00: 31
Ewan Murray’s verdict is in. Click on below to your edification … but sooner than you allow, right here’s a reminder of the procedure it all done. Hope to behold you encourage right here for the PGA next month. Nighty evening!
-10: Matsuyama
-9: Zalatoris
-7: Spieth, Schauffele
-6: Rahm, Leishman
-5: Rose
-4: Reed, Conners
-3: Smith, Finau
-2: Simpson, Cink, Na, Kim, MacIntyre, Harmon
-1: Hatton, Morikawa, Scheffler
E: English, Lowry, Mickelson, Thomas, Hovland
00: 28
The 2020 champion Dustin Johnson drapes the jacket over Matsuyama’s shoulders. “Congratulations!” “Thanks!” And with that, the 147-day reign of DJ – the shortest in Masters historical previous, and the form of quirk that could presumably simplest occur to the tall man – is over. Matsuyama smiles bashfully sooner than fistbumping with Fred Ridley. On the one hand, the Butler Cabin is dreadfully awkward television … and but it’s always very advanced to no longer seek lawsuits with a huge daft smile. These are moments to treasure, and it’s ravishing to accumulate a gaze in the encourage of the curtain. Congratulations to Hideki!
00: 23
Over we slide to the Butler Cabin! CBS presenter Jim Nantz and Augusta tall (pimento) cheese Fred Ridley trade pleasantries, then it’s time for a chat with the original champion. “I’m very chuffed,” says Hideki Matsuyama. “My nerves in point of fact didn’t originate on the second 9. It became correct from the very originate until the closing putt! I’m chuffed I performed neatly for [my friends and family]. With any luck I’ll be a pioneer and quite a bit extra Japanese avid gamers will follow.” And what became the moment when he knew he became going to spend? “When I hit the golf green at 18!”
00: 17
Matsuyama’s lengthy-awaited arrival at the tip table isn’t the glorious feelgood legend this week. Will Zalatoris, coming off the encourage of a tie for sixth at the US Birth, has launched himself as a severe skills along with his second-set up enact right here. Jordan Spieth is encourage, child. Jon Rahm will likely be thrilled along with his final day 66, extra evidence that a critical is absolutely staunch a subject of time, plus he’ll accumulate to cradle li’l Kepa when he gets dwelling too. After which there’s Bob MacIntyre, who will likely be encourage right here next one year after his sparkling debut, Scotland having at closing realized somebody who could presumably in the end stroll in Sandy Lyle’s footsteps. Oh, and the customers were encourage, bringing their electrical crackle with them. All in all, no longer a unpleasant four days, huh?
00: 12
That triple on 16 will dangle-out Schauffele for some time. But when the pains subsides, he’ll replicate on an eighth high-ten enact in simplest 15 begins. Correct as it at closing came about for Matsuyama, it’ll absolutely in the end occur for the 27-one year-broken-down from San Diego.
00: 09
Matsuyama takes off his cap and embraces Schauffele. They trade friendly words. He smiles, but extra in reduction that the leisure. The gallery slide wild in honour of the original champ, whose 30-stroke encourage 9 the earlier day made the variation. It became trusty purchase-the-day stuff, and while he threatened to stride once in some time nowadays, he in a roundabout procedure stayed firm under absurd stress. A sparkling performance for a player who has waited patiently to invent his valuable breakthrough!
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama shakes fingers with Xander Schauffele of the U.S. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
Up up to now
00: 05
Hideki Matsuyama is the 2021 Masters champion!
Two putts for bogey, on the opposite hand it doesn’t topic. Hideki Matsuyama, see you later a critical-championship nearly man, deservedly wins the inexperienced jacket! He had to battle by the ringer, thoughts!
-10: Matsuyama
-9: Zalatoris
00: 03
Two putts for Schauffele. Par, a 72, some heartfelt applause. But he got right here agonisingly short this time. He ends the week at -7 in a tie for third.
00: 02
A deliver of reduction as he finds his ball resting on a flat lie in the sand. He splashes out to six toes, and he can originate to breathe out again. A huge smile now. Doubtlessly 70 percent nerves but 30 percent giddy pleasure. Japan is able to spend its first men’s valuable!
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama celebrates on the 18th inexperienced sooner than winning The Masters. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Up up to now
00: 00
If truth be told, he could well moreover simply no longer revel in it that noteworthy. He sends a fearful wedge into the bunker to the correct. Mute some work to enact, and Zalatoris is on the vary, keeping warm, staunch in case. Schauffele spins his formulation to 12 toes, on the opposite hand it’s too little, too behind. Warmth applause as the pair approach up the closing, and Matsuyama civilly acknowledges the group, but he’s understandably preoccupied with the job in hand.
23: 55
Matsuyama clearly made up our minds early doorways that he became going to head for it, whatever the topic. That’d point to his formulation to 13 that on the subject of got snaffled by the azaleas, and the scorching iron over 15 that on the subject of spoilt it all. But it’s an procedure that, one formulation or one more, has been borne out by results. He unsheathes tall bertha on 18, the set he’ll be excused for taking half in it safe, and skelps a indispensable attempting tee shot into top trusty property, the centre of the golf green. He’s about to make a decision on potentially the most involving stroll of his lifestyles!
23: 52
Rose’s accomplice Marc Leishman pars the closing, and puts his name to a 73. He ends the Match at -6. Abet, then, to 17, the set the closing two avid gamers accessible invent two-putt pars. Schauffele tranquil has that drained behold, and no marvel. He’ll dangle simplest staunch started replaying the carnage of the 16th hole, and it’s mental footage his thoughts received’t erase for some time.
-11: Matsuyama (17)
-9: Zalatoris (F)
-7: Spieth (F), Schauffele (17)
-6: Rahm (F), Leishman (F)
-5: Rose (F)
Up up to now
23: 48
Matsuyama takes one more tall step in direction of his dream by clipping his second at 17 into the entrance of the inexperienced. Schauffele wedges in too, but he’s no longer particularly shut. Meanwhile a tall cheer up on 18, the set Justin Rose tickles in a lengthy downhill birdie putt and signs for a 74. Mute no inexperienced jacket – he ends the week at -5 – though he’s now got the a little dubious honour of having led extra rounds at Augusta without ever winning the Masters. For the file, his seven beats the 5 of Chris DiMarco, Lloyd Mangrum, Greg Normann and Ken Venturi.
23: 43
A pleasing interview with Robert MacIntyre on Sky. Delighted to bits along with his high-12 enact, he parts out that he’d simplest previously performed Augusta “on computer games with my pals”. His -2 total formulation he’s encourage right here next one year, but extra importantly announces his skills on the tall stage. Scotland has waited some time for their next golfing celeb. Right here he is!
23: 40
And but, despite Schauffele’s dramatic capitulation, that is tranquil no longer stable for Matsuyama … on account of on 18, Zalatoris rolls in a 20-footer to set his par, and post a original clubhouse lead at -9! There’s tranquil simplest two pictures on this. Can Matsuyama preserve his nerve? His drive down the center of 17 says yes.
-11: Matsuyama (16)
-9: Zalatoris (F)
-7: Spieth (F), Schauffele (16)
23: 37
Schauffele does neatly to chip down from the bank to 12 toes. However the double-bogey putt is slippery, and always lacking to the correct. A sickening triple-bogey six, and his brave uncover is kaput. A critical will likely be his in the end quickly, though, absolutely; he ends in the tip ten too on the entire. His pains will likely be compounded by Matsuyama’s three-putt bogey, a mosey that can add to the magnitude of this utter If Completely.
23: 33
Spieth’s uncover comes to a conclusive discontinue at 18. His procedure comes up short of the inexperienced, and he can’t accumulate up and down. A final round of 70, and he finishes the week at -7, poised to enact fourth as things stand. He had his probabilities to spend this week, but didn’t rather dangle his A-game with him. A-minus, thoughts you. So nearly there. But he’s encourage! Maybe the golfing gods dangle a spend at the PGA next month lined up for him in its set, which could presumably entire his profession slam. How about it, huh?
23: 30
Matsuyama finds the inexperienced along with his tee shot, though he’ll dangle a difficult two putts down the hill. Nonetheless, it’ll moreover simply no longer topic, on account of Schauffele sends his third, from the drop zone, into the customers lining the encourage of the inexperienced. He seems shut to tears as he trudges up, his hopes and desires close by minutes previously, but now thus distant. It’s advanced to seek.
23: 28
Schauffele pulls his tee shot at 16 into the water! In spite of all the pieces that, clawing himself encourage into competitors with those four birdies in a row, he throws it away with a heavy contact, his ball bouncing sadly into the drink. Because the water ripples, the blood drains from the younger man’s face. What a shocker. The form of shot that can stay with him for years.
Xander Schauffele bites his membership on the 16th. Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP
Up up to now
23: 26
It’s all occurring on this final match! But that doesn’t imply the drama is the uncommon retain of Matsuyama and Schauffele. Up on 18, birdie for Bob MacIntyre! It’s a 72, he’s -2, and he’s in a tie for 12th correct now, that could well moreover simply manufacture him an invite encourage next one year. On 17, birdie for Zalatoris, who strikes to -9 to stay in the hunt. And Spieth splits the golf green on 18, looking out for a birdie that could presumably living a goal.
23: 24
Matsuyama decides to make a decision on the putter out in its set, and lags up to kick-in distance. He faucets in for bogey. Clear play after making the error along with his procedure. World-class pains limitation. But Schauffele tidies up for birdie, and the hole at the tip is correct two!
-12: Matsuyama (15)
-10: Schauffele (15)
23: 21
Matsuyama clips his fourth into the bank. He doesn’t rather invent the inexperienced, but rather that than overhitting and watching his ball trundle across the glassy ground and into the drink on different aspect. He’ll tranquil face a difficult chip and putt for bogey, though. Before that, it’s Schauffele’s turn from the bunker … and he nearly guides it in for eagle with some cushy-handed magic! He’ll be tapping in for birdie. But sooner than, it’s encourage to Matsuyama …
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama chips after touchdown in a water hazard on 15. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
Up up to now
23: 18
As Matsuyama ponders his alternatives, there’s bedlam on 16. That’s on account of Leishman is an lunge or so away from making the third ace of the 2021 Masters. One extra turn is all it required. He’ll tap in for birdie that’ll bring him encourage to -6.
23: 17
Meanwhile, up on 17, Spieth sends a stress-free second into the coronary heart of the inexperienced, then rolls in a 15-footer for birdie. He’s -8, and given the travails of Matsuyama, isn’t out of this both.
23: 15
Oh my. Matsuyama is a lengthy formulation encourage, and decides to head for it anyway. His lengthy iron takes a flyer. The ball sails over the inexperienced, takes a tall leap off the bank at the encourage, and into the drink! Schauffele’s procedure isn’t very glorious both … but he’s in the bunker to the correct of the inexperienced and dry. Right here is no longer over. It isn’t over!
23: 12
Matsuyama and Schauffele wait at the tip of the hill on 15, watching quietly as Rose takes two putts for a bogey six. Par for Leishman. Each men in the penultimate group are -5 overall, two over for their rounds nowadays.
23: 08
Matsuyama and Schauffele whip their drives down the center of 15. Just a few tall second pictures constructing. Meanwhile on 17, MacIntyre drops one more shot, and while he’ll potentially no longer invent the tip 12 for a 2022 invite now, this has tranquil been a indispensable performance by the 24-one year-broken-down debutant, and Scotland has a original golfing superstar at lengthy closing. He’s -1
Xander Schauffele of the US hits his tee shot on the fifteenth hole. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA
Up up to now
23: 06
Spieth sends his tee shot at 16 into MacIntyre Country, the ball failing to preserve the slope in direction of the hole. He’s left with that tricky two-putt for par, but he’s got extra skills round right here than the younger man from Oban, and grinds it out. He stays at -7. Meanwhile encourage on 15, Rose’s second into the inexperienced spins encourage down the bank and into the drink. It became a indispensable opening-day 65 by Rose, but nothing’s rather clicked since.
23: 03
Matsuyama sends a assured, borderline aggressive putt in direction of the cup. It nicks the left lip and rolls on a couple of toes, but he makes the one coming encourage. Schauffele then tidies up for his third birdie in a row. Right here is tranquil no longer rather over. It’s been a in point of fact impressive comeback by Schauffele, after that four-shot capitulation of 3, 4 and 5. Birdie for Zalatoris at 15, by the formulation. The debutant hasn’t thrown in the towel but both!
-13: Matsuyama (14)
-9: Schauffele (14)
-8: Zalatoris (15)
-7: Spieth (15)
22: 59
Matsuyama knocks his procedure at 14 to 13 toes. That’s ravishing, but nothing on Schauffele’s effort, which nearly spins into the cup. He’ll absolutely tap that in from a couple of toes for a birdie that’ll decide him up to -9. But first, can the chief slot his chance away? It’d be one more match-play vogue bodyblow for Schauffele if he does!
22: 54
Schauffele and Matsuyama decide turns to smash up the 14th fairway. Matsuyama is all smiles again. Up on 15, it’s staunch a par for Spieth, and that’s his closing chance of applying some distant stress on the chief long gone. And on 16, MacIntyre three-putts to mosey encourage to -12, staunch out of doors the locations for an computerized invitation for 2022. Bah.
22: 50
Matsuyama responds to all this unexpected adversity with aplomb! He chips gracefully down from the bank, from 30 yards to three toes. Schauffele fails to invent his eagle putt, having been spooked in the match-play vogue, and what briefly threatened to change into a two-shot swing – presumably extra – ends with each men carding birdies. That became a marvellous response by the chief, and that ravishing, nerveless chip is presumably the shot that secures the spend.
-13: Matsuyama (13)
-8: Schauffele (13)
-7: Spieth (14), Zalatoris (14)
-6: Rahm (F), Rose (13)
-5: Reed (17), Leishman (13)
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan chips to the 13th inexperienced. Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP
Up up to now
22: 46
Immense news of Oban’s finest, Bob MacIntyre! Having started slowly with bogey at 1 and double at 6, he’s since birdied 8, 9, 12 and now 15, a shuffle that’s introduced him up to -3, and a gaggle in the tip ten that’d be sure his return next one year. Tips you, his tee shot into 16 doesn’t preserve the slope, and that’ll be a hideous two putts down the inexperienced for par.
22: 44
All of a unexpected, Matsuyama isn’t thinking straight. You’d imagine along with his profit, he’d lay up from the valuable slash encourage. But he decides to whip a lengthy iron over the creek. He tugs it, and the ball’s heading for the azaleas, on the opposite hand it fortuitously hits the bank and sits down in the greenside rough. Mute no longer very glorious, but had that ball been crusing a couple of inches elevated, it’d dangle plugged in the shrubbery. Schauffele, sensing a ride of sunshine, turns the heat up by arrowing his second from 165 yards to 10 toes! He’ll dangle an incredible behold for eagle. Successfully, neatly, neatly. Masters Sunday, correct right here!
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama hits his formulation to the 13th. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Up up to now
22: 40
The precious ticket of nerves from Matsuyama for the explanation that opening few holes? He sends his drive at 13 into the trees down the correct, and gets a huge smash as the ball crashes off a trunk and is spat encourage out into the valuable slash encourage. He breaks staunch into a high-tail and pops off to the Puny Room. Who can blame him? I’d be necking so noteworthy Imodium in his draw, you need to presumably rattle me treasure a pair of maracas.
22: 36
The 2018 champ Patrick Reed is placing together a nice little ending flourish. Four birdies in a row, potentially the most contemporary at 16, the set he nearly aced in the broken-down Sunday vogue, the ball feeding down in direction of the hole from the centre of the inexperienced. He’s -5, tied for sixth. He’ll be cursing his 75 on Friday.
22: 34
Matsuyama can’t invent his par saver, but he’ll dangle mentally settled for bogey the minute his tee shot realized sand. Meanwhile Schauffele rattles in a birdie putt from the perimeter, while Spieth converts his chance at 14. So the lead is simplest – simplest! – 5, but now three avid gamers are on his shoulder. It’s no longer rather over but.
-12: Matsuyama (12)
-7: Spieth (14), Zalatoris (13), Schauffele (12)
-6: Rahm (F)
22: 30
If anybody’s going to invent a Hail Mary shuffle at Matsuyama, you’d imagine it’d be Jordan Spieth. Having staunch birdied 13, he now slings his second at 14 from 150 yards to 5 toes! If he gets that … neatly, let’s no longer accumulate silly, but Matsuyama is amazingly conservative along with his splash out of the bunker in the encourage of 12, in reveal to lead stride of a dramatic splash in the creek. (Endure in thoughts how Tiger ran up double figures right here encourage in November!) He’ll dangle a 20-footer for par.
22: 26
A pleasing warm cheer for Matsuyama as he reaches the 12th tee. The customers know their
pimento peppers
22: 23
But any other sensational procedure by Tony Finau! No longer just like the one on 7, this one at 14 is all skill, no very finest fortune, pitching 20 toes previous the flag and using a aggregate of bank and backspin to reverse his ball into the cup for birdie. He’s -2. Meanwhile encourage on 11, two careful putts for Matsuyama and it’s a extra than acceptable par. He’s one step nearer to glory … though the next shot is the one he’ll had been dreading. Take care of dry at 12, and likewise you’d imagine he’ll invent it dwelling safely. Right here we slide, then!
22: 19
Spieth reaches the par-5 13th with two tall booms. But his measly reward is a 50-foot eagle curler. He does thoroughly to tease his first putt to four toes, but birdie’s no longer ample if he’s to force a dramatic capitulation. He’s seven encourage at -6.
22: 16
Zalatoris yips his short par putt, and there’s no stress being applied by any skill to Matsuyama. The chief is now six stride, he’s realized 11 in regulation, and absolutely the glorious particular person that can now beat him is the man himself.
-13: Matsuyama (10)
-7: Zalatoris (12)
-6: Rahm (F), Schauffele (10)
-5: Spieth (12), Rose (11)
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan hits his tee shot on the eleventh hole. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA
Up up to now
22: 12
Up on 18, a final bogey for Phil Mickelson. He signs for a 72 and the three-time champ ends the week at level par. It’s been a factual week for the 50-one year-broken-down, and need to tranquil the golfing gods prepare a fairytale at Torrey Pines in June, please?
22: 09
Zalatoris’s tee shot at 12 doesn’t rather attain the inexperienced … on the opposite hand it’s shut, and sticks dutifully on the bank with none Couplesesque drama. He’ll decide that, though he nips over the Hogan Bridge treasure an Olympic walker, with a watch to taking his second mercurial, staunch in case his ball has any notions of rolling down the slope. No trusty worries of that, and he wedges mercurial to four toes.
22: 04
Matsuyama is left with an uphill correct-to-left curler from 30 toes. He nearly teases it into the cup, but the ball stays an lunge high on the correct. He faucets in for par … as does Schauffele after nearly draining his 25-footer … as does Zalatoris on 11 … as does Spieth on 12, after nearly clipping his chip in for birdie. It’s all occurring, if it’s permissible to negate that after four quickfire pars.
-13: Matsuyama (10)
-8: Zalatoris (11)
-6: Rahm (F), Schauffele (10)
-5: Spieth (12), Leishman (10), Rose (10)
22: 00
Abet on 10, each Matsuyama and Schauffele come by the dancefloor in regulation. Wide smiles as they stroll up the golf green. Anxious smiles, presumably, with Amen Nook looming. Up on 11, Zalatoris reaches the inexperienced in two, but leaves himself a jittery four-footer for his par. He’ll in point of fact need to invent that.
21: 59
Jordan Spieth, having lived by a encourage-9 capitulation right here, received’t be making any assumptions rather but. He’s under no circumstances the kind to throw in the towel, and from the perimeter at 11, bundles a chip from 90 toes to four. What a par set! He remains at -5. Then the tee shot at 12 that ended in him so noteworthy angst in 2016 … and he pushes it rather. For a second, it seems treasure preserving the perimeter. Then it seems treasure picking up shuffle and dropping into Rae’s Creek. Eventually it snags in the second slash encourage, staying dry. He’ll dangle half of endeavor of bumping in a chip, and an incredible chance of the up and down that’ll set one more par.
21: 54
The 2021 Masters begins right here!
Yep, the final group on Sunday has reached the 10th tee. Right here is the set Rory McIlroy’s needs began to resolve spectacularly a decade previously, as he bent his drive in direction of the cabins. No such fate befalls Hideki Matsuyama, who sends a cozy draw down the music. Right here is impressive stuff from the 29-one year-broken-down Japanese superstar, who has recovered magnificently from his stuttering originate.
21: 50
Zalatoris sends his procedure at 10 rather lengthy. An excitable putt encourage results in bogey. That will likely be so costly, as encourage on 9, Matsuyama caresses his second to four toes, leaving himself an uphill birdie putt. In it goes, and he’s handing over 34 … with a 5-shot lead. Jordan Spieth infamously failed to convert this trusty discipline into glory 5 years previously, so nothing’s sure, but that is starting up set to behold treasure a procession. No longer that the player himself will enable that thought to horrible his thoughts, in spite of all the pieces.
-13: Matsuyama (9)
-8: Zalatoris (10)
-6: Rahm (F), Schauffele (9)
-5: Spieth (10), Leishman (9), Rose (9)
Up up to now
21: 46
Jon Rahm is determined for one closing birdie to invent that clubhouse lead behold rather bit extra ominous. He crashes his drive at 18 into Effect aside A, sending a energy proceed around the nook, then wedges over the flag to 15 toes. He tickles the putt down the inexperienced … on the opposite hand it stops one turn short. Correct a par, though that’s a shapely final round of 66. His final total of -6 received’t be ample to spend, except one thing in point of fact irregular unfolds, but what does it topic, when little Kepa and wife Kelley will likely be so cushy with him?
21: 42
Hassle for Rose on 9, as an eight-foot par putt horseshoes out. He had to step away from that a pair of times, as gusts of wind performed havoc along with his stance and, extra crucially I’ll be sure, his mental equilibrium. He slips encourage to -5. The chasing pack can’t come up with the money for a single mosey, and the behold of despair washing across Rose’s face illustrates that fully.
21: 40
That’s a hell of a prime board, . No longer least on account of, Jordan Spieth aside, no person on it has a inexperienced jacket to their name. Moreover, Justin Rose is the glorious different player up there with a critical to his name. And the wind is seriously picking up. Let those nerve ends jingle-jangle!
