Obvious from looking at the clues that this was a golf-based puzzle, timed to coincide with the start of the US Masters. Made a lot of quick early progress but then it got harder and I finally had to admit defeat with three, 17A, 17D and 24 A. Have to admit that nmsindy knowledge of golf is fairly limited so may have missed some references. Was impressed at how much thematic material Radian packed in to the puzzle.
* = anagram < = reversed
ACROSS
7 Fred COUPLES A former winner of the Masters and def: twosomes
8 MASTERS (streams)* Got this straightaway which confirmed the theme
9 BEAR Jack Nicklaus, 6 times winner, is known as the “Golden Bear” bear = stand
10 CRACKDOWN Liked this one (card ck won)* in dropped from Cink (a golfer, holder of the British Open)
12 GRASS def = informer also refers to ‘bent grass’ which is relevant to golf, I think
13 TAMPERED m (second letter of amateurs) in (red tape)* Good surface
15 MESH Hidden, with another good surface
16 SPOON An old golf club (NO OPS)<
17 TOGS Had to look this up. “Terry’s fans became upset by his finale”. Think the wordplay may be (GOT)< thiS but do not understand the rest
18 ON-CAMERA New Course in (O’Meara)* = one of two appearances by the golfer Mark O’Meara in the puzzle
20 JUDGE “Law about driving ultimately interpreted by him” I got this right, it may be drivinG in JUDE but not sure why or it may be something else entirely.
21 ORGIASTIC (Scotia gir)*
22 Sandy LYLE Another former winner. ladylike less the letters in those positions.
24 SEASIDE Missed this, which is SETASIDE less T. 21D is OPEN so I think this refers to the British Open being held at a seaside course.
25 GEORGIA Hidden in judGE ORGIAstic (20A, 21A) with a nice use of links referring to golf. The US state in which the Masters is held.
DOWN
1 HOLE “whole” cup = hole (golf)
2 AP (PRO) ACH (a chap)*
3 RE C CES sec< This was my favourite clue
4 MARK’S MAN Definition: good shot First name of both of those golfers is Mark, I think.
5 STROKE Cryptic definition – 12D is GREEN and also refers to golf = each shot is a stroke
6 IRON Cryptic definition that I liked – bag with golf clubs
11 A STRONAUT (to Saturn)* &lit
12 GREEN 20D is JACKET Green Jacket awarded to winner of the Masters. 19D is AUGUST(a) so it may also refer to greens being fast there, but I’d defer to the golfing people on that one.
14 EAGLE Liked this. In golf, eagle is a shot two under par, and a birdie a shot one under par
16 STEWARDS I think this refers to stewards at the Masters and that it is basically a definition
17 TIDDLERS Missed this one, suspected it, but could not find it in dicts in the sense of an easy golf shot which it may mean – don’t understand the rest “Rejected by hookers, they’re simply put away”
19 AUGUST(a) Masters played at Augusta
20 JACK Nicklaus ET best “occasional” = alternate letters
21 O (PE) N on = leg (cricket side)
22 LAID dial<
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