2013 Masters Discussion Thread, Update with Tiger's Illegal Drop (Post #343)

[Dave2512]

I'd watch it just to see the course, impressive for a par 3. Was cool to see Jack Fleck out there.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

Regarding Arnie ... it's his prerogative, so I'm not going to say that he should quit, but I will say that I, personally, do not enjoy watching him suck.

Does he look like he's having fun, even after the bad shots?  I probably wouldn't have fun sucking when I used to be the best in the world at some point, but maybe at his age he can simply appreciate being out there?

[Dave2512]

Arnie had fun he just got tired.  He's old and hoofing it around what looks to be very hilly terrain. He hit some decent shots at the beginning. I enjoyed it.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Does he look like he's having fun, even after the bad shots?  I probably wouldn't have fun sucking when I used to be the best in the world at some point, but maybe at his age he can simply appreciate being out there?

I think that's it exactly.  He's not super animated or anything, but I get the impression that he just really enjoys the atmosphere and everything that goes with it and he'll probably keep doing it as long as he can walk.  Plus, people clearly still like seeing him (and Nicklaus and Player) because they have a gargantuan gallery.

[Rick Martin]

Phil win it? Scorecard playoff?  Maybe he'll be the first to win both events this week.Watched DA Points 3 yr old miss a couple of putts from inside 6 inches, Van Pelts's kids as well, then Nicklaus's no playing caddy chunk it along w/ Wozniacki hit a topspin tee shot into the drink.

Anyone with Sirius Satellite Radio......I might listen to early coverage on radio this week if they're being allowed to broadcast the prestigious Masters.

[Rick Martin]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

Regarding Arnie ... it's his prerogative, so I'm not going to say that he should quit, but I will say that I, personally, do not enjoy watching him suck.

Does he look like he's having fun, even after the bad shots?  I probably wouldn't have fun sucking when I used to be the best in the world at some point, but maybe at his age he can simply appreciate being out there?

He picked up on several holes and on the final hole needed to find a seat to sit down - looked very tired. I think we've seen the last of him playing. Only thing left is as honary starter Thursday 8 a.m.   - and that might come to an end soon, as well.  Time moves on.......sad seeing these guys get old.

[jamo]

I just saw a Sports Science piece on SportsCenter about Bubba's winning wedge from last year. They estimated that ball hooked 45 yards. They didn't really go much into D-plane, but they did get spin axis right. At least they didn't imply that the ball rotates about two axes at once.

[ace3g]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/golf-devil-ball-golf/bubba-watson-aces-no-16-practice-round-190922702--golf.html;_ylt=Au1TnOjUATXx2cT_c65iTmA5nYcB;_ylu=X3oDMTQ0c3FpcWxnBG1pdANGRUFUVVJFRCBNZWdhdHJvbiBTUE9SVFMgRlAEcGtnA2FiYzFkYWRlLWYxNGUtM2Q4OS04ZjJmLTViMmI2NWJjZTJhZARwb3MDNQRzZWMDbWVnYXRyb24EdmVyAzhiNzNkYTAwLWEyMTMtMTFlMi05ZWZkLTVkNjhmMmZjMTU3YQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

[AmazingWhacker]

Originally Posted by colin007

the Masters wants itself to be more important than any one player, so if that means passive aggressive BS like saying that a player "cant" be in a featured pairing two days in a row, then so be it.

Ha - The Masters just wishes it could be the US Open.  I love it - it's the first major of the year - but it's not my favorite major . .and it's because of the nonsense like this.

[bplewis24]

First round predictions?!?

And what's the status of the chatroom?  Weekend only?  $5 admission again?

[Zeph]

First round predictions?!? And what's the status of the chatroom?  Weekend only?  $5 admission again?

I predict someone will take the lead. Tiger inside top 20. We can use [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/chat]this chat[/URL] until the main chat on Sunday. $5 yes, I will post my Paypal details later.

[Rick Martin]

Prediction: Rickie Fowler will be wearing all-green attire.........

[Zeph]

Thursday Featured Group No. 1 Lineup: 9:39 a.m.: Charl Schwartzel, Webb Simpson, Peter Hanson 12:13 p.m.*: Ernie Els, Steve Stricker, Nick Watney 1:41 p.m.*: Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Freddie Jacobson Featured Group No. 2 Lineup: 9:50 a.m.: Zach Johnson, K.J. Choi, Graeme McDowell 12:24 p.m.*: Ben Crenshaw, Matteo Manassero, Tianlang Guan 1:52 p.m.*: Jason Dufner, Matt Kuchar, Bill Haas * Scheduled to follow the previous group’s completion of play.

[Rick Martin]

Prediction: Chinese kid shoots 85 in first round.

[Wansteadimp]

Originally Posted by RonTheSavage

No Live Tiger Coverage until Friday? (From Business Insider)

There's no way to watch Tiger Woods play live at the Masters tomorrow.

He tees off at 10:45 a.m., but live TV coverage on ESPN doesn't start until 3 p.m.

He won't be shown online either. Masters.com plans to stream a ton of live golf, but for some reason Tiger's group isn't one of the "featured groups" that will be shown live in its entirety online tomorrow.

Masters.com is streaming holes No. 11 through 15 online, so you'll be able to watch him play those holes live (and he's in a featured group Friday), but that's it.

That's insane.

Only four golf tournaments a year are truly must-watch events. For most fans, these 16 total rounds are the only rounds that matter.

Tiger Woods is the most important golfer in the world, I should be able to watch him play those 16 rounds.

This isn't just some dumb oversight either. The Masters chose not to live-stream Tiger's group last year too. This is a calculated decision to de-emphasize him.

The Masters, more than anything else, is a celebration of old traditions. That's why food is ridiculously cheap, caddies wear silly jumpsuits, and TV announcers are required to use a goofy, outmoded vocabulary (fans are "patrons").

Augusta National is a golf Renaissance Fair with a modern sporting event taking place inside of it.

And that leads to inherent conflicts.

The people who run the Masters want the star of the tournament to be the tournament itself, but the nature of sports in 2013 (where interest is driven by characters and narratives) means there are players and stories that are bigger than the tournament.

And that's why we can't watch Tiger Woods tomorrow.

Augusta's official explanation for why they can't show him is that a player can only be in a featured group one day. But they could have worked around that rule by featuring his group on Thursday (which will be over before TV coverage starts) rather than Friday (most of which will be shown on live TV).

I love the Masters. But when the traditionalist mission of the tournament means that we can't watch the best player in the world, it has gone too far.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/masters-tiger-woods-wont-be-shown-live-thursday-2013-4#ixzz2Q54xDSY2

Okay just as long as the coverage is all about what you want.

Other peoples interest in golf goes beyond Tiger. We're going to get enough Tiger over the weekend without wall to wall coverage on Thursday.

Its also this attitude that left the networks, and golf generally, screwed when Tiger was getting over injuries/divorce. The networks had focused so much on Tiger that no-one had a clue who anyone else was. Sure milk the cash cow til its dry but at least be lining the next hero up.

[Rick Martin]

very well stated

[Rick Martin]

Prediction: you won't hear "mashed potato" "baba-booey" "sausage" screamed by fans today.

[Rick Martin]

Found it interesting to see that most of neighborhood immediately bordering the west side of the course is nearly empty when there was so many homes there not too many years ago. Looks like the billionaires at Augusta National gave the homeowners an offer they couldn't refuse. I'm interested to see if any of that land becomes part of the course in the next decade. I guess not - as it would be tragic to dramatically change the course using that land.

Per the article below, this land will likely be additional parking/storage.  It also demonstrates the secretive nature that Augusta National operates.

Augusta National reportedly buying land next to course

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Limited liability companies with ties to Augusta National Golf Club have bought about 90 acres surrounding the course, prompting speculation the club plans to expand, a newspaper reported in Sunday's editions.

The Augusta Chronicle said the companies have addresses or post office boxes correlating to Blanchard & Calhoun real estate company -- whose president, Thomas Blanchard Jr., is a National member -- or a law firm the represents the club, which plays host each year to The Masters.

Most of the land has been in neighborhoods west of Berckmans Road, across from Gates 6-10 of the golf course. Twenty-five properties from the area have been sold, and at least 28 other homeowners have been approached about selling, the paper reported.

Glenn Greenspan, Augusta National's director of communications, confirmed land has been purchased by the club and said it would be used for long-term support of the tournament, such as parking and storage.

"Anything we do wouldn't have a negative impact on the community," he told The Chronicle. "We look at it as a positive for the area."

The National swapped land with Augusta Country Club in order to added 285 yards to the course for this year's Masters, and has an option on another 9.32 acres of the country club's property.

Blanchard wouldn't comment on the purchases and said he didn't know whether Augusta National is behind the LLCs.

"If I knew, I wouldn't tell you," he said. "What's on public record is public knowledge. Beyond that, I can't help you."

Most residents in the Berckmans Road neighborhoods have lived there for many years and don't want to sell. But when the older homeowners die, their children or whoever inherits the land probably won't have the same attachment to it.

"I've said all along that they're waiting us out," said 79-year-old Elizabeth Phillips. Selling "is not what I want to do. What I want to do is stay right here. I've raised all my children here."

Charles Wildes, who has lived in the neighborhood for 37 years, hasn't been approached to sell his home but said he expects it to happen soon. Like Phillips, he doesn't want to sell.

"I feel like they ought to go ahead and tell us now, and not wait until after it affects us," he said of the club's plans.

http://savannahnow.com/stories/052002/SPTaugusta.shtml