Aussies united in Masters preparation
Five Australians are in the Masters field this week and the debutant has already had a dream come true.
New South Wales amateur Harrison Crowe realised a boyhood dream on Tuesday at Augusta National when he joined Cameron Smith and Adam Scott for a practice round.
Crowe’s Augusta dream will carry into Thursday’s opening round after he was paired with fellow Aussie Min Woo Lee and 1987 champion Larry Mize for the opening two rounds.
In the field by virtue of his victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship last October, Crowe almost had an ace at the beguiling par-3 12th on Tuesday after playing a practice round with Lee and Jason Day on Monday.
“It’s nice to pick their brains a little bit. For the most part, we had fun out there. It was just kind of getting to know them a little bit better,” Crowe said of his Tuesday hit with Smith and Scott.
“It was awesome. The camaraderie around here this week. Got to play with J Day and Min yesterday. It’s been awesome. It’s been an awesome week so far, and it’s only the start of it.”
Lee was only confirmed to return to Augusta for the 2023 championship two weeks ago following the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Texas.
In earning a share of 14th on debut last year, Lee equalled the record for the lowest front-nine score in tournament history and comes in this week with five top-five finishes in his past 12 starts worldwide.
That form prompted Scott to push Lee to join him as a Masters champion sooner rather than later.
“He should really push himself because you just don’t know how many opportunities and how long a career can be,” said Scott on the 10-year anniversary of his playoff win over Argentine Angel Cabrera.
“I’d really be pushing Min to take advantage of this good run of golf he’s on and see how far he can go.”
Australian Golf Media will have daily coverage, and the official tournament website masters.com provides a wealth of the most up-to-date and comprehensive coverage including being able to see every shot from every player from every round.
The television coverage on free-to-air, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports is also extensive with 9Gem and 9Now providing live coverage from the Par 3 Contest on Thursday morning and all four rounds of the tournament.
Full story: Crowe relishing Augusta limelight
Full story: Adam Scott’s Master-ful advice for Min Woo Lee
Round 1 tee times AEST
11pm Min Woo Lee, Harrison Crowe (a), Larry Mize
12.30am Adam Scott, Patrick Cantlay, Kurt Kitayama
12.54am Cameron Smith, Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im
2.36am Ryan Fox (NZ), Billy Horschel, Harris English
2.48am Jason Day, Zach Johnson, Gordon Sargent (a)
Live TV coverage AEST
Wednesday
11pm On The Range on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
Thursday
5am Par 3 Contest on 9Gem and 9Now
5am Par 3 Contest on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
8am Live From The Masters on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
10.30pm On The Range on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
Friday
12.30am Featured Groups – Round 1 on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
12.45am Amen Corner – Round 1 on Fox Sports 505
1.45am Holes 15 and 16 – Round 1 on Fox Sports 506
5am The Masters – Round 1 on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
5am The Masters – Round 1 on 9Gem and 9Now
9.30am Live From The Masters on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
10.30pm On The Range on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
Saturday
12.30am Featured Groups – Round 2 on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
12.45am Amen Corner – Round 2 on Fox Sports 505
1.45am Holes 15 and 16 – Round 2 on Fox Sports 506
5am The Masters – Round 2 on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
5am The Masters – Round 2 on 9Gem and 9Now
9.30am Live From The Masters on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
Sunday
12am Featured Groups – Round 3 on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
1.45am Amen Corner – Round 3 on Fox Sports 505
2.30am Holes 15 and 16 – Round 3 on Fox Sports 506
5am The Masters – Round 3 on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
5am The Masters – Round 3 on 9Gem and 9Now
9am Live From The Masters on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
11pm Featured Groups – Final Round on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
Monday
1am On The Range on Fox Sports 505
2.30am Holes 15 and 16 – Final Round on Fox Sports 506
3am Amen Corner – Final Round on Fox Sports 505
4am The Masters – Final Round on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
4am The Masters – Round 1 on 9Gem and 9Now
9am Live From The Masters on Fox Sports 503/Kayo Sports
Australian Player Profiles
Cameron Smith
World ranking: 5
Age: 29
Major wins: 1 (2022 Open Championship)
PGA Tour wins: 6
Best finish at The Masters: T2 in 2020
Best finish in 2023: T5 at LIV Golf Mayakoba
The background: With top-10s in four of the past five Masters, Smith has become Australia’s perennial Augusta favourite. The adulation for the Open champion in his home country over summer rivalled that of Scott in 2013 and he responded with victory at the Australian PGA at Royal Queensland. His move to LIV Golf makes this year’s preparation far less intense than years gone by and it will be intriguing to see what effect that has on his performance.
The quote: “I feel like I’ve played my best golf I’ve ever played around there. I feel like I’ve got a pretty good record around there.”
Jason Day
World ranking: 33
Age: 35
Major wins: 1 (2015 US PGA)
PGA Tour wins: 12
Best finish at The Masters: T2 in 2011
Best finish in 2022: 5th at WM Phoenix Open
The background: The former world No.1 enters his 12th Masters – and first since 2021 – as a genuine contender with form on the board. He has risen 82 spots in the world rankings this year and has twice flirted with Masters victory, including in 2013 where he led by one with three holes to play. For a player who has faced repeated questions about injury and longevity, Day is now back, fit and firing.
The quote: “I feel like I’m learning more and more about my overall game and how my body works, especially through the swing and obviously off the golf course too because I’ve battled injuries. I’ll probably think the same way going all the way through to the end of my career. It’s more about the journey and enjoying that process, and then the wins hopefully get in the way.”
Adam Scott
World ranking: 38
Age: 42
Major wins: 1 (2013 Masters)
PGA Tour wins: 14
Best finish at The Masters: Won in 2013
Best finish in 2022: T21 at Sony Open
The background: On the 10-year anniversary of his 2013 victory, Scott is still chasing that elusive second major championship. Making his 22nd start at Augusta National, Scott has played 28 of his 80 rounds at Augusta under par and comes in with two decades of experience to call upon. Although results in 2023 might suggest otherwise, he believes his form is sound enough that an anniversary green jacket is not out of reach.
The quote: “I think (the anniversary) is going to be a motivation. I’m a little surprised I haven’t come close to winning since, but I feel like I have a lot of opportunities in front of me. I’ve been chipping away at a lot of things and if I put myself in the right head space this week and get out of my own way a little bit and get on a run I can move my way to the top of the leaderboard,” Scott told NCA NewsWire’s Russell Gould.
Min Woo Lee
World ranking: 47
Age: 24
Major wins: 0
PGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish at The Masters: T14 (2022)
Best finish in 2023: T2 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
The background: After equalling the record for the lowest front nine at Augusta National in the final round on debut in 2022, Lee’s tie for 14th was one shot shy of automatic qualification for the 2023 Masters. The Perth native had to wait a further 50 weeks to confirm his second invitation to Augusta National, his place inside the top 50 in the world ranking after the WGC-Match Play clinching his second straight appearance.
The quote: “It was a great debut and not many people have done that and having the equal record gives me a lot of confidence that I can go out and shoot that number.”
Harrison Crowe (a)
World ranking: 501
Age: 21
Major wins: 0
PGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish at The Masters: First appearance
Best finish in 2023: T29 at Play Today NSW Open
How he qualified: 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion
The background: Conjured a brilliant up-and-down on the final hole to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Thailand last October and secure starts at both The Masters and The Open Championship in 2023. Currently 33rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and has been as high as 23rd. Won the 2022 NSW Open to become the first player since Jim Ferrier in 1950 to win the NSW Amateur and NSW Open in the same year.
The quote: “I want to play good enough to go back next year. Go as a pro. So that’s top 12. That’s the goal.”
