Let's wait for the weekend..and another thing

[ChicagoGolfer]

Personally, I think Erik is mostly wrong about everything about the game. The Masters is still one of the greatest tests in golf. Phil and Tiger recently said this in their reviews of the course. I kind of trust their opinion. I look at the current leaderboard and see players of many different skillsets playing well. This is a tribute to the course and the setup. I prefer more birdies, but that will come around. Paul Casey shot 4 under today. I am confident that the course will be exciting on the weekend and we will have a horse race come sunday. Don't judge a book by it's cover comes to mind.

My second point is that how does Craig Stadler and Ben Crenshaw shoot the same score and better than some of today's best players . I can tell you, they have better short games than many of today's best players, that's how. Tiger may be the greatest player ever, but Jack had much tougher competition in his hey day. I would agree that his competition was not as deep in number, but Tiger does not face a Trevino, Watson, Crenshaw, Miller, Weiskopf, Irwin, Kite in their primes. Jack did. When all is said, you probably cannot compare 2 elite players in different era's. I just feel too many people overrate today's elite players.

[allin]

My second point is that how does Craig Stadler and Ben Crenshaw shoot the same score and better than some of today's best players

I do think todays players are more physically developed. Given the additional length Senior Tour players are getting it is clear that equipment, and agronomy have and even bigger influence. It is not like there has been evolutionary advancement in the species in the past 50 years. I doubt they have any more basic talent for the game.

[iacas]

Personally, I think Erik is mostly wrong about everything about the game. ... The Masters is still one of the greatest tests in golf.

Let's keep the personal comments to a minimum, especially since you're starting this thread from nothing. You've not quoted me nor do you appear to be directly responding to me.

And I never said it wasn't a "great test." Please don't put words in my mouth.

Phil and Tiger recently said this in their reviews of the course. I kind of trust their opinion.

Do you trust Jack and Arnie's opinions? Because they've come out in recent years very much against the changes made at Augusta. The difference? Their competitive years have passed them by, but look up the comments they've made. They're quite brutal, really.

Do you allow for the possibility that it would be stupid for a current player to say "the course sucks?" Do you think that might hurt their ability to play well there? Do you also allow for the possibility that Tiger and Phil have won the past three Masters, so their opinions of what's "good" might be biased by what's good for them? Tiger almost always praises courses on which he plays and wins. When I'm faced with bad weather, I embrace it. I tell myself I love playing in the wind and the rain, and that if I love it more than the guy I'm trying to beat, I'll probably beat him. It gives me an advantage. Tiger and Phil aren't going to say anything bad about a major course - particularly one that typically plays to their strengths - and it's silly to think they'd do otherwise even if deep down they believed it.

This is a tribute to the course and the setup. I prefer more birdies, but that will come around.

Actually, they plan on tougher pin positions tomorrow, not easier ones, so if anything the number of birdies should decrease.

Paul Casey shot 4 under today. I am confident that the course will be exciting on the weekend and we will have a horse race come sunday. Don't judge a book by it's cover comes to mind.

What's the "cover"? It's a golf course. If anything, the cover is "The Masters" and the content is the course itself, and I dare say any comments I've made have been about the course, not the "cover" of the book.

My second point is that how does Craig Stadler and Ben Crenshaw shoot the same score and better than some of today's best players

Their scores show that there is something to be said for experience. Craig Stadler doesn't have the best short game on the Champions Tour let alone among the the younger guys. The modern PGA Tour player makes his living on his short game. That was less true in the era when Stadler was in his prime.

Crenshaw a good putter? Well, that may be the truest thing you've said.

[iacas]

Ah, it's you, Andy. Very clever of you not to have identified yourself. I almost thought it might be possible to have reasonable discourse.