Patrons cheer on the players as they attempt to skip the ball across the water on to the 16th green during a practice round.
Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

However, some others watching on don’t seem as impressed.
Photograph: Cj Gunther/EPA

During the par three contest, Rory McIlroy (right) watches his daughter Poppy’s ball alongside Shane Lowry, as it rolls towards the hole on the 9th green … before dropping in.
Photograph: Cj Gunther/EPA

Some caddie assistants (namely AJ, son of Adam Schenk (right), and Fritz, son of Stephan Jaeger) take a more direct route when making sure a ball goes into a hole.
Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The sun rises as patrons enter the course for the first round.
Photograph: Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Tyrrell Hatton (left) and Jordan Spieth watch to see if a putt from playing partner Tom Kim will drop on the second hole.
Photograph: Tannen Maury/UPI/Shutterstock

A pin badge fan.
Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Scottie Scheffler hits his putt on the 6th green during the first round.
Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Scottie Scheffler looks for Justin Thomas’s ball in the azaleas on the 13th.
Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

An eastern bluebird on the 13th during the first round.
Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

Sam Burns hits from Rae’s Creek on the 13th. The American may have later had regrets about finding the water given the earlier relief found by Jose Luis Ballester.
Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

Robert MacIntyre is not a happy chappy after his second shot on the 11th during the second round.
Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Frenchman Matthieu Pavon sports a rather natty jumper.
Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Justin Rose lines up a putt on the 16th green on his way to a second round of 71.
Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Joaquin Niemann talks with caddie Gary Matthews before playing his shot from the pine straw on the 13th during his second round.
Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Canada’s Corey Conners tees off on the 17th during his third round.
Photograph: Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Patrons are sorted for snacks and drinks.
Photograph: Ben Jared/PGA Tour/Getty Images

A case of Where’s Rory? after he plays an approach shot on the 7th during his superb, destiny-altering third round of 66.
Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Bryson DeChambeau gets some putting practice in ahead of the final round – his fine opening three days were followed by a three-over round of 75 on day four.
Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

It’s a tense start to the final round at Rory McIlroy’s Holywood Golf Club in County Down as a double bogey at the 1st sees his overnight lead disappear.
Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA

Justin Rose peeks over the bunker on the green of the 2nd. The Englishman finished with a score of 66 which saw him take Rory McIlroy into a playoff.
Photograph: Cj Gunther/EPA

Rory McIlroy celebrates on the 18th green – what turned out to be the first and final playoff hole – after his putt drops to seal his first Masters victory.
Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Celebrations at Augusta are mirrored over in Holywood Golf Club.
Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA

Rory McIlroy celebrates on the 18th green after winning the first playoff hole
Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

A joyful Rory McIlroy is presented with the Green Jacket by Scottie Scheffler – the 2024 champion.
Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters
