Masters 2014 Favorites...

[iacas]

Augusta National rewards players who are strong putters.  History shows a lot of great players who failed to win the Green Jacket because they didn't putt well (Nick Price, Greg Norman).

I think the stats would prove that the winners historically make up twice as many shots not putting as they do putting.

A few examples don't mean crap, but here's one that illustrates what I'm saying: Phil missed a six-footer for eagle on 13 after hitting out of the pine straw between two trees. He birdied the hole because of his ballstriking. Tiger in 1997 won with his ballstriking. Wedges to par fives, lots of looks at eagle and easy birdie putts, etc.

You're taking too focused a view. The winner at Augusta National not only hits a lot of greens, he hits a lot of greens to good spots, leaving him shorter, easier putts. So yes, he makes more putts… but if you put lots of players in those positions, they'll make more putts.

Scott, Bubba, Charl, Phil not the best putters (T102, 157, 102, 133 for the years they won in Strokes Gained Putting). Seriously, not a single one cracked the top 100.

[Rick Martin]

72 holes of golf at Augusta  - you can't hide bad putting stats -

Sure, but general great play on the course is what provided those opportunities on the green - correct? I personally don't think you can win unless you're performing well in all aspects of your game. Missing a "winning putt" can't be classified as bad putting. That's just one unfortunate misread, or one bad putt.

Stronger putters will make up for missed greens or shots to the wrong part of the greens. If you have a suspect short game or putting game, Augusta will magnify it and make it readily apparent.   I wouldn't put Hunter Mahan on the list of golfers who I'd pick just because of his issues on that department.

[Spyder]

72 holes of golf at Augusta  - you can't hide bad putting stats -

Stronger putters will make up for missed greens or shots to the wrong part of the greens. If you have a suspect short game or putting game, Augusta will magnify it and make it readily apparent.   I wouldn't put Hunter Mahan on the list of golfers who I'd pick just because of his issues on that department.

We can agree to disagree on this, I guess. Being on top of your approach shots and wedges into the greens is much more important in my opinion (not to take away from common sense, which is that putting is still obviously important). Priority in my opinion is the approach and what is going on away from the green. Putting the ball in the proper area considering breaks, grain, etc. is what will end up winning this weekend - just like it has in nearly every year prior.

[iacas]

72 holes of golf at Augusta  - you can't hide bad putting stats -

The data says otherwise. You're clinging to old myths.

Stronger putters will make up for missed greens or shots to the wrong part of the greens.

The simple fact is that they're forced to do so, and the gap between good putters and bad putters on the PGA Tour isn't very big. Missing greens is not how you win a major championship.

If you have a suspect short game or putting game, Augusta will magnify it and make it readily apparent. I wouldn't put Hunter Mahan on the list of golfers who I'd pick just because of his issues on that department.

http://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.02564.html

He's 9th this year in Strokes Gained putting, and was top 30 last year. So…

We can agree to disagree on this, I guess. Being on top of your approach shots and wedges into the greens is much more important in my opinion (not to take away from common sense, which is that putting is still obviously important). Priority in my opinion is the approach and what is going on away from the green. Putting the ball in the proper area considering breaks, grain, etc. is what will end up winning this weekend - just like it has in nearly every year prior.

QFT.

But Rick's mind is likely made up, just as it is on the topic of who "real golf fans" are.

[glws]

j day

phil

adam

schwartzel

rory

[Crim]