Masters 2012

[mr. synellinden]

On the eve of the season's first major, I can't remember being this excited about the Masters. I've spent way too much time watching preview coverage, and I'm not making any plans this weekend so I can watch all of the broadcast coverage of the final two rounds.

There are so many great storylines, and so many of the top players in the world are in coming in hot. I fully expect a lot of the top 10 players to be in contention on Sunday, and I also have a gut feeling that Tiger is going to win this thing by a few strokes at least. Here's an interesting tidbit, during the past six years, Woods - through all the ups and very downs of his personal life and golf game - has not finished worse than 6th at Augusta. I think he needs to be a B+ putter this week to win. The one thing that could be an issue for him is the short game, which has not been quite as sharp his driving and iron shots - including at Bay Hill - and will be crucial this week.

[hurleyfor3]

Woods - through all the ups and very downs of his personal life and golf game - has not finished worse than 6th at Augusta.

Only true since 2005. He was T15 in '03 and T22 in '04. He has a long way to go to match Nicklaus' British Open streak.

[mr. synellinden]

Only true since 2005. He was T15 in '03 and T22 in '04. He has a long way to go to match Nicklaus' British Open streak.

Yes - wrote that it was "during the past six years". The point is - even in the years when he was playing arguably his worst golf, he still contended in the Masters every year.

[hurleyfor3]

OK, true enough.

In any event, we'll know whether he gets major #15 by the close of business Saturday.

[OldPhiKap]

It's been really hot and dry here for the last three weeks, but heavy rain last night and I think they just cleared the course due to lightning. Not sure if the Par-3 contest is on hold or has been cancelled.

Azaleas already bloomed through, but course is otherwise in excellent shape par usual.

[mr. synellinden]

It's been really hot and dry here for the last three weeks, but heavy rain last night and I think they just cleared the course due to lightning. Not sure if the Par-3 contest is on hold or has been cancelled.

Azaleas already bloomed through, but course is otherwise in excellent shape par usual.

Pun intended?

Supposedly the rain storm last night was so bad, it completely washed out a few of the bunkers (hard to imagine, but that's what I heard), which have since been repaired. More thunderstorms are forecasted for tomorrow and Friday - and the high on Friday is supposed to be 59. Might be more like British Open conditions than the Masters. The weekend is supposed to be perfect though - sunny, warm, very little wind. And with all the rain, you have to figure the greens will be more manageable. We could see people challenging the course record on Saturday and Sunday.

[OldPhiKap]

Pun intended?

Supposedly the rain storm last night was so bad, it completely washed out a few of the bunkers (hard to imagine, but that's what I heard), which have since been repaired. More thunderstorms are forecasted for tomorrow and Friday - and the high on Friday is supposed to be 59. Might be more like British Open conditions than the Masters. The weekend is supposed to be perfect though - sunny, warm, very little wind. And with all the rain, you have to figure the greens will be more manageable. We could see people challenging the course record on Saturday and Sunday.

They delayed opening the gates this morning. Not sure what the issues were. It was a pretty brutal storm.

I'm seeing a high of 65 for Friday with morning showers possible. As the saying goes, if you don't like the weather at the Masters don't worry -- it'll change soon enough.

The big question is going to be wind. The greens should be softened up; question is whether the wind will let you get the ball to the spot on the green you need. So little room for error.

[OldPhiKap]

Par Three Contest stopped because of lightning; Harrington and Byrd tied for first at 5-under and declared winners.

No one has ever won the Par Three contest and the Tournament in the same year, FWIW.

[Verga3]

On the eve of the season's first major, I can't remember being this excited about the Masters. I've spent way too much time watching preview coverage, and I'm not making any plans this weekend so I can watch all of the broadcast coverage of the final two rounds.

There are so many great storylines, and so many of the top players in the world are in coming in hot. I fully expect a lot of the top 10 players to be in contention on Sunday, and I also have a gut feeling that Tiger is going to win this thing by a few strokes at least. Here's an interesting tidbit, during the past six years, Woods - through all the ups and very downs of his personal life and golf game - has not finished worse than 6th at Augusta. I think he needs to be a B+ putter this week to win. The one thing that could be an issue for him is the short game, which has not been quite as sharp his driving and iron shots - including at Bay Hill - and will be crucial this week.

I would not be shocked if Tiger won. Rory is my pick this year.

[rthomas]

My pick this year is Bubba. Two advantages at Augusta - distance and being a lefty.

[Indoor66]

My pick this year is Bubba. Two advantages at Augusta - distance and being a lefty.

The problem for Bubba is that he is having a lot of trouble with the flat stick.

[JasonEvans]

Early scores --

Stenson 3-under thru 6
Kaymer 2-under thru 11
Lawrie 1-under thru 14
Harrington 1-under thru 10
Woods 1-under thru 4

[hurleyfor3]

Henrik Stenson cruises on the back nine until making an 8 on 18. And how did he make an 8? By missing a three-footer for 7, of course. Really.

[Tom B.]

Henrik Stenson cruises on the back nine until making an 8 on 18. And how did he make an 8? By missing a three-footer for 7, of course. Really.

Stenson's back nine was actually kind of wild all around. On 15, for instance, he put his drive in the pine trees to the right and had to play a punch shot off the pine straw back into the fairway. He threaded his shot through a narrow gap between two trees, except his reaction immediately after he hit the ball told you that wasn't where he wanted to go -- he was actually aiming at a different gap between two different trees about 10-15 yards to the left. No worries, the ball made it through and came to rest in the fairway, effectively laying up for a nice little wedge to get on in regulation -- which he promptly overjuiced and sent the ball rolling completely through the green. What does he do next? Chips in from behind the green, of course, for a ho-hum zero-putt birdie.

Guess things finally caught up with him on 18. I didn't actually see it -- just how did he make a quad? Did he hit his drive OB or something?

[hurleyfor3]

Guess things finally caught up with him on 18. I didn't actually see it -- just how did he make a quad? Did he hit his drive OB or something?

No penalty strokes on his 8, surprisingly.

1 way left into the straw
2 hits it about 30 feet, still in the straw
3 kind of worm burns it to the other side of the fairway
4 airmails the green back left
5 pitches it short, still not on the green yet
6 rolls it about 3½ feet by
7 side-lips putt to right
8 in the hole

Tiger took an unplayable on 18, his second unplayable of the day actually, but managed not to make 8.

[OldPhiKap]

Rain coming per radar pretty soon

[pfrduke]

No penalty strokes on his 8, surprisingly.

1 way left into the straw
2 hits it about 30 feet, still in the straw
3 kind of worm burns it to the other side of the fairway
4 airmails the green back left
5 pitches it short, still not on the green yet
6 rolls it about 3½ feet by
7 side-lips putt to right
8 in the hole.

That's an almost perfect description of pretty much every hole I play.

[mr. synellinden]

That's an almost perfect description of pretty much every hole I play.

Stenson's adventure on 18 compared with Tiger's is a perfect example of why golf is such a mental game and how much that contributes to being able to win major championships.

Stenson hit his tee shot into the trees on the left same as Tiger. Tiger had an unplayable lie so was hitting three from the pine straw. Stenson couldn't get his ball out of the trees so he was hitting three from the pine straw too. Tiger smacked his third shot short and left of the green leaving himself a very difficult short-sided up and down for bogey. Stenson "worm-burned' his third shot but made it out on the fairway wedge distance from the hole. So both were hitting their fourth shot from off the green, and I bet most pros would have preferred Stenson's position to Tiger's. Yet the difference was in their heads. After hitting the worm-burner, Stenson angrily swung his club into the ground - and that was where he lost the chance to salvage the hole. His anger led to him flying the green in a situation where he probably hits the green 90% of the time. Instead of maintaing his composure, making an easy wedge shot and walking away with no worse than a 6 (leaving him at -3 or -4 if he could make the bogey putt), he lost his mind for 10 minutes and made four consecutive bad shots.

On the other hand, Tiger made an unbelievable pitch and run for his fourth shot and made the bogey putt - saving a critical stroke. That's where majors are won and lost. We'll see where Stenson's head is today, but he probably lost any chance at winning the Masters with that angry reaction and swing of the golf club in frustration.

[OldPhiKap]

Stenson's adventure on 18 compared with Tiger's is a perfect example of why golf is such a mental game and how much that contributes to being able to win major championships.

Stenson hit his tee shot into the trees on the left same as Tiger. Tiger had an unplayable lie so was hitting three from the pine straw. Stenson couldn't get his ball out of the trees so he was hitting three from the pine straw too. Tiger smacked his third shot short and left of the green leaving himself a very difficult short-sided up and down for bogey. Stenson "worm-burned' his third shot but made it out on the fairway wedge distance from the hole. So both were hitting their fourth shot from off the green, and I bet most pros would have preferred Stenson's position to Tiger's. Yet the difference was in their heads. After hitting the worm-burner, Stenson angrily swung his club into the ground - and that was where he lost the chance to salvage the hole. His anger led to him flying the green in a situation where he probably hits the green 90% of the time. Instead of maintaing his composure, making an easy wedge shot and walking away with no worse than a 6 (leaving him at -3 or -4 if he could make the bogey putt), he lost his mind for 10 minutes and made four consecutive bad shots.

On the other hand, Tiger made an unbelievable pitch and run for his fourth shot and made the bogey putt - saving a critical stroke. That's where majors are won and lost. We'll see where Stenson's head is today, but he probably lost any chance at winning the Masters with that angry reaction and swing of the golf club in frustration.

Excellent point.

Experience on the course and in majors also helps. Tiger knows that the pin is on the back shelf, and has hit the shot he played before. He also knows that you won't win the Masters on Thursday but you can sure shoot yourself out of it. Stenson may have thought he had to carry the ball to the back shelf, and was pressing to try and get it close for a reasonable bogey putt.

[Tom B.]

And here comes Rory....he's three under par on the day through seven holes, now just one shot off the lead.