MUMBAI: The third and final men’s golf major of 2020 – The Masters – is all set to get underway Thursday at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
Originally scheduled for April, the event was postponed to November owing to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
With 2020’s PGA Championship and US Open having concluded in August and September respectively and The Open Championship for the season cancelled, The Masters will be golf fans’ last taste of a major tournament for the year.
Interestingly, golf fans in India can thank Hero MotoCorp’s longstanding association with golf superstar and defending champion Tiger Woods for the live telecast of The Masters. Golf Digest reports that the world’s leading manufacturer of two-wheelers is underwriting the costs of live broadcast of the event on Star Select 1 and Star Select 1 HD on all four days of the tournament.
Hero MotoCorp is associated with almost all the sports of the country, but the brand’s love for golf is at another level, with managing director Pawan Munjal’s well documented passion for the game.
Hero MotoCorp is the leading sponsor of Hero Men’s and Women’s Open in India, the brand even supports the domestic women’s professional tour, professional golfers and is a major sponsor of the five-time Master’s winner too.
Coming back to the tournament. Often considered the holy grail in men’s golf, even amongst the four majors, The Masters are set to witness an ensemble of top golfing pros from across the world competing for the honour to wear the Green Jacket this year.
Even if there are no Indian golfers in the 2020 roster, fans in the subcontinent will be treated to some of the biggest names in world golf like US Open 2020 champion Bryson DeChambeau, current world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Rio Olympics 2016 champion Justin Rose, Rory Mcllory, amongst others, competing for the title.
World No. 2 and 3 Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas will also be among the favourites.
The driving narrative of this year’s event, however, will be the one and only Tiger Woods. The 15-time Major champion put behind an 11-year-long wait for a Major title with the 2019 Masters crown.
The victory marked a memorable comeback for the modern golfing great after a long tussle with injuries and personal problems. Due to turn 45 in December, Tiger Woods will be out to defend his title and bag his sixth Green Jacket which will see him equal Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record.
A successful title defence will also make Tiger Woods a record 83-time US PGA winner, which will put him ahead of Sam Snead, with whom he shares the honours currently.
Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, will be one notable absentee, having tested positive for COVID-19.
TV Schedule on Star Select 1 and Star Select 1 HD
Nov.12 – Round 1 – 2230-0300
Nov.13 – Round 2 – 2230-0300
Nov.14 – Round 3 – 2230-0230
Nov.15 – Round 4 – 1900-0030
Live streaming of the Augusta Masters golf will be available on Disney+ Hotstar.
