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AUGUSTA, GA (AP) — Augusta National has taken another amazing step toward modernization. The Masters allowed a walk-and-talk during his opening round when Rory McIlroy answered a question on his ESPN telecast while playing on the ninth fairway.
Max Homa then joined and made a live guest appearance during the round.
CBS, which produces The Masters, first unveiled the technology at the Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines. Trevor Immelman was in the booth and he did a question and answer session with Homa while playing the 13th hole. Homa kept winning.
NBC also gave walk-and-talks with the players in the six weeks leading up to the Masters.
But masters?
McIlroy even told viewers his yardage and which club he would hit on the 9th green.
McIlroy said the interview was conducted through earphones rather than having someone hold a microphone in front of him as he walked, so it was less distracting, so it felt more natural. rice field.
“It’s nice to be able to provide the audience at home with a little more insight into what’s going on here,” McIlroy said.
He wasn’t surprised when a Masters official approached him for an interview earlier this week.
“Since[Fred]Ridley came in, I think he’s really tried to push the boundaries, too,” said McIloury. “So I think Augusta strikes a great balance of not only blending its history and tradition, but also keeping up with the times.”
Homa isn’t the first to expose herself on social mediain favor of moving.
“I think it’s a good way for fans to get perspective to enjoy golf more easily,” Houma said.
Mickelson’s new look
Those who haven’t been paying attention to LIV Golf were probably a little shocked when they first saw a cropped Phil Mickelson this week. The three-time Masters champion says he has lost 25 pounds.
“I stopped eating food, which helped a lot,” Mickelson said. “I lost muscle too, so I had to start lifting.
Mickelson said he intends to continue on a healthier path.
“Some of the players here today are really amazing at how far and how fast they can swing the club,” Mickelson said. “It doesn’t mean they’re going to win. You still have to hit shots and manage the game and manage the game on the course. But you have to be in shape to be competitively fast. not.”
tiger tales his group
Tiger Woods struggled to keep up He will face his partners Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele on Thursday.
World No. 9 Hobland finished 7-under 65, matching Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka in the last round and two tournament records held by Nick Price (1986) and Greg Norman (1996). fell below 68 Shaufle.
Woods, still recovering from last year’s car accident, had 74 shots.
“I wish I could have worked a little harder,” he said.
bennett lower
United States Amateur champion Sam Bennett was the only amateur to break par on Thursday, matching playing partner and defending Masters champion Scotty Schaeffler with a round of 68 without a bogey.
Bennett was just two strokes behind Ken Venturi’s amateur low round record set in 1956.
Bennett, a two-time All-American with Texas A&M, made a long birdie putt on the first hole. He added an eagle chip-in in the second and another long birdie putt in the sixth. He made par the rest of the way to the clubhouse.
“I’ve been kind of brooding all day,” said Bennett. the sun was shining. So I just wanted two more good swings and I did it.”
Harrison Crowe and Ben Kerr, who lost to Bennett in the US Amateur, opened with 75. Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira shot 76 and his fellow amateurs Matthew McLean, Aldrich Pogeter and Gordon Sargent made the five-over round.
Sargent, an NCAA champion from Vanderbilt, said: “But I’ve talked to caddies on every hole. We’re in Augusta at the Masters, so how can you complain?”
Zaratris withdraws
Will Zaratris, who was tied for sixth at the Masters, withdrew before taking the course.
The world’s No. 8 player was runner-up at last year’s PGA Championship and US Open, and won his first PGA Tour victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. However, the following week in the BMW Championship, Zaratris dislocated two discs in his back on a tee shot and missed the rest of the season.
LIV Tour’s Kevin Na also withdrew after shooting a 40 on the front nine.
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AP Sports writers Steve Reed and Dave Skretta contributed to this report.
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AP Golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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