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!

Westwood has birdied every Par-5 - if he can do that Sunday you gotta like his chances. Especially if he does an 18th green press-up.

The leaders are straying a wee bit, plenty with-in four. Hell of a Sunday ahead.

What a shot from Blixt to escape with a bogey at 11. Brill.

LW finishes on 2-, could have been so much better as normal, but still in with a shout.

kwinigolfer wrote:Westwood has birdied every Par-5 - if he can do that Sunday you gotta like his chances. Especially if he does an 18th green press-up.

Ha. I wouldnt put your house on it.

Westwood back to his normal form - hitting just about every green, holing nothing and failing to get up and down when he does miss. I thought the left hand below right might help, but evidently not. He never seems to hit his putts at the right pace for the line he picks. Birdieing the par fives is all well and good but not enough on its own, especially with the two bogeys.

Spieth is impressive isnt he.

Blixt has got just about the best short game in golf.
Hope McGinley is trying to find a way he can qualify for Gleneagles - he'd be mustard there.

Bbc interviews with westwood are painful.

Bubba back on it. Will have a shortish iron into 13

Stupid shots by Blixt & Bjorn on 13 - no need to take that shot on, none at all.

kwinigolfer wrote:Stupid shots by Blixt & Bjorn on 13 - no need to take that shot on, none at all.

Yep. Cost them both.

I'd agree Blixt was stupid, Bjorn looked to be in reasonable position but pushed it.

Ermmmmm bubba bubba

BW again with a two shot lead. Bad at 13 though with an eagle chance but only his second three putt of the three days. Final five will be big.

Kuchar could well be leading at the end. Exciting day ahead.

I want Speith, Bjorn or Blixt to win. Sowee Bubba.

So many players in this

Hate to say it but if tiger was fit and here it would have been no.15

Really wide open -- I think anyone +1 or better has a chance.

Big break for bubbs on the last. But again he hits it right

Three Brits within five. One at least should give it a shot.

lw1 has a fighting chance here, don't you think?
He'll be in about the 4th last pair and has a real shot at "posting a score".
Rose and Poulter also must feel they're back in it - great resilience from both.

Yep the 3 diggs said would miss the cut.

I know its a very normal trait for the majority to discount the English. But this is a major. allways there or there abouts.

Guns asked who would win a week ago I mentioned the 3 English and speith for top 10's

My cash out option on this market is yielding a 300 pound profit allready. Lol yesterday I was 170 down.

Moving day is so important

A perfect Golf Sunday for me ... Playing Torrey Pines (for the first time) in the morning, then watching golf at the Lodge in the afternoon. I have a hunch about Kuchar.

Close to a disaster for Rory this week. How did he not manage to beat the amateur club member who was marking his card. Rory 71, club hacker 70.

McLaren wrote:Close to a disaster for Rory this week.  How did he not manage to beat the amateur club member who was marking his card.  Rory 71, club hacker 70.

I watched a bit of Rory playing with Mr Knox. Although I think he is the person they always send out with a "singleton" and knows the course, he was very steady. Fairways and greens. Nothing spectacular. Commentators were surprised he was that good.

mystiroakey wrote:Yep the 3 diggs said would miss the cut.

I know its a very normal trait for the majority to discount the English. But this is a major. allways there or there abouts.

Guns asked who would win a week ago I mentioned the 3 English and speith for top 10's

My cash out option on this market is yielding a 300 pound profit allready. Lol yesterday I was 170 down.

Moving day is so important

This is a good example of why I never bet! Only see Westy as the the one with a shot at winning it thpugh, would a 67 do it for him?

Its the same old same old- poults will probally have about 4 birds first 5 and his odds will go stupid low-then as allways he will mess it up and eat his putter shaft.. westy will grind it out again knocking it stiff all day and just miss putts, rose is the one that has the real confidence in his locker but perhaps not the same level of physical and 'match' fitness.

Its just about laying them of at the right time.

at 70/1 at the start of the tourny for westy- how can you not have a pop(normally around the 12-20 marker). this is augusta- suits great ball strikers and him especially, he showed his form the week before and has made it very clear that rankings and regular events mean nothing to him any more- its all about the majors from here on in

McLaren wrote:Close to a disaster for Rory this week.  How did he not manage to beat the amateur club member who was marking his card.  Rory 71, club hacker 70.

you call this person a club hacker and he shots 70. He is clearly the best golfer that is a member at augusta- and possibly a high level amateur golfer that knows the course inside out.

Mac look its obvious you are clueless - but the lad shot a 70- he is no hacker!!, the average pro shot 73-75 yesterday

If a club hacker shot 4 70's then there's a fair chance he'd finish wearing the week wearing a green jacket.

After posting that- I read up on the man(Knox)- He has been a top level amateur and played at the british amatuer championship- however instead of going pro went into business and made a bundle. He has the course record of 61 at Augusta and has also beaten serge when paired with him before.

Seriously I think this lad(50 year old) needs to get an invite one year- He could actually win the thing!!

Sometimes going pro is all about luck.

The story about Monty is pretty telling.

He had an interview for a sports agents company during a round of golf at a top Scottish links(forget the course)- after he blitzed it around- His potential employer said- No I am not given you a job - But I WILL represent you as a pro golfer.

He should try out the senior tour q-school.

I think he would get through. But I just don't think he cares and probally loves the banter at Augusta with his posh mates about making pros look stupid.

Players have said he goes around the course very confidently but sometimes giggles to himself how hard the pros make the course looks.

So from both sides. I think he should front up and play for meaning and from the competitions point of view he is clearly one of the best Augusta golfers therefore should play.

I doubt he could match up on courses he dosnt understand .

But it would be a great story if he took a spot in a masters soon.

mystiroakey wrote:

Seriously I think this lad(50 year old) needs to get an invite one year- He could actually win the thing!!

it'd be interesting alright, but I'd imagine tournament pressure would add a considerable number of shots to his score.

Great leaderboard!!! Go Rickie Fowler!!!! If not him Spieth or Westy!

First tee-time at 10.10 a.m. Local and Larry Mize has the Rory duty, off by himself.

Some nice pairings:
Donaldson & Oosthuizen
McIlroy and Jimmy Walker
Aussies Day & Scott
Poulter and Streelman
Bjorn & Rose
Furyk & Westwood
Fowler and Miguel

Another side story will be some turbulence in the US Ryder Cup Team qualifying points list with Webb Simpson likely to be passed by Kuchar, and Spieth, Fowler and Furyk (and maybe Chris Kirk if he has a strong Sunday) also breathing down the necks of Zach Johnson, English & Mickelson.

Westwood and Rose could do themselves a big favour for McGinley's Team.

Westy with furyk bodes well . chill cat.

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

Yes indeed, kwini and mysti, you both were right all along. Up until 1999 ET didnot count the 'other' majors except for the Open Championship as official tournaments. So the real count for MAJ should some more than the official ET count:
14x Masters (2014=15th)
12x UsOpen
21x Open Championship
15x USPGA
Adding up to 62 (Masters 2014 = 63rd) majors for MAJ.

Will the pins yield birdies?

They may make the greens softer today. It does happen a lot on Sunday to give the chance of more charges.

Looks like Stevie Wonder was in tears at the end of that at Anfield.

Think I'll be in tears if Lee Westwood could find it within himself to win today.

Just 10 minutes until my live feed, one of my favourite sporting highlights of the year.


Always get excited, even if the years left are not as many as the previous years  


I just love sport, and NO matter what some may say!  Golf is a sport.

Can't wait.

Great football match, leads nicely into one of the best nights in sport!!!! Bring it on, go Rickie, go get the green jacket.

sirbenson wrote:Great football match, leads nicely into one of the best nights in sport!!!! Bring it on, go Rickie, go get the green jacket.

Cough, cough. LW i hope and his search for his holy grail.

I feel unnerved when others bar me will Lee on..

Just keep bringing him down lads- its worked so far

Apart from money.....I hope Westy or Spieth wins it! I don't think Westy has many haters on here tbf.

LW will never want to be remembered as another Monty. Soul destroying.

will its 500 profit for me for speith

2k for lee
1,6k for rose

and 10k for poults.;

come on pouts- just get in contention hard so i can lay at least