PGA Tour: The Masters Winner, via Process of Elimination: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Last year I slurped a couple of bottles of Malbec and attempted to make a case for a European Champion. Henrik Stenson was the chosen candidate and he played well but not nearly well enough, Jonas Blixt finishing ahead of him as the leading Swede. So we changed the formula this year, not the Malbec of course, but let's revert to Andy North's time-honoured process of elimination.
NB: Any bias or prejudice is entirely intentional.

2).Starting with Amateurs. One or two have come close, Patton, Venturi, but none won a Green Jacket and that won't change this year. Seven eliminated.

3).No rookie has one since Fuzzy Zoeller over 35 years ago. I fancy Tringale to play well, but I'll go with history and take out the 13 first-timers.

4).Jack Nicklaus won the 1986 Masters at the age of 46, the oldest Champion. I don't see any of the forty-somethings in the field improving their game, so let's dispense with the likes of Westwood, Furyk and Els and 20 others. 23 can exit, best chances Phil, who's only had one top ten finish since Muirfield, and Cabrera, always a decent each way punt.

5).Augusta National could be the toughest walking course these guys play, not good if you're carrying a knock, physically or mentally, or in some cases Tiger, both. Bye bye to seven crocks, including McDowell, Stenson and Reed.

6).Poor putters and scramblers need not apply. 24 still standing are #110 or below in the PGA Tour's primary putting or scrambling stat. On your way then Dustin, Rickie, Keegan, Webb, Kaymer, Rose, Charl and Adam. Big risk sending Matsuyama and Oosthuizen down the road, but their putting has not been good enough. Russell Henley may be a putting genius but he needs to scramble too.

7).As baseball fans know, "Chicks dig the long ball", and so do Augusta's Green Jackets; bad news for slowpokes Crane and Na and eight others, none of them in the top 100. Sorry Sneds, still good for a place.

8).Only fourteen left so time to discard those currently out of form. Regardless of what they might have done elsewhere in the world, none of this lot have a PGA Tour top ten finish this year: Dubuisson, Grace, Ilonen, Mahan, Streelman, Villegas. Adios to the 6 of you.

9).And of the rest, only Jason Day, Spieth and Jimmy Walker have wins, so San-Moon Bae, Sergio, Rory, Ryan Palmer and Bubba can leave quietly down Magnolia Lane.

10).Day, Spieth and Walker have all played well at Augusta. Day and Spieth have play-off wins this year, Walker has two wins by a total of 13 strokes. Give me the proven winner and measure up Jimmy Walker for a Green Jacket. Cheers.

Shotrock wrote:...Would like to see Jordan finish this off in the style he started. It's rare when a major is dominated end to end.

I wonder what Mac would say if Spieth did exactly that? Would be interesting. Still, quite a bit to go yet but I hope he pulls it off.

A Major dominated end to end? Arguably Liverpool last year; if not, at Pinehurst.
But remember what the Golf Channel said yesterday, that was like a funeral, this is like a coronation.
Yanks OK, Huns not so much.
The Golf Channel's hacks need to get around a bit. Idiots.

Still, more rare than not Kwin.

Agree that is a stupid comment ... and I enjoyed watching Pinehurst!

Pinehurst was a bit boring....

Rory needs to make more 15-footers to have a chance.

Tiger into the top 10....

Great start Tiger, a couple more on the front nine then anything can happen on the back. Of course these move are all relative as if Speith shoots under par i don't think the others have a hope!

Poulter is another to catch fire . . . . . .

Not bad in the end from Westwood, but he's headed for just another middle of the road finish.

Now all we need is a couple of bogeys from Speith to set this completely alight........

Say what you like about Rory on the Masters Par-5's, but after ten of 'em he's 9 under par. Getting that job done, anyway.

Shocking from Tiger Woods, shockingly good. Incredible turn round from San Diego.

Interesting spot from Ken Brown- Spieth looks at the hole when striking the short putts!!

So who has gone to the beeb for the coverage?

He almost always does . . . . apart from anything else, it seems to free him up to hit a smoother stroke. He certainly hits the shorties with good pace, positive stroke.

Fine 67 from Poults and another eagle from Danny Willett. Good to see him continuing to improve.

incontinentia wrote:Interesting spot from Ken Brown- Spieth looks at the hole when striking the short putts!!

That is a Bob Rotella thing, no doubt super does it as well.

beninho wrote:So who has gone to the beeb for the coverage?

Just switched on the beeb. I have sky but no chance I am watching that over the beeb.

A shame that no matter what broadcaster you choose a lot of live golf is missed.

incontinentia wrote:

monty junior wrote:Garcia is the ultimate mental midget  :shock: I'm sure Tiger hammered him playing together at the 2006 Open as well.

Its an awful shame he is thought of that way by so many people. I wonder how different his career would be if he won the 1999 PGA?

I wonder if he would be more popular if he didn't seem like the sort of idiot who could live in the US for ten+ years and not realise that fried chicken comments directed towards african americans could be seen as racist?

If Spieth were to falter a little it would be a very exciting set of players fighting it out for the win.

True enough that Mac! I'm convinced he knew exactly what he was saying with that comment, and by pleading ignorant simply showed what a small-minded idiot he is. Classic moron.

But, back to more positive things ... I'm guessing one of the very few not surprised by this showing from Tiger is Tiger himself. Almost certainly won't win, but looks like he's not ready for retirement just yet.

What a leaderboard!
Come on Sergio . . . . . . .

Not saying he wouldn't be up there anyway, but are the slower than normal greens helping tiger? If they had been really hard and fast he might not have been able to build the confidence he now has in his short game.

Shotrock wrote:
But, back to more positive things ... I'm guessing one of the very few not surprised by this showing from Tiger is Tiger himself. Almost certainly won't win, but looks like he's not ready for retirement just yet.

Yes, who expected Tiger to play this well? No sign of any back issues and short game in good nick.

Alliss just said Dustin Hoffman!

Does anyone know if tiger chipped out after the duff or whether he took another tee shot?

OK, so he got a lucky break. And it is somehow not even the worst shot of the day. Check out simpsons shank.

https://twitter.com/NoLayingUp/status/586984383271141378

Mac,
I think it will have to remain a mystery. Perhaps Joe LaCava tossed it out. Can't understand why Augusta National doesn't allow a blimp if they won't have reporters on the course.

Kwini

Will Phil's front nine spook Spieth?

Last year you could not hold a draw shot in to 15. The greens are so different.

Pmick and Hoff 4 back.

Rose doing exactly what he did yesterday.. Back to 7

It seems Hazel Irvine thinks Jordan Smith is leading the Masters.

Bad finish for rory. But a not great week may yield a decent finish. Jordan still looking good, not as solid I'd say butnot looking like he will collapse.

Amazing bunker shot by Spieth.

momentum starting to fade from the big boys from behind. spieth just controlling this atm, hoffmann remaining stagnant.

It's annoying none of the 7's could mount a challenge on the front . Well maybe they can shot a 30 back 9. But not enough pressure is being applied at present. I can see pmick possibly getting to 13. And if he plays with Jordan tommorow even if he is 4 or 5 back he could take him.

I hate the U.S. coverage. lets just watch every shot from mickleson and DJ but forget about there partners.

DJ has just had a total mare on 12 after getting lucky .

The coverage has been pretty good. You've seen all the big boys that are doing something of note.

No we haven't

Hasn't the entire broadcast gone flat?
If Casey & Rose can play the par fives properly and keep their noses clean, they will warrant attention - hopefully they'll do even better.

And only one or two times where they've had to move Tiger above someone else on the leaderboard...

Hoff is playing well with a great par save

kwinigolfer wrote:Hasn't the entire broadcast gone flat?
If Casey & Rose can play the par fives properly and keep their noses clean, they will warrant attention - hopefully they'll do even better.

Is back nine playing a touch harder? Not sure but a few rounds have trailed of so far today.

Rory and tiger have tried to make it interesting but both started to far back. Same with streelman. Phil has been the only one to actually make a challenge. Been impressed with spieth and Hoffman. Disappointed by dj casey and rose.

Speith's putting is just sweet as.

It's just a perfect demonstration of controlled golf. He doesn't pound it miles, he just hits good shots and putts very well.

beninho wrote:It's just a perfect demonstration of controlled golf. He doesn't pound it miles, he just hits good shots and putts very well.

That's the point and why just because DJ has length and can click on the 5's one day means nothing.

Good putt from rose with the 15th to come. Starting to make something of his round. But he potentially needed to stop that horrid first few hole form to really challenge.

Horrible putt from Casey- is he wearing hi-vis armbands?

Are the players giving the course to much respect? It's not really playing to difficult the greens aren't as fast. But players still seemingly leaving putts short all the time. The first round players were thinking the usual 1 r 2 under would be a good start and played it safe to much. Spieth took it apart and has kept it going.

FFS why are they showing Woods' conversation with his coach on the range instead of actual play?!! They keep cutting to it every 5 mins

A chink in Speiths armour. Intersting,

incontinentia wrote:FFS why are they showing Woods' conversation with his coach on the range instead of actual play?!! They keep cutting to it every 5 mins

Woods will probally get more press after this week than the winner.. It does my head in.


Ohhhhh pmick is doing it again. What a putt

Boom! Mickelson!

If phil is with speiths last group tomorrow with a 3/4 shot lead that will be big pressure on him. It's easy playing with charlie Hoffman but a golfing great with 3 green jackets already different game.

Mickelson -12, just 4 off the lead