This particular Monday brings with it a little more nervous energy than normal and with all respect to the Bellsouth Classic it is not due to the Monday finish for this event. It is of course a Major week and the butterflies of expectation seem to always start earlier than normal.
In a lot of ways The Masters is my favourite tournament of the year. I think the combination of having the tournament played at the same course each year, the little traditions such as the honouree starters and the sheer breath taking beauty of the surroundings combine to make this week special. So they put dye in the ponds to make them bluer and more ground staff work there than the Royal Botanic Gardens of London, but more than any other course in the world, Augusta National gives you a glimpse of what Golf in Heaven is like. It still gives me shivers when I see it!
I feel a brief history of the event is appropriate.
Looking to provide a service to golf by hosting a tournament, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts decided to hold an annual event beginning in 1934. The final decision was made at a meeting in New York at the office of member W. Alton Jones. Roberts proposed the event be called the Masters Tournament, but Bobby Jones objected thinking it too presumptuous. The name Augusta National Invitation Tournament was adopted and the title was used for five years until 1939 when Jones relented and the name was officially changed.
The first Tournament was held March 22, 1934, and beginning in 1940, the Masters was scheduled each year during the first full week in April. That first Tournament was won by Horton Smith, and in the Fall of 1934 the nines were reversed. In 1935 Gene Sarazen hit "the shot heard 'round the world" scoring a double eagle on the par 5 15th hole, tying Craig Wood and forcing a playoff. Sarazen won the 36-hole playoff the following day by five strokes. In 1942 Byron Nelson defeated Ben Hogan 69-70 in an 18-hole playoff and the Tournament was not played the following three years, 1943, 1944 and 1945, during the war. To assist the war effort, cattle and turkeys were raised on the Augusta National grounds.
The 1950's included two victories by Ben Hogan, and the first of four for Arnold Palmer. Palmer's 1958 win began the tradition of Amen Corner. In 1960 the Par 3 Contest was begun, and in 1965-1966 Jack Nicklaus became the first Masters champion to defend his title successfully. During the decade of the 1970's the two founders of the Masters Tournament passed away. Both Jones and Roberts left indelible impressions on the Masters and on the world of golf. The following decade Spaniard Seve Ballesteros won twice and Tom Watson captured his second title. In 1986 at age 46, Nicklaus donned his sixth Green Jacket. And in 1997, Tiger Woods broke the Tournament four-day scoring record that had stood for 32 years. At the 2001 Masters, Woods won his fourth consecutive professional major, and in 2002 became only the third player to win consecutive Masters titles.
What does it take to win around Augusta? I believe it more than anything it takes experience. Perhaps more than any other Major tournament venue Augusta National requires the players to have local knowledge of the course on every hole. If it is not knowledge about the treacherous greens then it is knowing where to hit your tee shots on the undulating fairways, or when to attack and when to be conservative. Only Fuzzy Zoeller has won The Masters at his first attempt and I believe anyone who has not played at least five times in the tournament may struggle to contend on Sunday. The other critical factor is the player's ability to function on the greens. They are simply the toughest greens the professionals will encounter each year. They run at about 12 or 13 on the Stimpmeter, which is the equivalent of putting from the roof of your car, down the windscreen and trying to stop your ball on the bonnet! It is impossible and no putt is a guaranteed, especially on Sunday.
Selections:
Ernie Els: no player in the last five years has been more consistent that Ernie at The Masters. He has been placed no worse than sixth during this time and did everything but win the event last year. Perhaps, like Greg Norman he may mentally feel this tournament is not going to come to him but his record his hard to ignore. His play this year has been solid if not spectacular but with his length from the tee and his touch around the greens I think he can contend again this year.
Vijay Singh: unbelievably no one has tipped the big Fijian for this tournament and it is hard to understand why. He is of course a past winner and has been in fine form already this year. In fact if his luck with the putter had improved he may have already won three events. That said he is still the world number one and playing like it week in, week out. His ball striking around Augusta is always fine and it all rests on the flat stick. If he holds his fair share of putts this week then Vijay may just have another Green Jacket on Sunday.
Adam Scott: the young Australian can match with anyone in the world when he is playing well. On paper he has everything you need around Augusta - length from the tee, high lofted iron play and a solid short game. If he can get away to a good start on Thursday then Adam can contend this week. He will of course be going against my 'five years of experience' rule but if any of the younger players are ready for Augusta, he is.
Davis Love III: although his form this year has been patchy to say the least he does have proven form around Augusta and can put better than anyone on these greens. He still hits the ball miles and with years running out for him to win a second Major he may just surprise a few people this week at really good odds.
Phil Mickelson: I have a theory about Phil this week - hear me out! I think he is only going to hit the Driver on the par fives and use the 300 yard Three Wood on the par fours. This will allow him to position the ball better for his approaches into the greens. If Phil can resist the Driver on every hole this week then he may just defend his title. After all he is the hottest scoring player in the world right now and has the game, especially the short game to get the job done around Augusta. A huge chance this week!
Best of the rest: Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Craig Parry and Retief Goosen.
Best Outsider: I think Ian Poulter has the game and the belief to play well around Augusta. Could surprise some people at massive odds.
Until next week - May The Golfinggods Be With You!
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