The Masters – Super Sunday

April 13, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

Congratulations to Bubba Watson for his commanding win at the 2014 Masters. He joins an élite group of 16 other green jacket winners!

Unfortunately, unlike other golfing pundits, I would not rate this year’s final round as exciting as years past. There were no late charges, no last minute collapses, no dramatic shots from out of the cabbage (OK this one might be a stretch) or no misinterpretation of the rules! I am sure others are going through their Rolodex of events to call me crazy, but maybe…wait, in need help, I have fallen into the Masters media hype!

All joking aside, the 2014 Masters did live up to its billing. We were witness to many position changes, notable players missing the cut, many first-time Masters players performing very well, and many senior players standing up to be counted. All the players navigated Augusta National to the best of their abilities against a monster of a course.

Bubba Watson did exactly what any 54-hole leader should do; he shot -3 and took the green jacket. He did not panic, made some great shots, putted well and stayed composed through his 5 hours on the links. Augusta National tried to put pressure on Watson; however on the final day, the course was the only one. Watson responded by making the right shot at the right time – fantastic Bubba Watson style course management!

Jordan Spieth played well. It is difficult playing in the last group of any Major. The pressure of playing in the last group on the final day of the Masters is unimaginable to an amateur. His composure is noteworthy. Unfortunately, he could not capitalize on his many opportunities to apply pressure on Watson during the back nine. Regardless, he finished tied for second (with another Masters first-timer) and will be a player to watch in the future!

Other players shot low scores on the last day, but were too far back to apply any pressure on the leaders. Players like Joost Luiten had the low round of the day of -5; Stewart Cink shot -4; Rory McIlroy and Bernhard Langer shot -3; all were great rounds and they should be commended for their performance, however it was a case of to little too late.

Overall, it was an exciting four days. This years Masters is in the books and we all look forward to next April.

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

The Masters – Moving Day

April 12, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Day three at the Masters could not have been better. The leader Bubba Watson moved backward and the most of the field moved forward. As a result, the field is close and about 15 players have a chance to win the first Major of 2014. There are many highlights to moving day and the golfing world is abuzz with excitement. This hype is normal for most Masters Tournaments and as a result, there will be some who will have a tough time sleeping tonight!

The two players of day 3 that caught my eye are Jordan Spieth and Miguel Angel Jimenez! Both these players have provided some exciting golf and have set the media circus on fire with back peddling and speculation. It is amazing to see how quickly the tides change and the pundits change their spots. Regardless, these two players have differing approaches to the final round of the Masters which makes it even more interesting.

Here are a couple Tweets that sum up my thoughts.

Decent round for Spieth. Can't see him sleeping a wink tonight though #nerves

— Fergus Barron (@Sugneg) April 12, 2014

Jimenez celebrating his 66 pic.twitter.com/BSF06WxzMe

— Golfing Weekly (@Golfing_Weekly) April 12, 2014

Jordan Spieth will likely be up most of the night nervous as he zeros in on his first green jacket. This response is totally understandable. His meteoric rise in the golfing world was not unexpected, but a bit of surprise. The golfing experts realized early that Jordan Spieth would be a force on Tour, but not this quick. After turning pro in 2012, very few would have predicted that just two years later he would be ranked 13th in the world and the leader after 54 holes at the Masters. He is a great player and has a great future. However, for tomorrow, his nerves will be like the video below!

Miguel Angel Jimenez will be a different case. He is a cigar smoking, fun-loving professional who is beloved by the average fan. At 50 years of age, his golfing career later in life is better than when he turned pro in 1982. This Spaniard has 23 wins world-wide and never seems to change his demeanor regardless of the tournament! He has the ability to shoot another low round and being only 2 strokes back makes the final day of the Masters more interesting. Of all the players in the last three groups, he has the most to gain and the least to lose!

Regardless, the final day of the Masters is going to be exciting. The player wearing the green jacket will be the one who steps up and takes it.

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

The Masters – Day Two

April 12, 2014April 12, 2014 / 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!

However, 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

April 10, 2014 / 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:

Bill Haas is at the top of the leaderboard;
Bubba Watson was the only player to have a bogey free round;
Phil Mickelson had a double-bogey and a triple bogey;
Fred Couples is at -1;
Bernhard Langer is 56 years old and shot even par;
Top Amateur is Matthew Fitzpatrick (youngest in the field) +4;
Jack Nicklaus is still the greatest; and
The images at this link are excellent – Thanks PGA!

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.

The 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

April 9, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

The 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: