Australia’s Jason Day gave a lengthy and passionate response when asked if he had any empathy for Tiger Woods following the 15-time major champion’s car crash and arrest for a DUI.
Meanwhile, countryman Cameron Smith has teased that the course conditions are exactly how he likes them as Patrick Reed spoke on the benefits of his decision to leave LIV Golf. READ MORE IN MASTERS DAILY!
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‘LITTLE BIT SELFISH’: DAY’S HEARTFELT ANSWER TO TIGER QUESTION
The emotion was evident in Jason Day’s voice as he spoke about Tiger Woods.
The pair have been close friends for a long time with Woods often acting as a mentor-like figure to the Queenslander who rose to the heights of world No.1.
But with the five-time green jacket winner missing a second straight Masters – this time due to his recent car crash – Day is certainly feeling the pain of his absence.
The pair share many common experiences, including repeat back issues during their careers.
So, Day understands the toll the surgeries take both physically and mentally on the body.
But the 38-year-old disagrees with Woods’ action and only wants him to get better as he battle addiction.
“In regards to Tiger, it just shows the human element and the human side of someone that is struggling with some sort of an addiction,” Day said.
“He’s not immune to it just because he can hit a golf ball really well. He’s had 25 to 30 something surgeries, and when you’re going through that many procedures, it’s painful coming out of those procedures. I’ve had procedures done and I typically try and stay away from all that stuff because I just know that, painkillers, there can potentially be a downfall to it.”
Day continued: “Granted, when I look at that, I look at it and go, he’s just a human being like everyone else and we have struggles. It’s unfortunate, the only thing that I don’t understand is that it’s a little bit selfish of him to drive and put other people in harm’s way, as well.
“But when you’re the player that he was and how strong-willed he is, he thinks he can do almost anything, and that’s probably why he’s probably driving and a little bit under the influence.
“He was my hero…he’s my hero. He was my hero growing up. The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger.
“It’s hard to see him go through what he’s going through, and especially under the microscope that…it must be hard to be who he is and have everything, everyone look on, kind of down on him.
“Some people want him to fail. Some people obviously want him to succeed. It’s really difficult for me to go through that and watch him, and I know that he’s getting the help now, which is good. I’m just hoping he comes out on the other side and is better.”
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COURSE SET UP JUST HOW AUSSIE LIKES IT
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Rory McIlroy tested their shotmaking at opening practice for the 90th Masters on Monday as the world’s top golfers prepared for the year’s first major.
Formidable conditions are expected for Thursday’s first round at Augusta National, where there’s no rain in the forecast and undulating greens are likely to run firm and fast all week.
“The course is in great shape, and it’s already pretty firm,” said Australian Cam Smith, the 2022 British Open champion. “It seems like there’s just a little bit more grass. It’s a little bit fuller… It will be firm and fast, I would assume.” Under cloudy skies with a light breeze, spectators watched the stars under the Georgia pines.
“You will see long hitters doing well here,” two-time winner Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain predicted.
McIlroy, who became the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam by winning his first green jacket, began practice rounds over the weekend.
“The first few days it’s all about enjoying the perks,” said McIlroy. “But once Tuesday night is over, the serious business begins. There’s a mental change where I’m focused on the play and hopefully winning another Masters.”
The 36-year-old world number two from Northern Ireland is trying to join Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only back-to-back Masters winners.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler has not competed since sharing 22nd at the Players Championship three weeks ago.
Scheffler and his wife, Meredith, welcomed their second child, son Remy, on March 27 and the entire family is in Augusta this week.
“It has been fun,” Scheffler said.
Scheffler won his first event of the year at January’s American Express before completing a run of 18 PGA top-10 finishes.
The 29-year-old American, a two-time Masters champion, won last year’s British Open and PGA Championship and can complete a career Grand Slam at June’s US Open.
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– Bubba pulls for Tiger –
The field of 91, including 46 from outside the United States, will not feature five-time Masters winner Woods or three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson. Both are absent for the first time since 1994, Mickelson due to family health issues and Woods on a break for treatment after being arrested on a DUI charge last month.
“I’m pulling for him as a human being, forget his golf,” two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson said of Woods. “Anybody that’s struggling with anything, I feel for him because I’ve went through a lot of mental stuff.
“Nothing but love for him and hopefully he can come back stronger.”
Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 and 2024 US Open winner, won LIV Golf titles last month at Singapore and South Africa. He was sixth at the Masters in 2024 and fifth last year.
“There’s always passion out here. I’ve been trying to win this event for a lot of years,” said DeChambeau, making his 10th Masters start. “I’ve learned a lot of lessons and hopefully my game is in the place where I can finally win it this year.
“My swing is in a great place. Putting is in a great place. Chipping is in a great place. I just want that iron play to be stellar this week.” Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters and 2021 US Open champion, won the 2024 and 2025 LIV Golf season crowns. The 31-year-old Spaniard captured his third LIV title last month in Hong Kong and has runner-up efforts this year at South Africa, Adelaide and Riyadh.
“I have to get that ‘back to Augusta’ feeling. It’s important,” Rahm said. “I’m really happy with all areas of my game… I can be happy without being satisfied.”
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LEAVING LIV A BLESSING FOR FORMER CHAMP
Deciding to leave LIV Golf helped Patrick Reed launch his most successful golf in years, boosting his confidence ahead of this week’s 90th Masters.
The 35-year-old American, who won a green jacket at Augusta in 2018, jumped from the US PGA Tour to LIV Golf in 2022 then decided not to re-sign with the Saudi-backed series this past January while playing in Dubai.
Reed, whose lone LIV win came last June in Dallas, won the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic, lost the next week’s event in Bahrain in a playoff then won again the following week in Qatar.
“It helps playing that type of golf when you’re making a decision like that,” Reed said on Monday. “I wanted to get back and not only have an opportunity back on the PGA Tour but get back to the traditional way of golf and playing.”
Spending more time with his family was also part of the consideration. “We had a contract, had a deal, but at the end of the day, I felt like the best thing for us was to come to the PGA Tour again,” Reed said.
“I wanted that adrenaline back, and those feelings… I felt like this was the best place for me.” Reed, playing on the DP World Tour as an honorary lifetime member, hopes to return to the PGA Tour once eligible in August.
Reed could play PGA events in late 2026 on sponsor exemptions and as a qualifier and would seek past champion status for 2027.
“I love playing worldwide, but to be able to come back and see the guys and just really experiencing and kind of growing my game… I feel like it sharpens your game,” he said.
“The best players in the world and the deepest fields from top to bottom are on the PGA Tour.” Reed’s success has jumped him atop the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings and to 23rd in this week’s world golf rankings.
“The golf game feels solid. I feel like every tool in my golf bag right now is sharp and ready to go,” Reed said.
Reed has finished in the Masters top 10 in four of the past six years, including third last year.
“Hopefully we can make some more memories,” Reed said. “The one jacket is getting a little lonely. Might need one more.” Reed, who has played in 27 nations since 2022, will travel across the Atlantic Ocean to compete then return home.
“Those travels overseas, it’s going to be a lot this year,” Reed said.
AGE AND NEAR MISSES DON’T WORRY ROSE IN MASTERS QUEST
Justin Rose shrugs off those who doubt he can win another major title at age 45 just as the Englishman sets aside the heartache of three runner-up Masters finishes.
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion and 2016 Rio Olympics winner, took his 13th career PGA Tour title in February at Torrey Pines, becoming the first wire-to-wire winner there since 1955.
That’s part of why he is confident he has what it takes to win this week at Augusta National after losing to Rory McIlroy in a historic 2025 Masters playoff.
“Feeling good about things,” Rose said. “I’ve clearly found my game. I’ve played very well. (Torrey Pines) is a good example of that, more evidence I’m still able to find my best, which is great to know.” Rose, a two-time British Open runner-up as well, also lost a playoff to Spain’s Sergio Garcia in 2017 and shared second behind Jordan Spieth at the 2015 Masters.
He tries to keep the near misses in perspective.
“I hope it only boosts my belief that I can go ahead and do it,” Rose said. “I feel like I’ve pretty much done what it takes to win. I just haven’t walked over the line. I feel like I’ve executed well enough to have done the job.
“I don’t feel like I have to find something in myself to do something different. I don’t feel like it owes me anything. I come here with a good sort of attitude. It’s a place that I enjoy being.” As for age, Rose doesn’t focus on it as much as he does the work he must do to stay at his competitive best.
“I don’t think about it on a day-to-day level,” Rose said. “Happy the narrative around it is more positive than negative, for the most part.
“Definitely there’s some motivation there to keep going, keep pushing, try to find new habits, new ways of trying to get better, realizing that’s a pretty difficult ambition at this stage of my career.
“Still feel like there’s areas of my game I can improve on significantly and easily without age being a factor.
“Still enjoying the work really and that’s the most important thing. When you enjoy it, you don’t feel your age.”
– ‘Key is showing up’ –
Rose, however, does make some allowances to Father Time when it comes to pacing on day one.
“There was a tendency early in my career to try to be perfect for Thursday,” Rose said. “You need to be ready for Thursday, but you need to save your gas for Sunday as well. If you start great, you still need to finish strong, be able to finish it off.” World number nine Rose, making his 21st Masters start, vows he will never think “Why me?” when it comes to defeat.
“I’m very aware that I’ve been close here. I’m very aware I’ve had tough, tough losses here,” he said. “I also am aware that I enjoy this place. I don’t want to feel those three second-place finishes need to create a different sort of feeling for me.” He tries to accept what he cannot control.
“You can’t skip through a career without a little bit of heartache and heartbreak, no chance,” Rose said. “If you’re going to be willing to win them, you’ve got to be willing to be on the wrong side of it as well.
“The key is showing up. The key is to try to be as free as you can in those moments.”
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