Masters

Nine Days Until The Masters

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Chipping Phil MickelsonWhat makes The Masters more than just a golf tournament!?  Is it that Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are the youngest first time and two-time champions respectively!?  Is it that Jack Nicklaus has won 6 green jackets!?  Is it because in 1935 Gene Sarazen’s double eagle on 15th hole coined “the shot heard ‘round the world”!? There are only four wire-to-wire champions. Is it that the oldest Masters champion is golf’s great Jack Nicklaus at age 46?  Phil Mickelson’s shot from behind a tree on the 13th hole to 5 feet from the pin. Regardless of the event, it is easy to see why this tournament captures the eye of the golfing world, as millions of viewers will be glued to the TV waiting for history to unfold!

The Masters is just around the corner. The excitement is building and most golfing fanatics are slowly counting the seconds tick away. This is a yearly tradition for most players as the first Major of the year marks the start of the golf season, especially those of us in the northern climes!
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Can You Predict a Winner in Golf?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Believe, Concieve, AchieveToday will be a two post day! The first is to let you know that I want to host your predictions on my golf blog. Later today, after work, I am going to ‘go live’ with this new page.

The intent is to generate some conversation and maybe a bit of good old golfing fun for all those golfing pundits out there! All you need to do is give your choices via:

  • email – thegratefulgolfer@hotmail.ca
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Comment on this Blog
  • send me the link to your blog

I will post your choices for The Masters, The Open, US Open and PGA Championship and link to your site or tweet if you want. The plan is for everyone to make their choices for all four Majors before the first tee off at The Masters!

At the end, someone will wear the crown as the greatest pundit of all time! Or at least within The Grateful Golfer Community!

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

2016 Golf Majors Predictions

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments
Lost and Confused Signpost

This is how I feel predicting Major champions!

2016 is an exciting year for golf.  Many of the new young players and all the seasoned veterans are ready for golf’s biggest tournaments.  Golf’s major championships are just around the corner and, as seen in previous years, players are setting their schedules to peak at the right time. Given the rise and fall of players in the top 10 of the world rankings, it is anyone’s guess who will win golf’s most prestigious events this year.

All professional golfers covet the four Majors: The Masters, US Open, The Open, and PGA Championship.  Each unique tournament tests the skill and tenacity of every player.  This year proves to be no different.  In 1930, Bobby Jones became the only player in modern golf to win all four tournaments in one year. Several other players have come close, but none have achieved this great feat. Given the skill of today’s players, this amazing accomplishment will likely not happen this year either, but everyone keeps waiting and hoping for another grand slam in golf!
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Are You Ready for the Masters?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

mastersThe Masters is less than 50 days away! For us snowbound golfing fanatics, April cannot come too soon enough. This year, approximately 95 of the worlds best golfers will make the yearly journey to Augusta Georgia, to vie for the ‘Green Jacket’! This year, The Masters will be played from 7-10 April; are you ready?

Of all the Majors, this one is my favorite. It starts off my golfing season and it is an opportunity get excited to play as I watch the world’s best slug it out. Apparently, I am not alone with view of The Masters stature among the Majors.
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Jordan Spieth Wins the 2015 Masters

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

mastersCongratulations to Jordan Spieth for winning his first green jacket. His steady play on Sunday was more than enough to put his first Major in his pocket.

Spieth’s seesaw round was a bit of a surprise to some, but not unexpected by most. His ability rebound for a bogey is what makes champions. The pundits suggested that before the round, Spieth should play more cautiously than the previous three rounds; but with 6 birdies and 3 bogies, he was playing flat-out. The question on most experts mind this morning about how the double bogey on the 17th hole on moving day would affect his game was quickly answered. It didn’t! Jordan Spieth earned his first Major Championship by winning the 2015 Masters….perhaps, the first of many.

Other notables today were all the players between 4th and 9th position. In reality after everything was all said and done, they were playing for second place. Their low scores were just a little to late. In most tournaments, one exceptional round would put a player in contention to win, but a Major, not so much. It takes at least two and usually three great rounds to win any Major. But, hats off that group for making a great showing down the stretch.

Jordan Spieth was not my first choice to win the 2015 Masters. I thought that Rory McIlroy would complete his career grand slam, but not this year. This feat is very rare, but McIlroy has plenty of time to yet. Overall, I was 50/50 selecting players to win. Here is how I made out:

  • Phil Mickelson – T2
  • Jimmy Walker – T39
  • Jason Day – T28
  • Jordan Spieth – 1st
  • Rory McIlroy – 4th
  • Dark Horse – Matt Kuchar – T46

Overall, not too to bad. I did, however, think that Jimmy Walker would have played better at Augusta this year. He only stepped on to the Major’s scene last year, so he does not have the seasoning that other players have. Although he is considered one of the hottest players in golf right now, playing in a Major is extremely difficult and he may need a bit more seasoning before he is ready to compete at that level.

It was exciting to watch Jordan Spieth rise to the élite ranks by winning his first Major. At 21 years old, he has many years ahead where he can continue to excite the golfing world. He reminds me of a young Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods; hopefully he will be able to handle the new notoriety and stay in form for many years to come.

Again, Congratulations to Jordan Spieth on winning the 2015 Masters.

Bring on The Open!

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