Augusta National in Winter
/We have all seen the images before, but here is a wintry primer to help you get through these last 60 days of winter and get you ready for the Masters.
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Masters Week 2012
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The cream of the crop always rises in golf's major championships and nowhere is this more true than at Augusta National for the Masters. Here are a few interesting notes to help get you prepared for the event:
If you, like me, are filling out a Masters pool keep the following in mind:
- Phil Mickelson has only finished outside the top 10 in twice in the last 13 years
- Graeme McDowell, outside his tie for 17th in 2009, has missed the cut in his other three Masters starts
- Martin Kaymer is 0-for-4 in getting to the weekend at the Masters (despite his Monday hole in one) and Louis Oosthuizen is 0-3 in cuts made
- Geoff Ogilvy has six Masters starts, has never missed a cut, and counts three top-16 finishes, including a T4 last year
- Ian Poulter’s T27 in 2011 was his worst showing in the last five years. He tied for 10th in 2010
- Justin Rose has never missed the cut in six starts at Augusta. He tied for fifth in 2007, was T11 a year ago, and rolls in with a good dose of confidence
- David Toms has bounced back with three top-24 finishes in his last four starts
- Lee Westwood has three top-11 finishes in his last four Masters starts, his best showing being a solo runner-up two years ago
- Remember what Rory McIlroy did through the first 63 holes last year...and how he recovered from that final nine at Congressional
- Tiger Woods has won one green jacket in the last 10 years. Yet, dating to his last Masters victory in 2005, he has not finished worse than T6.
If I could pick any three golfers I'd have to go with (in this order) Rory, Phil and Tiger (yes, I know I'm going way out on a limb here)! My sleepers would be Cabrera, Ogilvy and KJ...
I am surprised and disappointed that the Augusta powers have failed to extend an invitation to Ernie Els. Ernie is currently playing beautifully, having finished outside the top 20 only once in his last 5 events. He is 34th in the Fedex Cup and ranked 58th in the world. Not to mention that he has often (albeit, not often enough) contended for the green jacket. Is Ryo Ishikawa really better than the Big Easy? Or does he just command a greater Japanese television audience?
That being said here is the FIELD and how they qualified.
Full TV Schedule (information found at Masters.com)
Par 3 contest
Wednesday, April 4 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET on ESPN
First-round coverage
Thursday, April 5 from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Second-round coverage
Friday, April 6 from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Third-round coverage
Saturday, April 7 at 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET on CBS
Final-round coverage
Sunday, April 8 at 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET on CBS
As always the premium at Augusta is on the shortgame. Here is Geoff Ogilvy talking about the two toughest chips that almost all golfers will face during the week:
One of the toughest chips you can face on the course is from right of the 11th green, a spot where it seems at least one player in every group is playing from during the tournament. Bailing out away from the water is very tempting but no bargain. It is almost impossible to land a chip short on that green with any confidence; you just don’t know what the ball is going to do after it pitches. Then when it does get on the green it invariably races away. It’s such a subtle test, but one that gives the course much of its character.
The same is true behind the 15th green. It is so difficult to judge how much forward momentum the ball will have after it bounces and how fast it needs to be moving once it gets onto the sloping putting surface. And again, it is a shot that tends to come up a lot over the course of the tournament. Go for that green in two every day and you are likely to finish over the back at least twice.
Having had the opportunity to play both of these chip shots I can second his thoughts. I would almost always go for the front portion of the green at 11 rather than bail out right - water or not. Very tough approach from the right side there.
Here are a few sites that do a fantastic job covering the event:
To see unique photographs from a few of my previous visits to Augusta National click HERE and HERE
Have a fantastic week and enjoy the golf!
Masters Week 2011 Edition
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Major season gets under way this week. Thank goodness it's that time of the year again - Masters Week! Here are my ramblings and predictions for the week.
These sites will help you keep track of all the action:
Masters.com (this site is truly exceptional)
Which even includes a live feed from the driving range......!
"Tuesday Clippings" / "Wednesday Clippings" / "Thursday Clippings" /"Saturday Clippings" / "Sunday Clippings" segment from Geoffshackelford.com
Thursday's pairings have been released.
Here's the outlook for the weather:
A heavy storm rolled through Augusta early on Tuesday morning.
Here are the odds:
| PHIL MICKELSON | +600 |
| TIGER WOODS | +1000 |
| LEE WESTWOOD | +1600 |
| NICK WATNEY | +1500 |
| MARTIN KAYMER | +2000 |
| DUSTIN JOHNSON | +2300 |
| LUKE DONALD | +2500 |
| RORY MCILROY | +2800 |
| HUNTER MAHAN | +2500 |
| PAUL CASEY | +3300 |
| MATT KUCHAR | +3000 |
| JUSTIN ROSE | +2500 |
| BUBBA WATSON | +3300 |
| GRAEME MCDOWELL | +4000 |
| PADRAIG HARRINGTON | +4000 |
| ANTHONY KIM | +3500 |
| STEVE STRICKER | +4000 |
| IAN POULTER | +5000 |
| AARON BADDELEY | +5000 |
| RETIEF GOOSEN | +6000 |
| GEOFF OGILVY | +6000 |
| MARTIN LAIRD | +6600 |
| ERNIE ELS | +6000 |
| RICKIE FOWLER | +6000 |
| KYOUNG JU CHOI | +6000 |
| JIM FURYK | +6000 |
| SERGIO GARCIA | +6000 |
| ADAM SCOTT | +5500 |
| FRANCESCO MOLINARI | +7000 |
| FIELD - ANY PLAYER NOT LISTED | +150 |
This year I am having a hard time seeing how Phil can lose. I certainly would not have said that last week, but finishing with 63, 65 on the weekend in Houston must really have his confidence up. And he has always been a streaky golfer! For some reason I like Martin Kaymer too and my sleeper pick is Martin Laird.
The other majors this year are the US Open at the newly renovated Congressional, the British Open at Royal St. Georges and the PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
If your weather is horrible and you'd like to get away and play a little golf of your own you may want to look to Hawaii. Of course you'll need Hawaii tee times.
Enjoy the golf and check back often for updates of interest.
