The Masters

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!

The Shell Huston Open

/ The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

shell_houston_open_logoRecently, I wrote two articles for Pundit Arena; one called Valero Texas Open – The Most Important Tournament of the Year.  For journeyman golfers, winning two weeks before the Masters has the potential to vault them into the first Major of the year. The second outlined how Professional golf stats are useless when trying to predict a winner.  Just ask Steven Bowditch – he won an invitation to the Masters.  He was no where on any statistical list and shot a smooth 4-over on the last day!

So how important is the Shell Huston Open?  With Tiger Woods withdrawing from the Masters today, this tournament becomes even more important because of the potential to bounce the bubble guys around!  The field will be tough and world-class. Some of the top 10 are resting, but notables like Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Steve, Stricker, and Matt Kuchar will be out to lead the charge.  The Shell Huston Open is important, but given the field, the Valero Texas Open was the tournament for journeyman.

If the Valero Texas Open is the most important tournament of the year; then the Shell Huston Open is the most pressure packed tournament of the year!  Many pundits will say no, no, no!  It is definitely the Majors or the Ryder Cup.  Conceding that playing in the Majors is like a pressure cooker; try being one of 50 guys fighting for the last invite to the big dance. These professionals will be riding a roller coaster of emotions, try things that only superman should try, and watching the leader board as if it was a lottery draw.  The pressure will continue to build until like a balloon – POP – they are all done!

The Shell Huston Open is not just another professional event – the press to win has the potential for players to erupt like a volcano.  The journeyman players will be dialed-in, ready to play, and shaking in their boots all at the same time. Should be fun to watch!

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

Whats Wrong with Phil Mickelson?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Phil Mickelson is usually a beast on the golf course.  He is steady, focused, and a fierce competitor!  So what is wrong with Mickelson in 2014?  Is he sick?  Are there outside influences affecting his mental game?  Is he getting old?  Is he trying too hard?  Does anyone have the answer?

Currently, Mickelson is struggling to make the cut at the Valero Texas Open, he only has 4 top 25 finishes in 25 events and his stats do not have him leading in any category.  He has had sparks of greatness, but nothing consistent.  With approach shots like below, he may be starting to turn things around just in time for the Masters!

Phil Mickelson is an enigma.  His style of play is loved and hated by the golfing pundits.  As a younger player he was fearless.  Unfortunately, some of his devil-may-care attitude cost him tournaments.  As he matured and learned from some mistakes; Mickelson understood the importance of picking the moments to press a situation, but never to shied away from the tough shots – as seen by his shot in 2010 Masters from behind the tree.  It truly was legendary!

So what is wrong with Phil Mickelson in 2014?  The short answer is nothing!  He has had a tough start this season; he is not playing to his potential, but in all fairness he has not placed the same emphasis on the PGA Tour’s Western Swing as in year’s past. He adopted new strategy to focus on the Majors and many experts are questioning his decision; however, only success in the Majors will be the true test of his 2014 strategy.

In years past Mickelson played around 20 events a year.  Likely, he will play around the same amount this year.  As a golfing pundit, I predict he will win two events this year: the US Open and one other.  Additionally, much to the disagreement of my European friends the US will win the Ryder Cup at GLENEAGLES, Scotland, on 23-28 September 2014.

2014 will be a banner year for Phil Mickelson.  It may not seem that way right now, but just wait, the season is just starting.  What do you think?

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

Who are the Bubble Guys?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

Who are the bubble guys?  They are the players who stand between 40 and 60 in the world rankings.  At any time, players behind them can easily leap-frog their position by playing well in a tournament.  If you do not think it is that easy, look below and see what happened to last week’s winners and how they rocketed up the world rankings.

World Rankings 26 Mar 14

A couple of weeks back, I was discussing the world rankings with Brian Penn from All About Golf.  We initially were talking about Adam Who are the bubble guys?  They are the players who stand between 40 and 60 in the world rankings.  At any time, players behind them can easily leap-frog their position by playing well in a tournament.  If you do not think it is that easy, look below and see what happened to last week’s winners and how they rocketed up the world rankings.Scott taking over as world number one and Brian set me straight as to the real meaning of the rankings.  He said:

“Jim, the odd thing about the world golf rankings is that it doesn’t matter who’s #1. Top guy has a nice feather in the cap but what it’s really about is winning majors. What’s very important is staying in the top 50 because of all the automatic invites to the big tournaments. Weird that the farther down you go the more meaning it has.”

The more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that his view about the importance of the bubble guys is spot on!  Additionally, his sage advice was behind the article I wrote for Pundit Arena called Valero Texas Open – The Most Important Tournament of the Year.  It might be worth a read.

The bubble positions are especially critical so close to The Masters for one reason and one reason only – how a professional qualifies.  There are many ways, but the one with the most impact is the 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament are invited to the show!

If Matthew Every can jump from 94 to 44 on the world rankings by winning one event, all the bubble players must be sweating as they tee it up over the next two weeks.  Two weeks before any Major is always exciting as players jockey for position hoping to get that elusive invite.  There will be many sleepless nights over the next two weeks as the bubble guys pray they are not ranked number 51!

No matter what happens – The Masters is a Tradition Like No Other! I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!