Min Woo Lee – leading Australasian-ranked player in the field – image Augusta National
There is always plenty of commentary as to which of golf’s four majors is the most popular amongst the golfing world, but in any sort of poll to determine such, The Masters would always rate near the top, if not on top.
That it is the only major played at the same venue each year has allowed us to gain an intimate knowledge of the dangers lurking in the heat of a Sunday battle, holes like 11,12, 13, 15 and 16 highlighting that a lead is never safe and, as viewers, we can sit and watch the drama unfold.
The familiarity of a layout in which there is such a fine line between pleasure and pain captures the imagination of all, and while in more recent times all 18 holes are now part of the coverage, the closing nine holes on Sunday are those closest to us and must surely be the most anticipated and watched in televised golf.
There are numerous opportunities to make up a deficit in the latter stages of the event, but there is also danger at nearly every corner, and perhaps the unpredictability is what makes it so appealing.
In 2026, there are two favourites on paper at least, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the winners of three of the last four Masters titles, but with the likes of Jon Rahm, Bryson De Chambeau, Xander Schauffle and Ludvig Aberg, amongst others, likely to stake their claim, then the winner may be obvious to many but still very uncertain.
The Masters is a bit like the Melbourne Cup in that for one week of the year, many non-golfers become experts in predicting a potential winner, further highlighting the appeal the 90th staging of the event holds.
Four Australians and one New Zealander get their chance to add a second title to come to this part of the world, Adam Scott’s win in 2013 completing Australian success in all four major championships.
This year, Min Woo Lee, Jason Day, Adam Scott, and Cam Smith will be joined by New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, all five having now played the Masters on several occasions.
Min Woo Lee gets the honour of being Australia’s leading-ranked player in the event as he competes for the fifth occasion, his best finish coming on debut when 14th in 2022. He has made two of the other three cuts and arrives in good form with a 3rd place finish two weeks ago in Houston, when defending his title, and a 6th place finish two starts earlier at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
At number 25 in the world ranking, Lee appears to have the current form and Augusta National experience necessary to make his presence felt this week.
“My game is looking really good,” said Lee on Tuesday. “Feeling good. The ball was going where I wanted it to, which is great. And, yeah, I mean, the mini driver is probably going to be a big factor this week. Just hitting draws off the tee.
“And it’s a little different wind than we usually play, what I played in the last few years. So really like this wind.
Jason Day – on the range this week – image Augusta National
Jason Day finished runner-up on debut at the Masters in 2011, run down only by a barnstorming finish by Charles Schwartzel. Two years later, he finished 3rd behind Scott, and there have been two other top tens, including when 8th last year.
Day began this year with a runner-up finish at the American Express tournament, and while his follow-up form has been somewhat mixed, he did finish 6th in Houston at his last start to suggest he is not far from where he needs to be in order to produce another top ten.
“Yeah, game was solid,” said Day after finishing a practice round with Min Woo Lee. “Just had a nice practice round with Min Woo and Johnny Keefer out this morning on the back side. I’ve been here since last Friday. I got in last Friday, walked around Saturday and Sunday, both back and front, just trying to get used to some of the old feelings that you get around here.
Just positional-wise, where you need to hit it off certain tee locations and obviously into the greens, as well, just trying to make sure the short game is nice and sharp and getting used to the speeds of the greens.
Day was also asked his thoughts on the Tiger Woods situation and endeared himself to those present with his whole-hearted support for the three-time champion at Augusta.
“I think the biggest thing is just to make sure that the friendship is still there. People out here do support him and want him to kind of get through this.
“It is tough. I’ve never dealt with an addiction before, other than golf. I’m pretty addicted to that. But it must be tough to be isolated the way he is normally. He stays at home pretty much most of the time, doesn’t really get out too much just because of how popular he is as a person, and then when you’re at home, it’s just difficult. Sometimes you don’t have people around, loving people around enough to be able to steer you in the direction that you need to.
“Like I said before, he’s human, and we all make mistakes. That’s just part of learning and getting better, and I’m hoping that he gets the help that he needs and that he comes out stronger and better on the other side because, like golf misses him. We miss him here this week.
“It’s always better when he’s playing golf tournaments because we love having him around, so it’s a little bit sad to not have him here this week.”
Adam Scott practising this week – image Augusta National
Adam Scott’s missed cut last year was just the third in 24 starts at Augusta National, and while there have not been a lot of top tens, his historic win in 2013 highlights his comfort zone with the layout and the special memories the event brings.
Scott has played some very nice golf in 2026, not missing a cut and finishing 4th at Riviera. I can see him finishing inside the top 20, but not sure about his chances of contending.
Cam Smith – with caddie Sam Pinfold this week – image Augusta National
Cam Smith arrives at Augusta with a very good record in the event before heading to the LIV Golf League in 2022. He has played solidly, although unspectacularly, in 2026 in LIV events, which are always hard to line up against PGA Tour events, but his record at Augusta National is quite outstanding.
Smith has five top tens in nine starts, including when runner-up behind Dustin Johnson in 2020 and 3rd behind Scheffler in 2022, so his liking for the layout where his short game skills have proven so valuable is clear.
“I think the course is in great shape, and it’s already pretty firm,” said Smith. “It seems like the grass is really full. It’s always in good condition here, but it seems like there’s just a little bit more grass. It’s a little bit fuller, and there’s no rain in the forecast. They can really do whatever they want, I feel like. It will be firm and fast, I would assume.”
When asked as to how his experience here would be used this week, Smith added, “I think just be smart, and then you’ve obviously got to play good golf. I think it’s a place where if you’re playing really good, you can be super aggressive. If you’re not playing so good, you have to play really smart and kind of get to the positions where you can get it up-and-down. It’s the same for everyone, though. Everyone has got to do the same thing.
Ryan Fox – in practice on Tuesday – image Augusta National
Ryan Fox was running into some very nice form, making every cut in 2026 and finishing a very tidy 7th at the Genesis event before being struck down with kidney stones during the week of the Players Championship.
Fox returned from hospital to miss the cut at the Houston Open two weeks ago, so his preparedness for an event of this nature is a bit hard to judge right now.
“It’s close,” said Fox, referring to his form. “I wanted to come back and play Houston. The body wasn’t probably in great shape, but I didn’t want four weeks off before this week, so I have been working really hard to find it again. “I hope I can come out on Thursday and get the competitive juices flowing again, along with the excitement of playing the Masters. I feel like I am a couple of good shots away from playing well in a tournament.”
Despite his medical issues, Fox feels he and his game are in good shape, and with two Masters tournaments behind him, he is keen to take advantage of what he has learned on a golf course that requires familiarity to succeed.
Tee Times
One horse race becomes anything but as Masters Sunday looms
Rory McIlroy expresses frustration behind the 12th green – image The Masters Tournament
Augusta National has today proved once again that there is no such thing as a safe lead on a golf course where there is such a fine line between pleasure and pain.
Beginning the day six shots ahead of the field and in a seemingly unassailable position, Rory McIlroy’s lead was cut to just two after the opening hole following his own bogey and the three consecutive birdies to start for American Patrick Reed.
After driving the par 4 3rd hole McIlory appeared to settle the nerves and extended his lead to three but as he headed to the 10th tee, after completing the opening nine holes, his lead was just one over Cam Young. He would move three ahead however when he birdied the 10th and Young, playing several groups ahead bogeted the 15th but things would take a dramatic turn when McIlory found the water at the 11th and took double bogey anwas then long with his tee shot at the 12th and dropped another shot.
At that point, Young, who had birdied the 16th from 20 feet, moved one ahead and when McIlory struggled to make par at the 13th, Young appeared as if he might hold a 54 hole lead. McIlroy then birdied the 14th from 15 deet and the 15th after finding the green with a superb 7 iron appraoch and he was ahead again before he agin found the trees form the tee at the 17th and took bogey.
A par at the last completed a round of 73 for McIlroy and he and Young, the current Players Champion, were tied in the lead at 11 under, one clear of Sam Burns.
Another shot back at 9 under is Shane Lowry, whose round of 68 included a hole in one at the 6th to go with other such performances at the 16th on this same course in 2016, the 7th at Pebble Beach and the 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
McIlroy appeared shaken early in his round but despite a rather ordinary display of driving he managed to keep himself very much in contention to defend his title but he knows things need to improve tomorrow.
“Yeah, didn’t quite have it today. Yeah, even just starting at the first hole with that soft bogey, even though I hit a pretty good drive. Yeah, I mean, the course was obviously gettable. There was a lot of good scores out there, and obviously the quality of the chasing pack is obvious. There was a lot of guys that shot good scores.
“You know, there’s a lot of guys in with a chance tomorrow. I’m still tied for the best score going into tomorrow, so I can’t forget that, but I do know I’m going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win.
“This golf course has a way of, you know, when you’re not quite feeling it, you struggle. You have to dig deep, and I felt like I did that on the front nine and made a lot of good par saves.
“Missed a couple of chances on eight and nine; then I thought I turned the round around with the birdie on ten. Then I felt like I hit a pretty good second shot on 11. It just drifted on the wind a little bit and went in the water. Those two holes weren’t great.
“But again, I felt like I bounced back pretty well with the birdies on 14 and 15. It would have been nice to play those last few holes and not make that bogey on 17, but you know, I still have a great chance. I’m in the final group.
“I just need to go to the range and try to figure it out a little bit.”
Jason Day – in action today – image The Masters Tournament
Jason Day got within two of the lead at one stage and when the dust had settled on day three he finds himself just thre from the lead and very much a factor heading into tomorrow’s final round.
An opening hole bogey gave little evidence of what was to come for the Australian as he birdied the 2nd, 8th, 13th, 14th, and 15th and even though he hit a poor tee shot into the bunker at the 16th he is very much within striking distance of a second Green Jacket for Australia.
“Obviously he had it going early,” said Day. “And the odd thing when you get off to a bad — a pretty average start, I bogeyed the first hole with a three-putt, but you’re just trying to steady the ship and just be patient. You know that opportunities will come.
“Statistically I average around four to five birdies a round, so I just knew they were going to come. I just didn’t know when they were going to come.
“It was nice to be able to have the chances from 12 to 15; hit a lot of good quality shots going into the greens. I also hit a lot of good drives to give myself the opportunities up near the greens on the par-5s.
“Yeah, tomorrow is the last day obviously. “You just got to try and get yourself the opportunity on the back side if you can get somewhere close to the lead on the back side, anything can happen. The goal is to try and cut into the lead tomorrow through nine, and if I can do that, great. Then get myself somewhere near the lead on the back side and try and give myself opportunities.
“I feel like the guys that are leading right now have all the pressure. I’m just kind of — I’m the chaser. Usually the chasers don’t really have a lot of the pressure. Guys at the top of the leaderboard always are trying to defend the lead, whereas I’m pushing forward trying to cut into the lead.
“I feel good about my game. I feel very happy with where things are. I’m looking forward to the challenge at least. If I can get myself around the lead on the back side, I’ll be very pleased.”
14 players are within six shots of the lead, and if round three is anything to go by, then all will feel they still have a chance of contending late on Sunday.
Leaderboard
McIlroy takes control at Augusta National
Rory McIlroy recording his 9th birdie of the day at the last – image Masters Tournament
Rory McIlroy might have established a likely winning break on the field after today’s second round of the 2026 Masters, but there remains a lot of interest in who might at least throw some sort of challenge to him over the final 36 holes and bid for a place amongst the leading placegetters.
McIlroy’s powerful finish on day two, which saw six birdies in his last seven holes, leaves him a massive six shots clear of the joint second-placed golfers, Brad Burns and Patrick Reed, and seven ahead of the 4th placed Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood.
Just when it appeared that McIlroy might give the rest of the field some chance by driving it into the trees at the 17th, he hit a low running second right of the green and holed it from 40 metres for birdie and, for good measure, hit his approach to seven feet at the last to record his 9th birdie of the day and a round of 65.
“Look, I’ve always felt like this golf course can let you get on runs if you allow it,” said McIlroy. “I talked last year about how I really won the tournament in a 14-hole stretch, the second nine on Friday and the first five holes on Saturday.
“I knew I had some chances coming in when I was standing on the 12th tee, but I didn’t think I’d birdie 6 of the last 7. It just shows what you can do around here. Even if you might hit it in the trees on 13, on 15, and on 17 — 17 was obviously a bonus with the chip-in. But my wedge play today was really good. My short game the first two days has been amazing.
“I’ve spent a lot of time up here over the past three weeks. Even though I haven’t played tournament golf, I feel like being up here a lot and playing, I’ve prepared as well for this Masters as any other that I’ve played.
“I think all that work around the greens over the last three weeks has certainly paid off over the last two days.”
When asked what the Rory McIlroy who won the 2011 US Open by eight shots would tell this one, he responded, “Don’t protect it. Go out and play freely, keep swinging. That was a big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters (where he lost a big lead) to the 2011 U.S. Open was don’t get protective. Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible.”
Outside of those inside the top six players, there is another shot back to a further six golfers, eight shots from McIlroy, so there is plenty of interest to see just how the many chasers might progress or otherwise as the tournament heads into the pointy end.
Jason Day – saves par from the bunker at the 16th today – image Masters Tournament
Amongst those at 4 under and eight from the lead is Australasia’s best this week, Jason Day, who, after getting within two of the lead through nine holes, bogeyed the 11th after indecision with a shot from just off the green and then was unable to capitalise on the two par fives on the way home.
He found the trees at the last and missed a six-footer down the hill for par despite hitting what appeared to be the perfect putt, but he has a chance with a good round on Saturday to put himself in a position to challenge on Sunday for a ‘podium’ finish.
“Yeah, I think if I can just keep myself within arm’s length of the lead, just never know what happens out here at Augusta, especially on the weekend,” said Day. “But more so on Sunday. Things can happen and turn pretty quick on a dime, just with how scorable some of the holes can be, and, obviously, with the dramatic finish we have here typically.
“I’m close to the lead, but not many people are obviously talking about me, which is good. I’m just going to go under the radar and do my thing. I felt like it’s been a pretty good formula so far over the last few days, what I’ve done.
“I feel confident in my ability to be able to shoot a good score. I’ve been driving it nice. Been putting myself in the correct positions when I do miss it. So, like the experience of being here for the last 15 years is definitely helpful.
“The weekend at Augusta is a different beast, obviously. Getting through the cut line and playing good is one thing. Then, once you get to the weekend, things open up and scoring gets really tight. Unless someone runs away with it, typically, scoring gets tight.
Adam Scott is the next best of the Australasians after a round of 74 left him at 2 over par and tied for 39th.
Ryan Fox staged a strong comeback to miss the cut by one, Cam Smith by three and Min Woo Lee by seven.
Leaderboard
Jason Day starts well at Augusta National
Jason Day in action during round one – image Augusta National
Jason Day has finished the opening day of the 2026 Masters as the leading Australasian and just two shots off the lead of Rory McIlroy and Brad Burns after his round of 69, and is shaping as a potential contender as the week progresses.
Perhaps surprisingly, Day was quoted by many betting agencies early in the week at odds of 80 to 1, and while it is early days yet, his record at Augusta National and his early-season form in 2026, suggested those were very generous odds.
After a slow start to the round when he bogeyed the 3rd, Day two putted from long range at the par 5 8th and was back to even par when he made the turn.
He then holed a 20-footer for birdie at the dangerous 12th, hit it to 3 feet after laying up at the par 5 13th for another birdie, saved a fine par at the 14th, and then, to top things off, he hit his tee shot at the 16th to 3 feet and converted to move to 3 under, where he stayed.
Generally, Day has a good record at Augusta National, having gone so close to winning on debut in 2011 and finishing 3rd a year later.
“I got off to a bit of a shaky start today,” said the 38-year-old. “I mean, had a nice up and down on one and then hooked my ball, tee ball on two. You know, then obviously made bogey on 3.
“So I was just trying to steady the ship, knowing that there is just — with the pin locations we had today, there are certain locations on the green where you just have to hit them. Even if you leave yourself 60 feet, that’s fine. Just get in there, make your par, move on.
Day was reminded of his good performances over the years at the Masters and responded, “Yeah, definitely. I mean, obviously, McIlroy has got off to a great start. What did he do? Birdied 14 and 15. Burnsy is playing great. When I see 5-under leading, and with what weather we got coming up, I’ve just got to be very patient.
“Obviously, I’m looking at him (McIlroy) right now because the leaderboard is staring me right in the face. Obviously, he’s off to a great start defending the championship, the Masters.
“So, yeah, there are plenty of great golfers out there that you have to worry about as well. Not just him. And first and foremost, you’ve got to worry about yourself. Just make sure you’re doing the right things.
“If you can do that and execute the shots that you need to, then hopefully things should take care of themselves.”
Adam Scott did next best of the Australasians, but at one stage through the middle of his round, he appeared to be playing himself out of the tournament.
Scott made the turn in 2 over 38, but then came a birdie from behind the green at the 12th and a brilliantly executed second from a hanging, downhill lie at the par 5 13th to six feet, which he converted for an eagle to move under par.
His second shot to the par 5 15th, found the green but then fed back into the water, and bogey was the result, but he responded with a birdie at the 16th after a stunning tee shot to 5 feet before finding the fairway and greenside bunker at the last to finish with a bogey and a round of 72.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s not easy out there,” said Scott. “Though the wind is not blowing hard, it was moving around. I felt like on several shots today, every time I was committing to a shot, the wind felt like it moved around, so it made it very hard to start again and recommit.
“It’s tricky because on some of the shots it’s like if you make the wrong choice it starts — you’re figuring out how to not have a disaster happen. That’s how this course is.
“It’s not right on the edge, but it’s playing nice and firm, where you can get yourself in a lot of trouble if you lose control somewhere.
“So, I feel all right with today, if it was my off round. I would like to get a bit better rhythm going out on the golf course and in my swing for the next couple of days, and I’ll be right there.
“I wish I had finished under par today. I don’t know why that one shot better feels like such a better accomplishment than even, but it does, the red number.
“But I’m right there. I didn’t shoot myself out of it. That’s what majors are kind of all about sometimes. Then you look to take advantage of your good stuff the next few days.”
Of the other Australasians, Cam Smith finished with a round of 74, Ryan Fox 77, and, perhaps surprisingly, Min Woo Lee 78.
The cut tomorrow appears as if it will fall around 5 or 6 over.
Leaderboard
Can Adam Scott take advantage of his great Augusta National experience
Adam Scott during Wednesday’s par 3 contest – image Augusta National.
Adam Scott will play in his 25th Masters Tournament tonight, but with just five top tens in all of those starts, it is perhaps a little much to expect the now 45-year-old to reproduce some of his great performances at Augusta National, including his historic victory in 2013.
It has now been nine years since his last top ten in 2017, but the manner in which he continues to play so well into his forties suggests that a good, solid week is not beyond him. What a solid week for Scott would be is hard to determine, but no one would begrudge one of the game’s finest statesmen a finish to better the eight starts since his last top ten.
Scott’s purple patch at the Masters included his win in 2013, having finished runner-up to Charl Schwartzel in 2011, 8th in 2012, before that playoff victory over Angel Cabrera.
Scott has played solidly for most of the 2o26 season, and while he has been unable to contend at the pointy end of events, there have been some encouraging finishes, including a 4th placing at one of his favourite venues at the Riviera Country Club.
There are few in this field with his level of experience at Augusta National and in the sort of form he has been in his seven starts this season, and during his appearance with family in the Par 3 contest on Wednesday, he was asked his thoughts on the course and how he feels about the course and how its current conditions might suit his chances of a good week.
“Yeah, it’s just looking so good. It’s the way I like to see it. It’s getting firmer and likely getting faster as well. And the weather looks perfect. So it’s going to be play well and have a good score kind of stuff this week, and I think there’s going to be a lot of excitement.
“It’s good for me. I like fast greens. And I think at this point or stage in my career, some varying conditions on the ground is good for me as well, on the experience of playing here and having seen a few things. And certainly, I think growing up in Australia, we’re used to hard, fast golf courses.
“It’s a great opportunity for me. I’ve been playing well. I do feel comfortable out there. Really, if I pinpoint one thing over the season so far, I just haven’t put four great days together on the greens. So this will be a great time to do it.”
Five Australasians tackle golf’s favourite event
Min Woo Lee – leading Australasian-ranked player in the field – image Augusta National
There is always plenty of commentary as to which of golf’s four majors is the most popular amongst the golfing world, but in any sort of poll to determine such, The Masters would always rate near the top, if not on top.
That it is the only major played at the same venue each year has allowed us to gain an intimate knowledge of the dangers lurking in the heat of a Sunday battle, holes like 11,12, 13, 15 and 16 highlighting that a lead is never safe and, as viewers, we can sit and watch the drama unfold.
The familiarity of a layout in which there is such a fine line between pleasure and pain captures the imagination of all, and while in more recent times all 18 holes are now part of the coverage, the closing nine holes on Sunday are those closest to us and must surely be the most anticipated and watched in televised golf.
There are numerous opportunities to make up a deficit in the latter stages of the event, but there is also danger at nearly every corner, and perhaps the unpredictability is what makes it so appealing.
In 2026, there are two favourites on paper at least, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the winners of three of the last four Masters titles, but with the likes of Jon Rahm, Bryson De Chambeau, Xander Schauffle and Ludvig Aberg, amongst others, likely to stake their claim, then the winner may be obvious to many but still very uncertain.
The Masters is a bit like the Melbourne Cup in that for one week of the year, many non-golfers become experts in predicting a potential winner, further highlighting the appeal the 90th staging of the event holds.
Four Australians and one New Zealander get their chance to add a second title to come to this part of the world, Adam Scott’s win in 2013 completing Australian success in all four major championships.
This year, Min Woo Lee, Jason Day, Adam Scott, and Cam Smith will be joined by New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, all five having now played the Masters on several occasions.
Min Woo Lee gets the honour of being Australia’s leading-ranked player in the event as he competes for the fifth occasion, his best finish coming on debut when 14th in 2022. He has made two of the other three cuts and arrives in good form with a 3rd place finish two weeks ago in Houston, when defending his title, and a 6th place finish two starts earlier at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
At number 25 in the world ranking, Lee appears to have the current form and Augusta National experience necessary to make his presence felt this week.
“My game is looking really good,” said Lee on Tuesday. “Feeling good. The ball was going where I wanted it to, which is great. And, yeah, I mean, the mini driver is probably going to be a big factor this week. Just hitting draws off the tee.
“And it’s a little different wind than we usually play, what I played in the last few years. So really like this wind.
Jason Day – on the range this week – image Augusta National
Jason Day finished runner-up on debut at the Masters in 2011, run down only by a barnstorming finish by Charles Schwartzel. Two years later, he finished 3rd behind Scott, and there have been two other top tens, including when 8th last year.
Day began this year with a runner-up finish at the American Express tournament, and while his follow-up form has been somewhat mixed, he did finish 6th in Houston at his last start to suggest he is not far from where he needs to be in order to produce another top ten.
“Yeah, game was solid,” said Day after finishing a practice round with Min Woo Lee. “Just had a nice practice round with Min Woo and Johnny Keefer out this morning on the back side. I’ve been here since last Friday. I got in last Friday, walked around Saturday and Sunday, both back and front, just trying to get used to some of the old feelings that you get around here.
Just positional-wise, where you need to hit it off certain tee locations and obviously into the greens, as well, just trying to make sure the short game is nice and sharp and getting used to the speeds of the greens.
Day was also asked his thoughts on the Tiger Woods situation and endeared himself to those present with his whole-hearted support for the three-time champion at Augusta.
“I think the biggest thing is just to make sure that the friendship is still there. People out here do support him and want him to kind of get through this.
“It is tough. I’ve never dealt with an addiction before, other than golf. I’m pretty addicted to that. But it must be tough to be isolated the way he is normally. He stays at home pretty much most of the time, doesn’t really get out too much just because of how popular he is as a person, and then when you’re at home, it’s just difficult. Sometimes you don’t have people around, loving people around enough to be able to steer you in the direction that you need to.
“Like I said before, he’s human, and we all make mistakes. That’s just part of learning and getting better, and I’m hoping that he gets the help that he needs and that he comes out stronger and better on the other side because, like golf misses him. We miss him here this week.
“It’s always better when he’s playing golf tournaments because we love having him around, so it’s a little bit sad to not have him here this week.”
Adam Scott practising this week – image Augusta National
Adam Scott’s missed cut last year was just the third in 24 starts at Augusta National, and while there have not been a lot of top tens, his historic win in 2013 highlights his comfort zone with the layout and the special memories the event brings.
Scott has played some very nice golf in 2026, not missing a cut and finishing 4th at Riviera. I can see him finishing inside the top 20, but not sure about his chances of contending.
Cam Smith – with caddie Sam Pinfold this week – image Augusta National
Cam Smith arrives at Augusta with a very good record in the event before heading to the LIV Golf League in 2022. He has played solidly, although unspectacularly, in 2026 in LIV events, which are always hard to line up against PGA Tour events, but his record at Augusta National is quite outstanding.
Smith has five top tens in nine starts, including when runner-up behind Dustin Johnson in 2020 and 3rd behind Scheffler in 2022, so his liking for the layout where his short game skills have proven so valuable is clear.
“I think the course is in great shape, and it’s already pretty firm,” said Smith. “It seems like the grass is really full. It’s always in good condition here, but it seems like there’s just a little bit more grass. It’s a little bit fuller, and there’s no rain in the forecast. They can really do whatever they want, I feel like. It will be firm and fast, I would assume.”
When asked as to how his experience here would be used this week, Smith added, “I think just be smart, and then you’ve obviously got to play good golf. I think it’s a place where if you’re playing really good, you can be super aggressive. If you’re not playing so good, you have to play really smart and kind of get to the positions where you can get it up-and-down. It’s the same for everyone, though. Everyone has got to do the same thing.
Ryan Fox – in practice on Tuesday – image Augusta National
Ryan Fox was running into some very nice form, making every cut in 2026 and finishing a very tidy 7th at the Genesis event before being struck down with kidney stones during the week of the Players Championship.
Fox returned from hospital to miss the cut at the Houston Open two weeks ago, so his preparedness for an event of this nature is a bit hard to judge right now.
“It’s close,” said Fox, referring to his form. “I wanted to come back and play Houston. The body wasn’t probably in great shape, but I didn’t want four weeks off before this week, so I have been working really hard to find it again. “I hope I can come out on Thursday and get the competitive juices flowing again, along with the excitement of playing the Masters. I feel like I am a couple of good shots away from playing well in a tournament.”
Despite his medical issues, Fox feels he and his game are in good shape, and with two Masters tournaments behind him, he is keen to take advantage of what he has learned on a golf course that requires familiarity to succeed.
Tee Times
Karis Davidson records best LPGA Tour finish
Karis Davidson – image Golf Australia
Scottish-born but now Gold Coast citizen, Karis Davidson, has today produced her best finish on the LPGA Tour with a share of 5th place at the Aramco at the stunning Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas.
Davidson, whose previous best since joining the LPGA Tour in 2022 was when 7th at the 2025 Meijer Classic, produced an outstanding day on the greens today with just 11 one-putt greens and a total of 26 putts for her final round of 71 on the very demanding layout.
Davidson appears to have found something with her game of late, having finished 4th at the recent Women’s Australian Open, and although she finished seven shots from the winner, Lauren Coughlin, this week, she was just two shots from the second-place, Nelly Korda and Leona Maguire.
Her cheque for close to US$200,000 for her share of 5th place this week is the biggest of her career.
27-year-old Davidson moved from Scotland to Australia at the age of 9, and after an amateur career which included runner-up finishes at the Australian Girls and Australian Women’s Amateur Championships, she turned professional in 2017 and became one of the few Australians to play the Japan Ladies Tour.
Davidson made her way to the LPGA Tour in 2022 via Q School in 2021 and has continued to build platforms in her game ever since, although during a tough year in 2024, she was considering other career options.
Back on the LPGA Tour in 2025, she comfortably retained her playing privileges and the confidence she has gained in recent months should see her contending on a more regular basis in 2026.
The LPGA Tour now has a break of one week before the LA Championship followed a week later by its first major of the year, the Chevron Championship.
Today’s results
Travis Smyth’s year just keeps getting better
Travis Smyth – image Asian Tour
The last six weeks in the career of NSW golfer, Travis Smyth, has left the 31 year old with an embarrassment of riches in terms of playing options and this weekend he added to that elevation in his career with a win in the International Series Japan event and, with it, the biggest cheque of his career.
Smyth charged home over the final round of the event held at the Caledonian Club in Chiba near Tokyo to win the US$360,000 cheque – by some margin the biggest of his career, and take the lead on the Asian and Japan Tour’s Order of Merits to go with his success in leading the recently completed PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
Smyth began the year with a 3rd place finish at the opening event of the Asian Tour in the Philippines, then followed up with a great run in New Zealand where he finished 5th at both the NZ PGA and NZ Open Championships before winning in Auckland.
The Australasian Tour Order of Merit victory earned him a DP World Tour card for 2027 and a start at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July, the win in Auckland now has him with full Japan Tour status for 2026 given its joint sanctioning with the Japan Tour and of course he has status on both the Asian and Australasian Tours.
Smyth’s powerful finish, which saw him play the final six holes in 4 under, included a putt for eagle from 20 feet at the last to snatch victory over Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita, both of whom had finished at least an hour earlier.
Smyth’s nearest rival in the race for PGA Tour of Australasia honours, Cameron John, was the next best of the Australians when he finished in a share of 7th and earned a cheque for US$44,000, like Smyth securing his biggest career cheque to date.
Results
Raegan Denton impresses with 4th place Augusta National finish
Raegan Denton hits her tee shot at the 12th today – image Augusta National
18 year old South Australian Raegan Denton has finished in a share of 4th at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, her final round of 3 under 69 leaving her six shots from the runaway winner, Maria Jose Marin of Colombia, but just two shots out of second place.
Today’s final round was played over the famed Augusta National layout after the opening two rounds of the increasingly prestigious event were played at the nearby Champions Retreat, those making the 36-hole cut switching to Augusta National.
Denton, who earlier this year won the Women’s Australian Masters of the Amateurs, opened the proceedings on Wednesday with a round of 67, but after a second round of 72, she had slipped to a share of 6th.
Today, however, in what must have been a surreal experience on a layout to be used in just a few days for the first major of the year, Denton birdied five holes on her way to the turn and although bogeying the 10th and 11th, she steadied the ship for an impressive final round.
“I think there’s so many different emotions,” said Denton. “Just excitement, happiness just to be here, for one. Definitely some nerves for sure playing here today, and just overall really proud of myself. Today I could have definitely gone lower, but still, to shoot 3-under at Augusta, not a lot of people can say that, so I’m just really proud of that.
“It’s just so surreal. Even though I was told how big the crowds were, I don’t think I quite was able to picture it or expect it. I’ve played in a couple pro tournaments at home and the crowd didn’t even get close to this, so I was just shaking so much. But I was just so honoured to be able to get to have the experience.”
Denton will join the golf team at Louisiana State University later this year but she has already displayed the sort of game and competitive capabilities to make a career in golf a success.
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South Australian Raegan Denton makes cut at Augusta National Women’s Am
Raegan Denton – file image USGA
Australian Raegan Denton might not win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, being played this week in Augusta, Georgia. Still, she has ticked one of the boxes she had in mind for the week when she qualified to play the final round of the event at Augusta National on Saturday.
18-year-old Denton finished the opening 36 holes with a second round of 72 following her opening 67 to have her at 5 under and in a share of 6th place in the 54-hole event, six shots from the lead of American, Asterisk Talley.
The opening 36 holes were played at the Champions Retreat layout in Evans, Georgia, and she now gets to play Augusta National in a practice round on Friday and in the final round of the championship proper on Saturday, providing the chance to play one of the game’s most revered courses on two occasions.
Denton, who earlier this year won the Master of the Amateurs event at the Southern Golf Club in Melbourne, plays her golf at Royal Adelaide when at home, but is about to join the golf team at Louisiana State University.
A total of 32 golfers made the top 30 and ties cut, and for the second straight year, the number was under par at 1-under 143 over the par 72, 6,450-yard Champion’s Retreat venue.
Denton was the only Australian in the field, although New Zealand’s Eunseo Choi also received an invite but missed making it to the final round. She will, however, get to play Friday’s practice round at Augusta National.
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Lee and Day in impressive Masters warm ups
Min Woo Lee – shared 3rd place this week – image PGA of Australia
Min Woo Lee and Jason Day have completed their final competitive preparations for this year’s Masters with top ten finishes at the Texas Children’s Houston Open this morning.
Lee, who was defending the title he won 12 months ago, finished tied for 3rd place, six shots behind the winner, Gary Woodland, while Day finished another two shots back in a share of 6th place.
Neither player has entered this coming week’s Valero Texas Open and so they will head to Augusta National with their respective games in good shape for the opening major of the year.
Lee began today’s final round six shots behind the 54-hole leader, Woodland, but was unable to make any progress on the leader at least, Woodland eventually winning by five over Nicolai Hojgaard.
Day recorded a final round of 68 to finish eight shots from Woodland and recorded his second-best finish in six starts this season, his best coming when runner-up at the American Express event.
Both Lee and Day have done well in appearances at the Masters, Day with five top tens, including a runner-up finish on debut in 2011 and a 3rd placing two years later.
Lee finished an impressive 14th on debut in 2022 and has made two further cuts in a total of four starts.
Other Australians Karl Vilips and Adam Scott finished 19th and 21st respectively this week, Scott holing in one during his final round of 71.
Scott is, of course, in the Masters field, although Vilips, despite winning on the PGA Tour in 2025, has not yet qualified and has only this week’s Valero Texas Open to force his way into the field.
The winner this week was truly a fairytale, Woodland a former US Open Champion, having returned to tournament golf following brain surgery to remove a tumour in 2023. He eventually returned to the tour and was just recently involved in a very emotional and candid interview regarding the impact the treatment had on him, including massive anxiety attacks.
Woodland, who shared second place in this event last year, held on throughout the final round to win by five in what was one of the more emotional victories on the PGA Tour.
“I’ll tell you what, we play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today,” said the winner. “I got a lot of people behind me, my team, my family and this golf world.
“Anybody that’s struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up, just keep fighting.
“Today was a good day. But I’m going to keep fighting. I’ve got a big fight ahead of me, and I’m going to keep going, but I’m proud of myself right now.”
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