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!

Come on Rors.

Birdie at 2

Par for Rory on that hole really but he has to make it..

Charge rors. charge

Rory gives it back on 3

Why is it Rors and not Rory? Sounds like a character from the Rugrats.

Poults is another one that makes me a bit sick in my mouth, usually from Harmon.

Ok Rory and poultry. Is that better Monty

Butch Harmon's commentating sucks as does most of SKY's tbf! McGinley is as dull as dishwater.....Monty is possibly the best with Roey.....Shame they don't bring Robert Lee, Richard Boxall and Howard Clark out to Augusta itself.

All is OK, calm Allis will be on soon talking about the flora and fauna and the local wildlife  

Bliss.

There was a nice line by Peter Kostis early Friday afternoon about the (then) top ten and the top ten thirty years ago:
30 years ago the top ten included Fred Couples, Haas, Stadler and Watson.
Then (about 4.00 p.m.) the top ten includes Fred Couples, Haas, Stadler and Watson.

The same Fred Couples.
But Bill not Jay.
Kevin not Craig.
Bubba not Tom.

Come on Rory - we want to see you book that tee-time in 30 years' time, a la Craig Stadler.

Birdie, eagle start for Gary Woodland to get back to even, nobody else doing much.

Rory's not getting it done, bogey on 7 so must birdie the Par-5 8th.

No magic yet.
Except at Dagenham.
PUP!

He hasn't made a birdie in almost 18 holes? Unless he's about 29 for the back nine he doesnt have a hope.

Poulter's on one of his streaky good runs (that doesn't sound very good, does it?).

Rory is even par for the week on the (11 so far) Par-5's - can't win The Masters like that.
Westwood also level after his 8 x Par-5's so far.

Woodland -5 for his first 8 holes, and he's -6 on his ten Par-5's played in 2 1/2 rounds. Huge difference.

Some run from Woodland, surely must be starting to think of a 62 here with the 13&15 upcoming!

Woodland goes to -6 for the day!....He is going to be on one the featured groups on Sky now!

Poulter and Miguel are both three under for the day - the scores are out there. Birdie for Rory. Not his year though.

Poulter wants to emulate him here, and Poults is only 6 back now!

How did Rose make an eagle on the Par-4 3rd hole? Pity he bogeyed the Par-5 before.

Woodland's catching Bubba all by himself! -7 after 10.
Where will this end!
And why can't a Euro do this?
Come on Poulter.

Very nice finish for Rory, just makes one roll one's eyes as to why it's taken 50 holes to get his motor running.
Not a bad round though, and he and Caroline can catch a lie-in tomorrow.

Well that all ended abruptly for Woodland!

     

Poulter going well, will he he stay, or will he do his usual thing at the back end?

Course seems to be getting difficult again.....Can't see many people charging from now on in....

 
Another glass of Rioja for Miguel.

Birdies on the first two Par-5's for lw1.
Is this a harbinger of great things to come?
Come on Lee!!

But what about Miguel? 66, Round of the tournament so far. Fantastic.

I have MAJ E/w at 150/1. So come on Miguel. Also cheering the scandis.

Rose eagles. Sweet

Lee is hitting some sweet irons.

But bubba flying still.

kwinigolfer wrote:Birdies on the first two Par-5's for lw1.
Is this a harbinger of great things to come?
Come on Lee!!

But what about Miguel? 66, Round of the tournament so far. Fantastic.

It would be very fitting if he won this on his 60th major which would effectively make your earlier question defunct...

Lee is playing his A game but just missed two 9 footers on the spin. Fingers crossed for the other par 5's

I think that's two eagles for Justin Rose - collecting sets of goblets like they're going out of style.

Faldo never got one.. unbelivable with 3 green jackets

Kevin Stadler is a disgrace. 34 years old, looks about 55. Fat bastard

Bubba is being typical bubba. An eagle and 3 bogeys.

Lee 4 behind the lead

Is this finally LW's time.  

Gonna be an exciting fourth day with many still in it. Fantastic!

Bubba losing it...

This is lining up to being a sweet masters.

super_realist wrote:Kevin Stadler is a disgrace. 34 years old, looks about 55. Fat bastard

Say it as you see it   

Lee 3 behind.

skyeman wrote:

super_realist wrote:Kevin Stadler is a disgrace. 34 years old, looks about 55. Fat bastard

Say it as you see it   

I'd call him a fat c-word but the swear filter would take it out

Frig, Stadler does look like a walking walrus though. Too many Mc Donalds.

He isn't just fat. He is like 22 stone or something.

Makes your fav Irish fatty look fit

Is now the time for the Blubba meltdown? I hope so.

I'd be happy with pretty much any of the current top 20 winning rather than him

At least Stadler looks slim when stood next to his bulk of a caddie 

Lee 2 of the lead and a whisker from 1 off

Hope my estimation of lw1 is hopelessly incorrect.

Some fine scores out there, but horror stories from Sneeeeeeedeker and Stephen Gallacher.

4 birdies on the 5's is going to give him great confidence.

Three B's leading thus far. Can't have happened too often