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?
Hole One: Where to Start?
Before 1935, the course started on what is now hole #10, Camellia. If it would have stayed that way, would Amen Corner have ever developed its legendary status?
Hole Two: Hisssssssssss
Could you hear the wind go out of CBS’s sails two weeks ago as Geoff Ogilvy held off Tiger’s too little, too late charge to win the CA Championship at Doral? That meant Tiger’s streak is broken and the possibility of the Perfect Season is lost. Just what will Jim Nantz talk about during the Masters?
Not winning at Doral may have been a good thing for Tiger (though I’m sure he wanted to win). Breaking the streak takes the pressure off of him (if he feels pressure at all). It also lets the rest of the field know that he is not (quite) invincible.
I’m not really worried about CBS. There are always stories at the Masters. Over the past two weeks, the inflation of the competition (Phil, Vijay, Scott, and others) has been in full swing, and rightfully so. Parity on the PGA Tour really does exist, even in the age of Tiger. Anyone’s putter can catch fire at any time and put them in contention, especially at Augusta. Tiger is the world’s number one golfer for a reason: when he’s on it takes a near perfect performance to beat him but it’s not out of the question. But if he cracks the door a bit, a lot of guys are right there ready to walk through. At the PGA Tour level, these guys are all, indeed, good.
Hole Three: The Big Three
In the Official Program of the 2008 Masters Tournament, each hole is examined by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, or Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus is also expected to play the Par-3 Contest.
This is total conjecture, but I kind of wonder if Nicklaus might not be getting ready to back down from his stance against being an ceremonial golfer. Could this be a precurser to a reunion of the Big Three as honorary starters? Player will compete in his 51st Masters this year, breaking Palmer’s record, and then most likely he’ll hang them up. Nicklaus might be waiting for Player to finally quit playing.
It would be nice to see someone else out there with Palmer. Maybe even as soon as 2009, we could see the Big Three together teeing off the Masters.
Hole Four: The Forecast
Following some rain on April 4-5, the extended forecast looks mostly sunny and dry through the final round of the Masters. That should mean firm fairways and fast, firm greens for the tournament.
Who does that favor (besides Tiger)? Basically, everyone. It will make putting even more of wildcard. Hot putting and solid short game play should be enough to keep the some of the short hitters in the tournament, since they won’t be forced by lack of fairway roll to play woods into par 4s all day. Long hitters will have the option of going with three woods or long irons off many of the tees, but will also have to keep the ball in the fairway to minimize fliers and bad lies. It’s going to be fun!
Don’t get me wrong… I still like Tiger against the field, but we could have a very interesting leaderboard come Saturday night.
Hole Five: The Tough and Tougher
The easiest hole during the 2007 Masters Tournament was #8, Yellow Jasmine, a 570-yard par 5. In 2007, it gave up two eagles and 103 birdies in route to a 4.776 average score.
The toughest hole on the course last year was #11, White Dogwood, the 505-yard par-4 monster at the start of Amen Corner. The best players in the world managed a 4.510 stroke average and made more than 100 more bogeys than birdies.
All and all, it was a tough year. Holes #1 and #4 also accounted for 100 or more bogeys than birdies, and #18 just missed with 98 more bogeys than birdies. Zach Johnson’s +1 total was good enough to win.
Hole Six: Play Augusta National
Want to find out what it’s like to putt on Augusta National’s greens? Of course… we all would. This won’t really do it, but it’s kind of fun nonetheless.
Yes, you too can putt on the fabled greens of Amen Corner… online. Masters.org, the official site of the Masters Tournament now features a putting game, a fantasy best ball, and a Concentration game. It’s a nice little diversion, but the audio comes on pretty strong if you happen to try it out at work.
The folks that run the Masters Tournament might just be lightening up a bit. Maybe someday they’ll license out Augusta National for some future edition of the Tiger Woods video game (but I won’t be holding my breath).
Hole Seven: Good Things Come in Small Packages
If you’ve been under a rock for the last few months, you might be surprised to learn that the Par Three Contest will be televised this year for the first time. ESPN will cover the mini tournament on the Wednesday, April 9, from 3pm to 5pm.
I’ve always been intrigued by the Par Three Course at Augusta National, and the only way I’ve ever had to see it is in the short snippets we’d see every year from the contest. Maybe it’s that mystery that makes me so interested. Maybe having the whole thing televised this year will ruin it for me. But I doubt it. Watching the pros play pitch and putt? I’m in!
Hole Eight: Looping
The contributions of caddies are sometimes overlooked, but at Augusta National the loopers are often an integral part of the team.
The winningest caddies in Masters History are Willie “Pappy” Stokes and Willie Peterson with five victories each. Stokes was on winning bags with Henry Picard (1938), Claude Harmon (’48), Ben Hogan (’51 and ’53) and Jack Burke (’56). Peterson helped Jack Nicklaus to the first five of his six titles.
In 1983, tournament players were allowed to employ “outside” caddies for the first time. Prior to that, they had to use caddies affiliated with Augusta National. Some players still seek out that local knowlege. Ben Crenshaw has employed the same caddie – Carl Jackson, with 46 years of caddying experience at Augusta – at the Masters for more than 30 years.
Hole Nine: What an Ash!
There’s a tree in my backyard that’s in mortal danger. Why? Because of DirectTV’s “Masters Mix,” a four-channel package that is free to DTV subscribers. There’s the regular live broadcast coverage, a dedicated channel for all the action in Amen Corner, a tournament highlights on-demand channel, and another dedicated channel for holes 15 and 16. You can even watch all four channels at once!
The tree in question is the only reason I don’t have DirecTV. A few months ago, I had an installer out to put the service in and replace the cable we currently have and its whopping 20 HD channels with more than 80 HD channels through DTV.
“Uh, you’ve got a line of sight issue,” he said.
“Huh?” I replied, ever sharp of wit.
See there’s this big old ash tree in the backyard that shades the deck, and also happens to block the direct “line of sight” to one of the satelites in the southern sky that DTV uses to relay those 80+ HD channels to subscribers. Either the tree has to go or no 80+ HD channels for me.
My wife says the tree stays. I was contemplating the chances of a freak windstorm or lightning strike to resolve the situation. But since Earth Day is April 22nd, I guess I’ll probably be watching the Masters on just one channel again this year. At least it’s on one of the 20 HD channels we get.
Photo Credit: © Everett.
I hear ash makes good firewood, no? It’s all about being a little creative, George.
Thanks for the link to the Lee Elder story, George. It’s an excellent one.
George, I have the same issue. A tree in my backyard prevents me from getting DirectTV. What about putting up a pole just past the ash tree?
It appears that the weather forecasters in Augusta are just as bad as they are anywhere. The National is playing soft and wet as of the Monday before the Masters. If it remains like that, it will mean that the long hitters will have a big advantage (ie., Tiger is even more of a favorite).
Thanks Cliff. The thought has occured to me. I’m not sure I can get a truck back there to auger it out, but I may try.