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!