2006 Masters champ grateful for being No. 2 [Tiger Alert]

Newsday.com ^ | April 3, 2007 | MARK HERRMANN

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Phil Mickelson is not defensive about his role in golf.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Here is a twist on the famous announcement they long have used in boxing rings, "The winner and still champion ... "

In golf these days, it goes like this: "The champion and still runner-up ... "

[Zuben Elgenubi]

This year, my money is on V.J Singh, but any major tournament deserves a Tiger Alert.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

There are only 34 Rules Of Golf.

Email me if you want on the Golf Ping List

Visit PGA.com, an excellent site.

Round One Pairings.

Round Two Pairings.

Official Site of the Masters.

[elc]

Team 1 for me for the friendly pool I participate in (we can’t pick Tiger, Mickelson, or Furyk)

1 Adam Scott

2 Ernie Els

3 Vijay Singh

4 Charles Howell III

5 Freddy Couples

6 Retief Goosen

7 Robert Allenby

8 Geoff Ogilvy

9 Olazabal

10 Luke Donald

Team 2:
1 Padraig Harrington

2 Sergio Garcia

3 Henrik Stenson

4 Trevor Immelman

5 Paul Casey

6 Tom Watson

7 Ian Poulter

8 D. Love III

9 Tim Clark

10 John Rollins

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Adam Scott is playing well and Charles Howell III is a sleepah.

[elc]

Howell better make the cut this year. He pissed me off last year. I think he as issues when it comes to Augusta because it is his “home course”. But fingers crossed, this year he forgets about that and just plays golf.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I don't think Augusta National is his home course, although he grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood of Augusta. You have to win the tournament or pay handsomely for the privilege of having Augusta National as a home course.

[poobear]

While the membership ranges from $25,000 per year to $50,000 per year they never allow more than approximately 300 members at a time. No telling what the monthly dues are.

I was out there in the 90’s while a friend of mine put in a pool for some rich guy on the beach there. I wanted to see the course but could only afford a bucket of balls at the driving range.

What a beautiful place!!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

You may have confused Pebble Beach, on the Pacific Ocean near Carmel CA with Augusta, which is inland Georgia (no beach). Pebble Beach is public and one can hit golf balls on the driving range. At Augusta, only members and their guest make it to the driving range.

The 12th

[Hat-Trick]

Zuben, you've got mail.

Can't wait for Thursday, and also for Sunday morning's rebroadcast of the 1960 Masters (thank you CBS and Jim Nantz). I must post the obligatory (my personal favorite) Martha Burke protest Masters graphic from a few years back.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

That “Iron My Shirt” sign stills makes me laugh out loud. Thanks.

[trimom]

I’m a woman and the Iron My Shirt sign makes me laugh! By the way, I have no problem with the policies of the folks at Agusta. I was pleased to send my kids to single gender schools. If there are enought women golfers/investors to open a women’s only course, hey! Knock yourself out!

[poobear]

You are right, I was thinking about Hilton Head. Oops, Augusta was another trip with spouse about 9 years ago. Same experience though, just a couple of buckets at the driving range. That was beautiful too!

The brain ain’t what used to be.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Take a tour, hole by hole, of Augusta National, courtesy of the Golf Channel.

[cleveland gop]

CLASSIC!!!!

[cleveland gop]

I’m thinking I like your first 10, much more than the second, although Paddy winning a major now wouldn’t suck at all.
Here’s hoping Darren Clarke has a solid week too. Things have been rough on him as it is.

FORE!!!!!!!

[elc]

I always do a “B” team so to speak, because you just never know who’s going to pull it out. For the US Open, it’s almost always my B team that wins.

I love Darren Clarke (Mr. elc is from Northern Ireland as well). But his personal life over the past year is why I didn’t include him on my team like I normally do. He’s had a rough go of it and I’m not so sure his head is in the game right now. But I sure would love to see him wear that green jacket on Sunday.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

VJ just birdied number one. This is remarkable because it's so long and the pin placement is challenging. There's only a handfull of birdies on number one during the week.

Of course, VJ's my pick but that Adam Scott is going to break out any tournament now.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Holey moley, Phil Michelson shot a 40 on the front nine.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Tiger has pared the first six holes but has driven horribly right on number seven. Lucky if he double bogies.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Augusta so far is playing 76.07 per round. Tough.