Fact or Fiction: Scottie Scheffler Will Win Second Masters, Debating $20 Million Purses
SI Golf’s writers and editors debate the increased purses at Augusta National, Bryson DeChambeau’s entertainment value and why golf fans love to watch Tiger Woods.
Welcome to the Masters Moving Day edition of SI Golf’s Fact or Fiction, where Scottie Scheffler has a one-stroke lead over Collin Morikawa entering Sunday’s final round.
We’re here to debate a series of statements for writers and editors to declare as “Fact” or “Fiction” along with a brief explanation. Responses may also (occasionally) be “Neutral” since there's a lot of gray area in golf.
Do you agree or disagree? Let us know on the SI Golf X account.
Scottie Scheffler showed he was human in playing Nos. 10 and 11 in 3 over Saturday, but recovered to shoot 71 to get to 7 under and take a one-shot lead to Sunday. He will win his second green jacket.
Bob Harig: FACT. That one-shot advantage might not seem like a lot, but that extra edge might just be what he needed. He recovered nicely from his mistakes Saturday and his presence on the leaderboard all week has seemed inevitable. So does a second green jacket.
John Pluym: FICTION. Scheffler recovered beautifully, going 3 under over the final six holes. But I’m going with Morikawa to win the tournament. He’s improved his score by one stroke with each round, so if he shoots 68 on Sunday, I like his chances.
Jeff Ritter: FACT. Scheffler entered the week as The Man to Beat and that still applies. He’s hardly a lock—I don’t expect Morikawa to crack alongside him on Sunday—but there’s no doubt this is Scottie’s Masters to lose.
John Schwarb: FACT. Collin Morikawa had an inspired Saturday and will give Scheffler a fight in the final group, but this felt inevitable after Scheffler won the Players and I’m not going back on that now.
Woods shot an 82 in the third round, his worst score ever at the Masters.
Katie Goodale, Katie Goodale / USA TODAY
One day after setting a Masters mark for consecutive made cuts, Tiger Woods plummeted down the leaderboard with a career-worst 82 at Augusta. An over-par, out-of-contention Tiger is better than no Tiger at all.
Bob Harig: FACT. That Tiger is competing at all given all he’s been through is amazing at this point. He gave his fans a thrill Friday and it wasn’t there Saturday. Perhaps it is now asking too much of him, but if he is to have any chance at competing down the road, he needs to finish tournaments. A solid Sunday would at least be something for him to build on. And Tiger has earned the right to handle this however he chooses.
John Pluym: FACT. I walked the back nine at Augusta National on Wednesday. And after close to 15,000 steps, I said to Jeff Ritter, “I can’t believe Tiger can do this on one leg.” I have more appreciation for him as a grinder than as a great golfer. And I’ll take Tiger in any tournament more than any other golfer in the game. He’s one of the best ever and it’s a treat whenever we get to watch him play.
Jeff Ritter: FACT. Scheffler-Morikawa could turn into a titanic duel. But every great heavyweight fight needs a compelling undercard, and Woods playing Augusta National on Sunday fits the bill.
John Schwarb: FACT. This is the new normal for the mortal and fragile legend, as one day’s grind can be followed by a mess. And WDs can never be ruled out. But an electricity remains around Tiger that every event would love to have and fans still want to see him.
DeChambeau celebrates after draining a 77-yard shot for birdie on No. 18.
Adam Cairns, Adam Cairns / USA TODAY
Bryson DeChambeau made two pars over his last 11 holes Saturday, making four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey but finishing with a thrilling holeout birdie at 18. He may not win this Masters but no one is more exciting to watch in golf.
Bob Harig: FACT. This week has been a solid reminder of all the variables DeChambeau brings. He’s playing with irons that were just approved by the USGA earlier this week and cost a small fortune to build. He lauded a new driver he put in play just before shooting 58 in the final round of the LIV Greenbrier event. He pulled a sign out of the ground Friday. That guy talks a different language sometimes, but he’s entertaining.
John Pluym: FACT. It’s all or nothing with DeChambeau. I love the sound his club makes after contact with the ball. He hits it all over the place but it is entertaining. And I agree we need to be able to watch the best players in the world regardless of what tour they play. He’s basically become the WWE of professional golf.
Jeff Ritter: FICTION. DeChambeau is great and this week I’ve realized just how much I (and I suspect most of the PGA Tour-following golf world) has missed him. But he’s No. 4 on my list behind Woods, McIlroy and Spieth in terms of exciting players to follow—it feels like anything is possible for any of them when they arrive at Augusta.
John Schwarb: FACT. I was thrilled and a bit wistful at the same time in watching the Mad Scientist on Saturday, remembering how many wild rides he had on the PGA Tour. Can the pro game please get its act together so we can see Bryson more often on network television?
Continuing the theme of increased riches in golf, on Saturday the Masters announced a purse increase to $20 million. Given its stature, this event doesn’t have to keep paying more in prize money—and shouldn’t.
Bob Harig: FACT. The Masters might be the one event where the prize money doesn’t matter. Perhaps that is a silly notion in this day and time, and given how much money Augusta brings in, it is fair to argue that it should pay the players—the reason all that money can be made—their fair share. The Masters didn’t have the highest purse of the majors last year and ultimately might not this year. So what?
John Pluym: FICTION. Should Patrick Mahomes get paid $60 million per year? Yes. Because he’s the best player in professional football. It’s no different in professional golf. The best players in the world deserve to be paid like it and if the Masters can keep increasing purses to reward the best players, they should keep doing it. Let’s face it: A $25 million purse isn’t far off.
Jeff Ritter: FACT. The Masters can pay its participants whatever it wants. It is, and always will be, the Masters. But Pluym is also right: Next year’s purse will probably crack $25 million. It’s just the nature of the game today.
John Schwarb: FACT. There’s something a little gross about annual increases and the Masters has had them three years in a row, keeping up with the other majors. Want to bet against another bump next year? But the Lords of Augusta could say “enough is enough” and hold at $20 million for the foreseeable future. I don’t think any invitations will be turned down.
