The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, with seven rounds and 257 picks officially complete, and we a...

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Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft: The race for Arch Manning

Shedeur Sanders' slide out of the first round of the NFL draft was one of the major stories from ...

Shedeur Sanders' slide out of the first round of the NFL draft was one of the major stories from Thursday night. The Tennessee Titans had barely even announced Cam Ward as the first pick before a feverish Mel Kiper launched into an impassioned defense of the Colorado passer.But it soon became clear the league doesn't feel the same way Kiper does about Sanders, as 32 names came and went without the 23-year-old hearing his.Things got even worse for Sanders on Friday, when the one-time favorite for the No. 1 pick found himself still sitting undrafted through three rounds and over 100 selections.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I talked to about half a dozen teams today. ... They just thought that he wasn't a first-round talent and a first-round player," <a href="https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/1915886408205558073">Pete Thamel of ESPN</a> said Friday morning."Strictly relating to the draft, the league simply didn’t view Sanders as an elite prospect - and hasn't for a while," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6307646/2025/04/25/nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders-fall-not-surprise/">Jeff Howe of The Athletic</a> added in his opening-round wrap.Remember that this is the same league that thought Kenny Pickett was worthy of a first-round pick in 2022.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782341/cropped_GettyImages-2211427545.jpg?ts=1745590025" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782341/w220xh124_GettyImages-2211427545.jpg?ts=1745590025 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782341/w320xh180_GettyImages-2211427545.jpg?ts=1745590025 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782341/w640xh360_GettyImages-2211427545.jpg?ts=1745590025 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782341/w768xh432_GettyImages-2211427545.jpg?ts=1745590025 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782341/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2211427545.jpg?ts=1745590025 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Sanders apparently didn't meet the same criteria that Zach Wilson and Trey Lance did in 2021. It's fair to question what the league was thinking during the second day of the draft, because Sanders' tape doesn't just say he should have gone in the top three rounds; it suggests he should have found his team Thursday.His 37 touchdowns in his senior campaign trailed only Cam Ward at the FBS level. He completed 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards for the nation's 23rd-ranked offense. His eye-popping numbers came despite a running game that ranked second last in the country and an offensive line that accepted pass-rushers at the same rate the University of Phoenix takes in students. Just ask Coach Prime if you think that's overly harsh.The main on-field criticism lobbed at Sanders ranges from a lack of athleticism to average arm strength and questionable pocket presence. We probably wouldn't be judging his athleticism so harshly if his father didn't happen to be one of the best athletes we've ever seen. He may not run away from people like Lamar Jackson, but Sanders has shown enough elusiveness to extend plays and avoid defenders.Meanwhile, the ball speed from Sanders might not be elite, but we shouldn't lean heavily on one specific stat. Just look at the Indianapolis Colts and what Anthony Richardson's elite arm has produced in the NFL. Sanders proved to be solid throughout his collegiate career at throwing with anticipation and going through his progressions. The arm strength won't set records, but he's shown the ability to deliver on a deep ball when absolutely necessary.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! COLORADO WITH A TOUCHDOWN IN THE FINAL SECONDS 🤯😱<a href="https://twitter.com/CUBuffsFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CUBuffsFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/8niJ6NPK8t">pic.twitter.com/8niJ6NPK8t</a>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1837696645762302443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>It's no secret Sanders' stats were padded heavily by a reliance on screen passes, with a whopping 28% of his completions coming on those plays. But you know who else benefits from a steady diet of screens? Patrick Mahomes. We aren't comparing Shedeur to Mahomes, but there's a reason highly respected offensive teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers annually rank among the top screen-throwers in the NFL.So that brings us to pocket presence - perhaps the main area of concern for Sanders. He averaged 2.9 seconds per dropback before passing last season and spent way too much time dancing around in the face of pressure. However, with no running game and a massively overmatched offensive line, teams were simply teeing off on Sanders every play. One would think that the opportunity to have competent protection should speed Sanders up and get the most out of his accuracy.Sanders' fall suggests there's something more than just his on-field evaluation at play. Maybe it's a poor interview cycle. Maybe it's the league's hesitation to draft Deion Sanders' son and attract weekly eyes from the all-time great.Whatever the reason, the Cleveland Browns decided Sanders was worth selecting and grabbed him with the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3257544" href="https://thescore.com/news/3257544">144th overall pick</a> in the fifth round. Sanders joins a crowded quarterback room that includes the injured Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel - a fellow rookie <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3257580" href="https://thescore.com/news/3257580">drafted</a> 50 slots earlier than Sanders.Did Sanders deserve the amount of attention he was given Thursday and Friday for dropping like a stone? No, probably not. His fall hijacked the draft coverage and took most of the attention away from what was actually happening.However, the fact it was covered so exhaustively serves as a reminder that there's no reason Sanders deserved to fall beyond the first round in this class. Teams throughout the NFL have shown they're willing to take chances on players with significantly less production.

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Forget the fall: Shedeur can thrive in the NFL

When Wyndham Clark emerged on the final day of the 2023 U.S. Open Championship to beat Rory McIlr...

When Wyndham Clark emerged on the final day of the 2023 U.S. Open Championship to beat Rory McIlroy by one stroke, the runner-up put the difficult day into perspective."I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another major championship," McIlroy said.For a large portion of Sunday's final round at the Masters, it looked as though he was going through yet another of those collapses. However, it turns out his major wins are simply destined to finish in the same style as his close losses - never easy, never boring.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>If there's one thing we've learned through the last decade of the 35-year-old's career, it's that the drama will be heavy when he's attempting to close out a tournament.Perhaps that's what makes him one of the most popular players in the game. He can do superhuman things that normal people can only dream of and then make a mistake you'd see at your local municipal course just seconds later.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780484/cropped_GettyImages-2210125232.jpg?ts=1744591369" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780484/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210125232.jpg?ts=1744591369 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780484/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210125232.jpg?ts=1744591369 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780484/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210125232.jpg?ts=1744591369 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780484/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210125232.jpg?ts=1744591369 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780484/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210125232.jpg?ts=1744591369 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>In what was one of the wildest days in the history of the Masters, McIlroy somehow spent the entire round going back and forth between agony and ecstasy. It's tough to put into words the outrageous swings we witnessed throughout the day, but here's a list of the various scenarios in which he found himself:<ul>
<li>Led by two entering the day</li>
<li>Trailed by one after two holes</li>
<li>Led by three after four holes</li>
<li>Led by four after the first nine</li>
<li>Trailed by one after the 14th</li>
<li>Led by one after the 17th</li>
<li>Bogeyed 18 to fall into a playoff</li>
<li>Won the playoff on first hole</li>
</ul>Never easy, never boring.The major heartbreaks that McIlroy experienced in recent years felt very fresh as he teed off Sunday at Augusta National. The quest for a career grand slam and an 11-year major drought are a heavy burden to carry, especially with the demons of 14 years ago at the same venue still burning bright.For those needing a refresher, McIlroy took a four-shot lead into Sunday at the Masters as a 21-year-old. But what was supposed to be the coronation of the greatest talent since Tiger Woods ended as a horror show, as a final-round 80 sent him crashing to 15th place. It's a result he's had to answer for seemingly every time he's come to Augusta.With a double-bogey on the opening hole Sunday, it appeared he was once again heading down the same road.However, McIlroy is nowhere near the same person or player he was in 2011. His mental game has grown exponentially, and the current version of McIlroy has the mental fortitude to match his immense physical gifts and forget the most humbling of experiences in a heartbeat.How else do you explain the birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 that turned a one-stroke deficit into an immediate three-shot lead? After another birdie at No. 9, he held a four-shot lead heading to the second nine. While many would feel fairly comfortable with that spread, this is McIlroy at a major, and with DeChambeau lurking, the memory of last year's U.S. Open was all too prevalent.The first sign this might not be a two-hour celebration of McIlroy came at the 13th, where he produced one of the most mind-blowing wedge shots ever seen. Even in the cauldron of major championship golf, a top-level professional can hit 100 wedge shots from 86 yards and not lose one 15 yards to the right of his target. But McIlroy somehow hit his approach into Rae's Creek and walked away with his fourth double-bogey of the week.Never easy, never boring.Another bogey on the 14th and suddenly the four-shot lead he held was a one-shot deficit to a 44-year-old Justin Rose, who was playing out of his mind on the second nine.That's when McIlroy unleashed an outrageous 209-yard approach to the par-5 15th that hooked some 30 yards to the left and settled six feet from the hole for eagle. While he missed the putt, the ensuing birdie saw him reach 11-under - the number Rose had posted after a birdie on the 18th hole.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780485/cropped_GettyImages-2210109119.jpg?ts=1744591546" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780485/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210109119.jpg?ts=1744591546 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780485/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210109119.jpg?ts=1744591546 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780485/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210109119.jpg?ts=1744591546 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780485/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210109119.jpg?ts=1744591546 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780485/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210109119.jpg?ts=1744591546 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>One more birdie would secure the win for McIlroy in regulation, and the 17th provided the canvas for the artist to paint. A towering 198-yard approach to two feet saw him move one clear with just the 18th to play. After splitting the fairway, he surely had one arm in the green jacket with just a wedge left to the green.But he lost another wedge to the right, this time in the bunker, and was unable to make par. That pushed him back to the 18th tee for a sudden-death playoff with Rose. After an 11-year wait to end the major drought, a 73rd hole must have seemed like another decade.Never easy, never boring.A repeat drive left him with almost the exact same number for his approach to the green, and this time he rose to the moment, spinning his wedge back to two feet. After Rose's birdie putt missed to the right, McIlroy stroked his in and collapsed out of exhaustion, relief, and sheer elation.The scenes at Augusta following the victory reached a volume we haven't witnessed since Tiger Woods' historic victory in 2019.There were many times throughout the day where it looked like McIlroy would run away with the win. That's what he did in his first three major titles before the age of 25.However, the talent pool in golf is significantly better now than when he could go supernova on a field with less than his A-game. It's heightened the degree of difficulty in closing out a tournament and is partially to blame for his major title drought.Never easy, never boring. But after Sunday, he probably wouldn't want it any other way.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 13: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates winning the 2025 Masters Tournament after the first playoff hole at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Never easy, never boring: Rory finally gets his Masters

It took one of the most dramatic Sundays in the history of the Masters - and a playoff hole - but...

It took one of the most dramatic Sundays in the history of the Masters - and a playoff hole - but Rory McIlroy finally has his green jacket.The 35-year-old became the sixth man ever to complete the career grand slam, overcoming two double-bogeys and a charging Justin Rose with an incredible birdie on the first playoff hole.McIlroy had a chance to win in regulation but missed a five-foot par putt on the 18th to fall back into a tie with Rose. However, he responded by stuffing his approach to two feet for the decisive birdie and his first major win since the 2014 PGA Championship.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Place</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Round 4 score</th>
<th>Total to par</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>T-1</td>
<td>Rory McIlroy*</td>
<td>73</td>
<td>-11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-1</td>
<td>Justin Rose</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>-11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Patrick Reed</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Scottie Scheffler</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-5</td>
<td>Bryson DeChambeau</td>
<td>75</td>
<td>-7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-5</td>
<td>Sungjae Im</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Ludvig Aberg</td>
<td>72</td>
<td>-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-8</td>
<td>Xander Schauffele</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-8</td>
<td>Zach Johnson</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-8</td>
<td>Jason Day</td>
<td>72</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-8</td>
<td>Corey Conners</td>
<td>75</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>*wins in playoffWith a final pairing of McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, the anticipation for Sunday's round was as high as any golf tournament in recent memory. it took exactly one hole for that to reach a fever pitch, as McIlroy's double-bogey on No. 1 dropped him into a tie with his playing partner."I certainly didn't make it easy. I was nervous. It was one of the toughest days I've ever had on the golf course. In a funny way, I feel like the double bogey at the first sort of settled my nerves," McIlroy said afterwards, <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155145.html">according to ASAP Sports</a>. "And it's funny, walking to the second tee, the first thing that popped into my head was Jon Rahm a couple years ago making double and going on to win. So, at least my mind was in the right place."McIlroy hit the gas starting with birdies on Nos. 4 and 5 and eventually built a four-shot lead heading to the second nine. But if we've learned one thing about the Ulsterman, it's that closing a tournament is never easy and never without drama.That held true with a mind-numbing double-bogey on the 13th after he rinsed an 82-yard wedge into Rae's Creek that opened the door for Rose, who was in the midst of an incredible day that saw him card ten birdies."I had 82 yards to the pin. It had went into a little valley, and it was on the upslope. And usually when I hit wedge shot off upslopes, they come out a little bit left on me," McIlroy said. "I gave myself like a couple of yards of room to the right. I wasn't aiming at the creek, but it came out, you know, a little weak and a little right, and that was - you know, to make a double there, when it's a birdie chance, and then seeing what Rosey was doing, and also what Ludvig was doing at the time, as well."McIlroy rebounded with two majestic iron shots and birdies on 15 and 17 to hold a slim lead by the time he reached the 72nd hole, but he missed the short putt to close things out in regulation.The playoff hole once again highlighted the brilliance of the 29-time PGA TOUR winner, as he immediately erased the bogey from 15 minutes prior by spinning a wedge back to two feet. Rose was unable to make his birdie and McIlroy finished the job with a well-struck putt.He collapsed on the green in tears, the weight of an 11-year major drought now off his shoulders."It was all relief. There wasn't much joy in that reaction. It was all relief," McIlroy said with a laugh. "And then, you know, the joy came pretty soon after that. But that was - I've been coming here 17 years, and it was a decade-plus of emotion that came out of me there."He becomes the first man to complete the career grand slam since Tiger Woods and is the first European to ever accomplish the feat.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 13: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates winning the 2025 Masters Tournament after the first playoff hole on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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McIlroy wins epic Masters to complete career grand slam

The Masters is headed to a playoff between Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose after McIlroy bogeyed the...

The Masters is headed to a playoff between Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose after McIlroy bogeyed the 18th hole on Sunday.The tournament appeared to be McIlroy's after he birdied the 17th hole to take a one-shot edge, but the four-time major champion couldn't get up-and-down from the greenside bunker to fall back into a tie with Rose.Rose vaulted into contention with a sizzling 6-under 66, capped by an epic birdie on the 18th to post 11-under. That was enough to force extra holes after McIlroy's errant wedge into 18 left him scrambling to try and secure the win.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The sudden-death playoff will begin on the 18th hole before heading to the 10th if necessary.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 13: Justin Rose of England reacts after putting for birdie on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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McIlroy, Rose head to playoff at the Masters

There are few things in sports as thrilling as Rory McIlroy on a heater in a major championship. ...

There are few things in sports as thrilling as Rory McIlroy on a heater in a major championship.Think of Steph Curry hitting a barrage of triples, Usain Bolt blowing past the field, or Michael Phelps exploding to the wall in the pool. That's how electric it can be when McIlroy's otherworldly talents are on display.And that's what we saw to begin his third round Saturday at the Masters, as the 35-year-old provided a start that had the voice of the Masters for the past 39 years, Jim Nantz, in absolute awe.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Can't ever recall a greater start to a round at Augusta than what we've just seen," Nantz said.McIlroy announced his presence with a 371-yard missile off the first tee. A stuffed wedge to 10 feet and a perfect putt later, and he was off and running with a birdie. McIlroy only went 369 yards off the tee on No. 2 and flew his second just over the green. An up-and-down for birdie would have been great, but he instead produced a chip-in eagle for an incredible 3-3 start to the day.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780303/cropped_GettyImages-2209937383.jpg?ts=1744503473" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780303/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209937383.jpg?ts=1744503473 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780303/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209937383.jpg?ts=1744503473 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780303/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209937383.jpg?ts=1744503473 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780303/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209937383.jpg?ts=1744503473 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780303/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209937383.jpg?ts=1744503473 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andrew Redington / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The 3s kept pouring with a curling birdie on No. 3, a tap-in par on No. 4, and an emphatic birdie in the center of the cup from 18 feet on No. 5. That made him the first man ever to start a round at the Masters with five straight 3s - a run that ended after one more on No. 6.But just as the vibes were reaching an all-time high, there was a harsh reminder that rounds of golf don't end after seven holes. Major championships are four days for a reason, and that reason is why McIlroy remains stuck on four major wins and claimed his last one over a decade ago.On the par-5 eighth, traditionally one of the easiest holes at Augusta National, a tee shot into a fairway bunker forced a layup that left 150 yards in for his third. You'd bet on McIlroy to stuff that fairly close, but he flew the green and failed to get up-and-down for par from behind the surface. That was his first bogey on the eighth hole since 2018 and poured some cold water on the red-hot start.Another iron approach flew far too long on the 10th, leading to a three-putt bogey. The panic lights were starting to flicker, and the tension reached a boiling point when he left a 7-footer for par on the 11th. But he drilled it to calm the stirring masses.The fun returned with the par-5 13th. After eagling the hole in incredible fashion Friday, McIlroy once again attacked with his second, ending up just off the green for a comfortable up-and-down for birdie.By now, the golfing world is well aware of McIlroy's blunder on the par-5 15th from Thursday, when he chipped into the water and walked off with a double-bogey. There would be no such repeat Saturday after perhaps one of the best shots we've ever seen the World No. 2 hit. A majestic 6-iron from 206 yards to six feet set up his second eagle of the day and his third in his last six par 5s played.That stretched his lead to four, and only Bryson DeChambeau - who you may remember him from a previous McIlroy major heartbreak - was able to cut into that lead over the final three holes. The electric DeChambeau came up with a birdie on 16 and a 48-footer on the last hole to make it just a two-shot deficit heading into Sunday.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780304/cropped_GettyImages-2209966817.jpg?ts=1744503534" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780304/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209966817.jpg?ts=1744503534 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780304/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209966817.jpg?ts=1744503534 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780304/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209966817.jpg?ts=1744503534 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780304/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209966817.jpg?ts=1744503534 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780304/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209966817.jpg?ts=1744503534 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The two will now play together in the final group. It's a matchup golf fans across the world have been dreaming of since DeChambeau's incredible 72nd-hole bunker shot secured the win at last year's U.S. Open.So what do we expect Sunday? Recency bias suggests McIlroy struggles to close majors, but he's actually closed four majors out of five in his career when going into the day with a 54-hole solo lead.That one miss? The Masters in 2011, when a 21-year-old McIlroy ballooned to a final-round 80 and crashed back to 15th-place. If you think that's in the past, it was just one month ago when he grabbed a fan's phone during a practice round at The Players after he chirped him about that collapse.McIlroy is certainly performing better than DeChambeau through three rounds. The long-hitting LIV superstar is holding things together with a scrambling performance for the ages.DeChambeau leads the field in strokes gained: around the green through 54 holes but finished in the bottom six on approach in Saturday's round. McIlroy holds a massive edge on the entire field in strokes gained: tee to green, a stat that suggests his form is more sustainable than DeChambeau's.However, if we've learned one thing about McIlroy over the years, it's that you're just as likely to see a runaway victory as you are a heartbreaking loss.It won't be long until we know which one we see this time around.

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The full Rory experience sets stage for epic Sunday

The matchup the golfing world has been waiting for will take shape in the final group Sunday at t...

The matchup the golfing world has been waiting for will take shape in the final group Sunday at the Masters.It will be Rory McIlroy taking a two-shot edge to the first tee looking to complete the career grand slam, with Bryson DeChambeau alongside forming his closest competition."Tomorrow in that final group is going to be - it's going to be a little rowdy and a little loud," McIlroy said after Saturday's round when asked about crowd support, <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155107.html">according to ASAP Sports</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The pair are unquestionably the most popular golfers in the world not named Tiger Woods, and the added history from last year's epic duel in the U.S. Open final round only heightens the excitement for Sunday.<h3>Sunday tee times (all times ET)</h3>Group 1, 9:40 a.m. - Brian CampbellGroup 2, 9:50 a.m. - Hideki Matsuyama, Akshay BhatiaGroup 3, 10 a.m. - Justin Thomas, Min Woo LeeGroup 4, 10:10 a.m. - Brian Harman, J.J. SpaunGroup 5, 10:20 a.m. - Patrick Cantlay, Wyndham ClarkGroup 6, 10:30 a.m. - Danny Willett, J.T. PostonGroup 7, 10:40 a.m. - Sam Burns, Stephan JaegerGroup 8, 11 a.m. - Matthew Fitzpatrick, Nick TaylorGroup 9, 11:10 a.m. - Tom Kim, Charl SchwartzelGroup 10, 11:20 a.m. - Davis Riley, Tommy FleetwoodGroup 11, 11:30 a.m. - Daniel Berger, Bubba WatsonGroup 12, 11:40 a.m. - Aaron Rai, Sahith TheegalaGroup 13, 11:50 a.m. - Michael Kim, Denny McCarthyGroup 14, noon - Maverick McNealy, Harris EnglishGroup 15, 12:20 p.m. - Joaquin Niemann, Jon RahmGroup 16, 12:30 p.m. - Byeong Hun An, Rasmus HojgaardGroup 17, 12:40 p.m. - Jordan Spieth, Max GreysermanGroup 18, 12:50 p.m. - Tyrrell Hatton, Matt McCartyGroup 19, 1 p.m. - Davis Thompson, Tom HogeGroup 20, 1:10 p.m. - Collin Morikawa, Viktor HovlandGroup 21, 1:20 p.m. - Sungjae Im, Max HomaGroup 22, 1:40 p.m. - Nico Echavarria, Xander SchauffeleGroup 23, 1:50 p.m. - Zach Johnson, Justin RoseGroup 24, 2 p.m. - Scottie Scheffler, Shane LowryGroup 25, 2:10 p.m. - Ludvig Aberg, Jason DayGroup 26, 2:20 p.m. - Corey Conners, Patrick ReedGroup 27, 2:30 p.m. - Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States reacts on the 18th green during the third round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Rory, Bryson form electric final group for Round 4 tee times 

Rory McIlroy announced his intentions Saturday with a 371-yard drive on the first hole at Augusta...

Rory McIlroy announced his intentions Saturday with a 371-yard drive on the first hole at Augusta, and by the time the dust had cleared, he stood two clear of Bryson DeChambeau after three rounds at the Masters.The four-time major champion exploded out of the gates in Round 3 with a birdie-eagle start that erased the three-shot deficit with which he entered. The opening six-hole stretch was the stuff of legend, with McIlroy becoming the first man in Masters history to start his round with six straight 3s on the card.He added a second eagle of the day after a majestic 205-yard approach to the par-5 15th, a moment that made it look like the lead could be three or four heading to Sunday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>However, DeChambeau had other ideas with birdies on the 16th and a walk-off 48-footer on No. 18 that cut McIlroy's edge to just two and set up a blockbuster final pairing.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Place</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Round 3 score</th>
<th>Total to par</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Rory McIlroy</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>-12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Bryson DeChambeau</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Corey Conners</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-4</td>
<td>Patrick Reed</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-4</td>
<td>Ludvig Aberg</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-6</td>
<td>Justin Rose</td>
<td>75</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-6</td>
<td>Jason Day</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-6</td>
<td>Scottie Scheffler</td>
<td>72</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-6</td>
<td>Shane Lowry</td>
<td>72</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-10</td>
<td>Xander Schauffele</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-10</td>
<td>Zach Johnson</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-10</td>
<td>Nico Echavarria</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-10</td>
<td>Sungjae Im</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>It was immediately clear that McIlroy hadn't cooled off from Friday's 66 and was bringing even more juice to the course for Round 3. His opening two drives totaled 740 yards Saturday."Yeah, I was fast on the range," McIlroy admitted, according to ASAP Sports. "You know, that's - talking about even that anxious energy that built up, I was probably three or four miles an hour faster on the range than I have been all week, which is nice. So I knew I didn't have to worry about the bunker on one or two if I just made a good swing."McIlroy carried that energy throughout the round, with his only stumble being bogeys Nos. 8 and 10. The par 5s on the closing nine offered him another chance to hit the gas with a birdie on 13 and the incredible eagle on 15.McIlroy will go into Sunday holding the lead at a major for the fifth time in his career. The 35-year-old has converted on four of those occasions. Of course, the only one he didn't finish off happens to be at the same course where he's currently playing, as a 21-year-old McIlroy shot a final-round 81 at Augusta in 2011 to fall back to 15th place, allowing the relatively unknown Charl Schwartzel to jump up and win the green jacket.But that won't be the case Sunday with DeChambeau as the main chaser.The two-time major winner put on a short-game exhibition for the ages, getting up-and-down time and again Saturday to overcome some serious issues with his irons and remain within shouting distance. He bookended his round with birdie putts of 45 and 47 feet on the first and 18th holes."It was a 47-footer, playing like 45 feet, and I hit a 45-footer about four feet left of the hole and saw it track right on my line. I'm, like, 'Oh, my gosh, this might go in, too,'" DeChambeau <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155108.html">told ASAP Sports</a>. "And they both went in. Sometimes they go in. Sometimes they don't. It's just one of those things. These greens are really good out here. So it's fun seeing a ball roll and track on line and do what it's supposed to."The entire golfing world was enthralled by the finish to last year's U.S. Open, where two late misses by McIlroy with the putter allowed DeChambeau to claim the title after an all-time-great bunker shot on the 72nd hole. However, the two didn't play together in the final group in that event. That changes Sunday, with a showdown for the ages on deck."It will be the grandest stage that we've had in a long time, and I'm excited for it," DeChambeau said. "We both want to win really, really badly, and it's - you know, shoot, there's a lot of great players behind us, too. Got to be mindful of that and focus on - it's about who can control themselves and who can execute the golf shots the best."

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland acknowledges the crowd on the 15th green during the third round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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McIlroy surges again to hold 2-shot lead at Augusta

Justin Rose leads a leaderboard stacked with talent after two enthralling days of the 89th Master...

Justin Rose leads a leaderboard stacked with talent after two enthralling days of the 89th Masters at Augusta National.The iconic course has again provided the backdrop for some incredible golf, with plenty of surprises emerging through the opening two rounds.Here are five that stand out as we head to the weekend.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Scottie looked human on closing nine</h3>Human and mortal are not words we would use to describe Scottie Scheffler at Augusta National. With the addition of two green jackets to his closet in the past three years, it's clear the World No. 1 has figured out how to shine on the historic layout. That was evident with a bogey-free 68 in the opening round and six more holes without a dropped shot to begin Friday's play. However, he finally would make a bogey on No. 7 and add two more at Nos. 10 and 11 - a truly shocking development after his start to this year's event.When he followed that up with a tee shot on the 12th hole that airmailed the green, there were murmurs that Scheffler might have lost it. He briefly smacked that chatter down by promptly pitching in for birdie and adding another at No. 14, but the bogey-train hadn't fully left the station for good. He three-putted the 16th and added another bogey at the last to finish with five over his final 12 holes. For comparison's sake, it took Scheffler 46 holes into last year's Masters to make his fifth bogey of the week.<h3>Bryson wasn't wrong, he was just early</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780151/cropped_GettyImages-2208961739.jpg?ts=1744418212" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780151/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208961739.jpg?ts=1744418212 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780151/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208961739.jpg?ts=1744418212 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780151/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208961739.jpg?ts=1744418212 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780151/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208961739.jpg?ts=1744418212 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780151/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208961739.jpg?ts=1744418212 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Augusta National / Masters Historic Imagery / Getty</figcaption></figure>Hope everyone got their jokes in when Bryson DeChambeau called Augusta National a par-67 for him back in 2020. At the time it seemed absurd, but DeChambeau has clearly turned a corner at the Masters and has figured something out on the iconic course. The U.S. Open champion fired back-to-back rounds in the 60s to open the event for the first time at Augusta, and just the fourth time in his major career. The previous three times saw him win the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Opens and finish second in the 2024 PGA Championship.We are used to DeChambeau pounding driver all over the place as he brings virtually any golf course to its knees, but his well-rounded game is what's doing the job through two rounds at Augusta. DeChambeau is leading the field in strokes gained: around the green thus far and sits eighth in putting heading to the weekend.<h3>Nick Dunlap's wild ride</h3>Rarely does something happen that we haven't seen since the 1950s, but that's exactly what Nick Dunlap did Thursday at Augusta. The man who made headlines last year becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA TOUR since 1991 opened with a disastrous 18-over 90 - more than 10 shots worse than the second-last competitor. According to <a href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/1910412970892415382">Justin Ray of the Twenty First Group</a>, Dunlap is the first player under age 50 who failed to break 90 since 1956.OK, now that we've covered the bad, let's end with an all-time bounce-back by Dunlap Friday. The 21-year-old rebounded in incredible fashion for Round 2, firing a 1-under 71 - a whopping 19 strokes better than his Thursday score. That is the third-biggest improvement from Rounds 1 to 2 in men's major championship golf.So what changed? A whole lot of range balls hammered into the woods, apparently."I hit a couple buckets of balls at my Airbnb into the woods," Dunlap said, according to <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155072.html">ASAP Sports</a>. "I don't know if there was any houses or anything back there. But you just hit a bunch of golf balls and - I had more of a knot in my stomach today than I've ever had starting a round of golf."Remember Dunlap's 2025 showing at the Masters next time your 5-handicap buddy has a few drinks and boldly claims he could break 90 at Augusta.<h3>Rose the ultimate Augusta setup man</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780152/cropped_GettyImages-2209078502.jpg?ts=1744418271" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780152/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209078502.jpg?ts=1744418271 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780152/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209078502.jpg?ts=1744418271 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780152/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209078502.jpg?ts=1744418271 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780152/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209078502.jpg?ts=1744418271 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780152/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209078502.jpg?ts=1744418271 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> David Cannon / David Cannon Collection / Getty</figcaption></figure>Justin Rose fired a 65 Thursday to make history as the only player to lead or co-lead after the first round of the Masters on five different occasions. He followed that up with a 71 Friday to put his name in the record books again in a number of ways. <a href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/1910715320311873707">According to Ray</a>, Rose is the only player to hold three different solo 36-hole leads at Augusta National with 21 years elapsing between his first in 2004 and this time around.While Rose having success at the Masters isn't a major surprise, the fact he has now set records after each of the opening two rounds likely wasn't on anybody's bingo card. <h3>A competitor took a leak in Rae's Creek</h3>Arizona State routinely ranks as one of the biggest party schools in the country, and it's safe to say that reputation carries down to the golf team. U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester certainly made his mark during his first Masters appearance, and it has nothing to do with his score through 36 holes. The Spaniard attracted significant attention when he revealed in his post-round press conference Thursday that he <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3263776" href="https://thescore.com/news/3263776">took a leak</a> in the iconic Rae's Creek after forgetting to use the restroom by the 13th tee."I'm like, I really need to pee," Ballester <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155008.html">told ASAP Sports</a>. "Didn't really know where to go, and since JT (Justin Thomas) had an issue on the green, I'm like, I'm just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me that much, and then they clapped for me. Probably one of the claps that I really got today real loud, so that was kind of funny."While most would probably feel a bit embarrassed about the whole ordeal, that type of feeling doesn't exist for 21-year-olds from Arizona State."It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again."

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5 biggest surprises after 2 days at Augusta

A blockbuster leaderboard at the Masters will see two of the most popular golfers in the sport he...

A blockbuster leaderboard at the Masters will see two of the most popular golfers in the sport head out in the final two tee times of the day on Saturday.Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy will feature in the last groups, with the LIV Golf star in the final pairing alongside leader Justin Rose at 2:40 p.m. ET. McIlroy is off with Corey Conners ten minutes prior, with defending champion Scottie Scheffler in the third-to-last group at 2:20 p.m.Here's the full tee sheet for what should be an incredible Saturday at Augusta National.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Saturday groups (all times ET)</h3>Group 1, 9:50 a.m. - Tom KimGroup 2, 10:00 a.m. - Joaquin Niemann, Jordan SpiethGroup 3, 10:10 a.m. - Stephan Jaeger, Max GreysermanGroup 4, 10:20 a.m. - Danny Willett, J.T. PostonGroup 5, 10:30 a.m. - Jon Rahm, Zach JohnsonGroup 6, 10:40 a.m. - Patrick Cantlay, Akshay BhatiaGroup 7, 10:50 a.m. - Denny McCarthy, J.J. SpaunGroup 8, 11:10 a.m. - Maverick McNealy, Charl SchwartzelGroup 9, 11:20 a.m. - Brian Campbell, Byeong Hun AnGroup 10, 11:30 a.m. - Aaron Rai, Justin ThomasGroup 11, 11:40 a.m. - Sahith Theegala, Davis ThompsonGroup 12, 11:50 a.m. - Matthew Fitzpatrick, Wyndham ClarkGroup 13, 12:00 p.m. - Nick Taylor, Daniel BergerGroup 14, 12:10 p.m. - Tom Hoge, Max HomaGroup 15, 12:30 p.m. - Harris English, Min Woo LeeGroup 16, 12:40 p.m. - Sam Burns, Nico EchavarriaGroup 17, 12:50 p.m. - Brian Harman, Bubba WatsonGroup 18, 1:00 p.m. - Davis Riley, Michael KimGroup 19, 1:10 p.m. - Xander Schauffele, Tommy FleetwoodGroup 20, 1:20 p.m. - Patrick Reed, Collin MorikawaGroup 21, 1:30 p.m. - Ludvig Aberg, Hideki MatsuyamaGroup 22, 1:50 p.m. - Jason Day, Sungjae ImGroup 23, 2:00 p.m. - Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor HovlandGroup 24, 2:10 p.m. - Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell HattonGroup 25, 2:20 p.m. - Matt McCarty, Shane LowryGroup 26, 2:30 p.m. - Rory McIlroy, Corey ConnersGroup 27, 2:40 p.m. - Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States reacts as he approaches the 14th tee during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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DeChambeau, McIlroy in final 2 groups for Round 3 tee times

The LIV Golf contingent has been thinned out at the Masters, with a host of big names from the le...

The LIV Golf contingent has been thinned out at the Masters, with a host of big names from the league headlining the notables to miss the cut at Augusta National.Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and Cam Smith all fell outside the 2-over number to play the weekend, with Koepka in particular crashing out in dramatic fashion.The five-time major champion came to the 18th hole well inside the number but carded a stunning quadruple-bogey 8 to finish at 5-over for the championship. It's the first time Koepka won't make the cut in a major since the 2022 Open Championship<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Mickelson looked set to make his eighth straight cut at the Masters, but the 54-year-old crumbled with a double and two bogeys on his final four holes to miss by three strokes.The LIV members aren't the only past champions heading home, as 2013 winner Adam Scott struggled mightily this week with rounds of 77 and 72.

Golf: The Masters: Brooks Koepka in action, hits a tee shot during Thursday play at Augusta National. Augusta, GA 4/10/2025 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Set Number: X164712 TK1)

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Koepka, DJ, Phil among notables to miss cut at Augusta

Justin Rose remains in front through two rounds at the Masters, but the story from Augusta Nation...

Justin Rose remains in front through two rounds at the Masters, but the story from Augusta National on Friday belongs to Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy, who lead the star-laden chasers.Rose's early-morning 71 held up at the top of the board, but DeChambeau put a serious dent into that lead with a sparkling 4-under 68. The U.S. Open champ flexed some serious short-game muscle around the challenging greens, holing out from the bunker on No. 4 to get his round started. At the final tally, he was just one shot shy of Rose to claim sole possession of second place.McIlroy and Corey Conners sit one back of DeChambeau, with the former certainly playing the loudest round of the day. It was going to take something monumental to erase the pair of closing double-bogeys from Thursday, but that's exactly what McIlroy did with an electric 6-under 66, the lowest round of the day.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Place</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Round 2 score</th>
<th>Total to par</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Justin Rose</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Bryson DeChambeau</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-3</td>
<td>Rory McIlroy</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-3</td>
<td>Corey Conners</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-5</td>
<td>Scottie Scheffler</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-5</td>
<td>Tyrrell Hatton</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-5</td>
<td>Shane Lowry</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-5</td>
<td>Matt McCarty</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-9</td>
<td>Jason Day</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-9</td>
<td>Viktor Hovland</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-9</td>
<td>Rasmus Hojgaard</td>
<td>67</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-12</td>
<td>Ludvig Aberg</td>
<td>73</td>
<td>-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-12</td>
<td>Hideki Matsuyama</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-12</td>
<td>Collin Morikawa</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-12</td>
<td>Patrick Reed</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-12</td>
<td>Sungjae Im</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Scottie Scheffler had it to 6-under heading to the 18th, but the defending champion bogeyed 18 to fall three shots off the pace. However, that's enough to keep Rose up at night. After all, the 44-year-old veteran has arguably the three best players in the game chasing him.Add the likes of Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Jason Day, Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama and Collin Morikawa, and there's an endless supply of top talent to make a push this weekend.DeChambeau and McIlroy provided one of the most thrilling majors in recent memory last year at Pinehurst and showed Friday that they're looking to repeat that this week at Augusta. DeChambeau's short-game brilliance had the crowd buzzing, as he finished second in the field in strokes gained: around the green. The headliner was his <a href="https://x.com/TheMasters/status/1910715933162610701">bunker hole-out</a> on No. 4, but his up-and-down from the forest on No. 10 was outrageous."I was hitting it a lot better today, and there's just a few moments where, like on 10, I kind of got out of whack, and I was able to save this round with my wedges and some huge key putts," DeChambeau said postgame, according to <a href="http://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155064.html">ASAP Sports</a>. "Getting up-and-down on 10 was one of the better up-and-downs of my life."McIlroy supplied the most memorable shot of the day, one that had him asking, "<a href="https://thescore.com/news/3263706">You idiot, what did you do?</a>" while the ball was in flight. Faced with 214 yards from the pine straw on No. 13, McIlroy <a href="https://x.com/TheMasters/status/1910752442867671345">flighted a 4-iron</a> that barely cleared the water in front and settled just nine feet from the hole for eagle. He would make the putt to hit 4-under through the first four holes of the closing nine, with that stretch providing the rocket fuel for McIlroy to fly up the leaderboard."Overall, just proud of myself with how I responded today after the finish last night," McIlroy <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155062.html">said</a>. "I just had to remind myself that I played really good golf yesterday, and you know, I wasn't going to let two - you know, two bad holes sort of dictate the narrative for the rest of the week."Those two will certainly take center stage this weekend, but Scheffler is surely primed to charge and claim a third green jacket. The two-time winner looked like his usual self over the first six holes Friday, but five sloppy bogeys coming home kept him from threatening the top of the board."It's really tough out there with the conditions," Scheffler <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155077.html">said</a> after his round. "Extremely challenging when you get greens this fast and you get that much wind, especially when it's gusty. It can be quite challenging."I did a good job of making some key up-and-downs, and I had the chip-in on 12, good up-and-down for par on 13, took advantage of a look there on 14. Overall, I felt like I did some good things out there to stay in the tournament."With sunny weather and light winds in the forecast for the weekend, conditions should be very favorable for some brilliant play at the iconic venue. With the firepower at the top, the stage is set for what could be an all-time finish to the latest edition of golf's most prestigious event.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the second green during the second round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Bryson, Rory mount charge to cut Rose's Masters lead

The familiar bounce was back in Rory McIlroy's walk around Augusta National Friday, as the four-t...

The familiar bounce was back in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/599" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/599">Rory McIlroy</a>'s walk around Augusta National Friday, as the four-time major champion ignited the patrons with a sizzling second-round 66 at the Masters.There were plenty of electric moments from McIlroy's second round, but none were bigger than his risky approach to the par-5 13th that set up a massive eagle to push his charge into overdrive.Faced with 215 yards to the pin from a hanging lie in the pine straw, McIlroy took a risk, going for the hero shot and carrying the creek in front of the green.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The flighted 4-iron flirted heavily with the water before <a href="https://x.com/TheMasters/status/1910752442867671345">nestling just nine feet from the hole</a>, prompting an all-time response from McIlroy when discussing it in his press conference following the round."When the ball was in the air, I was like, 'You idiot, what did you do?'" McIlroy joked to reporters, according to <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155062.html">ASAP Sports</a>. "I rode my luck a little bit with that second shot, but was nice to take advantage of it."McIlroy admitted he never thought of laying up on the shot, with the important decision being whether to hit a 5-iron or take something off a 4-iron to cover the water. His choice ended up being the proper one with a few yards to spare."I think it was like 189 (yards) front. ... I don't think it was really a decision to go for it or not, but it was. I was between a 4- and a 5-iron," McIlroy said.That eagle got him to 5-under on the round and 4-under through four holes on his second nine. He added another birdie at the 15th - the hole where his double-bogey disasters started Thursday.McIlroy didn't speak to media following his first round, so he spoke Friday about the rough finish on Day 1."I hit two good shots into 15 yesterday, and I felt like I hit a pretty good chip shot," McIlroy said. "I was really surprised at not so much the speed - I knew it was a fast chip; I've hit that chip a hundred times around this golf course - it was just more the first bounce was so firm. I mean, that green is so much firmer than any other green, even the other - the three newer greens."There wasn't much time for McIlroy to stew on the result with a morning tee time on deck Friday. "I feel like I just did a good job of resetting. I had a good conversation with (sports psychologist) Bob Rotella this morning, mostly around not pushing too hard too early and trying to get those shots back straightaway," McIlroy said. "You can sort of see how I started today with eight pars and a birdie on the front nine. I just tried to stay really, really patient."The explosive second-round performance has McIlroy back in great shape, as he attempts to finally complete the career grand slam and join the most exclusive club in golf. He sits tied for third, just two shots off Justin Rose's clubhouse lead.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Rory's reaction to eagle: 'You idiot, what did you do?'

Justin Rose grabbed a piece of Masters history Thursday after an eight-birdie explosion propelled...

Justin Rose grabbed a piece of Masters history Thursday after an eight-birdie explosion propelled the 44-year-old to a 7-under 65 and the first-round lead at Augusta National.The round marked the fifth time Rose has either held the lead or co-lead after 18 holes at the Masters, pushing him one clear of Jack Nicklaus to set the all-time mark. That score was enough to hold a two-shot edge on defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Aberg and Corey Conners. Rory McIlroy had it to 4-under after 14 but double-bogeyed the 15th and 17th holes to finish at even for the round.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Place</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Round 1 score</th>
<th>Total to par</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Justin Rose</td>
<td>65</td>
<td>-7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-2</td>
<td>Scottie Scheffler</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-2</td>
<td>Corey Conners</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-2</td>
<td>Ludvig Aberg</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-5</td>
<td>Bryson DeChambeau</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-5</td>
<td>Tyrrell Hatton</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-7</td>
<td>Aaron Rai</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-7</td>
<td>Harris English</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-7</td>
<td>Jason Day</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-7</td>
<td>Akshay Bhatia</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-11</td>
<td>Patrick Reed</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-11</td>
<td>Viktor Hovland</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-11</td>
<td>Fred Couples</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-11</td>
<td>Cam Smith</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-11</td>
<td>Shane Lowry</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-11</td>
<td>Min Woo Lee</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-11</td>
<td>Bubba Watson</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T-11</td>
<td>9 others tied</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>-1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Rose - riding a red-hot putter - birdied the first three holes of the round for the first time in his career at the Masters. By the time the dust cleared, the veteran had gained more than 5 strokes on the greens for the round, more than two clear of the next man."Today was a great putting round," Rose said afterward, according to <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/155022.html">ASAP Sports</a>. "I'm sure statistically it was very, very strong. I holed a lot of medium- to long-range putts and took my chances when I hit great shots. When I hit the ball in tight, I made those 5-, 6-footers, which is exactly what you have to do."It's no surprise who is right on Rose's heels, as Scheffler once again finds himself in the mix at the Masters. The 27-year-old showed repeatedly Thursday that he's got the blueprint for Augusta, going bogey-free around the iconic layout with the demeanor of someone out with his buddies and not playing in a major championship. The four-under 68 now gives Scheffler the all-time first-round scoring average record among players who have participated in at least five Masters.If Scheffler has the blueprint, McIlroy appeared to be lost in the fire escape - at least over the final four holes. He appeared to be taking a giant step toward that elusive green jacket with zero bogeys and four birdies over his first 14 holes. Disaster struck on the par-5 15th after he just flew the green with his second shot. Many were thinking birdie for the 35-year-old with par representing the worst-case scenario. However, he pitched the ball too far onto the green and it raced into the water. He would eventually card a double-bogey 7 and drop back to 2-under.While that took the wind out of his sails, the performance on the 17th was an unfortunate reminder why he's gone major-less since 2014. He flew his 171-yard approach too deep into the green and it bounded well over to leave him a short-sided chip to a tight pin. He gave that too much gas and left himself 28 feet for par. A prompt three-putt would make it two double-bogeys in a three-hole span to send him crashing back to even.If history holds true, McIlroy isn't the only one who sits too far back to make a run. According to <a href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/1910463897150054648">Justin Ray of the Twenty First Group</a>, 18 of the past 19 winners at Augusta were within four shots of the lead after 18 holes. That would make this a six-man race for the green jacket this time around.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Justin Rose of England reacts after finishing the 18th hole during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Rose sets Masters record with 5th career 1st-round lead

Corey Conners has a reputation as one of the best ball-strikers on the PGA TOUR. However, a balky...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1907" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1907">Corey Conners</a> has a reputation as one of the best ball-strikers on the PGA TOUR. However, a balky putter is often the reason why he's compiled a litany of top finishes but only two wins in his career.That wasn't the case Thursday at the Masters, as the Canadian rode a hot putter that's only been in his bag a few weeks. Conners finished with an opening-round 68 to hold the clubhouse lead with the afternoon wave still on the course.Conners, who added the putter at Bay Hill in early March, sits third in the entire field at 2.93 strokes gained: putting. He credited the new club for helping him at the iconic course.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Yeah, it felt good. I felt like I was hitting my start lines well today," Conners said, according to <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/154997.html">ASAP Sports</a>. "I like the speed of these greens. They're obviously very fast. You don't need to work too hard to get the ball to the hole. I feel like just the rhythm I have is good. "I have confidence I'm getting started on line, and I was able to hole some nice ones today."Conners entered the round gaining an average of just 0.05 strokes on the greens in his Augusta career, so the latest performance represents a massive improvement for the International Presidents Cup team member.He admitted afterward he wasn't necessarily looking to switch to a center-shafted putter but was spurred on after talking to his father."He was all over me to try it out," Conners said. "I wasn't really looking to make a change, but it's been a good change."Conners has an excellent record at the Masters throughout his career, including three straight top-10 finishes from 2020-22. If he continues to thrive with the new putter, Conners could be in serious contention Sunday to win Canada's second-ever green jacket.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Corey Conners of Canada smiles on the 18th green during the first round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Conners rides hot putter to opening-round 68

The field is set for the 2025 Masters, and it's time to make some predictions about what will unf...

The field is set for the 2025 Masters, and it's time to make some predictions about what will unfold at Augusta National.Our golf writers, Dane Belbeck and Eric Patterson, share their picks on who they think will win the coveted green jacket, who will disappoint the most, and everything in between. Let's dive in. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Masters champion</h3>Rory McIlroyIf not now, when? Augusta National may have put <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/599" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/599">Rory McIlroy</a> in the friend zone years ago, but the all-around development in his game has him coming in as a different man. This is the first time he's driven down Magnolia Lane with two victories already under his belt in the calendar year, having secured wins at Pebble Beach and The Players. He'll run into enough birdies throughout the week to be in contention Sunday, but he'll need to limit bogeys if he wants to win. I bet he does, and he finally completes the career grand slam with an emphatic triumph. - BelbeckXander Schauffele For the sake of being different - and to completely disagree with my colleague's boldest take below - we'll go with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1213" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1213">Xander Schauffele</a>. Schauffele seems to be flying under the radar despite holding two major championship trophies. There's a reason for that, though: A rib injury he sustained early in the season knocked him out for two months, and he's failed to finish inside the top 10 in his three starts since his return.But his most recent start at the Valspar Championship suggests he's 100% healthy - he gained 11.2 strokes on approach shots, the best of his career. The last time he played Augusta, he was still dubbed the best player without a major. Now, he has the chance to be the first to hold three simultaneous majors titles since <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1637" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1637">Tiger Woods</a>. - Patterson<h3>Top longshot</h3>Will Zalatoris (+6000)<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/450689/cropped_GettyImages-1312017776.jpg?ts=1618183410" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/450689/w220xh124_GettyImages-1312017776.jpg?ts=1618183410 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/450689/w320xh180_GettyImages-1312017776.jpg?ts=1618183410 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/450689/w640xh360_GettyImages-1312017776.jpg?ts=1618183410 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/450689/w768xh432_GettyImages-1312017776.jpg?ts=1618183410 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/450689/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1312017776.jpg?ts=1618183410 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1622" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1622">Will Zalatoris</a> has never really struggled at the Masters. He has played the event three times, and his tie for ninth last year represents his worst finish ever. His approach game is elite, which is essential to thrive at Augusta, but his putting makes the difference. Zalatoris traditionally ranks outside the top 100 on TOUR in putting each season, but he ranked third in that statistic over his first two Masters appearances, according to <a data-in-app-uri="" href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/1778094471743156557">Justin Ray of the Twenty First Group</a>. - BelbeckSepp Straka (+6000)You don't have to go too far down some of the PGA TOUR's most important stat categories to find <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/534" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/534">Sepp Straka</a>. He may not be a household name, but those paying attention this year know how well the Austrian is playing.He won the American Express in January and followed that up with five top-15 finishes in his last seven starts. He's seventh in strokes gained: total, sixth in strokes gained: tee to green, and fifth in strokes gained: approach on the PGA TOUR this season. Don't be shocked if Straka secures Austria's first major championship title. - Patterson<h3>Top Debutant</h3>Rasmus HojgaardHe might be a rookie at these Masters, but he's been wildly successful as of late at different Masters. The Dane played in the Qatar Masters, British Masters, European Masters and Andalucia Masters last year and posted three top-six finishes and a tie for 17th. He's also got the bonus of having his twin brother, Nicolai, to walk him through the debut process after a 16th-place showing in his first Masters last year. - BelbeckMaverick McNealyMcNealy is, understandably, a +600 co-favorite to the top debutant at theScore Bet/ESPN Bet. He has four top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR this season, including a third-place showing at last week's Valero Texas Open. He has the length and iron-play required to navigate Augusta's tricky layout, and he's one of the best putters in the field. - Patterson<h3>Boldest prediction</h3>Schauffele misses the cut<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/579814/cropped_GettyImages-1495396014.jpg?ts=1685727742" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/579814/w220xh124_GettyImages-1495396014.jpg?ts=1685727742 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/579814/w320xh180_GettyImages-1495396014.jpg?ts=1685727742 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/579814/w640xh360_GettyImages-1495396014.jpg?ts=1685727742 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/579814/w768xh432_GettyImages-1495396014.jpg?ts=1685727742 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/579814/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1495396014.jpg?ts=1685727742 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Considering he's made 60 straight cuts, this is about as bold as it gets. Since his return from a rib injury earlier this year, Schauffele hasn't quite regained the form that saw him grab two majors in 2024. He currently ranks outside the top 160 on TOUR in strokes gained: off the tee, around the green and putting. Schauffele will eventually return to his brilliant output, but we'll take the shot at him missing the cut as our bold take. - BelbeckMickelson and Garcia both finish inside the top 10Blast from the past, shall we? <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1308" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1308">Phil Mickelson</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/621" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/621">Sergio Garcia</a> have been playing well on LIV this season and, as past Masters champions, know a thing or two about contending at Augusta National. Mickelson has two top-10s in his past three starts on LIV, including a solid showing last week in Miami. Garcia earned a LIV victory three starts ago and finished on the podium in his final prep event for the Masters. It's a long shot, but Lefty finished as a runner-up to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1111" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1111">Jon Rahm</a> in 2023, and Garcia can easily keep his strong play going in his effort to make the 2025 European Ryder Cup team. - Patterson<h3>Best player to miss the cut</h3>Ludvig AbergSchauffele would undoubtedly be the biggest name to miss the cut outside of McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, but we used him for the bold prediction, so let's move further down the list. Aberg electrified the crowd with a second-place finish in his first Masters - and first major championship in general - last year. He also already has a win this year, but he's struggled in recent weeks. Aberg has missed two straight cuts and has broken 70 just once in his last eight rounds. - BelbeckViktor Hovland<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5297" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5297">Viktor Hovland</a> has some question marks surrounding his game, even though he won his last start.Hovland admitted after his Valspar Championship victory that he was surprised he won because he had little confidence in where his ball was going. He also gained 7.4 strokes putting en route to the win, the best putting week of his career and an area he's struggled with throughout the year.Let's call Hovland's recent win a stroke of luck. Hovland missed three missed cuts in a row, and that form is far more likely to make an appearance at Augusta National than another week of flukey golf shots. - Patterson

PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 13: Xander Schauffele of the United States and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shake hands on the 18th green during the first round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 13, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

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Masters predictions: Who will win, and who will disappoint at Augusta

Masters: 89th edition When: April 10-13 Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia  How ...

Masters: 89th edition When: April 10-13 Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia<h3>How to watch</h3>In the United States<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Time (ET)</th>
<th>Channel</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>April 10</td>
<td>3 - 7:30 p.m.</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 11</td>
<td>3 - 7:30 p.m.</td>
<td>ESPN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 12</td>
<td>2 - 7 p.m.</td>
<td>CBS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 13</td>
<td>2 - 7 p.m.</td>
<td>CBS</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Streaming: ESPN+, Masters.com, Paramount+<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In Canada<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Time (ET)</th>
<th>Channel</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>April 10</td>
<td>10 a.m. - 3 p.m.</td>
<td>TSN1/4/5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.</td>
<td>TSN1/4/5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 11</td>
<td>10 a.m. - 3 p.m.</td>
<td>TSN3/4/5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.</td>
<td>TSN3/4/5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 13</td>
<td>10 a.m. - 2 p.m.</td>
<td>TSN3/4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2 p.m. - 7 p.m.</td>
<td>TSN3/4/CTV</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>April 13</td>
<td>10 a.m. - 2 p.m.</td>
<td>TSN4/5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>2 p.m. - 7 p.m.</td>
<td>TSN4/CTV</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Streaming: TSN+, Masters.com<h3>Notable tee times (all times ET)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779524/cropped_GettyImages-1480062026.jpg?ts=1744137918" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779524/w220xh124_GettyImages-1480062026.jpg?ts=1744137918 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779524/w320xh180_GettyImages-1480062026.jpg?ts=1744137918 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779524/w640xh360_GettyImages-1480062026.jpg?ts=1744137918 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779524/w768xh432_GettyImages-1480062026.jpg?ts=1744137918 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779524/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1480062026.jpg?ts=1744137918 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Group: Collin Morikawa, Min Woo Lee, Joaquin Niemann Round 1 - 9:47 a.m. Round 2 - 1:01 p.m.Group: Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jose Luis Ballester (A) Round 1 - 10:15 a.m. Round 2 - 1:23 p.m.Group: Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Tyrrell Hatton Round 1 - 10:26 a.m. Round 2 - 1:34 p.m.Group: Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland Round 1 - 1:01 p.m. Round 2 - 9:47 a.m.Group: Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia Round 1 -1:12 p.m. Round 2 - 9:58 a.m.Group: Hideki Matsuyama, Bryson DeChambeau, Shane Lowry Round 1 - 1:23 p.m. Round 2 - 10:15 a.m.Group: Jon Rahm, Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood Round 1 - 1:34 p.m. Round 2 - 10:26 a.m.See full <a href="https://www.masters.com/en_US/players/pairings/index.html">tee sheet</a>.<h3>Preview content</h3>Ranking the field of 96: 1 sentence for each player at the Masters<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779515/cropped_GettyImages-2152796363.jpg?ts=1744136559" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779515/w220xh124_GettyImages-2152796363.jpg?ts=1744136559 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779515/w320xh180_GettyImages-2152796363.jpg?ts=1744136559 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779515/w640xh360_GettyImages-2152796363.jpg?ts=1744136559 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779515/w768xh432_GettyImages-2152796363.jpg?ts=1744136559 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779515/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2152796363.jpg?ts=1744136559 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>A larger-than-usual Masters field settled at 96 players before Vijay Singh withdrew Monday to drop it to 95. That includes a number of amateurs, a handful of debutants, past champions, and the top players in the world regardless of the tour. We don't need a spoiler alert for you to realize defending champion Scottie Scheffler is No. 1, but after that is where the drama begins. See <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3257346" href="https://thescore.com/news/3257346">full story</a>.McIlroy, Spieth hit Augusta wanting what the other has<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779516/cropped_GettyImages-1258361714.jpg?ts=1744136657" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779516/w220xh124_GettyImages-1258361714.jpg?ts=1744136657 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779516/w320xh180_GettyImages-1258361714.jpg?ts=1744136657 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779516/w640xh360_GettyImages-1258361714.jpg?ts=1744136657 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779516/w768xh432_GettyImages-1258361714.jpg?ts=1744136657 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779516/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1258361714.jpg?ts=1744136657 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Two players find themselves on the list of storylines annually in the buildup to the Masters: Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. McIlroy's quest to complete the career Grand Slam has been at play since 2014 with the four-time major champ coming up short on a yearly basis. Despite the annual failure at Augusta, the rest of McIlroy's calendar is littered with brilliant golf. The 35-year-old has been the most consistent player of his generation, always among the top five to 10 players in the world at any given time. Spieth is the opposite - outstanding at Augusta and a complete roller coaster the rest of the year. The two come to the Masters this year hoping to tap into the other's area of strength to win this week, and beyond. See <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3259705" href="https://thescore.com/news/3259705">full story</a>.Masters predictions: Who will win and who will disappoint at Augusta<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779600/cropped_GettyImages-2157260445.jpg?ts=1744156569" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779600/w220xh124_GettyImages-2157260445.jpg?ts=1744156569 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779600/w320xh180_GettyImages-2157260445.jpg?ts=1744156569 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779600/w640xh360_GettyImages-2157260445.jpg?ts=1744156569 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779600/w768xh432_GettyImages-2157260445.jpg?ts=1744156569 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779600/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2157260445.jpg?ts=1744156569 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Keyur Khamar / PGA TOUR / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Masters was once a tournament that catered to a long shot, but lately it's strictly a big-hitters-only affair with names such as Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler winning in recent years. Will that trend continue with another star grabbing a green jacket, or will we get the first surprise winner since Danny Willett in 2016? Our staff picks identify the winner, a long shot to watch, the top rookie, a big name to miss the cut, and one bold prediction for the season's first major. See <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3261299" href="https://thescore.com/news/3261299">full story</a>.LIV at the Masters: Catching up with 12 familiar faces ahead of Augusta<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779517/cropped_GettyImages-1483156008.jpg?ts=1744136780" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779517/w220xh124_GettyImages-1483156008.jpg?ts=1744136780 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779517/w320xh180_GettyImages-1483156008.jpg?ts=1744136780 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779517/w640xh360_GettyImages-1483156008.jpg?ts=1744136780 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779517/w768xh432_GettyImages-1483156008.jpg?ts=1744136780 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779517/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1483156008.jpg?ts=1744136780 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Sarah Reed / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Don't fret if you haven't been keeping up with LIV Golf, the television ratings show most people haven't been either. This year represents the first co-mingling of all the world tours since last July's Open Championship with 12 members of LIV Golf teeing it up at Augusta. One of those is three-time champion Phil Mickelson, who actually comes in showing a bit of form with two top-6 finishes in four LIV events this season. See <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3260709" href="https://thescore.com/news/3260709">full story</a>.Masters betting preview: 3 selections to don the green jacket<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/637750/cropped_GettyImages-2162912006.jpg?ts=1721581988" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/637750/w220xh124_GettyImages-2162912006.jpg?ts=1721581988 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/637750/w320xh180_GettyImages-2162912006.jpg?ts=1721581988 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/637750/w640xh360_GettyImages-2162912006.jpg?ts=1721581988 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/637750/w768xh432_GettyImages-2162912006.jpg?ts=1721581988 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/637750/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2162912006.jpg?ts=1721581988 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Pedro Salado / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Scheffler and McIlroy have dominated the headlines entering the Masters this year allowing Xander Schauffele to fly under the radar in the betting market and the news cycle. Sure, Schauffele is still working his way back from a rib injury that sidelined him earlier this year, but the 31-year-old holds two of golf's four major championships. Getting him at anything more than 20-1 seems like exceptional value. We go further down the oddsboard to target a player who has never finished outside the top 10 at the Masters, and another who has a win already this season and five top-15 finishes in his past seven events. See <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3260710" href="https://thescore.com/news/3260710">full story</a>.<h3>Betting odds</h3>Scottie Scheffler +475 Rory McIlroy +625 Collin Morikawa +1,400 Jon Rahm +1,400 Bryson DeChambeau +1,600 Ludvig Aberg +1,800 Justin Thomas +2,200 Xander Schauffele +2,200 Joaquin Niemann +2,800 Brooks Koepka +3,000 Hideki Matsuyama +3,300 Jordan Spieth +3,500 Patrick Cantlay +3,500 Shane Lowry +3,500 Tommy Fleetwood +3,500 Russell Henley +4,000 Viktor Hovland +4,000Odds via theScore Bet/ESPN Bet.

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Masters manual: All the info you need for golf's biggest event

A decade has passed since Rory McIlroy arrived at Augusta National with the chance to become the ...

A decade has passed since <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/599" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/599">Rory McIlroy</a> arrived at Augusta National with the chance to become the first man since Tiger Woods to complete a career grand slam.While the 35-year-old has played plenty of solid golf during that time, the green jacket still evades him.McIlroy has used various approaches to break through over the years but said Tuesday that he's sticking with the same strategy at the upcoming Masters that he's relied on recently: trying to keep things as toned down as possible.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I need to treat this tournament like all the other tournaments I play throughout the year," McIlroy said before he tees it up Thursday for the season's first major, <a href="https://asaptext.com/asap_media/media/1079/1207/transcripts/154908.html">according to ASAP Sports</a>."Look, I understand the narrative and the noise, and there's a lot of anticipation and buildup coming into this tournament each and every year. I just have to keep my head down and focus on my job."McIlroy has displayed strong form at Augusta National over the last 10 years, finishing in the top 10 a whopping 60% of the time. However, he's reached the point in his career where he's not judged on strong finishes - it's win or bust as far as the fans and media are concerned.But even if McIlroy hasn't been able to close, he's consistently put himself in a position to win several times in the last couple of years, notably the 2022 Open Championship and the past two U.S. Opens.Although McIlroy said he plans to treat the Masters like any other tournament, he admitted that he has focused on preparing differently for majors in recent years."I made a commitment to myself to sort of earmark these a little bit more and to give a little bit more of myself in these weeks," McIlroy said."I think if you see my major record since 2020, COVID was a bit of a weird year, but 2020 up until now compared to, say, the five years previous when I won the PGA in '14, I think you'll see a big difference in that, and that was just sitting down and reflecting at the end of 2019 thinking that I need to approach these a little bit differently again."McIlroy added a new tournament to this year's schedule in advance of Augusta, opting to play in the Houston Open two weeks after claiming his second Players Championship."If this week wasn't the week that it was, I'd probably take those three weeks off, but I knew that I needed to at least have one more competitive week leading in here," McIlroy said. "I opted for Houston rather than San Antonio just to change it up. More than anything else, bit of a change of scenery. But that was really it."Will that change help spur him on to get that coveted green jacket and become the first European to win the career grand slam? We'll find out Sunday afternoon.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 15: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks on the 14th green during the third round of The Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course on February 15, 2025 in San Diego, California.

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Rory: Need to treat Masters like 'all the other tournaments'

The PGA TOUR sports hundreds of card-carrying members, but there are only two outside of Tiger Wo...

The PGA TOUR sports hundreds of card-carrying members, but there are only two outside of Tiger Woods that truly make the masses feel something when charging up a leaderboard.While Scottie Scheffler is unquestionably the best golfer in the world, he still doesn't have the ability to captivate - and frustrate - the audience like <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/599" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/599">Rory McIlroy</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/55" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/55">Jordan Spieth</a>.The two biggest draws on the TOUR come to Augusta National looking across the aisle at each other and wanting one specific thing the other possesses.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>There's no secret about what McIlroy covets - that crisp green jacket Spieth slips over his shoulders when he enters the Champions Dinner each year at Augusta National. The annual think pieces about this being McIlroy's best chance to finally complete the career grand slam are in full swing, especially since he enters the Masters this year with wins at Pebble Beach and The Players.For Spieth, meanwhile, McIlroy's consistent brilliance on TOUR is something he likely barely remembers from early adulthood, but it's something he surely covets nonetheless. There was nobody better in the world from 2015-17 than Spieth, as the Texan claimed three majors by the age of 23. But his form since then shows more volatility than the stock market the past few weeks.Comparing the duo's results in the year-long FedEx Cup standings over the last decade tells a jarring story. Year after year, McIlroy remains one of the top golfers in the world, while Spieth is in a losing battle to remain a top-40 player on the PGA TOUR.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Jordan Spieth</th>
<th>Rory McIlroy</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2015</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2016</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2017</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018</td>
<td>32</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2019</td>
<td>51</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
<td>78</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2024</td>
<td>67</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Current</td>
<td>68</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Spieth's average place in the FedEx Cup since the end of the 2017 season is 42.5. McIlroy's is 6.3. The win difference hits like a punch in the face, as Spieth has only two TOUR wins since 2017 while McIlroy has piled up 15. The two are seemingly at different points in their golf journeys, yet this is the one week a year when you might fancy Spieth's chances over those of the four-time major winner.Something happens to Spieth when he drives up Magnolia Lane. He summons a level of play on the iconic course that few others have ever possessed. His game might be the opposite of McIlroy's consistent dominance for 51 weeks a year, but the second week of April almost always brings out his best. His 28 birdies as a 21-year-old in 2015, when he ran away from the field to win the green jacket, remain the most ever in a single Masters. That came on the heels of a second-place finish as a 20-year-old the year before.Spieth's Masters career features top-five finishes in more than half of his starts in the tournament - an eye-popping number given he's now played 11 times. Sure, the 31-year-old's resume isn't without heartbreak - see the shocking collapse to Danny Willett in 2016 - but it's clear he's figured out the proper way to navigate Augusta National.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779341/cropped_GettyImages-2064218418.jpg?ts=1744051345" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779341/w220xh124_GettyImages-2064218418.jpg?ts=1744051345 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779341/w320xh180_GettyImages-2064218418.jpg?ts=1744051345 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779341/w640xh360_GettyImages-2064218418.jpg?ts=1744051345 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779341/w768xh432_GettyImages-2064218418.jpg?ts=1744051345 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779341/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2064218418.jpg?ts=1744051345 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>The same can't be said for McIlroy. However, not everyone would go to the extreme that Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee did when discussing the Ulsterman's fit at the course."It is literally his nemesis," Chamblee said on a conference call last week, according to <a href="https://www.golfdigest.com/story/brandel-chamblee-rory-mcilroy-augusta-national-nemesis">Christopher Powers of Golf Digest</a>. "It brings out the worst golf in Rory annually that we see. It was his worst golf last year in the majors, his worst the year before, two years before that it was his worst golf. He annually underperforms there. He hits on average about 42 greens. On average, the winner hits about 52. There are things about that golf course that have been very problematic for him."That's not to say McIlroy hasn't had his moments at the Masters. He's posted seven top-10 finishes in the event. But overshadowing those finishes is one of the worst heartbreaks of his career, which he suffered way back in 2011 when he posted a final-round 81 with the last group of the day.If you think 14 years is enough to take away that pain, McIlroy's actions suggest otherwise. He recently <a href="https://x.com/TrackingRory/status/1899884165698396232">took a fan's phone</a> at the Players Championship who chirped him about that round.However, McIlroy admits his perspective on the importance of winning at Augusta has changed over the years, and he said ahead of the 2019 Masters that he no longer sees winning the event as a necessity."There's a difference between a personal desire and a need," McIlroy said, <a href="https://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=148478">according to ASAP Sports</a>. "I would have said a couple of years ago, 'I need a to win a Masters. I need a green jacket.' Where now it's, 'I want to. I want to win it. I'd love to win it. But if I don't, I'm OK.' And I think that is the difference."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779342/cropped_GettyImages-2148614694.jpg?ts=1744051450" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779342/w220xh124_GettyImages-2148614694.jpg?ts=1744051450 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779342/w320xh180_GettyImages-2148614694.jpg?ts=1744051450 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779342/w640xh360_GettyImages-2148614694.jpg?ts=1744051450 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779342/w768xh432_GettyImages-2148614694.jpg?ts=1744051450 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779342/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2148614694.jpg?ts=1744051450 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andrew Redington / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>McIlroy may not publicly convey a sense of urgency, but it's safe to say he feels an extra bit of heat every time the second weekend of April arrives. Chamblee told <a href="https://www.thegolfinggazette.com/news/brandel-chamblee-explains-what-he-will-always-argue-about-rory-mcilroy-at-augusta-national-as-he-makes-point-about-jordan-spieth/">the Golfing Gazette</a> that "nobody in golf faces as much pressure annually as Rory does at Augusta National."Spieth has figured out the course over his career, but he might also have the mindset that McIlroy needs to get over the hump and get that green jacket.“Augusta’s just blown up more than it probably should be,” Spieth told <a href="https://golf.com/news/jordan-spieth-augusta-national-rory-mcilroy-grand-slam/">Sean Zak of GOLF.com</a>. “In that sense, it gets blown up towards Rory. Majors are majors. Augusta’s, you know, if you look at the field, it’s technically the easiest major to win, so the more I think someone focuses on that, the better.”Maybe Spieth will slip on a second green jacket Sunday evening in Butler Cabin after combining McIlroy's consistency with his outstanding form at Augusta. Perhaps McIlroy will become the first man since Tiger Woods to win the career grand slam by taking down Augusta in Spieth-like fashion.Either way, both men will emerge as major storylines from the 89th Masters.

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McIlroy, Spieth come to Augusta wanting what the other has

theScore runs down the top storylines from Monday's epic national title game between Florida and ...

theScore runs down the top storylines from Monday's epic national title game between Florida and Houston.<h3>Clayton not Florida's only closer</h3>Few things in sports are more exciting than a massive comeback, and Florida produced no shortage of them throughout the NCAA Tournament. The Gators overturned deficits in almost every single game and fittingly rode another epic comeback Monday to win the 2025 national championship.UConn and Texas Tech fell victim to the Walter Clayton Jr. show earlier in the bracket, but this time around it was a team effort that delivered the Gators the biggest prize in the sport.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The deficit was 11 when Clayton subbed out at the 14-minute mark of the second half, and Denzel Aberdeen, Alijah Martin, and Thomas Haugh went to work immediately, cutting that deficit to three. The teams went back and forth the rest of the way, and Houston was clinging to a one-point lead in the final two minutes.The supporting cast then delivered once again. Will Richard's swarming defense produced a steal and a block, Alex Condon registered three steals in the final two minutes, and Martin and Aberdeen supplied the free throws that secured the the Gators' third title.Clayton was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and etched himself into tournament lore with his performances throughout March Madness. However, it was the rest of the Gators that did the heavy lifting Monday when the team needed it most.<h3>Deja vu for Houston</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/cropped_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It was a familiar story for Houston, who came into the final boasting its best offensive unit of the Kelvin Sampson era. The Cougars' third championship game defeat was reminiscent of their futile showing in their first title matchup 42 years ago.Sampson's squad shot a season-low 34.8% from the field. Houston's strength all season had been its top-ranked 3-point accuracy, but it made only 6-of-25 attempts from deep. Starters LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan were all 40% 3-point shooters entering play. However, the trio went a combined 5-of-22 from beyond the arc, with only Cryer making multiple threes.The Cougars had an opportunity to shut the door on the Gators but hit a dry spell down the stretch - just like Duke did two nights earlier. Houston didn't make a single field goal during a key five-minute stretch between the 11:29 mark of the second half and the 6:24 mark. During that span, the Cougars' six-point lead was cut to two. That slight opening was all Florida needed to complete another comeback victory.Gators head coach Todd Golden is the youngest bench boss to win a national championship since Jim Valvano, who famously led NC State to a 54-52 win over Houston in the 1983 title game.<h3>Defense wins championships, even for Florida</h3>Golden came to Florida as an offensive wizard, and that part of the game has been as good as advertised for the Gators. Led by Clayton, the offense ranks second in the country, according to <a href="https://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankAdjOE">KenPom</a>'s ratings, and lit up scoreboards in both the regular season and NCAA Tournament.However, Houston showed throughout the season that it will drag just about anybody down to its pace and style of play, and that was the case for a large part of the game Monday. Nine turnovers in the opening half - an unfortunate trend in the tournament for the Gators - saw them trail at the break, with the Cougars very much playing on their terms.That changed drastically in the second half, but it wasn't the offense that was the catalyst for the comeback. Instead, it was the defensive unit that really turned the tables. Florida was whistled for five straight fouls to open the half, and while that helped balloon Houston's lead to 11, it showed the Gators were not going to be pushed around. It also put pressure on the officials to even things out - something that happened in short order with a slew of Houston fouls.Once the Gators made their charge to get things tight in the final two minutes, their defense came through. Florida forced four turnovers in the final 2:05 and didn't even allow the Cougars to attempt a tying or game-winning shot in the final 30 seconds.The defense was a very strong aspect of Florida's team this year, ranking as KenPom's sixth-best unit in the country. However, it entered Monday's game a distant second to Houston's outstanding defense, a perennial powerhouse under Sampson's watch. That matchup tilted down the stretch, and it's one of the main reasons the trophy is heading to Gainesville instead of Houston.<h3>Houston's uncharacteristic errors</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/cropped_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It's rare to see a disciplined Houston squad beat itself. It entered the national championship game with the 10th-best turnover margin and averaged just nine per contest. The Cougars did a great job taking care of the rock for the majority of Monday's contest, posting only four turnovers through the first 36:35. But the only thing that will be remembered are the five turnovers over the final 3:24, which led to six crucial points for Florida in what ended up being a one-possession game.The Gators immediately capitalized on the first miscue, as Clayton buried a game-tying three immediately after Cryer stepped out of bounds. Houston then coughed up the ball three more times over the final minute of regulation. Cryer got blocked from behind on a drive to the basket, while the last pair of errors were made by Sharp.With the Cougars down one with 26 seconds left, the junior guard got the ball knocked off his knee as he dribbled into a crowd of Florida players. Sharp had a chance to redeem himself on the game's final possession but stopped in the middle of his shooting motion when Clayton closed out his potential game-winning 3-point attempt.Houston went scoreless for the last 2:05 as a series of miscues prevented it from getting off a single shot. It's a bitter pill to swallow for the Cougars, who exhibited so much mental toughness throughout the campaign but were ultimately undone by themselves.

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