PGA Tour: The Masters - Never Mind The Width, Feel The Quality: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

(One of our regular golf posters frequently writes amazing articles on the major events going on in the golfing world. v2 poster McLaren has suggested that as The Masters is underway, that you might all want to share in the debate - Enjoy!
Adam D)

Kwinigolfer wrote:

1).When has there ever been a Masters when so many top golfers came to Augusta at the peak of their form, or very close to it? The field of 89 may be the smallest for 14 years, and at least 20 amateurs or ceremonial entrants are irrelevant, but cases could easily be made for dozens of others, strong cases for at least a dozen.

2).I watched an old BBC documentary last night about the music and life of the great Ronnie Lane, and Kenney Jones came up with an especially bon mot that surely also seems to apply to writers talking about The Masters. Talking about speaking by phone to a dying Ronnie in Colorado, Kenney said words to the effect of:
"Ronnie, I know you can't talk to me so I'm going to ask questions that I think you'd ask me, and then I'll answer them." Brilliant. Apparently Ronnie was lying there in hysterics!
But isn't that just like writers, and especially "tourists" from other sports, regurgitating the same old stories about the same old stars? The same old Rory this, Jordan that, Jason the other, rhetorical crap??

3).First, the field. Should it be even smaller, eliminating the seniors and amateurs? Not in my book, with some caveats. Some of the amateur qualifications might seem a tad/lot contrived, but I like the Past Champion exemption, so long as there's some performance criteria attached - even if it's five strikes (missed cuts in a row) and you're out. Celebrating Past Champions is part of the appeal to the "patrons"; this year's Rounds 1 & 2 will be a lovefest for Tom Watson. Perhaps O'Meara and Mize, Lyle and Woosie will stay at home soon but you can see the likes of Couples, Langer and Vijay playing until they get kicked out.
Next year the 2016 Olympic winner will also be exempt, as he will be for all four Majors.

4).Who would you include in the Field to make it more competitive? I would say Pieters has a strong case, but he's about the only one. Aussie Open Champ Matt Jones should be there, and he would have been if he hadn't pretty much tanked the past few months, so no sympathy there. Any others?

5).Unluckiest guy not to be competing is surely David Clark. Carried Adam Scott's bag to his most successful run for two or three years but shoved aside for Steve Williams in the Majors.

6).Who do you fancy? I'll look beyond the Top Three. Just something about Jason Day but wouldn't be shocked if he ran away like Spieth did last year.
Spieth doesn't seem quite at ease with his game and would be surprised if he wins here again, this year anyway.
And Rory (hole in one on #16 yesterday!) seems a bit Sergio-like right now; just when he looks like he's moving into top gear, he hits a mental speed bump of sorts, plus his putting has been unconvincing, to say the least. His stroke looks OK so does he just have trouble reading greens, even with that laser surgery?

7).Continental Europe hasn't seen a Masters winner for almost twenty years and I can't see that changing, much as I'd like to see Stenson win the Major he perhaps deserves. The head-cover is coming off Henrik's driver this week so that's a welcome(?) tactical switch.
And GB&I are lacking convincing form, tho' Casey and Rose seem to reserve some of their best weeks for Augusta.
The Asian contingent could surprise but question marks against their best players persist: Matsuyma's putting, Ben An's neck (he reckons he hasn't hit full shots since w/d'ing from his WGC Match vs Cabrera Bello).

8).Branden Grace had a fabulous season last year, but he's missed his past two Masters cuts and doesn't seem to be in top form just yet. But Oosthuizen and Schwartzel have been flying and both seem great each way bets.
Interesting that Phil Mickelson has overtaken Woods as leading Masters money winner; can Phil's chances ever be dismissed here? In decent form all year and certainly in my top five, along with Bubba. Rickie Fowler is a popular choice in the US media but I'll look past him and prefer Dustin Johnson and Snedeker as well as Bubba among the Americans. (No American under the age of 35 has won a PGA Tournament since Spieth three months ago in Hawaii, other than Finau in the opposite field event anyhow.)

9).Which leaves Adam Scott; one month ago no-one was playing better than Scott & Watson, and even with Excitable Boy bagman Williams keeping him company rather than the calming influence of Clark, I like Adam Scott a lot. Top Five then for moi with PP odds (e.w. paying top 7!):
Scott (11/1), Watson (11/1), Mickelson (18/1), Oosthuizen (33/1), Schwartzel (35/1). Rose top Brit, Kisner top rookie and Snedeker best outsider (55/1). Regional loyalties compel the choice of Derek Bard as leading amateur.    

10).The Masters throws up some surprising groupings and it's a shame that they haven't taken advantage of the smaller field to send them out in pairs for Rounds 1 & 2.
Who do you think they'll send out with Tom Watson? Snedeker perhaps, and a youngster would be my guess.
One of the most anticipated groupings of recent years was: Who will be playing with Woods following his Mississippi rehab in 2010? Do you remember who they chose??
For the next five days I'll accept The Masters for what it is and enjoy the action; chance of rain on Thursday and cool and breezy every day thru Saturday. Perfect forecast for Sunday and I can't wait. Enjoy!

Strange, in that making it a sticky seemed to have attracted more "views" but hardly any extra comments (from other than the regulars).
Oh well, anything that brings people to this board.

Yes but at least as a global sticky it attracted 13 PAGES (and counting) of comments. The usual global stickies are lucky to get 3 replies

Davie

In the email I wrote to Adam and the other admins I asked if we could try a Kwini's ballwasher as a global sticky for the Masters and maybe some of the other majors, and that it wouldn't make sense to make regular PGAT ballwashers a sticky.  So Adam does know it happens every week but my request was for the Masters and other Majors.

I know you have an issue with the mods after dog gate but if we are to grow the golf section it makes sense to be polite to the admins and not act like little bitches every time an admin comes near the golf section.


I was surprised that we didn't get any new posters but I still think we could try another golf global sticky if the admins are ok with that. As kwini said the views were very high so maybe we have a few new lurkers who will post in time once they become comfortable with the tone of the board.

Dog gate?

The issue that led to the board split.

You know nothing. Dog gate was a minor affair though I seem to remember you had a bit part in that so I suppose it's understandable that you think it was all about that. Sorry to tell you it's not all about you

Davie

All I remember is that mercurio went mental about some comments me and a few others made about a new story involving a dog, and the next thing I knew he had set up a new board.

Anyway, whatever your beef is with the admins can we agree that working convivially with them will produce the best results for the golf section?

FWIW - Majors being global sticky for a week maybe from the perspective of one that uses and is interested in the Golf Board. I wouldn't globalise every week's one. But beware of Cricket World 20-20 final global stickies/FA cup final stickies/Heineken Cup global stickies all of which are major items in their own sports and which I (personally) have limited interest in seeing as global stickies.

Maybe a "606v2 recommends" type sticky with no comments and containing links in it to prominent pieces for each sport (so our Majors "ballwashers" for example). Problem is that would need administering and running (presumably by mod/admin) and they'd have the say on what was included (and the ire of each individual on each board for not including "x" or too much "y").

Davie wrote:

Adam D wrote:(One of our regular golf posters frequently writes amazing articles on the major events going on in the golfing world. v2 poster McLaren has suggested that as The Masters is underway, that you might all want to share in the debate - Enjoy!
Adam D)

Almost a week late I've just noticed this was added to Kwini's original blog when it was made a global sticky. I wonder if Adam realizes these articles go on every week and not just major events. While we surely agree with the sentiments, am I the only one to find this rather patronizing from someone who spends his weekends watching men in tights?

Davie Davie....

juvenile - yes
bitter - yes
bitchy - oh yea
hilarious - definitely!

First time for ages I've openly laughed out loud reading this board.

Think gmac agrees that 12 is a red herring.

@Graeme_McDowell wrote:Phenomenal. Important to remember that if Jordan makes 4 on 12 he only ties DW. #askGMac

Suggesting that even if spieth played ok on 12, he still had a lot of work to do on the rest of the back nine.

But he also knows that he only needs 1 or 2, not 3 or 4. Willet also then knows its very, very tight and the pressure would have been different.

All conjecture, what's done is done. 12 was 12 for Spieth and Willet went on and closed out superbly. A polyester blazer obtained from George @ ASDA is positioned in Yorkshire. Wonder if he's taken it off yet? I wouldn't have.

As an aside. With the jacket - do ANGC re-tailor a new one each year for each past champion as they change body shape?

Congrats to Shane Lowry who just got married in NYC!
http://www.golfchannel.com/news/grill-room/after-masters-ace-lowry-ties-knot-nyc/

Assume there were no leftovers from the wedding cake.
(Fortunately his new wife is a nurse though..)