South African Open champion Casey Jarvis will make his debut at the Masters on Thursday afternoon.
Image: Sunshine Tour
Big-hitting South African PGA Tour player Aldrich Potgieter will spearhead the local challenge at The Masters on Thursday, with former Green Jacket winner Charl Schwartzel and SA Open champion Casey Jarvis completing the South African contingent for the 60th edition at Augusta National.
The 21-year-old Potgieter (2.04pm tee-off) returns for his second appearance at Augusta, having made his debut last year as an amateur. This time, however, he arrives as a PGA Tour winner and will be aiming to mount a serious challenge, with his prodigious driving expected to be a key weapon on the iconic layout.
Former champion Schwartzel (2.26pm) has enjoyed a measured start to his season on the LIV Golf League, most recently helping Southern Guards GC side secure second place at the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa event. The 2012 Masters winner returns to a course steeped in personal success and will be looking to rediscover that form as he leads the experienced edge of the South African charge.
Much of the attention, however, is likely to fall on SA Open champion Jarvis (2.50pm), who is set to make his Masters debut. The 22-year-old showed remarkable composure to clinch his national title in Stellenbosch earlier this year, but Augusta presents an entirely different test. Even so, Jarvis appears ready to embrace the occasion.
After taking part in a number of practice rounds, Jarvis admitted he has been soaking in the experience of competing at one of golf’s most revered venues.
"Honestly, it was one of the best experiences. I also got to play with Matt Fitzpatrick, who’s been playing unreal golf, so that made it even better. I’ve got to rank it first (in golfing experiences)," he told the DP World Tour earlier this week.
The featured groups for the first round include American and LIV Golfer Bryson DeChambeau (4.07pm), Xander Schauffele (US), and Matt Fitzpatrick (England). Defending champion Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Aussie Cameron Young, and US Amateur Mason Howell (4.31pm) will follow them.
While the trio of Spaniard Jon Rahm, Swede Ludvig Aberg, and American Chris Gotterup headlines the late tee times (7.08pm) alongside former champion Scottie Scheffler, Scotsman Robert MacIntyre, and American Gary Woodland (7.44pm).