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!

I am underwhelmed by Rory. Hope he doesn't turn into a new Sergio.

With two majors and his talent. Never.

He really is a special player. Not saying serge wasn't but serge is one of many europeans from that era like westy etc that just didn't get the major win in early . And then the pressure builds.

Rory looks to have been driving the ball superbly. But not following it up. With the two doubles thrown in he is making it tough for himself. I just cannot see anyone bar bubba unfortunately.

Scott back in this big time. If he gets to 4 and pairs up with bubba we have a very different vibe going on.

Think mcilroys given up a bit.

OK speith in this. I do have a backed player fighting it out.

I am sure Rory will eventually beat Faldo's six. Plenty of time.

Rose, poulter with a good third round could get back into contention.

Its moving day tommorow. Things can and do change.

How gutting for fitz.

Just missed the cut.

Rory didn't make that easy!! He looks really close to doing something very good. He was booming it so far past Speith and fat pat off the tee. Soon he will romp a win somewhere.

He has never not had that length mate.


Thats pretty standard for rors. He has missed way too many 15 footers in.

He has also played the wrong shots today. Whereas yesterday he may have played the shots to safe.

When the putts drop and Rory has the perfect middle ground in his shot selection he would beat this field by 5 minimum.

Darren Clark, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Larry Mize and Jose Maria Olazabal all make the cut whilst Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Phil Mickelson take the weekend off. All of which just goes to remind me why I gave up betting on the Masters...

Rory needs another show like he did at Quail Hollow a couple of years back. He just scraped in on the cut line and then went on to win.

Rory's playing solo today, teeing off in pristine conditions at 3.15 p.m. BST (edit thanks to s_r) - no word yet as to whether there will be a 7-minute delay.
 
I agree with all above - yesterday was a day when Murphy was an optimist and things went wrong that could never have been anticipated. For the entire field.
Hopefully the Quail Hollow metaphor is apt and he can really go low.
 
In the All Our Yesterdays division, Clarke is paired with Olly, Sandy Lyle with The Mechanic, Vijay with Bernhard, Stricker with Mize, and Weirsy with KJ.

10:15 BST? You sure Kwini? That would be about 5:15 am in Georgia!!!!

Oops!!
How's about 3.15 BST?
Think I'll change that! Thanks.
Perhaps a 5.15 a.m. tee-time might be beneficial to some though?

When asked if he had faith in Bubba keeping up his play.

Monty laughed and just said no way!

Basing it around the shot on the last.

I can't agree with you Monty , But I do want him to come back to the field for the sake of the tourney. If he gets to 10 or 9- I can see him stretching his lead.

If he shots a 74-75- it brings everyone back in to play. And even westy who could easily go round here in 4 under if a few putts drop and he can get his head around 13 and 15,

and even rors who has the potential to shot low round of the tourny. But his head wasnt really on it yesterday. But if this means he will just hit the ball at every flag rather than try that hold up cut that cost him about 7 shots yesterday trying to play the percentage shot. He could potentially blist it- but again as with westy- he needs to hole them putts

An interesting point is that no player has EVER shot 4 rounds in the 60's at Augusta, so chances are that the second least stylish man in golf will come back to the field at some point in the next two days.

Bjorn and Blixt sneaking along quietly and under the radar.

The masters gets you at some point!

can any man go round averaging 1 bogey a round - and Bubba as that player!!

He effectively has 20 clubs in the bag- he has that many shots- and if he visualises every one and executes the play to counter the slopes of the greens it will work.

If however he cant maintain his mental presence his shots could bannana the wrong way a few times and take him out of the event

Most of the players will be thinking if bubba messes it up 7-9 under will win the tourney.

that is what they will be trying to achieve.

Montgomerie is wrong to dismiss Blubba so lightly.
He played superbly two years ago and just two months ago played really well to win at Riviera - and, Tiger excepted, there are a few Rivera Champions who have won a Maillot Vert.

But, if Rors can come out and shoot a 65 or 66 (why not?), he'll be right back in it unless Watson goes crazy.

Nice quote earlier this week by Oliver Goss (of all people considering he's an amateur) to the effect of:
Most players try and treat every other tournament as if it's The Masters.
And at The Masters they should treat it as just any other tournament.
True that. Wise words.

Surrey lad stolen by the Aussies.

But seriously impressed by him and our man fitz. Gutted he just missed the cut

s_r,
Terrible tournament for the Saffers this week. Not bad so far, though, for the Scandi crew - excluding my live outsider Peter Hanson who clearly lost his script.

Indeed Kwini, uncommonly poor by the Saffers.

Ousty is not out of this yet lads.

An albatrous on 2 again maybe???

mysti,
I thought he was right in this after Friday's eagle on #13. But not after he followed up by rinsing his ball on #15 and carding a dismal triple.
Hope he gets back in it though.

I saw that triple yesterday, it was unforgivable. Well most triples are aren't they tbh!

Scott looking very strong! It will be interesting to see how Bubba does, he shoots under par today and takes over half the field out of it imo, shoot over par today and he brings back in most of the field!

He is hitting the odd chunk. And i mean amateur chunk!

The perfect swing to look at isnt allways the perfect swing!

Just to give us something to think about:
Four golfers in this week's field have played sixty Majors (63, 62, 61, 60!) without a win.
Who are they?

Westwood, Stricker, Garcia and.........can't think.

  
3 out of 4, one more to go. Think!

As a guess I would say bjorn has played about 50.

But can't think of anyone else bar sr's picks so him

Bjorn? Was going to say Stenson as he's late thirties but he's had a while out in the wilderness, Donald hasn't been pro long enough, perhaps Poulter has though.

Not Bjorn.
But when you think of the right guy, you'll know it's him!
Wouldn't be surprised if Bjorn was fifth, but haven't looked at it.

Jimenez must also be quite close.

Jiminez!!!!!! Has to be.

  

You got your mechanics right there, mysti!

Ha ha, must look like I'm just copying Mysti.

sweet!

Don't think my smileys are registering.
OK, only 20 minutes now until Rory stripes one down the first and starts to move his way through the field.

Come on you Brits, won't be the same whilst watching on Sunday if at least one is not in some sought of contention.

Adds a wee bit of excitement for me  

kwinigolfer wrote:  

You got your mechanics right there, mysti!

ET has the Mechanic (formerly also known as the Spafro) on:
12x Masters
11x USOpens
21x Open Championships
13x USPGA's

57 all together ('FQ' = 'Failed to Qualify' is no major imho)

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/playerid=2928/record/index.html

Donaldson by his own admission has been driving shocking and forced into playing tough shots. However that 3 iron on 11 is shot of the tourny for me so far.

You never know he could get it going

The other thing that i will miss is shouting bogey, bogey, bogey for Tiger  

This could be a Bubba/Scott shootout. If so, I like Scott.

Would be fun to watch one of the futures of American golf -- Jordon Speith -- get into the mix late Sunday. Very impressed with his play thus far.

kouchi,
M-A J is playing his 15th Masters this week - perhaps it wasn't included as an ET event a few years ago?

kouchi wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:  

You got your mechanics right there, mysti!

ET has the Mechanic (formerly also known as the Spafro) on:
12x Masters
11x USOpens
21x Open Championships
13x USPGA's

57 all together ('FQ' = 'Failed to Qualify' is no major imho)

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/playerid=2928/record/index.html

Ok just had a check- wiki has him missing the cut in the masters in 1995 therefore playing- that link doesnt(and it is backed up elsewhere on the net that he played in it)- and there must be another one in there because it does add up to 60 using wiki (if we add this one)

"He recalled his first Masters in 1995, when Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal shared secrets to Augusta National, such as keeping the ball in the right spots on the green and "to realize here that the target is not the hole."


http://news.yahoo.com/anticipation-mystery-masters-204051507--spt.html


edit yes miguel has played in 14 masters and this one would equal 15- that european site is incorrect

I can see Rory shooting low 60s here, I hope not!!!

I hope so!! Par at the first.