The Masters Tournament: 2024 Storylines Worth Following

While the Par-3 Contest benefitted from excellent weather, the 2024 Masters is off to a delayed start due to a rain storm passing through the Augusta area. So while we wait for Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson to hit the ceremonial first-tee shots, which are now scheduled for 10:10 a.m. (EST), here are some storylines that we think will be worth following over the next few days.

Rahm—the Defending Champion and LIV Defector

As everyone is well aware, Jon Rahm decided—after publicly voicing many criticisms—to leave the PGA TOUR and join LIV in December 2023. The move was unexpected and continues to show that the PIF is not messing around with its alternative golf league.

So, the question that immediately comes to everyone’s mind is how the 29-year-old Spaniard will respond to the more relaxed playing schedule and competitive environment. Indeed, Rahm conceded during recent interviews that he’s missed playing in events like the AmEx, Players, and WMPO, which obviously offer a very different competitive environment than the LIV events—4 vs. 3 days, cuts, etc.

Right after they came from an interview where Rahm said he made a well thought out decision that he’s happy with here’s 4 minutes of mind reading, speculation & spin to contradict the man’s own words. This is borderline disrespectful to Rahm. That’s the thanks he gets for being… pic.twitter.com/LfGEWJrdbP

— LIV Golf Enthusiast (@LIVGolfEnth) April 9, 2024

That said, shame on the commentators who, like a bunch of cowards, proceeded to lean into him following an interview earlier this week. You cannot make a straight-faced argument that Rahm is not a competitor; this guy is fierce and, when it matters, will not hold his emotions in. And like everyone who plays at this level (well, maybe everyone except Joel Dahmen), Rahm plays to win.

This type of commentary hurts—not helps—the game. People are tired of the PGA v. LIV narrative that’s been forced on us for the past two years, especially after the talking heads looked like fools during that time. Indeed, after claiming all the LIV golfers were washed up and passed their prime, the LIV golfers have frequently been found at the top—if not at the top, like Brooks Koepka—of the leaderboards at the Majors.

The bottom line is that it will be very interesting to see how Rahm, the defending Masters Champion, and the new LIV Captain, plays this weekend.

Tiger Woods—Healthy Enough?

While he may be the GOAT, he’s also human. To explain, Tiger Woods has recently begun to really feel his age and, more likely, the toll that all the injuries have had on his body. Reports claim that Tiger was, in fact, expecting to play a little more frequently than he has. But as the 24-withdraw at the Riviera demonstrates, he’s still not—and may never be again—100% healthy.

So the natural question that follows is, “Does he still have ‘enough’?” Maybe not enough skill or grit, but more so enough physical capacity. In fact, only last year we saw perhaps the most vulnerable, frail version of Tiger on a golf course.

And today’s weather doesn’t bode well for Tiger, who has claimed during interviews that he believes he has one more Masters victory in him.

Scottie Stays Hot

Whether you like him or not, Scottie is—and has been for some time now—the hottest golfer on the Tour. In 2024 alone, Scottie has secured 2 additional, high-profile wins—the Arnold Palmer and Players Championship—and is setting himself up for a third (and second Major) this weekend.

So, can the “happy feet” Texan keep it up? I think, as we all know, the question will be, more or less, dictated by whether or not Scottie’s putter decides to cooperate this weekend. As has been well documented, Scottie is frequently among the top strokes gained in every other aspect of his game. But when it comes time to roll the rock with the flatstick, the Current World No. 1 golfer looks like he’s got two left feet. In sum, if Scottie can figure out how to get the ball without squandering birdies and pars, he may be putting on his second Green Jacket.

Is it Brooks’ Time?

When it comes to Majors, Brooks is That Guy. When he won the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, and the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019, he became the first golfer in history to hold back-to-back titles in two Majors simultaneously. And while things cooled off a little during 2020-21, he nearly added two more Major victories last year—finishing second in the Masters, but winning the 2023 PGA Championship, which brings him to five Major victories.

Brooks didn’t pull punches when he suggested that Patrick Cantlay’s pace of play may have disrupted his rhythm during the 2023 Masters. Still, he demonstrated that—despite what all the naysayers suggested—he had the skills to compete and close during Majors at Oak Hill.

Interestingly, Brooks is now a father this time around, and he’s claimed that becoming a parent has helped enhance his Terminator-like mentality by providing him with some much-needed patience and understanding.

Will Rory Make History?

Finally, there’s the storyline that countless golfers want to see come to fruition: Rory McIlroy completing the career Grand Slam. But for that to happen, it seems that Rory will need to fight off some swing demons.

As has been heavily publicized in recent, Rory has been fighting some big misses with his irons. And weak approach play is kinda unacceptable when you drive the ball as well as the Northern Irishman. So in the hopes of finding that missing piece, Rory went and saw legendary golf coach Butch Harmon to help make some tweaks. And those changes clearly helped, as Rory found himself in the Top 5 for the Approach the Green Strokes Gained metric.

The problem with swing changes is that they really come into question when you add pressure, like winning a Green Jacket and completing the Career Grand Slam-levels of pressure. So, a focus this week will be Rory’s iron-play this week—not just what the data and performance say, but also his body language. As we can all relate to, it is hard to stick with a new swing change when it doesn’t perform the way you want. But as Rory’s Valero performance showed, this might be the change he needs and, as a result, it might also require him to mentally commit to it despite what the ball may do on a handful of shots.

Cover Image via Bunkered