2012 Masters Predictions

It's that time again to offer up our predictions for the 2012 Masters.    Not just who will win, but what we think will be the real stories at this year's tournament.      Last year I offered up my somewhat offbeat expectations, and once again here are the things I think will define this year's opening Major:

10)  During a practice round, for the fun of it Rory McElroy deliberately tries to hit a few tee shots towards the spot he ended up in last year among the cabins.   He mishits each shot, and in a cruel twist of fate every one ends up dead center in the fairway.

9)    Patrons were somewhat shocked to see Newt Gingrich walking the course during Wednesday’s practice rounds, especially since he was wearing an “Obama 2012” hat and tee shirt.   Uncharacteristically, Gingrich did not speak with reporters during his visit, although one patron reported that Gingrich did tell her that “... the elite media have it all wrong – I love the Prez ”.

8)   Augusta police arrested a San Diego man who ran onto 12 ^th green just after Fred Couple hit his tee shot, and laid down on the green and hugged the ground, weeping with joy.   Mr. Couples' caddie was accidently struck in the face with a 6 iron during the resulting melee trying to remove the man from the course.    (Woo hoo, I’m going this year!   And I apologize in advance for any irrational behavior while I’m there!)

7)   In another incident, police scuffled with a man they mistakenly assumed was a decorative garden gnome placed on the front lawn of the clubhouse.   In a statement to local TV news, Augusta police lieutenant Bobby Earl Peachtree apologized to Sean Foley, but added that it was a natural mistake since Mr. Foley was about the same height as a gnome.

6)  Never content to hit a straight or only lightly shaped shot, Bubba Watson’s second shot at the 13 curved  so severely that it actually knocked a cheese & pimento sandwich out of the hands of a patron on the 4 ^th tee before returning back and landing on the fringe left of the 13 ^th green.

5)  During the opening of Sunday’s telecast, Jim Nance once again languished such severe praise and near-religious worship of Augusta that chairman Billy Payne stormed onto the TV set screaming “ For crying out loud, Nance, it’s just a #$%&ing; golf course!!! ”.      In unrelated news, on Monday after the tournament the Augusta National Golf Club announced that long time member Mr. Elmer Fiddlebacher has been named the new chairman of the club.

4)   Just prior to the start of the Champion’s Dinner, Greg Norman is spotted lurking in the shadows near Larry Mize’s assigned locker, and he later makes an unsuccessful attempt to steal Mize’s green jacket.    Norman was dragged away by security as Mize defiantly shouted at him “ Oh yeah?   Chip THIS, you washed-up Aussie has been ” (while clutching his crotch), and then shouting “ Go back to that sorry penal colony you call a country, Norman! ”.      Witnesses reported that the subsequent dinner had an edgy atmosphere not seen in prior year’s convivial evening event.

3)   Tragedy nearly struck the tournament on Saturday after Rickie Fowler was run over by a fairway mower while practicing on the range at the end of the day.   Said a shaken greenskeeper “ I never saw him – he was clad in all green and just blended in with the scenery ”.      Fortunately, Fowler escaped serious injury in the incident, but did tell officials that “ I’m never wearing anything but neon orange ever again! ”.

2)    After his win at Bay Hill two weeks ago, Tiger Woods was thought to be the favorite at this year’s Masters but his hopes were dashed in the first round after he 6-putted the 11 ^th green (including twice putting off the green when he was only 3 feet from the cup).      Shaken from the experience, Woods never appeared confident again over any putt and from then on he left nearly every putt nearly 50% short, setting a new tournament record of 52 putts in the final round.  He declined an interview.

1)    After a day of dueling pars for much of the final round, Brandt Snedeker and Jason Day arrived at the 18 ^th hole tied for the lead.     Snedeker’s tee shot found the pine straw on the right hand of the fairway, while Day deftly kept his ball in play, and his 15 foot birdie putt from right of the hole (his only birdie of the day) sealed the win for the young man from Australia.    During the post round interview in Butler Cabin, police again had to restrain Greg Norman as he kept trying to burst into the cabin and grab Day’s new green jacket, ranting “ But he’s only ½ Australian!   This should be mine! ”.

Sportsbook.com just updated

Tiger is at 4 to 1

Rory is at 5 to 1

Phil is at 8 to 1

Kuchar and Webb are at 50 to 1...might have to place some wagers on those two.

It's pointless to bet on the favs unless you put down big bets.  I like to throw a little in the account and spread it around.  Few favorites, few middle of the heat guys and a couple of dark horses.  Snedeker cost me a $2,000 win when melted down and cried like a baby a few years ago.  Kenny Perry cost me a big win as well when Cabrera swooped in and nabbed it from him.

Tiger is my pick.  He is gonna be dropping those big fades into those greens all day!

Precisely why I just put my money on Craig Stadler. He's paying 1000 to 1 at Ladbrokes.

Betting on golf is always a lottery. Favorites are usually at ridiculously short odds. A mate had £20 on Cabrera to win one of his majors at 80-1 how do you pick that???

I thought US Citizens using UK bookies was a no-no. The US govt got heavy using telegraphic transfer legislation and US credit cards (I think) and bullied the bookies to stop taking money from the US.

Today I seen you making this comment here and ESPN quoting British bookies for the Masters on its front page. Has something changed?

I wonder if anyone's quoting odds on Ernie Els ...

1) Winning in Houston.

2) Going on the win the Masters.

You can get Ernie from 50-1 to 80-1 for the Masters even though he isn't in it!

25-1 to 35-1 for next week. Westwood is favourite for next week which tells you all you need to know about bookies. UK money going on the Englishmen cut the odds, can't believe he is the most likely to win considering he only has 2 wins in the US.

I always put like 5 bucks on people with odds like that...like the year snedeker blew it. It was paying like 250 to 1 and I think I bet $8 that he would win. My and my wife were chanting sneds sneds sneds! And then he blew it! :~(

Betting on Stadler was a joke, but on the rare occasions I do bet, I have friends in London to bet for me.