The Masters Tournament is upon us again, and anticipation is running high. Most of us will spend at least a portion of the Masters sitting in front of our TVs, making many of the same comments we made last year about how pleasing to the eye an immaculately kept golf course is when set against azaleas and pines. We’ll marvel at putts that seem to roll forever. And we’ll dream of seeing the course in person (to play it might be too much to even hope).
It’s not a perfect place, though. Such places don’t exist. At Augusta, there’s the inherent stratification of society made obvious by an elite country club, not to mention issues of color and gender, both past and present.
But for all of that, the tournament is an annual rite of Spring, promising warmer days and brighter skies to those in colder parts of the world. And it’s arguably the most popular tournament of the year.
With all its history and tradition, I’m continually learning new things about the Masters Tournament and Augusta National. For instance, did you know that there’s only one hole on the course that doesn’t feature a bunker? Chinese Fir, #14, is a beachless stretch of perfect turf. Or that the first Masters included four international players: two pros from England, one Canadian, and one English amateur? Did you know that alterations to the course have been taking place for its entire history?
The 2008 LPGA Tour season is in full swing, and things are off to a great start. There have only been five events so far, and Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam, and Paula Creamer each have at least one win already. That’s a great sign for the LPGA Tour because all three are among the most marketable in the women’s game.
Tiger loses to Ogilvy, Kraft wins the consolation prize, Romero wins on the PGA Tour and Lorena on the LPGA Tour, Michelle Wie hurts her wrist (again), Bubba explodes, and a whole lot more in this week’s Golf Talk.
Up to this point, nothing in the current irons lineup from the folks at 
Hello and welcome, Hittin’ the Links is back on the job bringing you the hot happenings from the world of golf. Oh, and what a week it was. Let’s get started.
One of the most often-touted explanations for the appeal of golf is that we play the same game, on the same courses, under the same rules, as the greatest players in the world. Is it any surprise, then, that so many of us entertain Walter Mitty-esque fantasies about turning pro? Come on, admit it, if you’ve piped a drive down the middle, followed it up with a pured iron and one putt, you’ve probably allowed yourself to wonder and fantasize, “What if…”