Augusta can hardly be called a happy hunting ground for golfers from this island, given that no Irishman has ever pulled on the famous green jacket.

When Rory McIlroy took the unpopular decision late last year to participate exclusively on the PGA Tour this season, he endured plenty of criticism from this side of the Atlantic.

The term ‘Tiger-proof’ entered golf’s lexicon after the aforementioned Eldrick Woods claimed the US Masters by 12 shots.

Better late than never. It was RTÉ on Friday and today is Sky Sports’ turn to reveal their live TV coverage of the GAA championships.

My name came out of the writers’ lottery to play Augusta National. The last time I took my clubs out of the garage, I was trying - unsuccessfully- to sell them at a yard sale. But I still needed, in no order, spikes, balls, tees, a glove, pants, a windbreaker, clean underwear (multiple pairs just in case) and a towel. To cry into. Steve Politi on his Masters disaster.

What makes the Masters Green Jacket the most desirable piece of clothing in sport, wonders Kevin Markham. 

The tepid applause that greeted Patrick Reed on the first tee made it clear he wasn’t the people’s choice.

Sergio Garcia and wife Angela named their infant daughter Azalea, after the 13th hole at Augusta National, where he made a career-changing par en route to his dramatic Masters victory in a sudden-death playoff in 2017. Now, that same hole, one of golf’s greatest risk-reward decisions, is at the centre of golf’s referendum on the distance debate.

Jordan Spieth has the type of dominant form around Augusta that would have had many fancied players writing off their chances after yesterday’s opening round, writes John McHenry

No matter what transpires on the velvety greens at the 82nd Masters, history already has been made at Augusta National Golf Club with the establishment of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, beginning in 2019.

Entering the first round yesterday, Tiger Woods held an all important psychological advantage over most of his rivals.

Could the rise of golf’s kiddie corps take a back seat this week at the Masters?

Jack Nicklaus believes Rory McIlroy is the man to beat in the Masters as he seeks to complete the career grand slam with a victory at Augusta National.

Dustin Raymond has carried a black marker to every Masters since 1991 to collect autographs on yellow souvenir flags with the Masters logo in the centre.

You won’t win the Masters if you cannot exploit the opportunities presented by the par 5 holes at Augusta National, writes John McHenry.

Given the professional career Sergio Garcia has experienced to this point, you would imagine he is a firm believer in the Friedrich Nietzsche quote that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Sergio Garcia insisted he would have enjoyed a beautiful life with or without a major championship victory but the new Masters championship was mighty glad to be wearing a green jacket at Augusta National on Sunday night.

On a day when Jordan Spieth got that sinking feeling again, Brian Keogh examines the major talking points...

Phil Mickelson is relishing the poor weather conditions being forecast for the first two rounds of the Masters and the prospect of less experienced players shooting themselves out of contention at Augusta National.

In honour of the late Arnold Palmer, the Masters will give each spectator a commemorative "Arnie's Army" badge for tomorrow's first round.

Bad weather forced the traditional pre-Masters par-three contest to be cancelled for the first time ever today.

The walk from the ninth green to the 10th tee at Augusta National takes less than a minute, but the significance of that brief period of time on April 10, 1997, cannot be underestimated.

Former world number one Tiger Woods will not compete in next week's Masters after failing to recover from his latest back injury.

Already the smallest field among majors, the Masters is shrinking the field for the Par 3 Contest.

He’s one of golf’s big three but while he has spent a few days watching Africa’s big five and has his sights set on returning to world number one this month, Rory McIlroy’s early-season sojourn to South Africa is all about one thing — the first major of the year.

Jordan Spieth looked deep in shock as he sat in the Butler Cabin, sitting next to the man who had just succeeded him as Masters champion.

It was 60 years ago this week that television viewers watched the Masters for the first time.

Shane Lowry left Augusta National with a wide smile on his face and a piece of crystal that was his reward for a hard and sometimes difficult week’s work at the Masters.

It is 25 years since Ian Woosnam became Masters champion and yesterday a painful back condition finally caught up with the Welshman as far as playing Augusta National is concerned.

Maybe the timing of the “60 Minutes” episode on Bubba Watson wasn’t the best. Shown last Sunday night on CBS, a lead-in to the annual Masters Week, the segment was up-close and personal, with Watson talking about the demons that plague him. An assortment of fears, he said, most alarmingly his constant thoughts that a building might fall on him.

Somewhere between Jordan Spieth two-putting the par-5 13 to reach five under and jamming an approach to 5 feet at the 18th to set up one more birdie and a round of 66, the first round of the 80th Masters produced a hole in the pit of your stomach.

Given his own extraordinary level of expectation, Jordan Spieth would have been somewhat worried about his form coming into the US Masters this week.

Graeme McDowell is on the verge of doing something really “big” in the game but those who fancy a Masters flutter on the pride of Portrush should save their cash for another day.

Rest up or tune up?