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| Thursday Apr 09, 2026 |
Masters Talking Points: Part 2
▪️ Ludvig Åberg has finished second and seventh in his two Masters appearances, respectively. The only players to begin their Masters career with three consecutive top-10 finishes are Paul Runyan (1934-1936), Ralph Guldahl (1937-1939) and Jordan Spieth (2014-2016).
▪️ Justin Rose led after each of the first two rounds in 2025. In his career, he has led, either tied or outright, at the end of the first, second or third round of the Masters a total of nine times. The only players with more such leads are Arnold Palmer (14) and Jack Nicklaus (13).
▪️ After missing the cut at the 2022 Masters, Xander Schauffele has finished among the top 30 in all 15 majors played since. It is among the longest such streaks of the last 70 years. Streaks longer than Schauffele are: Jack Nicklaus (33, 1970-1978), Tiger Woods (28, 1996-2003), Nick Faldo (22, 1987-1992) and Arnold Palmer (18, 1959-1963).
[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. Today, 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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RECENT DROPS
🎧 ROAD TO AUGUSTA
Lawrence Bennett’s life at Augusta National
Guest: Lawrence Bennett, lifelong Augustan and longtime Augusta National Golf Club employee.
Listen | Archives
🎧 ROAD TO AUGUSTA
The Nicklaus files
Guest: Jack Nicklaus II, son of and caddie for 1986 Masters champion Jack Nicklaus.
Listen | Archives
🎧 GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Alan Shipnuck: The book on Rory McIlroy
Guest: Alan Shipnuck, author of "Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf’s Most Human Superstar."
Listen | Archives
🎧 DRIVER$: INSIDE THE GOLF INDUSTRY
Golf course operations in the land of 8:30 p.m. tee times
Guests: Settlers Bay Golf Course's Amos Stephens (superintendent, partner and general manager) and Vicky Urbina (executive director, partner and operator).
Listen | Archives
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▪️ Bryson DeChambeau-led investors acquire Sportsbox AI in eight-figure deal
[Joe Lemire | Sports Business Journal | Read]
▪️ The Masters is appealing to a broader audience. Is it losing its identity in the process?
[Joel Beall | Golf Digest | Read]
▪️ ‘Failure’s not an option’: Augusta National chairman reaffirms club’s rollback stance
[Jack Hirsh | Golf.com | Read]
▪️ Prosecutors subpoena Tiger Woods' medications in DUI case
[Brent Schrotenboer | USA Today via Golfweek | Read]
▪️ ‘A little emotional’: Rory McIlroy’s Masters Champions Dinner delivered
[Alan Bastable | Golf.com | Read]
▪️ Golf has been secondary for Scottie Scheffler of late. It’s hard to know what to expect at Masters
[Noah Trister | Associated Press | 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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Augusta National Golf Club: Masters
Site: Augusta, Georgia.
Course: Augusta National GC.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 1-3 p.m. (Prime Video), 3-7:30 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday, noon to 2 p.m. (Paramount+), 2-7 p.m. (CBS).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
MAY
4-6: National Golf Day, Washington, D.C. | Info
5-7: Golf Business Technology Conference, Belfast, Ireland | Info
15-16: British Golf Show, Marlow, England | Info
To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.
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