The most-hyped Masters storylines for 2023 haven’t materialized at all

Well, the expectation that the 87th Masters would be unlike any other is dead on — for the wrong reasons.

The most-hyped storylines turned out to be faulty visions, reduced to the rubbish pile before the final players teed off for their second rounds on Friday afternoon.

Remember them: LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour ... the lengthened 13th hole ... Rory McIlroy’s grand slam quest ... Tiger and Phil ... and the great ball debate?

All gone.

Augusta National and Masters chairman Fred Ridley ended the discussion on whether a ball that restricts distance for elite men’s players would come to fruition. His “we generally support the governing bodies” took care of that.

Stretching the iconic 13th hole for 35 yards caused weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth in some quarters about how Augusta National had destroyed a treasure. Well, the pros played it just about like always in the first two rounds, only requiring longer clubs for the second shot. And that was the idea for the expansion: to increase the challenge.

Tiger and Phil? Tiger Woods’ opening 74 ended any hopes of another inspiring performance and the suggestion that he could somehow move a step closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record for career major titles. At least Phil Mickelson, a leader in the LIV Golf movement, showed a bit of Augusta magic with a 3-under 33 on the back nine Friday.

If Rory McIlroy were ever going to get the monkey off his back and complete golf’s grand slam, this would be the time. Alas, he got left in the dust with an opening 72 and played even worse Friday.

Civil war between the LIV and PGA golfers never materialized, at least on the surface. How many of the 18 LIV guys make the cut remained in question at mid-afternoon Friday, but Brooks Koepka’ 12-under 132 for two rounds required no embellishment.

Perhaps that will be the biggest storyline to watch over the final two rounds.

Indeed, Koepka is pulling his Mr. Major routine. He’s become the guy who dominated on the big stage by winning U.S. Opens and PGA Championships back-to-back three or four years ago.

Injuries took their toll, and he’s the first to admit regular events are not his primary focus. He won last weekend’s LIV event, but he always looks higher.

Return for a moment to the Palmetto Championship at Congaree in June 2021. The PGA Tour and the state of South Carolina came together to plug a hole on the calendar caused by the COVID pandemic canceling a tournament.

The date fell one week prior to the U.S. Open and came up woefully short on star power. Dustin Johnson came, perhaps out of obligation to his home state, and Brooks Koepka came, principally because he likes to compete the week before a major.

Then ranked No. 8 in the world, Koepka missed the cut for one big reason: The Palmetto Championship at Congaree did not carry major status.

“Reps. That’s what I need,” he said that day in June after a second-round 73 at Congaree. “I just need tournament reps and trying to hit different shots in competition. I’ve missed so much of the season just with the knee (injury), where I feel like I’m already a little bit behind.

“Yeah, I like where my game’s at. I’m striking it well, putting it well. So I don’t see anything wrong. It’s just, like I said, maybe a little lack of focus and maybe. These weeks before the majors, I start thinking about next week instead of where I am. It’s not an excuse, but it just needs to be better.”

Ah, the magic word: focus.

“I mean, I don’t try to miss a cut,” Koepka said that day in the South Carolina Lowcountry. “I don’t know, I just have a harder time focusing in regular PGA Tour events than I do majors. Majors, I know I’m locked in from the moment I hit the first tee shot. Even walking from the first tee shot to the ball, my head is still going on what I need to do. Out here, I kind of lose focus for a little bit.

“I’ve got to figure it out. That’s why I struggle, I think, in regular events. It’s the focus and the energy, the excitement level just isn’t there when it would be in a major. It’s different. I thrive off that bigger stage, that big moment where there’s a bunch of fans and a tough golf course. I love it.”

He’s focused now, and even the anti-LIV crowd has to love the way he’s playing this week at Augusta. Mr. Major is locked in again, and his Masters theme becomes catch me if you can.