This is sure to make reader Kenny’s morning a tad more enjoyable.
Gotta love that place, Augusta National.
Tag Archives: 2011 Masters Tournament
An obit for Tiger’s aura: 1996-2011
“The aura of Tiger Woods, which was the picture of health and the envy of millions for the better part of 15 years, died peacefully over the weekend at the home of the Masters, Augusta National Golf Club. The cause of death was ordinary fallibility.”
Cleverly written, and spot-on. Tiger’s aura of invincibility indeed died on Sunday, April 10th, 2011. The only thing missing in the quote above was “with the putter” pasted at the end. Several 3-putts last week from short range, putts that most always found the cup dead-center. Now they’re merely sniffing the edges.
Sunday was undoubtedly the best that Woods has swung a golf club since his return a year ago. His swing looked reliable and confident, more like what we’ve seen in Masters tournaments of yore. His tee shots were finding the short grass, and long…. his approach shots were crisp and locked onto the target. For a brief moment on Sunday, at least for 2-and-a-half hours, the old Tiger made a special appearance. But that would all change on the back nine, where most Masters historians claim that the tournament really begins. The guy that has produced so many exciting memories in this tournament over the years, the guy who said that he needed to come out on Sunday guns blazing and did, suddenly relapsed back into the guy who appeared dazed and confused on the putting surfaces that he knows like the back of his hand.
Tiger’s golf swing was never feared by his opponents, it was his putting that made them blink. Now, he’s the one blinking.
A Tradition Like No Other
Someone somewhere is creative enough, talented enough to eloquently put into words exactly what transpired Sunday afternoon at the Masters. But unfortunately, that someone would not be yours truly. How can one truly capture the drama, the excitement, the agony, and the elation that played out earlier today at Augusta National? If someone could point me to a more thrilling theater in golf – I’m all eyes and ears. Fire away, enlighten me.
But I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for that response.
Success is typically found at the intersection of Preparedness and Opportunity. And a little luck never hurts along the way. The improbable chip-in for birdie on the opening hole, or the 100 yard wedge approach on the third hole that found the heart of the cup for eagle – take your pick. But there’s something to be said about making your own luck too, which is precisely what Charl Schwartzel did in his final 90 minutes of golf on Sunday. He became unconscious…. needing only 12 strokes to play the final four holes of the tournament, going birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie to win going away. Sorry Adam and Jason – you guys played remarkably well, but you’re not touching that finish.
Congrats to Charl Schwartzel, who on Sunday became only the 3rd South African player in history to win the Masters.
For an official recap of the 2011 Masters final round, click HERE.
Rory McIlroy Ready for Masters Sunday?
Should Rory McIlroy go on to win this week in Augusta, we can look at two shots on the way in on Saturday that played a crucial role: The first was the brilliant 2nd shot into the par5 15th, which he really had no other choice but to go for…. it was only a touch over 200 yards. But still – not an easy shot, and a shot that had to be judged perfectly to hold the green. A few feet short – his ball could end up in Rae’s Creek, a few feet long – his ball could’ve bounded over the back of the green, leaving a dicey little chip down the slope that could’ve ended up anywhere. The second clutch shot came from his approach from 156 yards behind the trees on the left, to the treacherous 17th green. The youngster hoisted a short iron through a gap in the tall pines and somehow miraculously found the green some 25 feet away, and naturally he drained the putt for birdie to get to 2-under on the day. Those two crucial shots and a timely putt helped turn a mediocre day into a pretty damned good one.
So the next question, obviously, is can he continue riding the comfort zone on Sunday that he has ridden through the first three days in Augusta? Can he go wire-to-wire and join Graeme McDowell in the rare bid of having 2 Irishmen as reigning major champions within the past year? Could we possibly be witnessing the evolution of a promising player achieving the pinnacle of greatness, essentially assuming the lead role in golf’s current youth movement?
Take a gander at his SCORECARD thru 54 holes. Only 3 bogeys. Every question, every situation, every opportunity – he’s answered or chosen correctly. There are times when you take dead-aim at some pins at this course, and there are times when you simply exercise a little restraint. McIlroy has struck the perfect balance thus far this week, playing the smart-aggressive shots when the opportunities present themselves, and avoiding the stupid-aggressive mistakes. Like the tee shot on the par3 16th on Saturday, to that tucked back-right hole location… that pin was a mere three paces from the edge, 15 feet away from bogey-or-worse ville. McIlroy resisted the urge to go pin-seeking, unlike playing competitor Jason Day, and he was rewarded with a stress-free par. Day walked away with bogey. Bad decisions like that add up over the course of a tournament, and it all plays a crucial role come Sunday.
But as much as he looks ready to take the next step to that level of greatness in his young career, as comfortable, casual and confident as his game has appeared over the past three days, and as well as his decision making, ball striking, and putting has been since Thursday morning – the most difficult part of the test that Augusta National administers each year still awaits – Sunday. Ask Scott Hoch, Kenny Perry, Greg Norman, or the number of players over countless decades that have had one arm already in the Green Jacket Saturday evening, only to find themselves bearing the brunt of the most heartless questions that could possibly be posed by reporters Sunday afternoon. There’s not enough sweet tea and pimento cheese sandwiches in Georgia that can wash that miserable taste out of one’s mouth. Yet we can’t help but ponder the other what-ifs that most always play out on Sunday at the Masters. That’s both the burden and the beauty of this majestical place called Augusta National, the definitive line between good and great, almost and is. It can be 18 beautiful holes of golf in a round that can change a life forever, or it can be the most punishing experience that a player will never forget.
Who knows what might happen Sunday, really? But this much is certain – there will be two winners tomorrow: Whoever dons the Green Jacket in Butler Cabin, and myself…. this has been one of the most enjoyable Masters as I can ever recall.
But we always seem to say that every year, don’t we…
(For the official recap of the third round action of the Masters, click HERE.)
Masters Tournament: Friday Recap
Well, if you’re a fan of professional golf you can’t possibly be upset with the way things have taken shape thus far after two rounds at Augusta National.
Rory McIlroy slept with a share of the lead Thursday night, and will drift off to sleep sometime Friday evening all alone in the top spot heading into the weekend. His 3-under round of 69 on Friday once again had several highlights, with the only difference being a few missed putts. But his response to his opening round of 7-under 65 seems to suggest that he’s not afraid of the position he’s in. The weekend hole locations will be tougher, and the greens will be noticeably firmer. But from everything that the young lad has shown us over the past two days – he seems ripe for his first major tournament win, despite his youth. McIlroy goes into the 3rd round of the Masters with a 2-shot lead, at 10-under par.
McIlroy’s co-leader after the first day, Alvaro Quiros, wasn’t quite as sharp off the tee in the second round as he was on Thursday. As a result, the tall, lanky Spaniard had a few hiccups on Friday that ultimately led to a round of 1-over 73. But he’s still in excellent position heading into the weekend, at 6-under par.
The biggest move on Friday came from another young gun who admitted that he was inspired by his Irish playing partner’s outstanding play on Thursday, and that would be Jason Day. The young Australian found his stride midway through the front side, going out in 3-under 33. Day would totally demolish a softened Augusta National on the inward nine, posting 5 birdies coming in and shooting a remarkable round of 8-under 64. He will be paired up with McIlroy for the third straight day at Augusta, and this pairing will be something to watch on Saturday. Day trails McIlroy by 2 shots.
And yet once again – K.J. Choi just seems to cruise along under the Augusta National radar through 2 rounds of another Masters tournament. Choi’s opening round of 5-under 67 wouldn’t quite be the standard again on Friday, but the veteran player from South Korea posted a seemingly effortless 2nd round score of 2-under 70 to head into the weekend at 7-under par. While I have my favorites I’m rooting for, I confess that it would be pretty neat to see Choi become the first Green Jacket winner from Asia. He’s currently in a great position to achieve that, only 3 shots back of the lead.
Finally. It appears that Tiger Woods has awakened from his year-long hibernation, at least for one day. Woods began his round in an untidy fashion on Friday by carding bogeys on 2 of the first 3 holes of the day. But on the par3 6th, Woods finally got things turned around with a birdie, then added two more birdies on holes 8 and 9, going out in 1-under 35. Then the vintage Tiger finally appeared. Aggressive tee shots were striped down the middle, crisp approach shots peppered the flags, and his old trusty putting stroke returned. This is the guy we all remember, the guy who turned a dreadful start on Friday into a remarkable round of 6-under 66. Woods has a history of struggle on the weekend over the past year, so it will be interesting to see if he can continue maintaining his momentum. But if the same guy shows up on Saturday, a lot of people will be taking note.
And last but certainly not least – the timeless Freddie Couples is once again in the mix heading into a weekend at Augusta. A lone bogey on the par3 16th would be the only blemish on his card Friday, but a 4-under round of 68 moved him up into a tie for 7th, 5-under par. How cool would it be for a 50-yr-old to become the oldest Masters Champion in Masters history, on the 25th anniversary of Jack’s win at the age of 46 no less….
For a full recap of Friday’s action at the Masters, click HERE.
2011 Masters: Thursday Recap
Is it just me, or does Augusta National get more and more beautiful each year? For the first time ever I’m finally seeing the rich green texture of lush fairways and the vibrant colors of the Azaleas courtesy of high-def. Even the water running through Rae’s Creek looks potable…. I bet they could bottle that and sell it for a pretty penny.
Anywho, the first day thoughts are in order.
And there’s no better place to start than with the kid from the only place on earth where the grass might possibly be greener than where he is this week, and that’s none other than Ireland’s own Rory McIlroy. The young lad showed signs of absolute brilliance Thursday, resembling the form from his incredible final round victory of 10-under 62 at Quail Hollow last season. But Sean Martin over at GolfWeek reminds us that this isn’t the first time that the young lad has put up a wonderful number, only to stumble badly the next day. Of course, he’s talking about McIlroy’s opening round of 63 at St. Andrews in the Open Championship last summer, and his subsequent 17-shot swing for a score of 80 the very next day. Obviously the conditions Friday at Augusta will be nothing like what the field faced that Friday in the Open Championship, but nevertheless – it’s not easy following up a great round of golf in the majors. “I’ll be thinking about it and I’ll be thinking about how I can do things better tomorrow than I did that day,” he said. “So if I do find myself in a bit of trouble, I’m going to have to stick in there, grind it out, and that’s something that I feel as if I learned to do at St. Andrews.”
But as good as McIlroy’s round on Thursday was, it would be matched by a long hitting Spaniard who reminded us precisely why the folks at Augusta National felt it necessary to stretch the course another 300 yards or so over the past several years. But as impressive as Alvaro Quiros’ enormous length off the tee might have been on Thursday, so to was his performance on the greens with the putter. Quiros nearly birdied half the holes in his opening round, carding 8 total…. Only one blemish on the card came as a result of a bogey on the 440yd par4 14th. But despite the lone bogey he still managed 4-under on the back, thanks to a brilliant approach shot to 5 feet on the 18th for birdie. His opening round of 7-under 65 puts him tied atop the leaderboard with McIlroy heading into Friday, and 10 strokes better than his prior best-ever score at Augusta.
The Rest of the Leaderboard
McIlroy and Quiros weren’t the only players to take advantage of excellent scoring conditions on Thursday, as the wind was almost nonexistent for the most part in the opening round. In all, 30 players managed under-par rounds on Day 1 at Augusta. Here’s a quick look at the rest of the top 10 after the first round.
T3 – Y.E. Yang & K.J. Choi – 5-under 67
T5 – Matt Kuchar & Rickie Barnes – 4-under 68
T7 – Ross Fisher, Brandt Snedeker, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy, Gary Woodland – 3-under 69
How the top 10 in the OWGR are Faring:
#1 Martin Kaymer – Not good, as in most likely needing a miracle to see the weekend. +6 on Thursday and continues to struggle at Augusta.
#2 Lee Westwood – Tough opening round, 4 birdies, 4 bogeys. Level par and 7 shots off the lead heading into Friday.
#3 Phil Mickelson – 2-under 70 doesn’t sound all that impressive, until you consider he only found 4 fairways on the round. Maybe he should’ve carried 2 drivers…
#4 Luke Donald – Did very little to disprove the Par3 Contest Jinx on Thursday. 5 bogeys, 3 birdies, 1 eagle… Feast or famine type round.
#5 Graeme McDowell – Missed the cut in 2010, and will need to post a red number Friday to avoid missing the cut this time around. +2 in his opening round.
#6 Paul Casey – Carded 6 birdies, but unfortunately gave 4 shots back with bogeys. 2-under keeps him somewhere within reach heading into Friday.
#7 Tiger Woods – Average…. 3 birdies, 2 bogeys, 1-under par on Thursday. Remember that song, “This used to be my playground” by Madonna? He’s singing it…
#8 Steve Stricker – Level par on Thursday, 7 shots back. One would think that one of the best putters on tour would have a distinct advantage in this tourney….
#9 Rory McIlroy – We’re talking dream round… 7-under 65. can he keep things in perspective over the next 3 days and not get ahead of himself? If so, I love his chances.
#10 Matt Kuchar – Nice start for Kooch, 4-under 68. If he can do this 3 more times, I’m guessing he will be the guy in Butler Cabin Sunday evening.
Closing Thoughts
The final pairing of Quiros, Vegas, and Woodland was a treat to watch on Thursday, kudos to the Masters tournament committee for giving us that pairing…. Friday will be a crucial day for those over-par, and all eyes will be on the top 4 names on the leaderboard as it relates to the 10-stroke margin in effect this week. The temps are supposed to warm up dramatically over the next 3 days, and the scores will most likely reflect that. As the course dries out and firms up, I suspect that rounds of 3-under par will be very good, especially if the wind kicks up, which is always the case. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some more low scores on Friday, but I think that changes come the weekend.
All in all, a very entertaining first day at Augusta National.
This is Augusta National, Son… Wear that Hat Accordingly.
Aah… you just gotta love everything about the Masters. They don’t give a flying rat fart where you came from, what your background might be, who your daddy or mommy might be, your past accomplishments, or any of that jazz.
I remember reading years ago about a long-haired player (who is now probably Champions Tour age, sorry – can’t remember his name…) who was attending his very first Masters Tournament back in the 70′s. Cliff Roberts was still alive and kicking, and was walking the premises when he came upon this player who was just standing there minding his own business. Roberts asked the player, “So, how are you enjoying your first Masters experience, son?” The player said, “Just fine, Mr. Roberts. Enjoying myself a lot.” Without skipping a beat, Roberts said, “Good. But I think you might enjoy it more if you would cut that hair.”
That story has always stayed with me over the years, and really signifies just how much control the MOTM (Men of the Masters) don’t mind exercising on occasion. It is their tournament, afterall.
So earlier this week, Rickie Fowler was at the media center and preparing to talk to the press. As Jim McCabe reports over at GolfWeek, the youngster ran afoul of the decorum that has become as much a part of Masters Lore as the blooming Azaleas on the property.
Rickie Fowler discovered that rules carry some weight at Augusta National.
A second request to turn it around was granted by Fowler.”
Jinx be Damned: Luke Donald Wins Masters Par3 Contest
“Some short shots that you hit out here are similar to the course, so it’s partly why I play some years,” said Donald, who is seeking his first major crown. “I think that it’s good preparation. If you’re hitting wedges close it’s only a good thing.” – Luke Donald, after winning the traditional Wednesday par3 Tournament at the Masters
His win at the WGC Accenture Matchplay certainly put him on the map early in 2011, but if he contends this week at Augusta – he’ll have to rely on his patented wedge-play precision. But Luke Donald could factor into this tournament this week, for that very reason. Don’t count him out, just because he’s not a long hitter….
Augusta National to Consider Downsizing Future Masters Tournaments?
This year’s Masters Tournament has 99 playing competitors, the largest field since 1966, the 4th largest field in tournament history. But don’t expect that trend to continue, at least according to Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne.
Oh the joys of being independent, not affiliated with any professional tour, and not being controlled by the almighty dollar…. If Billy Payne wants fewer players, he will get fewer players. And his tournament will still be the biggest show in golf each year on this side of the pond, I might add.
The only question remaining – where exactly will the slashing will begin?
Masters Streaming Live Coverage
For Wednesday’s Par3 Contest, click HERE.
FWIW, this should be the same link to get live streaming coverage throughout all 4 days of the tournament as well.
You’re welcome!
