Discussion

The Masters – Day Two

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Say goodbye to many of the favourites! The second day of the Masters was crazy. The veterans struggled and the rookies shined. Talk about a role reversal for many of the active players. This is great for the Masters and golf in general. It will allow some younger players to make their mark and share the headlines with the stalwart favourites!

Old LionHowever, this is not the real headline for Day Two of the Masters. The actual headline is “the aging veterans bare their teeth”; great players from the past who always seem to shine during the big tournaments. Given their age, the were paid lip service as to their chances of winning let alone making the cut, yet here they are….in the running for another green jacket.

These timeless gladiators always play well at the right times, but who are they:

Fred Couples – 54 years old, 1992 Masters Champion. With his silky smooth swing and gentlemen persona has been a fan favourite forever. Currently tied for 7th place, he has a great chance to make a run on moving day!

Vijay Singh – 51 years old, 2000 Masters Champion. His struggles of late have not affected his performance at this Major. Winning eight tournaments in 2004, he is a proven champion and has the ability to shoot low. He is currently sitting tied for 26th.

Larry Mize – 55 years old, 1987 Masters Champion. Mize was not a big name in golf when he played. He was a journeyman player who occasionally rose to the top of the pack. Regardless, as a past champion, he is playing well and tied for 26th.

Bernhard Langer – 56 years old, 2-time Masters Champion (1985, 1993). Langer has been at the top of golf for a long time. His timeless swing, cool composure and fierce competitive spirit have enabled him to stay competitive through the years. He is a fan favourite and tied for 26th.

Miguel Angel Jimenez – 50 years old, 42 professional wins. Never a Major Champion, Jimenez earned his way to the Masters through solid play over the past year. His cigar smoking, devil-may-care attitude enamours him with the crowd. Currently sitting tied for 46th, it is unlikely he will win, but the fans will be the big winners watching him play.

Sandy Lyle – 56 years old, 1985 Masters Champion. This Scotsman was a journeyman player. He represented the European team five times on the Ryder cup with two wins. He currently is tied for 46th.

These six are part of the elusive half-century club. There were all great players and continue to demonstrate that playing golf at an elite level is not limited to younger players. The 2014 Masters does not have the drama for 2013, but definitely has the excitement!

The golfing world would be turned upside down if one of these were to player win the first Major of 2014. It would be interesting to see the media spin on how an aging veteran topped of the golfing world. What do you think?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Masters – Tough First Day

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Day one of the Masters is over. All the pundits are frantically justifying why their pick is not at the top of the leaderboard. They are talking about the wind, the pressure, their starting position, nagging injuries, etc, etc, etc. The performance of any professional during the Masters will vary depending on an infinite number of reasons.  But, there was always one factor that never changes!

Before I go into the one constant of the Masters, I thought I would share some interesting highlights of the 2014 first round.  Interestingly, it was what everyone expected and it was nothing like anyone expected.  Here is what I found interesting:

Back to the original point – the one constant of all the Masters is the course!  Golf monthly has a great overview of each hole that is worth checking out. However, that is not what I noticed.

Augusta National ArchiveThe only flat section at Augusta National Golf Club is the practice area and tee boxes!

As I watched the players navigate around the course, not one of them had a flat lie. Not one!  In the fairway, the ball was above or below their feet.  The hazards on the course are sculpted perfectly. The announcers constantly talked about the quick breaks and how important it is to be on the right side of the hole! The course is a monster and course management will be the deciding factor to who wins this weekend! Augusta National Golf Course is truly a gem and the next three rounds are going to be exciting.

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links…..soon!

The Masters is More Than Just a Tournament

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

mastersThe Masters is more than just a tournament!

Living north of the 49th parallel, the golf season is way too short.  Most years the season is about seven months long. This is not near long enough unless golfers are willing to move south! Regardless, the Masters always means more, much more to the avid golfer in Canada. The April Major signals so many great things that it is important to mention them to help set the stage for the weekend.  So here they are:

DSCF7358

Local Course Still Under Water 6 April 2014

  • Spring is here!;
  • Four days of awesome golf on TV;
  • Strongest golfing field of 2014 slugging it out with no mercy;
  • Presenting the green jacket to the winner – not sure why, but love to watch it;
  • The local golf courses are open (or should be);
  • The warm weather is here to stay;
  • I can get my clubs out of storage;
  • I can start working on my swing with more than a pencil; and
  • I pick the Masters Champion: Rory McIlroy!

The Masters is an exciting time of the year and it is more than just a tournament.

What does it mean to you?

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links….soon!

It Is Masters Time Again!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

The Masters is only a few days away!  The golfing world is a buzz about the first Major in 2014. Adding to the normal hype, Tiger Woods will miss this ‘must attend’ event after 19 consecutive starts. There will be many new faces vying for the Green Jacket with realistic chances to be crowned champion. “Who will win?” is always the topic of most golfing pundits and the links below will give you an idea about some are thinking.

All of these fortune tellers, from a pure analysis point of view, are correct.  Selecting a Masters Champion is extremely difficult and some subjectivity must leak into their decision.  In six days, we shall see which oracle is correct.

The focus on Thursday does have a tendency to overshadow another important event linked to the Masters. Announced back on 07 April 2013, this new initiative of the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship concluded on Sunday past. This year-long event provided young men and woman golfers between the ages of 7-15 an opportunity to compete for the thrill of playing at one of the world’s most prestigious course. These future superstars performed on the biggest stage in golf and they did not disappoint. Congratulations to all the champions!

Regardless of expectations, there is one aspect of the Masters often overlooked – the course. This course is a par 72 – 7425 yard beast that is not tamed easily. This course rewards the daring and punishes the foolhardy. If the professionals do not bring their ‘A’ game, it will be a long four days…or should I say a short two days.

Augusta National Golf Club is a sanctuary for serious golfers. Even people who do not play golf understand the reverence shown to this famous course. As a biased golfer, I am not surprised! This gem is known for Amen Corner (which will make or break a round of golf), Eisenhower Tree (well not so much any more, but it will be mentioned plenty this weekend), Rae’s Creek, Ike’s Pond, and many more. Each hole has a special name with their own unique difficulties. My favorite hole the 13th.  It is the 510 yard par 5 beauty named Azalea!  What a beautiful risk-reward golf hole!

These famous landmarks will play an important role this weekend. The Masters is “A Tradition Like No Other” because of the great players who continue to grace the tournament, the electrifying atmosphere, and of course – the course. Regardless of your sporting preference, the Masters transcends all barriers as on of the greatest sporting events of the year!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

I Got Nothing!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Attempting to write about golf every two days (as per my goal for this year) is sometimes very difficult.  There is lots to write about, but every once in a while the creative juices just do not flow.  Well today is one of those days!

I could write about the upcoming Masters.  The fact that there will be about 25 new faces competing in Augusta.  That, the world number one player, Tiger Woods, is out and most of the pundits are talking more about him not playing than the strong field heading to the first Major of 2014.  I could talk about the change to the Augusta National Golf Course due to the harsh winter, but the fact that the course is different does not seem like such a bad thing. Regardless, the Masters starts in five days and I can hardly wait.

I could write about the first LPGA Major – The Kraft Nabisco Championship.  How two players tied at minus 10 will be slugging it out on Sunday.  I could analyse the different approaches of Michelle Wie and Alexis Thompson, but that is an article in itself.  Tomorrow should be interesting as both players are poised to win their first Major and live up to their potential as professional golfers.

I could write about how the underdogs in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament parallel the five first time winners on the PGA Tour this year.  How the underdogs in March Madness are punching above their weight like many of the journeyman players on the Tour.  How persistence and the desire to succeed trumps the teams with the better stats. Or how one player or one great shot can change the fortune of many!  But, apparently that is happening all over social media; so what is there to add.

Local Pro, 2 USAF Members, Local Businessman supporting the launch of the True Patriot Love Foundation Charity!

Local Pro, 2 USAF Members, Local Businessman supporting the launch of the True Patriot Love Foundation Charity!

I could write about the number of charities the PGA Tour (Canada and USA) sponsor.  As an example, the True Patriot Love Foundation which is a great Canadian initiative that supports military families. Launched in 2012 at North Bay, Ontario, Canada, it raises money for those military families who need a little support to continue to serve.  It continues to be a great success!

I could write about all these things, but today is a bit of a struggle.  Having said that, after I vociferated (had to look this one up – means ranted), it seems that writing about golf today was easier than I thought.  Writing about golf is sometimes less about the main stream headlines and more about what topics make the reader (and writer) think / question / obfuscate.  Golf is a unique sport (I have said this many times) that truly means something different to everyone.

For me, writing today is not about the endless supply of topics that interests any golfing enthusiast, but more about just writing.  Golf articles can take the reader down many different paths.  And given the choices in direction, the traveler path appears to limitless!

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!