The 2011 Masters - The Main Thread

[Chilli Dipper]

The first major of the year is less than two days away now, so it's about time for someone to start a definitive thread about this year's event. I'll take the honors.

The Augusta National Golf Club has already announced the groupings for the first two rounds. The field will line up like this on the first tee Thursday.

7:45 AM: Byrd, Fisher, O'Hair

7:56 AM: Lyle (W) , Cejka, Chung (A)

8:07 AM: Kelly, Villegas, Overton

8:18 AM: Crenshaw (W) , Snedeker, Na

8:29 AM: O'Meara (W) , Hansen, Slocum

8:40 AM: D. Johnson, Scott, Watney

8:51 AM: Singh (W) , Clark, Baddeley

9:02 AM: Havret, Pettersson, Palmer

9:13 AM: Laird, Wilson, Van Pelt

9:24 AM: McIlroy, Fowler, Day

9:35 AM: Weir (W) , Fujita, Goosen

9:57 AM: Harrington, Ishikawa, Haas

10:08 AM: Mize (W) , Sabbatini, Jeong (A)

10:19 AM: Kaymer, Westwood, Kuchar

10:30 AM: Mahan, Els, F. Molinari

10:41 AM: Woods (W) , McDowell, Allenby

10:52 AM: Atwal, Garcia, Karlsson

11:03 AM: Schwartzel, Appleby, Hoffman

11:14 AM: Woosnam (W) , Points, Crane

11:25 AM: Stadler (W) , Streelman, Smith (A)

11:36 AM: Hanson, K. Kim, Moore

11:47 AM: Cabrera (W) , Poulter, Toms

12:09 PM: Immelman (W) , Glover, Matsuyama (A)

12:20 PM: Z. Johnson (W) , Yang, Jimenez

12:31 PM: Olazabal (W) , Love, L. Kim (A)

12:42 PM: T. Watson (W) , Barnes, Bohn

12:53 PM: Couples (W) , Donald, Stricker

1:04 PM: A. Kim, Stenson, Marino

1:15 PM: B. Watson, Casey, E. Molinari

1:26 PM: Cink, Furyk, Ikeda

1:37 PM: Rose, Choi, Oosthuizen

1:48 PM: Mickelson (W) , Ogilvy, Uihlein (A)

1:59 PM: Vegas, Woodland, Quiros

The first group of contenders (that I can see, at least) that will go off is the threesome of Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott, and Nick Watney, who tee off at 8:40. For television purposes, Thursday is backloaded with past champions (eight out of nine groups between 11:14 and 12:53), while many of the game's biggest draws (including six of the world's top ten players) will be ending their second rounds late on Friday. (The least-buzzworthy group of the draw? 1982 winner Craig Stadler, Kevin Streelman, and Mid-Am champion Nathan Smith. Sorry, guys, but this is Augusta's way of telling you to just be grateful being there.)

[Chrusty]

Anyone else having issues accessing www.masters.com site due to script errors? Already tried 3 different browsers so its definitely an issue on their site. So frustrating and very unprofessional. Hope they fix it soon, lots of nice content there.

[Kieran123]

Another Masters thread?

There are several now, can someone merge them all?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Pope33

I think someone that can drive the ball with some accurracy and putt amazing will win.....duh. So my pick is for my fellow Wisconsinite, Steve Stricker. I know he hasn't practiced much lately and is falling in the rankings, but now would be a good time to turn it all around.

What are your thoughts?

I think this thread already exists and that no, Steve Stricker will not win the Masters. I think he's a really good person and it pains me to say that he might not ever win a major. I hope I'm wrong.

[Kieran123]

Is Tiger playing the Par 3 contest? If he is, who is his caddy?

[Aquaguru]

is the live coverage of the par 3 up yet

[shades9323]

Originally Posted by Aquaguru

is the live coverage of the par 3 up yet

According to the website, live coverage will start at 3 EST.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Kieran123

There are several now, can someone merge them all?

If you've got the URLs to others I'll merge them into this one.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Kieran123

Is Tiger playing the Par 3 contest? If he is, who is his caddy?

Highly unlikely.

[BallStriker]

One comment...one question

Does anyone else think Tiger looks like he has aged about 5 years over the past 15 months?

Thank god for the ole boys of Augusta for putting their collective foot down and sparing us golf's version of fingernails on a chalkboard -- Chris Berman

[Zeph]

This tournament really has got the best coverage of any golf tournament all year long.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by BallStriker

Does anyone else think Tiger looks like he has aged about 5 years over the past 15 months?

Yes. he has 'chubbied' up a bit in the face. Guy has bags under his eyes 24/7

[darkhunter139]

Go Bubba! Unfortunately I don't get home from school until after 7 tomorrow.  Hopefully I will be able to stream some of it from my PC.

[mcfc_nick]

Go AK!

[Chilli Dipper]

Originally Posted by Zeph

This tournament really has got the best coverage of any golf tournament all year long.

One really has to thank Billy Payne for that, who may be the best chairman Augusta National has ever had. This was a tournament that, not long ago, didn't allow action of the first eight holes to be broadcast, let alone full-round coverage; now, it is the most comprehensive media spectacle in the game.

[mcfc_nick]

well that's Luke Donald not winning the tournament then!

[iPutt]

Does anyone actually hit into the fairway bunker on 10? It appears that it's about 30 yards from the green yet too far to drive into. I just can't see any pro being in there.

[jamo]

Originally Posted by iPutt

Does anyone actually hit into the fairway bunker on 10? It appears that it's about 30 yards from the green yet too far to drive into. I just can't see any pro being in there.

It's not really evident anymore, but Alister Mackenzie's original course design had bunkers like that on several holes. Many have since been removed, but I guess the bunker on 10 is one of the few that remains.