PGA Tour: The Masters: Will a European Win for Once?: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Well, the Aussie DID rule and this sudden burst of relevance from the land Down Under is getting rather tiresome. Or at least, the US Media pointing out, quite accurately of course, that the Tour scoreboard this season so far reads:
US: 17
Australia: 4
Rest of the World: 0
And it's not much different in Augusta, this century at any rate:
US: 8
Europe: 0
Rest of the World: 6
 
2).This year, the Masters runners and riders look like this:
US: 44
Europe: 29
Rest of the World: 24
The Rest of the World have plenty of quality to make up for the lack of quantity, whereas the Europeans, like the Americans, have more than their fair share of dead wood and dead beats. Let's look at the Europeans and see if they can finally win a Green Jacket or whether the conspiracy that began when Germany, Spain and GB dominated - introducing rough for a start, lengthening the course for a second - can finally be put to rest.
 
3).England:
Fitzpatrick and Porteous are living a dream just being there.
Luke Donald has to be at his very best, a la Zach Johnson, to win here, and Zach Johnson outlukes Luke these days.
Poulter's ADD won't allow him to make the cut in a regular stroke-play event. If he gets in contention, he'll wobble like one of Thatcher's wets.
Lynn has lost whatever it is he had for a brilliant 15-month spell: No chance.
Rose may have had a bad shoulder but his putter looked even sicker in Tampa and Bay Hill. Perhaps a rest has done it good, but can't see it. Ain't gonna happen, not this year anyway.
Westwood has lost it: All the facets of his game that are traditionally strong have been average at best. All his usual weaknesses are still weak. Great recent record at Augusta, four Top 11's in his last four trips, but can't see better than 11th this time around.
 
4).Wales, Scotland and Ireland:
Woosie and Lyle are just having a larf; must be odds on both will miss the cut, tho' Lyle has played well in recent fits and some starts.
Donaldson has played really well this year, became only the 5th man to register a hole-in-one at Augusta's 6th hole last year, and it would be no surprise to see a Top Ten finish. Can't see him in the final shake-up though.
Gallacher: First-timer, but manages his game well enough to make the cut - a Top 20 finish would be a terrific result.
Harrington: Didn't qualify due to cramp in his finger. (True)
 
5).France, Germany, Holland:
Dubuisson and Luiten: Two "rookies" who could make a splash in the early rounds, but not on the weekend.
Kaymer: Oh Martin! You changed your swing to better suit Augusta and now it doesn't work anywhere.
Langer: What a story that was last year when he contended during the early rounds before fading on Sunday. Bernhard may well win a Major this year - but only on the Senior Circuit.
 
6).Northern Ireland, Sweden, Denmark:
Clarke wasn't fit enough to contend here when he was one of the World's best. Ceremonial appearance.
McDowell: Six appearances and four missed cuts. I'd think a Top Ten would be a very good result.
McIlroy: Could win by a dozen, or just file another middle-of-the-pack finish. Don't see much in between.
Blixt: Only played 2 Majors, 26th at Muirfield, 4th at Oak Hill. 1st at Augusta? Don't see it, but his brilliant short game could have him contending here one day.
Hanson: Injured much of last year but I've a hunch he's a live outsider. Too good a golfer to be down too much longer.
Stenson: Not a great record here, but 7 x Top Tens in the other Majors these past 6 years. Time to step up from Match Play Champion, Players Champion and FedEx Champion? I'd say he has a very good chance, and we know he's not scared to win.
Olesen: In terrible form but still only 24. 6th on his Masters debut last year, but can't win playing the way he is now.
Bjorn: Plenty of Major heartbreak for Thomas, but never played well here. Top 20 would be a good result.
 
7).Spain, Italy:
Olazabal: There was a time when his short game could bail him out here, but no longer. Sadly.
Gonzo: Seems out of sorts. Has the ability but not the form. 20th last year, and not likely to improve.
Miguel-Angel: Played so well at Doral until the 72nd hole - 5 x Top 12's here and don't rule out a 6th.
Garcia: Great each-way chance but don't see him winning. Putting like he's 19 but he's destined to be a very, very good nearly man, at Augusta at least.
Fran Molinari: Not a great record in the States. Would love to see him in the mix but no form to suggest it will be this year.
Matteo: Augusta may be too long for him right now and he's not putting his best. Top 30?
 
8).So that's how it looks after a couple of bottles of Malbec. My top three Europeans are probably everyone else's top three: Stenson and Garcia with a hope that the stars might align for McIlroy to redeem himself for past disappointment. Best outsiders Peter Hanson and Jamie Donaldson.
 
9).Who else do I like? Mickelson of course! Dufner and Kuchar of the other Americans with Billy Horschel a live outsider.
Always fancy this crop of South Africans to pull out a Masters win - Immelman, Oosthuizen and Schwartzel could all play well this week; sad that Els probably feels the Green Jacket has slipped away.
And then there's El Pato. 6 top tens here and who'd bet against another one?
 
10).But let's go for a European win. Stenson!
 
10a).And let's hope JAS completes his London Marathon in good enough shape to enjoy the coverage!

nice article kwini. Will a european win for once? I don't think so. the decline of Harrington has left a void that the other european players simply can't fill.

incontinentia wrote:nice article kwini. Will a european win for once? I don't think so. the decline of Harrington has left a void that the other european players simply can't fill.

yeah yeah yeah yeah

But hang on- There is a link.

Tiger didn't play in PH's wins.

Good omen

Oh dear S_R. Fowler looks like he's started well too  .

Ah ha! Maybe the is a God. Simpson makes a double. Alas...

What time is Sandy out at? Could be a year for the wiley old fella to do the business?

EmmDee57 wrote:What time is Sandy out at? Could be a year for the wiley old fella to do the business?

I doubt he will get past 9 holes

mystiroakey wrote:

EmmDee57 wrote:What time is Sandy out at? Could be a year for the wiley old fella to do the business?

I doubt he will get past 9 holes

9 more that you'll ever manage to play at Augusta.........

EmmDee57 wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:

EmmDee57 wrote:What time is Sandy out at? Could be a year for the wiley old fella to do the business?

I doubt he will get past 9 holes

9 more that you'll ever manage to play at Augusta.........

                 

I know first timers never win but who knows maybe this year?

Fitzpatrick doubles the first!

He should blame the caddy.

I am watching amen corner on the red button.

It's not looking easy

Blixt seems to have settled into some solid golf. Could post a nice score standing on 13 at -3.

would love to see Mateo plot his way round well this week. Is he the best youngster around? He seems to get overshadowed by the young Yanks.

Blitxt live on the par 5 13th. Oh my days ..


10 foot putt for eagle

mystiroakey wrote:Blitxt live on the par 5 13th. Oh my days ..


10 foot putt for eagle

Great shot from him. Ballsy.

Great chip in by MAJ. He always seems to show at Augusta.

mystiroakey wrote:

incontinentia wrote:nice article kwini. Will a european win for once? I don't think so. the decline of Harrington has left a void that the other european players simply can't fill.

yeah yeah yeah yeah

But hang on- There is a link.

Tiger didn't play in PH's wins.

Good omen

That's wrong......the 07 Open

Course is winning so far!

Come on poults.

Grind it back.

Very bunched leaderboard, isn't it? No-one really setting Augusta National alight (the very thought!).

Sandy Lyle off to a hot start though! Three Europeans tied for the lead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the "You can't win it on Thursday but you sure can lose it" category seem to be Cabrera (+6 after 11) and Zach Johnson (early +4 after 9). Lynn also at +6 and Crenshaw embarrassing himself as usual and will finish in the low/mid 80's. Time for a memo from Billy Payne.

Course seems really tough today. Greens must be slick as....

Cabrera follows a triple with a birdie

kwinigolfer wrote:Crenshaw embarrassing himself as usual and will finish in the low/mid 80's. Time for a memo from Billy Payne.

You have Tim Clark in with a 79 and one of the amateurs may exceed Crenshaw's score; is it really that bad?

It's certainly not very good! And definitely uncompetitive.
Would think Tim Clark is still not 100% - his form since injury has been tres horrible.

Craig Stadler is making this his final Masters, Gentle Ben should too!

That may be so but it's how this tournament is run. It's not as if he or any of the other old time champions are taking the place of someone else. It could be that while his score is still in touch with other competitors he's going to continue.

Well they are talking others places and no the old boys shouldn't play.

Have they really not shown one shot of poulters on the 13th....

Jokes

Grumps,
Agree they're not taking anyone's place, but surely the Masters Committee has signalled others to call it a day when they're beyond uncompetitive and don't you think Ben's putter has taken him as far as he can respectably go?

Unlike most, I love the tradition of Past Champions returning, but not when they're certain to clog up the course. Would think Woosie should also get the pink slip.

Cream slowly rising to the top . . . . . .

Are they clogging up the course? There's 97 in the field this year, would reducing the field by 1 or 2 old timers really make a difference? Not trying to be argumentative about this. Maybe there is a broom wagon principal that the Masters Committee apply for the old timers that we don't know about and Crenshaw is staying just ahead of the wagon.

They should play the top 140 players .

Is the Cut Top 50 and 10 shot rule again this year?

John Cregan wrote:Is the Cut Top 50 and 10 shot rule again this year?

I wish someone would put 10 shots in Palmer.

I am not one to hate. But Jack Nicklaus does my head in. Emmerdae for me. Roll on 8:00pm

mystiroakey wrote:I am not one to hate. But Jack Nicklaus does my head in. Emmerdae for me. Roll on 8:00pm

Wish someone put 10 shots in "Marlon".................

Grumpy sod isn't he that Marlon.

John,
I believe it's the same as last year.
As you say: Top 50 plus all within 10 shots of the lead.

Poulter's poor recent form continues.

Zach Johnson continuing to go downhill, and bad starts from Matsuyama and DeLaet.

Poulter should have birdired 15 and 16.

But if his putting isn't on. He has no chance.

Quadruple bogey on #13 for Dufner - there's one of my fancies going down the creek. Literally.
Grace also racking up big numbers.

Some usual suspects at the top.

Hass drops back.

mystiroakey wrote:

incontinentia wrote:nice article kwini. Will a european win for once? I don't think so. the decline of Harrington has left a void that the other european players simply can't fill.

yeah yeah yeah yeah

But hang on- There is a link.

Tiger didn't play in PH's wins.

Good omen

Actually he did play in at least one of them, but he missed the cut.

3 putt par for Scott. Gonna hurt.

mystiroakey wrote:I am not one to hate. But Jack Nicklaus does my head in. Emmerdae for me. Roll on 8:00pm

Somebody needs to tell him that on commentary sometimes less is good!

Too much coffee this morning for jack

He is truly driving me nuts at the moment.

Rors looks good. Really good.not scoring today. But his game is on.

Not a massive fan of Jack .. but it's not really him that's the problem. The Sky Sports makeup girls are going to have an awful time getting all that brown off the tongues of Monty, Murray and Livingstone

Sergio. Driver off the deck at 8. On the green. But that green looks the length of a par 3

Go lee

Phil! Shambles!!

5 from 25 foot.

Only Phil can do that.

Yet you still wouldn't put it past him to win it

Looooooke is doomed , but westy looks chilled .

Annoying 3 putt for rors on the last. But he looks fav for this still.

Not sure about Scott this week. His cheat stick will fail.


Quality round for speith.

I heard that Rory dyed Carolines hair pink and his hands are still red. Nice way to prepare for the Masters.