Month: April 2008

The Masters Round Two

The Cut

The cut came a three over par, which leaves a lot of big players out of weekend play. Ernie Els’ coaching switch from David Leadbetter to Butch Harmon wasn’t enough to keep Ernie in contention this week. Sergio Garcia continues to search for his competitive spirit and once-superb shot-making abilities. Both missed the cut by one shot.

Freddie Couples has made the cut every one of the 23 years he’s played the Masters. That streak came to an end today when he, too, missed by one. He will share the cuts made streak with Gary Player, who broke records of his own this week.

As previously mentioned, Gary Player set the record for most consecutive Masters played in at 51. One more than Arnold Palmer, who opted for the honorary starter position this year.

My prediction for the player to break the 23 consecutive cuts made streak is Tiger Woods. He’s at 11 and counting. Though he never plays well the first two days at Augusta, he doesn’t shoot himself out of the tournament, either. If and when Tiger breaks this record, he’ll be 44 years old.

Almost Moving Day

Saturday is usually moving day, but there were quite a few solid scores today. Leader Trevor Immelmen posted another four under par 68. Other low rounds include Steve Flesch shooting the low round of the tournament, a five under 67. Others posting second rounds of 68 include Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker, and Mike Weir.

Saturday is Moving Day

Tiger Woods has the most to lose on Saturday. He’s at one under par for the tournament and seven back of the leaders. He needs to get off to an early start and finish within three or four of the leaders. The largest 36-hole comeback was Jackie Burk from eight back in 1956.

If Woods can’t make the charge, my money is on Mickelson come Sunday.

I’m looking forward to the extended coverage tomorrow and Sunday. Who do you think will win?

Gary Player Loves to Workout

Congratulations to Gary Player for breaking 80 today. He was proud of it and said he would be coming back to play next year because of it. I guess that means we won’t see the trifecta of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary as the honorary starters for at least another year.

Why is Gary able to keep playing after all of these years? Well, he will explain ad nauseum that it’s because he’s been working out for 63 years.

Gary Player never stops talking about working out. For every question he’s asked, his answer somehow ends up relating back to how he loves working out. He never stops talking about it.

Here are some possible questions and Gary’s likely answers:

Q: Gary, what do you think of the economy?
Gary: Well, I’d just like to say that I’ve been working out for 63 years. The economy is in bad shape because not enough young people are working out.

Q: Gary, why is the sky blue?
Gary: Well, I’d just like to say that I love a good work out under a blue sky. Nothing better.

Q: Gary, how is your golf course design business going?
Gary: Well, it’s working out great because I work out.

Cut Day at The Masters

How the cut works:

The field is cut to the low 44 and ties. Anyone within ten shots of the leader gets to play the weekend, too.

Projected Cut

The cut should fall at +3 or +4. Unless something really funky happens, then the ten-shot rule won’t come into play. There are currently ten players tied for 42nd at +3.

Player Projections

My not-so-early prediction is that Trevor Immelman’s eight under par will hold-up through the end of the day. Phil Mickelson is three under through 13 holes, but is still four back of Immelman. Tiger birdied his first hole, which bodes well for his round. Yesterday his play was boring consistent. He needs to make a move to position himself for the weekend.

Defending champion Zach Johnson is even par through two holes and two under for the tournament. Looks like he’ll make the cut unless he implodes this afternoon.

Why Twitter Is Great for Golfers

I use a micro blogging service called twitter. Twitter prompts you with the question, “What are you doing?” You then respond with a short message of 140 characters or less. (Same limit placed on text messages from your phone.) The typical use of twitter is much broader than this question. People take notes on it, converse with each other and track things.

My username is guyrogers and you can find my profile and posts here. While most people find the service to be completely pointless, I see great value in twitter for golfers.

Five great ways golfers and fans can leverage twitter:

1. Track shots during a practice round
2. Update friends and family about a player
3. Chat with one another about TV tournaments
4. Follow PGA Tour twitter updates
5. Track and create a record for friendly bets on the course*

*No comment on the intelligence of creating a public record of potentially illegal activity.

I’ve only found one other twitterer who will admit to being a golfer. Do you twitter? Do you twitter AND golf? If you do, find me and follow me. Happy twittering!

The Masters Round One

I was busy with class and such, so I did what I could to keep up with the Masters today. Thanks to the live online coverage via Masters.org I was able to see the groups passing through Amen Corner and holes 15 and 16. While I was driving around, XM Radio had some decent coverage.

My first thought right now is that I’m going to have to do more than one post per day because there’s just way too much to write about here. For now, though, you get it all lumped together.

The Beginning

Honorary starter Arnold Palmer kicked off the tournament with a drive into the early morning fog. (Video via ESPN) The first competitors, former major champions Ben Curtis and Sean Micheel, were off an hour late because of the fog. This year marks the end of their five-year exemptions to the Masters. Next year, you won’t see them playing unless they qualify.

Following the Defending Champion

It’s not unheard of for the defending champion to miss the cut. Mike Weir missed it in 2004 after winning in 2003.

That’s why it’s awesome that defending champion Zach Johnson shot a solid round of two under par. I don’t see him going low tomorrow with the mounting pressure and dryer course, but he’ll definitely make the cut.

The Assumed Champion Tiger Woods

I’m pretty sure every single person who has made a prediction about who will win the 2008 Masters picked Tiger Woods to win. If they didn’t, they obviously didn’t get the meme.

Tiger Woods was Mister Consistent for twelve holes before thoroughly botching the 13th hole. It took him two chips to get on the green. Still angered by bogeying a par five, he bogeyed the 14th hole, too. The chip-in eagle on the 15th brought him back to even where he finishd the day. All in all, a typical first round for Tiger. He never plays well on Thursday at the Masters.

Here’s the ESPN recap of Tiger’s first day.

Here’s Tiger’s post-round interview:

* “You don’t really shoot low rounds here any more.”
* “I only heard one roar all day” (Referring to Poulter’s hole-in-one)

What Others Have to Say

Clarification of the Mickelson gambling story. (GolfWeek)

I had no idea Hank Kuehn and Venus Williams were dating. Hanks brother Trip is playing as an amateur in his last Masters.

The Golf Blog asks who Butch Harmon’s best student is: Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson or Adam Scott?

More soon!

How to Follow Your Favorite Players

The first thing I always look for when I see the pairings for the first time is what time Tiger Woods is teeing off. If it’s early, the broadcast will usually do an extensive highlight reel of his round at the beginning of their coverage and I need to be sure I turn it on promptly. If it’s late, then he’ll be live on TV.

There is, however, pretty substantial online coverage of the play this year. Additional live coverage before the TV broadcast and live coverage online of Amen Corner and Holes 15 and 16 will ensure that you can at least catch a glimpse of your favorite picks.

Tiger’s teeing off at 10:45am on Thursday. Assuming a 4.5 hour round, that means he should be finished before the ESPN broadcast begins at 4pm. However, there is an hour of live coverage online at Masters.org from 3pm to 4pm.

Amen corner will be shown live online from 10:45am to 5:45pm on Thursday and Friday and starting an hour later on the weekend.

Holes 15 and 16 will be shown live online from 10:45am to 6:45pm.

So, if your favorite player is teeing off too early for TV, there’s always the internet. The online video works beautifully and gives you the option to create a customized leaderboard.

Best of the Masters

Pure Domination – 1997

Tiger Woods’ 1997 record-setting victory. I was and still am a huge Tiger Woods fan. Just that past summer I watched and rewatched on tape Tiger’s 1996 U.S. Amateur victory over Steve Scott. Those two tournaments may still be the two best golf tournaments I’ve ever seen.

Win One for the Oldies – 1986

This is a tie between Jack Nicklaus’ win in 1986 at the age of 46 and Tiger Woods’ 1997 victory. Although I am a huge golf fan, I don’t have the appreciation for Jack Nicklaus’ greatness that others do who saw him play in his prime. Although, without Nicklaus there might not be a Tiger Woods.

Most Depressing – 1996

Greg Norman’s meltdown to Nick Faldo in 1996 was extremely tough to watch. I’m still not sure what happened there. On a much much smaller scale, I’ve lost tournaments down the stretch and been disappointed. I can’t begin to imagine the self-doubt that Norman experienced after that tournament.

It’s those situations where remembering that golf is just a game is both the best and hardest thing to do.

Tear-Jerker – 1995

Ben Crenshaw’s victory in 1995 could also be known as “Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul.” He won that tournament for the late and great teacher Harvey Penick. Penick, who taught Tom Kite and Crenshaw among many other greats, passed away just a week before the 1995 Masters.

If you’ve never read Penick’s Little Red Book or Little Green Book, you’re not a true golf fan.

Clutch Finishing Hole – 1998 & 2004

I was happy for Phil Mickelson when he won for the first time in 2004. It was his first major and has changed him as a player. He earned it, too, with a great birdie putt to win by one over Ernie Els on the final hole. And the unforgettable six-inch vertical victory jump.

Mark O’Meara should get a nod here, too. He birdied 18 on Sunday to win by one, a feat that’s only been done four times in the history of the Masters.