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| Wednesday Apr 08, 2026 |
Masters Talking Points: Part 1
▪️ Thirty of the last 31 Masters winners played Amen Corner at even par or better over four rounds. The only Masters champion since 1995 who needed more than 48 strokes to play hole Nos. 11, 12 and 13 for the week was Sergio Garcia (1-over in 2017). Rory McIlroy needed 46 strokes (2-under) to play Amen Corner four times last year. It was the eighth year in a row that the eventual champion played Amen Corner at two-under or better for the week.
▪️ Most major championship victories since 1934 among players without a green jacket: Lee Trevino (six), Peter Thomson (five), Brooks Koepka (five), Bobby Locke (four), Ernie Els (four).
▪️ Justin Rose, having also lost in a playoff to Garcia in 2017, is one of only two players with multiple Masters playoff losses along with Ben Hogan (1942, 1954).
▪️ The world’s top-ranked golfer entering the week has won the Masters seven times: Ian Woosnam (1991), Fred Couples (1992), Tiger Woods (2001, 2002), Dustin Johnson (2020) and Scottie Scheffler (2022, 2024). Also, this is the fifth Masters in row that Scheffler will enter as the No. 1 player in the world. That ties Tiger Woods’ record, set from 2000-2004 and matched from 2006-2010.
[Notes per Elias Sports Bureau]
MASTERS CHAT
Throughout Masters week, The First Call is hosting a daily chat thread on its The First Call | Extra Substack platform. On Thursday, from 12-1 p.m. ET, contributor Gary Van Sickle will join the chat from Augusta to discuss this year's Masters.
If you are already a The First Call | Extra subscriber on Substack, you will receive an email invitation each morning. If you would like to sign up for The First Call | Extra, simply click here.
POLL
▪️ Who should be the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain? | Vote
▪️ Previous: Should Tiger Woods captain the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup team? | Results
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
▪️ What changes to Augusta National Golf Club or the Masters would you make? | Respond
▪️ Previous: What are your expectations and predictions for the 2026 Masters? | Read
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Few, if any, opening holes in professional golf can match the tradition and history of Augusta National Golf Club’s first tee during the Masters.
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▪️ Inside the Masters Champions Dinner, the most exclusive gathering in golf
[Bob Harig | Sports Illustrated | Read]
▪️ A new (and same old) Patrick Reed is back at the Masters
[Michael Bamberger | Golf.com | Read]
▪️ Bryson DeChambeau arrives at the Masters on a bit of a roll. Can he close the deal this year?
[Noah Trister | Associated Press | Read]
▪️ Gary Woodland details PTSD struggles ahead of the Masters: ‘I thought people were trying to kill me’
[Dave Skretta | Associated Press | Read]
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Augusta, Georgia, has a lot to offer and, in golf, it’s recognized as the home to Augusta National Golf Club, host of the Masters. But what else should we know about this vibrant city?
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MAY
4-6: National Golf Day, Washington, D.C. | Info
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To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.
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