🏌🏻 Bhatia Wins, Masters Next!

Plus: How to release driver for more distance

Good morning. Nelly Korda is absolutely dominating the ladies’ game with 4 back-to-back wins!

Check out the gear that powered her to win the T-Mobile Match Play and the tournament’s prize money payouts.

Plus, take a look at the equipment that 22-year-old Akshay Bhatia played with to win the Valero Texas Open and the prize money he bagged.

Fact: Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam (2005) are the only players in LPGA history to head into a major following 4 straight wins.

⛳️ This Day In History: On this date in 1935, Gene Sarazen beat Craig Wood in a 36-hole playoff, 144-149, to win the Masters one day after their great duel that featured Sarazen’s famous double eagle on the 15th hole.

ALBATROSS
Bhatia Seals Masters Spot With Win In Texas

Photo: Getty Images | Source: PGA Tour

Akshay Bhatia threw out his shoulder while fist-pumping a birdie putt to force a playoff at the Valero Texas Open but that didn't stop him from winning his second PGA Tour title.

🚀 Masters Spot Sealed: Bhatia almost bottled a six-point lead but held his nerves to win a dramatic playoff and secure the final spot at the Masters next week - check out the equipment he used.

He also became the first left hander to win the Valero Texas Open since Eric Axley in 2006 and is now fully exempt through the 2026 PGA TOUR season.

McCarthy's Epic Comeback: Denny McCarthy birdied his final seven holes — including a chip in and eight of his last nine for a course record 28 on the back nine at TPC San Antonio.

He narrowly lost to Bhatia in the playoff but his 92 putts this week tied the mark for fewest in PGA Tour history.

🤯 Spieth's Rules Hack: Jordan Spieth intentionally hit onto TPC San Antonio Clubhouse Roof after he found himself in trouble on the par 5 18th.

The clubhouse is technically in bounds, and Spieth received a free drop "from an immovable obstruction" (the clubhouse) - quite a clever rules hack.

📌 Rory's Impressive Finish: Rory McIlroy shot a final-round 66, a clean card with six birdies and no bogeys to secure a commendable third-place finish - another source of hope ahead of the Masters.

He ranked inside the top five in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green and Approach the Green: second in Scrambling, converting 20 of 24 opportunities. Only three players drove the ball farther than him.

Here’s the prize money breakdown of all the players that made the cut in Texas.

Watch Round 4 Highlights

TWEET
Worth Mentioning

EAGLE
Invincible Korda Wins 4 In 4

Photo: Getty Images | Source: ESPN

Nelly Korda is on a roll not seen on the LPGA Tour in 16 years.

The World No 1 won four of the first seven holes in the T-Mobile Match Play Final, beating Leona Maguire 4 and 3 at Shadow Creek - here’s the gear that helped her win four consecutive tournaments.

Korda became the first player since Lorena Ochoa in 2008 to earn four straight Tour titles.

Korda became the first American since Kathy Whitworth in 1969 to win four of her first five starts in a season.

Korda won $300,000 for the victory and became the 25th LPGA golfer to surpass $10 million in career earnings.

Watch the Finals Highlights

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

LIV Golf: Dean Burmester defeats Sergio Garcia in LIV Golf Miami playoff; Jon Rahm's Legion XIII win team title.

PGA Tour: The Tour is set to outline increased tournament fees to help fund rising purses - check out the fees that events are required to pay each year.

ANWA: 20-year-old Englishwoman Lottie Woad is the fifth champion of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament.

Record Alert: Ariel Collins smashed her first drive of the day 264.8 yards, re-setting the previous record of 251 yards from the first 10 years of the event in the 2024 Drive, Chip and Putt National Final at the ANGC.

Ladies European Tour: The LET’s Australian Women’s Classic ended prematurely as Nicole Broch Estrup, Pei-Ying Tsai and Jess Whitting were declared joint winners.

BIRDIE
Masters Week Begins

Photo: Getty Images | Source: Golfweek

All roads lead to Augusta National!

It's officially the Masters week and the stars have started assembling at the ANGC.

⛳️ Tiger Arrives: Tiger Woods was seen practicing at Augusta National Golf Club after flying in from Florida on Sunday. He was with his caddie, Lance Bennett, who worked with Woods at the Genesis Invitational back in February.

Woods can make history this year, as he is going for his 24th straight cut at the Masters.

🏌️ Scheffler In Action: World No 1 Scottie Scheffler teed off at 2:08 p.m. local time Sunday, beginning his 88th Masters Tournament preparation.

Scheffler is accompanied by his sister, Molly and the siblings participated in the trophy ceremonies following the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National earlier in the day.

📍 New Landmark Location: The Masters Record Fountain has a new home.

In 1959, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the inaugural Masters, a stone water fountain was placed to the left of No. 17 green.

Sixty-five years later, the structure has been relocated to the pathway near the driving range and main entrance ahead of the 88th Masters Tournament.

⚠️ Smith Missing Masters? Cameron Smith was forced to withdraw from LIV Golf Miami due to illness and his participation at The Masters is in doubt.

It's still not clear if Smith will recover in time for the year's first Major.

DRIVING RANGE
How To Release Driver For More Distance

In this video, we discuss what the club head is doing through impact, the direction you should be swinging your driver and a simple release drill to tie it all together.

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