\u2699\ufe0f How it works<\/h3>\n
The Masters Tournament is<\/strong> the first of four majors<\/a> in men\u2019s golf and is typically held annually during the first full week of April.<\/p>\n There are <\/strong>20 ways<\/strong><\/a> players qualify for the Masters<\/strong>, including winning other majors, being a previous Masters champ, winning Olympic gold and qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship. This year, 88 golfers are expected to participate.<\/p>\n SOURCE: FRED VUICH\/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Masters maintains some of<\/strong> the most steadfast traditions <\/strong>of any global sporting event.<\/p>\n The food: <\/strong>Golf fans can breathe a sigh of relief because the famed Georgia peach ice cream sandwiches are back on the menu<\/a> this year. Plus, the iconic pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches will only set you back $1.50 each. Phew.<\/p>\n The green jacket:<\/strong> Awarded to the tournament champ (along with an anticipated<\/a> $2.7M check), the coveted outerwear is more than a fashion statement. The winner also walks away with a lifetime invitation to play in the Masters and an honorary membership at the super-exclusive Augusta Club<\/a>.<\/p>\n The amateur connection: <\/strong>In honor of Bobby Jones<\/a>, the legendary amateur who created the Masters, the tournament continues to highlight amateur golf<\/a>. This year\u2019s seven amateurs<\/a> are invited to lodge at the course\u2019s Crow\u2019s Nest<\/a> while competing, and the lowest-scoring amateur will be awarded the Silver Cup.<\/p>\n The Champions Dinner: <\/strong>Held the Tuesday night of Masters week, all previous Masters champs \u2014 and only<\/em> previous Masters champs \u2014 gather at the course for a dinner chosen by the most recent winner.<\/p>\n SOURCE: COLLIN MORIKAWA\/TWITTER<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2 Scottie Scheffler, World No. 1: <\/strong>The reigning champ is, quite simply, on fire. At only 26-years-old, he\u2019s already won a whopping six PGA tournaments since turning pro in 2018. You can\u2019t bet against Scottie.<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea Rory McIlroy, No. 2: <\/strong>To say McIlroy is the people\u2019s champ would be an understatement. The lovable Northern Irishman is a four-time major winner, with only <\/em>the Masters eluding him. He\u2019ll be looking to improve upon last year\u2019s second-place finish to finally <\/em>don the green jacket and end his nine-year major drought.<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 Jon Rahm, No. 3: <\/strong>Always in the mix, it feels like Rahm is on the precipice of Masters glory. That said, with only one major title to his name (the 2021 U.S. Open), many question if the fiery Spaniard can close out when it counts.<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2 Collin Morikawa, No. 12: <\/strong>The 26-year-old hyper-focused Morikawa has already won two majors, most recently hoisting The Open Championship trophy in 2021. He\u2019s even been compared to the likes of superstar Tiger Woods. We\u2019d say high praise but<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2 Tony Finau, No. 13: <\/strong>To be fair, Finau is more of a dark horse than a tried and true contender. However, over the last four years, he\u2019s finished in the top-10 in all major tournaments at least once. His 6-foot-4 frame allows him to crush the ball, but it\u2019ll be his approach shots<\/a> that make or break him.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 Corey Conners, No. 28: <\/strong>Fresh off a big W at last weekend\u2019s Valero Texas Open, the lone Canadian contender has momentum coming into the event. His putting game is always shaky, but if he can handle the dance floor<\/a>, he may just shimmy his way to Canada\u2019s second-ever Masters win<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Expect drama, drama, drama <\/strong>because this is the first Masters since the Saudi Arabian\u2013backed LIV Golf was formed, meaning it\u2019ll be the first event of the season with LIV golfers teeing up alongside PGA athletes. And some <\/em>people say golf is boring?<\/p>\n ICYMI:<\/strong> LIV Golf infamously<\/strong> launched last spring<\/a> after poaching several high-profile players by promising a serious<\/em> payday \u2014 for example, American Dustin Johnson (DJ) was reportedly paid $125M just for signing up. LIV\u2019s golfers say they joined the breakaway tour<\/a> as a \u201conce-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the way the PGA Tour operates.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the athletes, LIV golfers are ineligible to compete in PGA Tour events\u00a0<\/strong>(notably, majors are not PGA Tour events), and have been engaging in a war of words<\/a> with PGA mainstays, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. No love lost here.<\/p>\n Eighteen LIV golfers will play this weekend<\/strong><\/a>, highlighted by former Masters champions DJ, Sergio Garc\u00eda, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson, plus other big names like Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith.<\/p>\n Needless to say, PGA loyalists will be out to<\/strong> unequivocally show that the best athletes compete on their<\/em> tour, while LIV golfers will try to prove themselves despite playing in fewer, shorter, less competitive and less meaningful tournaments.<\/p>\n SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The history of the Masters is steeped in racism, <\/strong>sexism<\/strong><\/a> and classism<\/strong>. Since 2020, organizers have worked to address the tournament\u2019s racist history and take steps toward reconciliation.<\/p>\n SOURCE: ANDREW REDINGTON\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Masters swings into action<\/strong> at 8 a.m. ET this morning with coverage on CBS\/ESPN in the U.S. and TSN2 in Canada. Check out the tee times and groupings here<\/a>, and follow the leaderboard here<\/a>. Tee it up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
\ud83d\udc9a The traditions<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\ud83c\udfcc\ufe0f\u200d\u2642\ufe0fThe contenders<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/images.takeshape.io\/71fc3568-3ff2-4a40-a6dc-fed792e2222a\/dev\/570e68b4-18b0-4611-985b-b73c82fc8b6c\/collin.jpeg\"\/)
\ud83d\udc40 The major storyline<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/images.takeshape.io\/71fc3568-3ff2-4a40-a6dc-fed792e2222a\/dev\/32595d9b-0d8a-4441-a672-bc9d8c6161de\/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-05%20at%2015.55.01.png\"\/)
\n
\n
\ud83d\ude12 The good, the bad and the ugly<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/images.takeshape.io\/71fc3568-3ff2-4a40-a6dc-fed792e2222a\/dev\/e4c913aa-108c-4ace-8b0b-f6679731d982\/augusta.png\"\/)
\n
\ud83d\udcfa The first tee<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/images.takeshape.io\/71fc3568-3ff2-4a40-a6dc-fed792e2222a\/dev\/2c01f377-7c48-4f06-afa0-13a34f1e8325\/masters.png\"\/)