Masters Week 2007

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by GPK

Scuds...the fact he is only 5 shots out of this tournament is amazing. A trained chimp could drive the ball better right now. If he gets any kind of decent swing going tomorrow (which I think he will) he is gonna be very dangerous this weekend.

Supposed to be really cold though.Ain't his weather,but he did battle back to keep himself close to a bunch of guys who(for the most part) don't know how to win a major.

[MinnSkinny]

Well guys, I just spent two days there, and I'm impressed beyond description. Having played the game since I was 7 years old, I finally got the chance to see it for real. Walked the course entirely from 1 to 18 on Thursday, following fellow Iowan Zach Johnson, and sat with some Members (accidentally) at 16 for most of the afternoon Friday.
My Impressions: 1. The tee shot on #11 is right out of the scariest movie you have ever seen. 2. The "patrons" know more about golf than most of the guys I play with. 3. The pitch, roll, and slope of the greens can't be described, and certainly are much more dramatic than TV shows you. 4. My calves still hurt from Thursday's stroll. 5. It has it's own brand of cool: You can strike up a conversation with a total stranger and become great friends in 5 minutes. 6. They don't want your money, ridiculously cheap food & beverage (and that's my line of work), they just want you to enjoy. 6. The gift shop is another story, you can burn $600 in ten minutes, but that's your call (guilty). 7. Cigars are still cool there. 8. Pin placements both days looked like Sunday's. Go for a flag, and unless you hit your career best shot, suffer the consequences. Crenshaw said "triple tough" and thats the best description I heard. 9. The beauty of the place: perfect turf, but hard as a brick. The flowers are too numerous to recognize individually, it's just a blur of color. The speed of the greens, 14.5 on Thursday, lag putts all day, then leave the uphillers short. 10. They haven't missed a thing in runnning a tournament, there's a volunteer for everything.
Ya gotta go if ever you can, especially if you love the game like I do.
And I have no clue who's gonna win this thing, but he'll have some magic working to do it.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by MinnSkinny

Well guys, I just spent two days there, and I'm impressed beyond description. Having played the game since I was 7 years old, I finally got the chance to see it for real. Walked the course entirely from 1 to 18 on Thursday, following fellow Iowan Zach Johnson, and sat with some Members (accidentally) at 16 for most of the afternoon Friday.
My Impressions: 1. The tee shot on #11 is right out of the scariest movie you have ever seen. 2. The "patrons" know more about golf than most of the guys I play with. 3. The pitch, roll, and slope of the greens can't be described, and certainly are much more dramatic than TV shows you. 4. My calves still hurt from Thursday's stroll. 5. It has it's own brand of cool: You can strike up a conversation with a total stranger and become great friends in 5 minutes. 6. They don't want your money, ridiculously cheap food & beverage (and that's my line of work), they just want you to enjoy. 6. The gift shop is another story, you can burn $600 in ten minutes, but that's your call (guilty). 7. Cigars are still cool there. 8. Pin placements both days looked like Sunday's. Go for a flag, and unless you hit your career best shot, suffer the consequences. Crenshaw said "triple tough" and thats the best description I heard. 9. The beauty of the place: perfect turf, but hard as a brick. The flowers are too numerous to recognize individually, it's just a blur of color. The speed of the greens, 14.5 on Thursday, lag putts all day, then leave the uphillers short. 10. They haven't missed a thing in runnning a tournament, there's a volunteer for everything.
Ya gotta go if ever you can, especially if you love the game like I do.
And I have no clue who's gonna win this thing, but he'll have some magic working to do it.

Thanks Terry. Every year after the tournament I am always kicking myself in the ass for not going down there for a couple days. This year will be no different, I'm sure. Pin placements may get easier the next two days. They have done that before in the past. Have a crowded leader board heading into Sunday...and then make the pins easy on Sunday so that there can be a shoot out the last 18.

[MinnSkinny]

Hey Kev, I hope they do. The only thing missing was the roars around the course. When you see how close 11 & 12 are, and 15 & 16 & 17 are, you can understand why they wait for one another to putt out. Golf Channel interviewed Fuzzy, he mentioned this too. Mittens & Stocking caps this morning, with a 1 hour delay to get it started. Should be a great afternoon!

[timmgirvan]

Whoever wins this tourney...it will be called 'winning ugly'!

[MinnSkinny]

Originally Posted by GPK

Thanks Terry. Every year after the tournament I am always kicking myself in the ass for not going down there for a couple days. This year will be no different, I'm sure. Pin placements may get easier the next two days. They have done that before in the past. Have a crowded leader board heading into Sunday...and then make the pins easy on Sunday so that there can be a shoot out the last 18.

Kev, at about 6:45 PM Eastern time, we may just get what we want for Sunday, there's a whole bunch lined up now, +1 to +4, including you know who. I thought maybe they killed this toonament, but it may end up one of the best. I just hope they water the greens some and we can hear the roars Sunday afternoon..................and let Vaugh Taylor make a run for it!

[SCUDSBROTHER]

What a bunch of f'n gaggers.They are beggin' Tiger to take this.

[GPK]

I would guestimate on my BEST DAY...I would have shot 85 there today in those conditions.

Tiger being 2 under through 16 was freaking remarkable.

[GPK]

Scores after 54 holes....and my predictions (in green) on what they will shoot tomorrow.

1 7 Stuart Appleby +2 F +1 75 70 73 - 218 75
T2 2 Justin Rose +3 F +3 69 75 75 - 219 76
T2 13 Tiger Woods +3 F E 73 74 72 - 219 71
T4 1 Vaughn Taylor +4 F +5 71 72 77 - 220 78
T4 — Zach Johnson +4 F +4 71 73 76 - 220 75

T4 4 Padraig Harrington +4 F +3 77 68 75 - 220 72
7 1 Bradley Dredge +5 F +4 75 70 76 - 221 77
T8 7 Tim Clark +6 F +8 71 71 80 - 222 73
T8 4 Jerry Kelly +6 F +6 75 69 78 - 222 75
T8 6 Jim Furyk +6 F +4 75 71 76 - 222 72
T8 7 Luke Donald +6 F +3 73 74 75 - 222 73
T8 17 David Toms +6 F +2 70 78 74 - 222 73
T8 19 Rory Sabbatini +6 F +1 73 76 73 - 222 76
T8 19 Phil Mickelson +6 F +1 76 73 73 - 222 74
T8 38 Retief Goosen +6 F -2 76 76 70 - 222 71

[gales0678]

kev,

they have taken the excitement out of this course. The back 9 at Augusta on Sunday afternoon was to me the best golf to watch on TV. Things happened so fast with the par 5's and rae's creek, but they have made this course to hard now.

I don't think we'll see a 30 on the back like Jack had in '86 ever again.
It's too bad, Hootie and the boys made this place to tough with all these trees. #7 is a joke now, used to a a long iron off the tee , left a short iron, now, there hitting a driver and a mid to long iron to a green that was not designed to have a long club in. #1 the medium to short hitters can't get the ball up on the top of the hill, just kills these guys.
These scores are a joke, for a tournament that is an invitational. The 2 founders have this course Jones and Roberts gotta be questioning what ever happend to their golf course. Hootie went overboard and f'd up a great place.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by gales0678

kev,

they have taken the excitement out of this course. The back 9 at Augusta on Sunday afternoon was to me the best golf to watch on TV. Things happened so fast with the par 5's and rae's creek, but they have made this course to hard now.

I don't think we'll see a 30 on the back like Jack had in '86 ever again.
It's too bad, Hootie and the boys made this place to tough with all these trees. #7 is a joke now, used to a a long iron off the tee , left a short iron, now, there hitting a driver and a mid to long iron to a green that was not designed to have a long club in. #1 the medium to short hitters can't get the ball up on the top of the hill, just kills these guys.
These scores are a joke, for a tournament that is an invitational. The 2 founders have this course Jones and Roberts gotta be questioning what ever happend to their golf course. Hootie went overboard and f'd up a great place.

Martin....


I see what you are saying...it is exciting to see these guys shoot lights out...but we get that week in and week out. I LOVE major championships like this. Majors are supposed to be hard work. I love the firm and fast conditions...makes these guys use imagination. Every PGA Tour event now, all they do is BOMB it off the tee...and wedge it on from there. No course management anymore. Look what Tiger did in the British Open last year. He was the only one in the field with enough mental discipline and fortitude to play the tournament for 72 holes and only use the driver ONE TIME. Tons of guys out there now hit it just as far, if not farther than Tiger. Many of them could have played the British the same way last year...but they lack the mental toughness to do it. Tiger "gets it"...he sees how a course is supposed to be played, knows that he possesses the strength to stick to his game plan...and that is why he continues to beat these guys like a drum.

Hogan was the same way...
Nicklaus was the same way...
Faldo was the same way...

[Samarta]

I gotta agree with gales. Now I'm not greenskeeper, so I don't know how much of this is due to the cold weather and how much of it is due to Augusta National, but whatever the blame, this Masters is lacking everything that has made it what it is. I don't have a problem when the USGA forces accuracy off the tee in U.S. Opens or makes the greens the fastest of the year, because good shots get rewarded. Now are there some times where it doesn't work out? sure. But this years Masters is not only the worst Masters I can remember, it may be the worst major I can remember. These guys are flat out afraid to hit the ball. I don't know about anyone else, but I damn sure don't want to see the world's best avg 78 on moving day of a major. Hell we could get that in the 3rd round of the Derby Trail Invitational. Not a whole lot to say other than a major dissappointment for an event I look forward to watching every year.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by GPK

Martin....


I see what you are saying...it is exciting to see these guys shoot lights out...but we get that week in and week out. I LOVE major championships like this. Majors are supposed to be hard work. I love the firm and fast conditions...makes these guys use imagination. Every PGA Tour event now, all they do is BOMB it off the tee...and wedge it on from there. No course management anymore. Look what Tiger did in the British Open last year. He was the only one in the field with enough mental discipline and fortitude to play the tournament for 72 holes and only use the driver ONE TIME. Tons of guys out there now hit it just as far, if not farther than Tiger. Many of them could have played the British the same way last year...but they lack the mental toughness to do it. Tiger "gets it"...he sees how a course is supposed to be played, knows that he possesses the strength to stick to his game plan...and that is why he continues to beat these guys like a drum.

Hogan was the same way...
Nicklaus was the same way...
Faldo was the same way...

Oh I have no doubt that Tiger will win tomorrow because he does have it figured out and he is mentally tougher than everyone else. I just thinks it's a huge let down when you don't hear the roar on Amen Corner or eagles on 13 and 15 and on and on....I don't mind a test like U.S. Open but they lose me when they screw it up and I think they did this time. jmo.....hey kev, our girl didn't look good....Porter needs to let her go have babies....

[golfer]

I'll take Kev in the DT Invite! It's because they bikini wax the darn greens... oops, I shouldn't have written that.

[whorstman]

GPK, My dog, Tiger once again Boged 17 & 18. No matter, in the final pair, which has produced the winner since 91 or so. Our boy will preveil. Tell Phil to get my Fukin jacket ready!

tiger.jpg

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Samarta

Oh I have no doubt that Tiger will win tomorrow because he does have it figured out and he is mentally tougher than everyone else. I just thinks it's a huge let down when you don't hear the roar on Amen Corner or eagles on 13 and 15 and on and on....I don't mind a test like U.S. Open but they lose me when they screw it up and I think they did this time. jmo.....hey kev, our girl didn't look good....Porter needs to let her go have babies....

Sam....it aint over yet. They will put some water on the greens tonight....there will be some accesible pins tomorrow....you will hear some roars....when they make PARS

I just love good hard tough golf courses. I love seeing the best in the world have to play precision golf a few weeks a year. They get it too easy the other weeks. The 4 majors should be hard work for those guys.


Porter is too greedy to let her go have babies

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by GPK

Martin....


I see what you are saying...it is exciting to see these guys shoot lights out...but we get that week in and week out. I LOVE major championships like this. Majors are supposed to be hard work. I love the firm and fast conditions...makes these guys use imagination. Every PGA Tour event now, all they do is BOMB it off the tee...and wedge it on from there. No course management anymore. Look what Tiger did in the British Open last year. He was the only one in the field with enough mental discipline and fortitude to play the tournament for 72 holes and only use the driver ONE TIME. Tons of guys out there now hit it just as far, if not farther than Tiger. Many of them could have played the British the same way last year...but they lack the mental toughness to do it. Tiger "gets it"...he sees how a course is supposed to be played, knows that he possesses the strength to stick to his game plan...and that is why he continues to beat these guys like a drum.

Hogan was the same way...
Nicklaus was the same way...
Faldo was the same way...

The golf course in not the same when Faldo won , Nicklaus won , and Palmer won. I am not against adding some yardage, I am against changing the nature of the course to what the original desingers had done. These trees on 15 look like they are almost in the middle of the fairway, it's a joke , Hootie didn't want to see the winner at -12 evey year.

But what a lot of people were missing Kev was that -12 at the masters is 276. When somene wins the open at -3 , the score is 277. I don't think they needed these drastic changes. 13 could have become a par 4 , and maybe one of the par 5's on the front could have been brought up to have a par 70 course if they wanted a low under par score to win. THis is not the same course any more and it's a shame.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by gales0678

The golf course in not the same when Faldo won , Nicklaus won , and Palmer won. I am not against adding some yardage, I am against changing the nature of the course to what the original desingers had done. These trees on 15 look like they are almost in the middle of the fairway, it's a joke , Hootie didn't want to see the winner at -12 evey year.

But what a lot of people were missing Kev was that -12 at the masters is 276. When somene wins the open at -3 , the score is 277. I don't think they needed these drastic changes. 13 could have become a par 4 , and maybe one of the par 5's on the front could have been brought up to have a par 70 course if they wanted a low under par score to win. THis is not the same course any more and it's a shame.

I understand you position Martin..and I respect it.

To me...par means nothing. If it takes shooting 290 or 291 to win a major tournament...then dammit...shoot that 290.

The golf ball has changed the game completely.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by GPK

I understand you position Martin..and I respect it.

To me...par means nothing. If it takes shooting 290 or 291 to win a major tournament...then dammit...shoot that 290.

The golf ball has changed the game completely.

Me thinks Tiger will win tomorrow. that we can agree on Kev

Phil better get ready to slap that Green Jacket #5 back on him

[GPK]

what we all need to realize is this....

since they made all the changes....this is the first time the course has played "hard and fast". They have had no rain at all this year...and that has not been the case the last few years...and the winning scores have been under par when the course receives rain.

2006 - 7 under par wins. 13 players finish under par for 72 holes
2005 - 12 under par wins in a playoff. 15 players finish under par for 72 holes
2004 - 9 under par wins. 12 players finish under par


What do those 3 years have in common? Rain the week of the Masters...either before or during the tournament.

No rain this week = hard, fast and TOUGH conditions. Everyone is playing the same course...from the same tees. Great players adjust accordingly.