters. Bubba Watson, a two-time winner here, was behind the 18th green passing out fist bumps and encouragement. Justin Thomas took a break from hitting balls to take a peek at the children competing on the nearby chipping green, clapping after each shot. "So incredible to watch these boys and girls get this opportunity. Can't wait to get out there later this morning and see for myself!" Thomas tweeted earlier in the day, obviously inspired by the enthusiasm that was on display from Sunday's youthful competitors. Sandy Lyle waited to start his practice round until after a cadre of young players crossed in front of the first tee, fresh from hitting their putts on the same 18th green where a champion will be crowned in seven days. Lyle has amassed more than three decades of local knowledge here but he was off early for his solo Sunday practice round The past is revered here while progress is made. There are no cell phones allowed on the grounds but you can see every shot struck this week thanks to the tournament's technology. The events that now precede the Masters - the Augusta National Women's Amateur and Drive, Chip and Putt - show the tournament's forward-looking spirit. Not to mention that Lee Elder will be one of the honorary starters on Thursday - alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player - to recognize his groundbreaking appearance here in 1975. The ANWA's second edition ended Saturday, with 17-year-old Tsubasa Kajitani winning in a playoff. That event has shown that new ground can be broken, old barriers brought down. The girls who competed Sunday in the Drive, Chip and Putt mentioned that it was an aspiration as they continue their competitive journey. Eighty children took part Sunday in four divisions for each gender. All had qualified in 2019 but had to wait an extra year to arrive at Augusta National. Imagine that wait. Their motions - from their swing planes to their pre-shot routines — mirror the pros they're trying to emulate. And their enthusiasm was infectious. "It's just beautiful. Everything is perfect. It's hard to imagine a golf course can be so perfect," said Analiese Raath, who finished eighth in the girls 14-15 division. Elyse Meerdink won the girls 10-11 division by holing a 15-footer to the Masters' traditional Sunday hole location, tucked behind the front bunker on the green's left side. She called Sunday "probably the best day of my life." Samantha Straight, who finished third in the girls 14-15 division, said Drive, Chip and Putt helped her realize "that golf is just a game of fun," a reminder we could all use at times. Pierceson Huyck, like most visitors to these grounds, was blown away by the conditions. "I was really excited to see how nice this course is because everybody says it's unexplainable. And I got that today," said Huyck, who finished fourth in the boys 7-9 division. "And I'm excited to walk all of the 18 holes tomorrow and see how pretty they are." He's not the only one. Another Masters week is here. It's something we can all be excited about.

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The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance is presenting its 42nd edition this week. The last three winners – Hideki Matsuyama (2014), David Lingmerth (2015) and William McGirt (2016) – captured their first PGA TOUR victories at Muirfield Village Golf Club. This is in contrast to an opposing trend that was extended at last week’s DEAN & DELUCA Invitational. When Kevin Kisner secured the title on Sunday, he extended the tournament’s streak without a first-time winner to 16 editions. To put that drought into perspective, Sergio Garcia’s breakthrough at Colonial in 2001 is nearer in time (by almost a full year) to Jack Nicklaus’ last victory in a major (1986 Masters) than to today. POWER RANKINGS: the Memorial Tournament It’s comical that his T12-T13 run at TPCs Sawgrass and Four Seasons represented his first consecutive weeks outside top 10s in nine months. Solo third here last year. We’re already at the point that we’re surprised only when he doesn’t play well, no matter the venue, but Muirfield Village feeds all of his strengths. He should feast. Again. The 2014 champ added a T5 in his title defense before missing last year’s cut. Zero top 10s since winning the WMPO but his length and accuracy is always a threat. Returned to contention at Colonial (T2) with a return to his old putter. Led field in birdie-or-better percentage. Mixed results at the Memorial is highlighted by a T3 in 2015. Rested since season-best T6 at THE PLAYERS. T13 (2013) and T4 (2014) in last two trips to Muirfield Village. Sits 33rd in GIR, 18th in birdies-or-better, 13th in adjusted scoring. T8 (2015) and T11 (2016) in two tries, hardly unexpected given skill set. Ranks fifth in GIR and 23rd in adjusted scoring. Four top 10s and another three top 25s in 2017 alone. A horse for the course. Perfect in last nine trips with a win, a T2 and another seven top 15s. Logged top 15s the last two weeks. Under par in each of last six final rounds. Muirfield Village caters to his affinity of letting it sail off the tee (T11 in 2016) and he’s already confident on its greens. Chased two U.S. top 10s with a T24 at Wentworth. A regular participant since his rookie season of 2009. T5-T11 in his last two trips with a scoring average of 69.125. Rank ninth on TOUR in adjusted scoring. Got back on the board with a T12 at Colonial where his precision and putting was on display. The regular at Muirfield Village went a respective T4-T8-T18 from 2013-2015. Renewed confidence in short game has led to four top 25s upon arrival. T8 here in 2016; ranked T7 in GIR, fourth in strokes gained: tee-to-green, second in par-5 scoring. Did it all but slam the door after holding the 54-hole lead at Colonial. Ranked eighth in the field in proximity and fifth in strokes gained: putting. T11 at the 2016 Memorial. Remains in pursuit of his first top 25 at Muirfield Village, but 2017 has been an anomaly. Fresh off playoff loss at the AT&T Byron Nelson where his greenside touch was dialed in Converted on cue at Colonial where everything was clicking. Muirfield Village is a bigger ballpark but he placed T8 here in 2015, ranking fourth in strokes gained: putting. Riding 0-for-4 skid at the Memorial, but that mirrors a career slump. Three top 15s prior. Comes in hot for 11th appearance with a T5 (Byron Nelson) and T2 (DEAN & DELUCA). RANK PLAYER COMMENT Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Charl Schwartzel are among the notables who will be included in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. Muirfield Village is a stock par 72 tipping at 7,392 yards, but it’s hardly a secret that it’s a second-shot track even throughout its tireless evolution of nips, tucks and more invasive strategic and cosmetic upgrades. Despite greens that average just 5,000 square feet and save the occasional deviation, it’s been one of the most scorable courses on the PGA TOUR. The objective has been as simple as the definition of good golf: hit greens in regulation and press your luck with the putter. Last year’s field averaged 11.85 GIR per round. That yielded a birdie-or-better clip of 34.94 percent, which was third-highest on any course all season. The scoring average landed at 70.987, lowest in recorded history (since data were first maintained in earnest in 1983). Course modifications since McGirt posed for pictures were primarily subtle as compared to previous years. The most noticeable change occurred at the par-4 third hole where two fairway bunkers at the end of the elbow left were removed. A tee ball hadn’t landed in one since 2014 when Justin Lower found sand in the opening round. Fulfilling the expectation as the first northern site of the 2016-17 season, bentgrass is grown everywhere but in the rough where a blend of Kentucky bluegrass, rye and fescue is allowed to grow as high as three-and-three-quarter inches. The devilish greens are prepped to run at least 13 feet on the Stimpmeter, serving as an omnipresent reminder of the value of confidence on approach. On Tuesday, The Confidence Factor (formerly known as Comfort Zone) will expand on what the last three winners did en route to their victories, as well as identify which factors have defined success at Muirfield Village. Indeed, precision and accuracy on approach are keys, but you might be surprised by a couple of other influences. Seasonal conditions are forecast throughout the tournament. Daytime highs are unlikely to escape the 70s. In between a dry and calm open and close, rain and thunderstorms will pose a threat. With it, winds will kick up. With a limited field in this invitational, tournament officials will have flexibility to deal with weather concerns and still finish on time. The winner will receive a three-year PGA TOUR exemption (through 2019-2020). Total prize money is up to $8.7 million, a rise of $200,000 since last year. The champion will bank $1,566,000.00. ROB BOLTON’S WRITING SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Columnist Rob Bolton will be filing his usual staples leading up to this week’s event. Look for the following columns this week. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, The Confidence Factor, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Ownership Percentages in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf and One & Done presented by SERVPRO * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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