PGA Tour: HE'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Masters: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).Martin Laird of course; you didn't think I was talking about the guy who's on the cover of every golf magazine and even some others did you? Or even that young Northern Irishman we've heard so much about?

No, Martin Laird's fantastic final round last Sunday in San Antonio not only stuck two fingers through the Ballwasher who doubted his resolve after a dismal nine-month spell. But also earned a ticket to Augusta National and finds himself in the "long shot, stranger things have happened, but not many" category for The Masters. More on that later.

2).The TPC San Antonio, ("Greg Norman designs golf courses to test professional golfers, not to please professional golfers," said Padraig Harrington), certainly looked much easier on the eye than in years past and it seemed that most pros who turned up enjoyed their week; some will hopefully even be back.
But play was dreadfully slow and one young American is just another guilty party who I hadn't spotted before. Daniel Summerhays, good lord, how long does it take you to hit the golf ball? Summerhays seemed to turn to Winterhays during some of his pre-shot routines.

3).And, while our thoughts turn to Magnolia Drive, our annual word in tribute to the Welshman from Bangor, Errie Ball, who played in the first Masters and is still alive today, hopefully to tell the tale, at 102.

4).Billy Payne has two new members this year, one who's just gone up one rung, presumably, on the list of the World's most evil women, the other who got her invite the old-fashioned way, thru' connections. (Have a personal interest in Darla Moore's richly endowed University of South Carolina's Moore School Of Business, so pleased to see her being honoured with a membership.)

5).With McIlroy and Woods striking form, I'd say this Masters, more than most, is almost certain to go to a favourite if, not necessarily, THE favourite. So let's look at some long shots and the owgr Top 25 for a form guide, with all the usual biases of course:

"Long shots, stranger things have happened, but not many":

#269: Angel Cabrera: You may think there's more chance of him attending Thatcher's funeral but, hey, this man hasn't forgotten how to play the game, he's physically fitter, has shown glimpses of form, and knows how to win - and how many can say that?

#56: Well, Martin Laird certainly can! 20th first time around Augusta, 50-something last year, but if he can putt like last week who knows? He hits the ball perfectly for the course, but it will be all about course management and his short game for Martin. The Laird of San Antonio with 22 Sunday putts, or the Laird of Florida when he took eight 3-putts each at Bay Hill and Tampa?

#41: Henrik Stenson: Eccentric as ever but plenty long enough and can putt well. On my e.w. list at 75/1.

#38: Scott Piercy: Thinks he's the best golfer the world has ever seen. Still seething at the perceived injustice of not being interviewed on TV after his demolition of Luke Donald at the MatchPlay. The favourite, in his eyes anyway, and don't you dare discount his chances!

6).21 - 25:
#25: Furyk: Planning to attack Augusta with two drivers but hasn't done better than 4th here and not likely to this week.

#24: Els: Terrible year so far, seems to have lost confidence just when he needs it most.

#23: Watney: Jekyll and Hyde, Would love to see him take the proverbial next step but don't see it this week.

#22: Hanson: 3rd last year but in much better form coming in than this year's version. Wouldn't count him out completely, top ten material.

#21: Mahan: A couple of Masters' top tens under his belt, but something's been missing this past year and I can't see him finding it at Augusta.

7).16 - 20:
#20: Simpson: His US Open win apart, hasn't really had that great a last 18 months. Can't see it improving here.

#19: Dustin Johnson: Augusta National is made for Dustin - no par 5's here for him, but nothing inside the Top 30 here yet, and his dodgy short game will frustrate him again this week.

#18: Dufner: Good start a year ago but faded. If his Dufnering pic's are anything to go by he's still asleep.

#17: McDowell: Top 15 material, doesn't fancy some of the tee shots here and, until he does, can't see him contending.

#16: Garcia: This place frustrates the sh1t out of him. Shame, might get close, but not close enough.

8).11 - 15:
#15: Schwartzel: 2011 winner and no reason to think he can't win another one. Except none of the five South African Major (and Players) winners these past eight years have won since on the PGA Tour. Top three candidate.

#14: Bubba Watson: It's all about his emotions - I fancy a left-hander but perhaps not this one.

#13: Westwood: Nope, not this year, Lee, not until your short game and your long game are on the same page. But, if he can somehow be -10 on the par fives, he'll be right there. Nah.

#12: Poulter: Would love to see Poults win a Biggie but reckon Augusta National is too long for him, too much pressure on his mid and long irons. Top 15 though.

#11: Bradley: Lots of top tens this year and may score another one. Plenty long enough but can't see that short game winning a Green Jacket.

9).6 - 10:
#10: Kuchar: 3rd last year, plods along with that inane-looking, sh1t-eating grin of his and, hey presto, he's right there. Top 5 perhaps, but Green Jacket? Perhaps not, e.w. value though at 33/1 or 40's.

#9: Mickelson: My choice last year and should've, would've and certainly could've . . . . Those triple bogeys did him in. My idea of the man to beat, not scared to win and probably doesn't want it so manically much as Number One.

#8: Stricker: Says he's "still trying to figure out Augusta". I bracket him with Poults, his long game puts too much pressure on his world-class short game; top 20 probable but can't see him in the shake-up.

#7: Scott: No form to speak of this season; plays a bizarre schedule and who knows if he's up for this? Not worth the risk.

#6: Oosthuizen: Difficult for me to separate the two South African Kings: He was devastated by last year's play-off defeat, but can he bounce back? Sh1t or bust I'd think - at his best a sure-fire contender.

10).1 - 5:
#5: Snedeker: Has been out injured for most of the past two months, no cuts made since his early season super form. Certainly has the game, but feel he's still slightly under-cooked for this week. The Sneds of the past year a certain Major winner - just not this week.

#4: Donald: No form for ages. The 2011 model Luke would be a contender anywhere, but not the short-and-crooked version of years ago which has made an unwelcome return - might get away with it at Hilton Head but not 150 miles up the road at Augusta.

#3: Rose: Which Justin will we see? The winner at such top courses as Aronomink and Muirfield Village, or the strutter who flatters only to deceive, but then burns up the final nine holes for a back-door podium finish? Until he can prove that he won't wilt when the heat turns up, I'd have him down as a likely top tenner, not a winner.

#2: And then there's Rory. If his confidence right now was as high as Scott Piercy's I'd ink him in to his first Green Jacket, but his driver left him a bit last Sunday and he won't be "back" until he's back. Not many would be surprised to see him win; me neither, but perhaps not this year.

#1: Tiger: The only person who can beat Tiger is Tiger, and his ambition and anxiety to earn his next Major. Until he does it, I'd bet against him and gamble that Tiger will beat Tiger. As we saw at Bay Hill, though, the old intimidation factor is back and, if he putts like he did in Orlando and hits 60% of the fairways, he'll win this. For me, I'd bet the field against him.


Can't wait though, although we'll have to put up with the unctuous, over-reverential tones of CBS - would be nice to think they'll have a commentator under the age of 50, a breath of fresh air so sorely needed, but no chance of that. The weather should have the course in perfect condition, but there's a chance of severe storms Thursday p.m. into Friday, after which the sun will shine.

I fancy Phil to win, but Bones (perhaps the only born-in-Britain winner this year?) has to keep him focussed. Reckon Louis and Charl will be right there and fancy Kuchar as best outsider, Stenson best complete long-shot.

Guan was painfully slow yesterday too. There's nothing unfair about it. They're given warnings and put on the clock. He's only himself to blame. Lesson learnt hopefully.

a 14 yr old taking that long. seriously - he might be the best ever 14 yr old golfer but thats is not my kind of golf..He didnt come from the Mysti school

Excellent finish from Cabrera, birdies the last (and 5 of the last 6) to post 4-under.

Re the penalty, the way they judge slow play is all wrong; timing people on individual shots, when that is far from the only reason for slow play, is ridiculous. I'm all for stamping it out (I think taking any longer than 3 hours for a round of golf is too long) but can't agree that this particular penalty is the right way to go about it.

kwinigolfer wrote:
This would be the first time a golfer has been penalised a stroke for slow play since the 90's.

to clarify, the first time a PGAT golfer has been penalized.

ralph it sounds like he may have been warned many many times...the kid probally got 5 extra warnings because he is a kid..
plus add the fact he has a belly putter- nah i dont like him allready ... I hope he becomes part of the game though and does really well. He are going to need a new villian of the game when woods is gone

Dustbin what a mess..

How slow he actually was is not the point - making an example of a 14 year old amateur on such a stage in the worlds view is shameful. .

Was there any posts in this thread (or anywhere) that Guan was playing slow yesterday.

I didn't see any.

lardy if he has been warned 20 times and not done anything about it- what do the organizers do?

if your old enough to play- your old enough to get fined..

by the way i dont know if he was warned loads or not- but the commentators have suggested that he has and not done anything about it..

Couples finishes on -5 overall, whilst Dustin is imploding.

Leishman to -6 and outright lead

GPB wrote:Was there any posts in this thread (or anywhere) that Guan was playing slow yesterday.

I didn't see any.

Its not something you notice unless you are told about it. the cameras wouldnt have showed him live much

So then Lairdy, what you're effectively saying is that because he's a kid, an exception should be made?

I didn't either, not just in this thread, not anywhere.

If he was painfully slow Thursday, why wasn't the media having a go, instead of bigging him up at every syllable?

Having said that, surely Crenshaw should have gee'd him up a but, unfair on Matteo otherwise? As Crenshaw was busy hitting his ball 84 times, who knows if there were mitigating circumstances?

I know, rules is rules. But still.

Perhaps someone wil have the nuts to sanction Harrington or Bradley or Simpson - just to mention Major Champs.

Could the coverage show one englishmans shot!!!

Rory drops a shot on 16

mystiroakey wrote:ralph it sounds like he may have been warned many many times...the kid probally got 5 extra warnings because he is a kid..
plus add the fact he has a belly putter- nah i dont like him allready ... I hope he becomes part of the game though and does really well. He are going to need a new villian of the game when woods is gone

I actually hate slow play but the key thing here is, did his group lose their place on the course? If the answer is no then surely how long one player is taking on individual shots is not the problem, the problem is how long most, if not all, of them are taking in general..and the fact that one of his playing partners was shooting 84 probably didn't help contribute to the overall pace of play either..

Mysti - You need to pony up and buy your way into CBS' TV slot. You'll have to sell some of the Queen's artwork!

This toon-a-mint getting tighter than L Vonn in her skinny jeans.

Justin Rose is dressed like an orderly from a US Mental Hospital today.

Did anyone see it? According to Butch Harmon he took forever and received numerous warnings, officials must have had no choice. Is Paramor in charge this week?

So Crenshaw shoots 84......Crenshaw makes 4 at 16. Matteo makes 5 at 16 (in water??) and it's the young man who becomes the first ever player to be penalised a shot,at 14, in his first ever PGA Tour event.

And Bernhard Langer,Harrington & Crane have never been sanctioned over the years...............

It's disgusting...................

kwini, there was one hole in particular yesterday that drew my attention to just how slow he is. Think it was the 13th??? Anyway, he took forever to decide which club to lay up with. Seems to me this is the way he's been taught to play the game.

The older people get the more they seem to moan about slow play.

There are worse places to die than on the golf course you know Gael.

Slow play is the worst thing ever.

But to the little lads credit - good interview. more mature than most at that age!!

gael,
I'm not making excuses for him, just saying that these rules must be applied consistently. Not to mention if he was that glacial yesterday, why didn't it get addressed before play today?

I HATE slow play, but not just from 14-y-o Chinamen.

s_r, Was that a dig at me??!!
I already have a spot reserved for my ashes beside the 12th tee at a certain CNY course . . . . . .

What is it about monty? What ever he says I want to disgaree!

Anyway, we'll see how well he plays soon enough with a short putter!

So what actually happened?

No Kwini, not a dig at you at all.
What I notice about many golfers is that they want to get off the course as soon as they've got on it.

I do find slow play annoying and only last week had to give the group in front a whistle, as they were practicing putting on the green whilst we were waiting to play.

OK Kwin -- I will NEVER play Newport's 12th again without thinking of you! I almost always come up short on that approach, BTW.

Speaking of golf courses -- my tee times set at Royal Dornoch, Golspie and Brora! (Insiders tell me Tain's suffered some erosion damage.)

kwini ... Guan's a smart kid. Had it occurred to you that precisely because he is 'just a kid' he thought he'd get away with it?

mystiroakey wrote:What is it about monty? What ever he says I want to disgaree!

Me ... I just want to punch his face!

Pars all the way from LW................lets hope he can shoot 71 or better and be in good position.

gael: NO!

Sr,
You know where I mean though, right??!! My drive usually comes up short . . . of the fairway!

Monty's on about Europeans and Americans again.

Can someone tell himthere are other places in the world and that quite a few golfers from outside Eur and US are playing at the Masters.................

A sickening man.........................

Yes gael yes

Ok then kwini ... answer this: why did he ignore the warnings?

Think I'd rather punch Keegan Bradley than Monty. He's got that type of face.

Kwin - Not exactly ... help me out here. Love that hole BTW.

Looks like westy has pared the first 12- come on lee good drive on 13- time to make ground

Every sign that the extremely slow Harrington and the extremely slower Day are a hole and a half behind, playing in the last group. Fowler's a Secretariat so you know it isn't him so:
Paramor: On yer bike.


Sr,
There's a tiny graveyard on the left-hand side of the tee-box!

If it weren't for the past champion exemption, Fred Couples would not be playing this week. And neither would Bernhard Langer.

that is why they have the past champion exemption.

super_realist wrote:Think I'd rather punch Keegan Bradley than Monty. He's got that type of face.

You wouldn't punch a wee girlie, would you?

Kwin - Indeed! But I would appreciate you also being on the green so you could poke out some of my opponent's putts. Further, I hope this event is many decades hence.

BTW, Toni once told me a story of someone who had their ashes scattered on said course and she never had better growth in that area. Very somber when she told me the tale.

Rose's putting is dreadful

Westy - what the freik happened with that shot!

Tigers on a bit of a charge at the moment. He's holed to long puts in three holes to go to -4 with the 9th to play. The tourny is really hotting up...

Gotta think woods will finish no worse than 6 under today.

Godly play by the God of golf

We know the Augusta National's view on a lot of things and now we know their view on 14 year old Chinese schoolkids playing on their course.

Double for Poults

AL: That's what he does when no-one else's making a move . . . .