PGA Tour: He Who Beats Justin Rose Wins The Masters: Notes from the Ballwasher

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Not really "Notes" this week, just the start of a Masters thread.

There's increasingly little new to say about The Masters, for the most part there's not much new to say about the field, the most likely contenders, or even the course.

The old habit of picking the winner via a process of elimination and seeing who is left when the music stops seems to result in the same cast of characters year after year, largely because nothing much changes.
This year I suppose the emergence of DeChambeau adds some scientific interest, there's the bizarre weight loss by Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth's loss of form, and always the breathless anticipation to see what outfit Tiger Woods is burdened with.

But Justin Rose has only been out of the Top 14 once (T25) in the past eight Masters, he's in good form, his mate Fooch is back on the bag and you'd think he'll be more focused than ever.

If not Justin, WHO?

Dustin Johnson and Rory have 8 x Top Tens between them in their past nine appearances, both are in great form and I'm going to go for the winner from those three no matter how hard I try.

But something a little more sporty: How about Thursday's 10.42 a.m. tee time with Charley Hoffman, Oosthuizen and Leishman playing together - any one of them, perhaps all three should be great each way investments.

Then there's Team GB which hasn't been as strong for 30 years, and is deeper than ever. Casey, Fitz, Tommy & Poults join Justin & Rory, with Hatton, Eddie Pepp and Matt Wallace (leading rookie?) all improving fast.  

Best rank outsider? Corey Conners played as an amateur a few years ago, dusted off an opening 80 with a second round 69 and won a ballsy victory in Texas.

There's so much written about The Masters elsewhere, that I'll leave it at that, except to say the weather is a bit iffy, rain earlier this week, and breezy with chance of thunderstorms thru the weekend.

GPB wrote:How far has this dude crawled up J-Day behind?

"...Being a good father is costly...."

Read the replies to the tweet

https://twitter.com/EvinPriest/status/1116482597482303494

Even odds JDay WDs.

GPB wrote:How far has this dude crawled up J-Day behind?

"...Being a good father is costly...."

Read the replies to the tweet

https://twitter.com/EvinPriest/status/1116482597482303494

Dunno, but the sight of Day being "worked on" beside the second fairway on Thursday must have been one of the more predictable images from Round 1.


Round 2 begins with just 11 players outside the cut, just Fitz (and the Tantrums?), Schwartzel, Lowry and Casey of those who should know better.

Interesting that Rory is saying the greens are running 2 to 3 feet slower than normal; I thought the sub-air system was intended to mitigate against that, even if there'd been a lot of rain?

Birdies from the leaders mean there are now 20+ in line to miss the cut; more please!
No unexpected catastrophes out there early in Round 2.

More than half the field on the course and no-one better than a smattering of -2's (including Justin Rose - about time).

EDIT: That didn't last long - pull yerself together Justin . . . . . . . !

Watching featured groups. Not happening for Rose.

Wow! Zach Johnson “duffs” one off the tee. But as he never intended to hit it - it was a practice swing, he gets to replay it. Poulter and Kuchar immediately tell him to replay shot.

Cometh the hour, Cometh the Poults!
How long will it last?

kwinigolfer wrote:How long will it last?

1 hole unfortunately

Round (67) of the day so far for Fitz. Ya need two more of them, Matt. At least.
Keegs in with a 68.

Jason Day getting rubbed out at the green side yesterday seems to have perked him up.

Told Mrs Digs, who likes a punt, to put a few quid on Molinari. She’s also chose Cameron Smith, who I think could be a shrewd bet. She despises golf (loves most sports) but will happily sit and watch the Masters with me.

"He who beats Justin Rose wins The Masters":
That's about 60 players so far, a dismal week for Justin, glad he wasn't available for my one-and-done . . . . . . . . .

Rose was in the Top 25 in the last 7 Masters. Trunk Slamming

US Ryder Cuppers look to have all twelve safe for the weekend.
Europe have lost Casey & Rose (about the two least likely) and have Sergio teetering.

Watching them play in the pis&ing rain is not much fun.

I love Jon Rahm and his shouty sweary club chucking ways.

SERGIO

Shouldn't the participants of this tournament be in school at this time of year in Scotland?

https://twitter.com/DempsterMartin/status/1116832606652391425

Molanari quite impressive

Every other year exhibition event ranking for this tournament ?

Maybe peabrain will blame the subair air system like Rory does?

6 straight missed major cuts for sergio. I like him, but he is gradually becoming irrelevant. Though I don't rule out a comeback, but he has his wife, family and a major. He ain't done bad.

Rory out of this one for another year.

Big cat could win this, that will be a comeback!!

I'd like brooks to keep rolling off majors though.

Impressive stuff from Woods, he has his game face on

I was at Druids Glen last weekend, scene of Sergio's first professional win. Irish Open 1999, I was there for that week too. Sergio is now very much on the downside of his career, a shadow of the promise he showed back then.

Shotrock wrote:Molanari quite impressive

Every other year exhibition event ranking for this tournament :shock: ?

Maybe peabrain will blame the subair air system like Rory does?

It's the Easter holidays I think.

Woosie calling it quits for a 2nd time

https://twitter.com/pcaseysafc/status/1116814741685571584

Mac

Impossible to call this one, a lot of quality grouped together. Heart says Woods, head says Johnson...or Koepka...or Molinari...
So Xander to win.

Poults paired w/Woods tomorrow?
The greatest and the young pretender.

EDIT: NO way to talk about Tiger.

Hope Woosie is serious this time, and Jose Maria & Cabrera need to give it a rest also.

Allez King Louis . . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:Poults paired w/Woods tomorrow?
The greatest and the young pretender.

Golf's eternal 1 - 2

For all the beefing about the inequities (and iniquities?) of the owgr:
~Good to see Justin Harding proving that the Lusaka four-ball has its merits.
and:
~Extreme subsidy by ET players for next week's Luke Donald Invitational at Harbour Town.
Including:
Rafa
Fitzpatrick
Fleetwood
Lowry
Molinari
Noren
Pepp
Poulter
Wallace
. . . .
and that's just those in the Top 50, and doesn't include South Africans etc.

Looking forward to a great event.
PS: Plenty of top class Americans too - DJ, BDeC, Xander, Webb, Kuchar etc.

Harbor Town? Seriously?
Isn't there an invitational tournament still to be completed at Augusta?

I think the most important thing about Sunday is what colour Nike are going to ask all their players to wear? Woods excepted of course.

I'm never wrong wrote:I think the most important thing about Sunday is what colour Nike are going to ask all their players to wear? Woods excepted of course.

Woods looked like he'd pulled out a used, discoloured T shirt from his 2000 collection yesterday. Is there a worse clothing manufacturer than Nike? Absolutely hideous.

Very surprised at JR and Casey's MC. Really fancied them to be in contention Sunday. A wasted chance for Lowry and Rory needs a miracle now unfortunately. Lots of golf still to be played but great to see Tiger in contention again. Molinari looking really solid, he's such a cool customer, his first pro win was his home Open and I remember he looked like he was so relaxed. Like Andrea Pirlo, who played football in an Armani suit drinking a glass of red wine

super_realist wrote:

I'm never wrong wrote:I think the most important thing about Sunday is what colour Nike are going to ask all their players to wear? Woods excepted of course.

Woods looked like he'd pulled out a used, discoloured T shirt from his 2000 collection yesterday. Is there a worse clothing manufacturer than Nike? Absolutely hideous.

It was a plain white t shirt. No coller, but nothing to really get so heated about it. Anyway, I quite liked what Rory wore. Though I find it hard to get heated by what people get paid to wear.

The curse of the par 3 contest continues. £10 down the drain re my bet on Wallace.

I'm happy to see that the championship is still wide open as everybody left beat Justin Rose

AlciG wrote:I'm happy to see that the championship is still wide open as everybody left beat Justin Rose

Very true Alci, but you gotta start somewhere if you're trying to write about something the whole rest of the world has already written about.

Actually think this will be quite a blow to Mr. Rose; he's going to have to refocus very quickly for the rest of the year or it'll be a wasted season for him, the big events coming one on top of the other, and none of them now at courses where he's enjoyed much success.

McLaren wrote:

Shotrock wrote:Molanari quite impressive

Every other year exhibition event ranking for this tournament :shock: ?

Maybe peabrain will blame the subair air system like Rory does?

It's the Easter holidays I think.

Sorry, meant to quote this post from GPB. My phone is a bit fiddly sometimes.

GPB wrote:Shouldn't the participants of this tournament be in school at this time of year in Scotland?

https://twitter.com/DempsterMartin/status/1116832606652391425

So these kids are probably on school holidays.

What a leaderboard!! Go Tiger (or DJ)

Garcia with 6 missed cuts in a row in majors.

You can still get 40-1 on Kuch and Poulter and Mickleson, pretty generous.

kwinigolfer wrote:

AlciG wrote:I'm happy to see that the championship is still wide open as everybody left beat Justin Rose

Very true Alci, but you gotta start somewhere if you're trying to write about something the whole rest of the world has already written about.

Actually think this will be quite a blow to Mr. Rose; he's going to have to refocus very quickly for the rest of the year or it'll be a wasted season for him, the big events coming one on top of the other, and none of them now at courses where he's enjoyed much success.

Just messing with you Kwini... I enjoy reading your topics

Alci
The weird thing is that it's so much more difficult to write something about the big events, at least if your criteria is to strive to scribble something people might not know. Trouble is, that's (Tiger, Rory etc) what people are most interested in.
That's why I'm stuck here and the truly great sports writers are travelling the world following their sport of choice!

But have no fear, my favourite event, my fifth Major at least, is next week on Hilton Head!

Meanwhile, Augusta is in the bulls eye of a tornado watch for Sunday - if things go as forecast, we'll either be having a very early start or a Monday finish.

Finau going sick on -9

Thanks Sky for the first 2 days, now time for the beeb. Andrew Cotter is the best on any channel. And I do like Alliss.

Anyway, on this occasion, the tiger woods lavender, im not sold.

Bouncebackability from Tiger

All the Americans coming to the front now

Woods back to -8

Tommy may not be a pinball Wizard, but he's a dryball Wizard after that but of luck

Choices to be made tomorrow between Liverpool / Chelsea and The Masters.

Molinari very hot. I’d expect to see the guys with quiet rounds today go low tomorrow, this might be DJ’s poor round.

Yep, really high quality golf being played the last hour or so. Woods, Franny top quality stuff.

Franny's in the zone - just 21 holes to go.
Very very good from Poulter also, but the rest of the GB&I has been disappointing.
Adam Scott terrorised by his putter, he should be at least at -11.

Tee times moved up tomorrow, starting at 7:30 am ET.

Chico is playing some brilliant golf.