Masters

The Masters – Day 3 – Catch Me If You Can

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Jordan Spieth

Catch Me If You Can!

At the start of moving day at the Masters, the theme was ‘catch me if you can’! Jordan Spieth’s 6 shot lead going into Saturday’s round had many pundits gazing into their crystal ball predicting a record-low winning score. Expectations of another 5 or 6 under par round from the second round leader grew exponentially as his tee time approached! However, as the day unfolded, the real story came from past Major champions who live and die on moving day.

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were the players to watch during the third round.  Having giant-slayers and tenacious competitors zeroing in on your position is unnerving for most players. Added to that, having Mickelson race up the leaderboard early, must have had Jordan Spieth looking over his shoulder. Bogeying the last hole dampened Woods charge, but his play was reminiscent of the Tiger of old.

Lest not forget Rory McIlroy; his play for the first 15 holes was spectacular. But, dropping two stokes in the last three holes basically eliminated him from winning unless he shoots a course record on Sunday. But that is unlikely given he is 10 strokes back.

With all the hoopla and focus on the big three, Spieth seems to have learned his lesson from last year, kept his composure until the last two holes, but still finished comfortably atop of the leaderboard at 16 under par.

A just for fun fact, Jordan Spieth made 22 birdies in the first 54 holes! How good is this guy?

We will find out tomorrow when he goes head to head against Justin Rose. Wait, where did he come from? With a birdie on the 18th hole, the 2013 US Open Champion carded a solid 67 and outright second place. Tomorrow, Rose will definitely test Spieth at every opportunity and hopefully close the 4 shot gap.

There is one player who very few golfing experts picked to be in the mix on Sunday at Augusta. Charley Hoffman is surprising the masses by his consistent play and no-fear approach to playing against the world’s best. A classic journeyman player, Hoffman has a few moments in the spotlight since earning his card in 2006, but for the most part, he has worked hard and played to the middle of the pack. (Wikipedia)

YEAR EVENTS ROUNDS FEDEX
PLAYED 1ST 2ND 3RD TOP 10 TOP 25 MADE CUT CUT WD STANDING
2015 13 1 1 — 2 5 9 4 — 7
2014 25 — — 1 5 10 21 4 — 53
2013 23 — — 1 5 8 19 4 — 61
2012 27 — 1 — 2 6 18 9 1 69
2011 27 — 1 — 2 6 20 7 — 41
2010 24 1 — — 5 8 18 6 — 4
2009 27 — 1 — 4 11 22 5 — 37
2008 29 — — — 3 6 19 10 — 70
2007 30 1 — — 2 7 18 12 — 50
2006 29 — — — 5 10 21 8 — —

Hoffman’s record at the Majors would be considered poor by most standards. However, if he was to go on and win the 2015 Masters, his life would change for ever. This year, Hoffman is demonstrating that he can play under Masters’ pressure, it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.

Tournament 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T27 DNP DNP DNP
U.S. Open T48 DNP DNP DNP DNP T45 DNP T45 DNP
The Open Championship DNP T35 DNP CUT DNP CUT DNP DNP T67
PGA Championship DNP CUT DNP CUT DNP CUT CUT T40 CUT

Charley Hoffman is a perfect example of how any journeyman can compete or even win on any given day! The top 100 players in the world are separated by so little, that the number of first time winners this year on the PGA Tour should not be a big surprise to anyone. Solidly in 4th place, Hoffman will play with Phil Mickelson on Sunday. Good luck tomorrow Charley!

The theme of today was ‘catch me if you can’! Several players moved up the leaderboard, but Jordan Spieth repelled all challengers. Sunday at the Masters is the toughest test of all. To win at Augusta National, playing well on Sunday is a must; it is what defines the champions who wear the green jacket!

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

The Masters – Day 2 – Moving Day?

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Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth Masters Leader after Day 2.

Today felt like “moving day” at the Masters! The number of players jockeying for position reminded me of the Kentucky Derby! Well, halfway through the race anyway. Jordan Spieth carded another stellar round and by all accounts, he just might be wearing his first green jacket. But hold your horses everyone, we are only just getting started.

Great rounds by Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Ryan Moore and Kevin Na have caught everyone’s attention. Their low rounds have vaulted these players into the top 10 and the golfing world is abuzz with the possibilities of what will happen tomorrow! Let us not forget Charley Hoffman; his round of 68 keeps him within striking distance of, the now perennial favorite, Jordan Spieth. Any other year, Hoffman would be leading the Masters and would be the focus of all the attention.

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Mark O’Meara show why veterans cannot be counted out at any time. In true Masters fashion, their slow and steady approach kept them in the hunt for another day. Mickelson’s 4 under currently has him sitting in 6th place, 8 strokes back. A big shout out to Mark O’Meara who shot 68 today and is sitting tied for 12th. At 58 years-old, O’Meara was never in the picture, but he is competing against the world’s best and succeeding. Surprised?

Ernie Els shot even par today. His score did not hurt him, but did not help him either. With the leaders shooting sub-par rounds, Els will have to shoot a 68 tomorrow to keep pace and have any kind of chance at winning this year’s Masters.

There were plenty of surprises today. The biggest was three rounds of 66. Normally, 6 under par will happen once or twice over the Masters’ weekend, but three in one day! Additionally, I was impressed by the composure of Jordan Spieth. At 21 years old, he is demonstrating the wiles of a seasoned veteran. As I mentioned before, we are only at the half way point and whether he or any other contender can keep focused will remain to be seen.

Tomorrow is the real “Moving Day!” The weather forecast calls for 80 degrees and 10 mph winds for Saturday and Sunday. For the Masters to become a closer tournament this year, two things must happen: Jordan Spieth must take off his superman cape, then give it to one of the players chasing him. Anything can happen on ‘Moving Day”, so stay glued to your TV and watch all the action!

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

The Masters – Day 1

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The first round of the 2015 Masters is in the books. The stellar play by Jordan Spieth (-8), Ernie Els, Charley Hoffman, Jason Day and Justin Rose (all -5) have them leading the field. Except for Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, the rest of the names in the top 10 were not on most pundits’ radar! But, it is still the first day.

The Masters is a game of endurance, it is not a sprint. As the next three days unfold, many aspects of the leader’s game will be tested. Most of all, their ability to handle the pressure of leading the Masters.

The first day of the Masters is always exciting where the anticipation for fantastic golf changes to reality for golfing fanatics. However, for me, there is always one aspect of the Masters I look forward to seeing each year. The honorary starters hitting the first ball. This year, like others in the past, Arnold Palmer , 85, Gary Player, 79, and Jack Nicklaus, 75, thrilled the crowds with three awesome shots.

When I look at these great players, I cannot help but remember all the fantastic memories they have created. They transcend time as I see them bend over (more of a feat than we would think given their age), line up, and launch their drives down the first fairway. These three giants are worthy of our respect and admiration for making golf the game it is today. Their stats are simply amazing. Here is a quick snapshot of how great these players really are:

Honorary Starters of the 2015 Masters
Arnold Palmer Gary Player Jack Nicklaus
Masters Played 50 52 45
Masters Won 4 3 6
Masters Top 10 9 8 15
Total Majors 7 10 14
Professional Wins Worldwide 95 178 116

The stories these golfing legends could tell would be mind-boggling. Each time they tee it up at the Masters, I take a trip down memory lane. The championships they have won and lost; the spectacular shots over the years; and the grace and gentlemanly fashion in which they carried themselves is a lesson for us all. Watching the honorary starters is a tradition I love about the Masters and if you missed it:

Tomorrow is another day. The pressure will continue to build. I am looking forward to seeing if the current leaders have the game (both mentally and physically) to extend their lead. Right now, many players are working towards the privilege of playing on the weekend; I still think Rory McIlroy will win and he will start making his move tomorrow. Who are your movers and shakers for tomorrow?

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

Masters Pairings

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Tomorrow, the long-awaited start of The Masters arrives. The entire golfing world is ready for Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer to serve as honorary starters. A tradition that goes back to 1963, the honorary starters add that bit of excitement on the first tee. Who better to start The Masters off than these three giants?

Who the participants play with for the first two days is as important as how they play. Mixing and matching players cannot be easy and I am not sure how the pairings are selected. Regardless, the following is from Masters.com and here is what we have to look forward to over the next two days:

Masters Pairings 2015

There are many great pairings to watch, but here are the ones I will pay special attention to:

Tee Times Players
Thursday Friday
8:18 a.m. 11:25 a.m. Mike Weir Ben Crane Corey Conners (a)
9:02 a.m. 12:20 p.m. Patrick Reed Keegan Bradley Ian Poulter
9:24 a.m. 12:42 p.m. Bubba Watson Justin Rose Gunn Yang (a)
9:35 a.m. 12:53 p.m. Adam Scott Dustin Johnson Antonio Murdaca (a)
10:52 a.m. 1:59 p.m. J. B. Holmes Martin Kaymer Brandt Snedeker
10:41 a.m. 1:48 p.m. Phil Mickelson Rory McIlroy Ryan Moore
1:15 p.m. 9:57 a.m. Jordan Spieth Henrik Stenson Billy Horschel
1:48 p.m. 10:30 a.m. Tiger Woods Jamie Donaldson Jimmy Walker
1:59 p.m. 10:41 a.m. Jason Day Sergio Garcia Rickie Fowler

I am sure when you look at my list, you are wondering what I was thinking. Remember these are the players I think will be fun to watch and I have an interest in. Who do you think should be added to the list?

Of these above pairings, a couple of things jump out at me: Watson and Scott are both paired with amateurs, McIlroy’s group is potentially the toughest, and the Reed, Keegan, Poulter group might see fireworks! Oh the fun of it all!

On a side note, Jack Nicklaus shot a hole-in-one at the Par 3 Tournament today…..only like Jack can!

The timings and groups are set, all that is left is 4 days of exciting Masters Golf!

I am a grateful golfer…..Watching the Masters!

Drive Chip & Putt Championship at the Masters

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The second annual Drive Chip  & Putt Championship was held on 05 April 2015. This new tradition at the Masters sees 80 young talented golfers pitting their skills against each other and Augusta National. As I watch these budding superstars perform, I was amazed at their composure, understanding of golf, and sportsmanship! For a list of all the results check out the interactive leaderboard. Well done to all the competitors!

drive-chip-putt-flag-847-ed-zurga

Ed Zurga/Getty Images

The 2015 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is open to boys and girls ages 7-15. Boys and girls will compete in separate divisions in four age categories: 7-9 years old; 10-11 years old; 12-13 years old; and 14-15 years old. There is a list of other criteria to be eligible and you can find the here. Needless to say, some of these young guns know how to play golf!

If you think that getting to this national event is easy, here is what each player has to do in 2015. Past winners are not invited back, they have to qualify each year. The 2015 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship will be conducted in four stages:

  • Local qualifying – to be conducted throughout May, June, July and August 2015 at 253 sites in 50 states.
  • Subregional qualifying – to be conducted throughout July and August, 2015 at 51 sites.
  • Regional qualifying – to be conducted throughout September, 2015 at 10 sites.
  • Championship final – to be conducted Sunday, April 3, 2016 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.

As the name indicates, each player competes in each event Drive, Chip and Putt. They each have two balls for each skill and their results area accumulative to select a winner. Perfect score is 30 points over the three events. Besides having the pressure of competing against 9 other great players, the event was set at the historical Augusta National Golf Course; what a thrill!

During the Drive portion, the players had two chances to hit the ball within a grid that was 40-yard fairway width, length from 75 yards to 325 yards. The longest drive to stay within the grid was their score. I amazed to see that one of the 12-13 year old players could hit the ball 240+. The longest of the day was by a 15-year-old boy – 280+ yards!

Chipping was all about feel. Each player stood about 25 yards from the hole and chipped two balls. The winner had the lowest accumulative distances from the hole. Chipping in gave you a distance of 0. The best accumulative score for the girls was 4’1″ (chipped one in) and by a 9-year-old boy of 7’1″ (chipped one in). I enjoyed watching some of the young players adjust their something between the first and second shot.

Putting was fun to watch and the most challenging event. Each player putted one ball for two different locations. The first was a long uphill putt and the second was a much shorter downhill skater! The speed of the greens was a challenge and adjusting from an uphill to downhill putt proved to be challenging for some of the players! The best accumulative score for the girls was 6″ by a 9-year-old! The best accumulative score for the boys was 2’1″. Interestingly, quite a few of the young players putted cross-handed.

Many of the past Masters champions, like Bubba Watson and Mark O’Meara, were on hand to talk, cheer, and laugh with the young players. Having these great players on hand only added to the overall success of this national event. I enjoyed watching the future of golf. These young players demonstrated that anyone, at any age is capable of playing great golf. Congratulations to all the participants.

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