Who Does Augusta National Pair up with Tiger?

[Chilli Dipper]

Most of the posts thus far are about making sure that Tiger's comfortable, and I find that rather surprising given the background. My greater concern would be for them to choose people whose games won't be unhinged by the inevitable atmosphere. After all, it's their Masters, too. I'm less concerned about Augusta National being fair to Tiger than being fair to those players.

That's why I think the grouping will ultimately be Tiger-Past Champion-International Veteran.

Once past champions reach a certain age, they take on the role of goodwill ambassadors for the tournament, being walking examples of the Masters legacy and showing first-timers the ropes. I don't see the primarily ceremonial over-50 champions (Crenshaw, Floyd, Mize, Stadler) stepping away from that role to struggle to break 80 in Tiger's shadow. Watson would usually be in this group, but Turnberry has raised the stakes for him, and he will be in a featured group whether or not Tiger's in it. Likewise, I can't picture any of the three European champions playing next to Tiger, even though Langer, Lyle, and Woosnam are all there to play first and fraternize second. That leaves one of Couples, O'Meara, or Watson. Pairing with a still-very-popular Couples would quell concerns about heckling and unruly behavior within the galleries following Tiger's group; pairing with an old friend like O'Meara would make Tiger most at ease at his first tournament back; and pairing with Watson would give the press something better to write than tabloid front-page rehashes. The third player shouldn't be one of the young guns: the pressure the comparisons could have negative consequences for the likes of Kim, McIlroy, or Ishikawa, who were well-suited playing with each other during the first two rounds of last year's Masters. Because Tiger and the three most-likely past champions are all American, the organizers would most likely choose an international player to round out the group. To allow for as many TV-and-gallery-friendly groups as possible, and not to place prospective contenders at a disadvantage by being thrust in the middle of Tigermania, major winners and top-10/20 players will likely be placed in other groups. Those criteria produce a roster that includes Clark, Donald, Jimenez, Karlsson, and Scott, who have all claimed top-10 finishes at the Masters.

[Rusty Shackleford]

8:20 1st Tee: Tiger Woods , David Duval , Mark O' Meara

[Chilli Dipper]

He'd need to win in the next three weeks to qualify; he's too far back in the world rankings (98th) to get in on points. J.B. Holmes, on the other hand, is 56th in the world, and another top-10 would probably bump him into the top 50 and exemption. I don't know what Tiger's opinion of him is, though.

[Chilli Dipper]

8:20 1st Tee:

Nah, they'd never stick it to Double-D like that.

[Prairie Golfer]

I'll guess Larry Mize and British Amateur Champion Matteo Manessero.

[Jay-Bird]

Rocco Mediate and Ian Poulter

[lcfd42]

why not stick him with someone with the Ian Poulter complex. That would be fun to watch. All BS aside, I don't think Tiger should receive any special treatment, in any way. Just get his ass out there, take what he has coming, and play golf.

[Chilli Dipper]

why not stick him with someone with the Ian Poulter complex. That would be fun to watch. All BS aside, I don't think Tiger should receive any special treatment, in any way. Just get his ass out there, take what he has coming, and play golf.

Tiger, Ian Poulter, Rory Sabbatini. Fireworks will launch over Augusta National in the mid-afternoon!

[senorchipotle]

Tiger, Ian Poulter, Rory Sabbatini. Fireworks will launch over Augusta National in the mid-afternoon!

lol... i can see it now, ''this just in...fight breaks out at augusta national, it seems that tiger woods and ian poulter have put their animosity aside and teamed together in equal loathing of rory sabbatini, in which they attempted to drown him in ray's creek... more to come at 10.''

seriously though, i think brandt snedecker and alvaro quiros would be a good 3 some. although, i'd love to see tiger, alvaro, and bubba watson/bj holmes.

[RnR]

Pinch me... 'cuz I'm dreaming: John Daly (for contrast) or Tim Finchem (as a PGA legal-beagle umbrella).

[Three Putt]

I think it will be Stricker and then a lesser known player for the 3rd.

[Cussin hacker]

It has to be Mark O'Meara or Steve Stricker. O'Meara and Tiger are good friends and he really dosen't have a real chance to win. Stricker maybe.....he plays well with Tiger and also is good friends with Tiger. It wouldn't be fair to put a real contender with Tiger the first two days. The overwhelming media presents would have most guys screwed up in the head!! O'Meara really makes the most since to me.

[CarlSpackler]

I would go with Natalie Gulbis.

[trog2233]

I think you guys are thinking about this wrong. Every is saying people that Tiger would like to play with. I think the Masters will call around and ask players who wont mind the drama and crowd that they are gonna deal with. Rather than who is friends with Tiger. Just my opinion.

[mtsalmela80]

If I was already an established name, perhaps capable of winning, I would never want to be playing with tiger. He is going to turn the masters into a freaking circus. However if I was an unknown "ghost" in the field, I would want the attention to get my name out.

[CoolBreeze20]

Tiger, Rocco, Mark O'Meara.

[Greg]

Its too bad Jack and Arnie are both retired, that would have been interesting, either of those or even Gary Player who i think did play in last years Masters at 73 years old I believe, didnt make the cut but impressive nonetheless. Maybe someone like Lucas Glover or Stewart Cink, both of which have won majors since Tiger last won one I think would get Tiger fired up. Y.E. Yang would be another interesting one, though him beating Tiger head to head probably a one time thing. Ernie Els would be another good one. Someone mentioned Daly but I think he wont qualify.

[Tiger Spuds]

Why should Tiger be given comfortable pairings like Mark O' Meara and other players he's close to?

I don't understand that way of thinking.You'd swear he's just been through some traumatic experience and needs someone to hold his hand on his first round back.Remember, he brought all his troubles on himself.He should be paired with whoever the Masters see fit to pair him with and like it.

Besides, it's Tiger.I doubt he'll need or want any comfortable pairings like that.