Poor Greg... never won, and back again this week for what is probably his final appearance (unless he qualifies for next year through play).
Tiger is the man to beat!
Posted on 04/05/2009 6:15:51 PM PDT by cleveland gop
Those ball beaters are probably the most politically conservative group of people in the world.
And the Masters has earned the status of major. It's been innovative in tournament golf, and it isn't an arbitrary invitational, but has a well defined set of qualifying criteria.
PERFECT!!!
All I ask of TGC. please give me as much viewing of Kelly Tilghman as humanly possible!!!
Off subject. You’ve got to see the new sony commercial with Ana, Jelena and Maria in it. WOW!!!
If that's the criterion then The Masters is indeed a major. The public interest in the tournament (yours excepted) and the demand for tickets to get into the Augusta National is quite extraordinary. I doubt if there is a tournament anywhere which holds the public interest and has quite the same aura as the back nine at Augusta on Sunday and that includes the US and British Opens. Ben Crenshaw once said that you don't hear crowd noises like you hear on Sunday at Augusta, anywhere else in golf.
Amen Corner plus holes 15 and 16 are not only some of the most beautiful in golf they are also some of the most difficult and a true test of champions.
You undermine your case when you say that the players' opinions are irrelevant. Tell that to Jack and Arnie and Tiger. Players' interest in and opinions of a tournament don't determine whether it's a major but they reflect the public's opinion about that tournament and the esteem in which it's held. Winning a Green Jacket is held in mighty high esteem among the players for that very reason.
If anything, the Masters is more of a major now than it has been in the past. Previously it was a tournament where someone could go out and light up the place with a 31 on the back 9 and win the tournament. It had that sort of excitement. However now, since Tiger's first victory, the course has been lengthened to such an extent that it has become just a survival slog like the US Open. Gone are the days when someone would go on a birdie run and snatch the Green Jacket. It's now more of a grind.
I agree that the lifetime exemption rule for previous champions dilutes the occasion and it may be reviewed one day, I think. The National has, in the past, written to some previous champions and asked them not to compete. I remember Billy Casper a few years ago going something like 15 over par for the first 9 holes on Thursday before he quit. That's ridiculous.
It would be hard not to consider the Masters a major.
It most certainly is, the quintessential major as far as I’m concerned.
The TPC is indeed something special. In many respects it is because of the rich traditions and respect for the event and the course itself held by players and fans alike.
Like the Kentucky Derby; it is an affair to celebrate. It is every bit as much a major as the roving US Open and the Open Championship. If those were played at Pebble Beach and Royal St. Andrews every year, the traditions and the hallowed hallways and locker rooms would have a much deeper meaning.
The US Open is a major because of the field, the combined field of professionals and dreamers and the tough ( read: sometimes ridiculous) set up provided by the USGA. But, deliver it to New York’s Bethpage with drunken “fans” taunting foreign competitors and throwing junk on the fairways and it is easy to see why The TPC is something special and a real championship of something.
See it reads even better this way.
Poor Greg... never won, and back again this week for what is probably his final appearance (unless he qualifies for next year through play).
Tiger is the man to beat!
You lucky son-of-a-gun! Be sure to have a pimento cheese sandwich!
Great picture of The Hawk and Arnie.... Hogan didn’t wear a glove? Ah the old days when the players smoked!
I was watching a replay of Jack's '86 win last night on TGC. The roars were incredible as he birdied his way up the leaderboard - something like 7 under in 9 holes. That day is gone. The course is more gut-wrenching now and the days of the final-nine charge are gone. I would love to see it returned to some of its original design.
The Masters serves the best pimiento cheese sandwiches and egg salad sandwiches in the world. The bread is so fresh, you have to hold the sandwich with both hands. Delicious! And talk about cheap! You get a sandwich, chips and a drink for $3.00 total. Needless to say, I eat a lot of pimiento cheese and egg salad during the week. The merchandise prices are very reasonable too. They have a system for concession and merchandise operations that is very impressive to behold.
Sorry, but I am an old fashioned grammar nut!
Putting together my team of 10 today for my pool.
I really feel like I have to put Rory McIlroy on it, even though he probably won’t make the cut at his first Masters. Hubby is an Ulsterman himself and since Darren Clarke doesn’t seem to do much these days, I need to put someone on my team as a tribute to Ulster.
I did. For the past couple of years I put Immelman on almost all of my majors pools. Don’t think I will this year, though. Haven’t decided yet.
The real question is, who picked Zach Johnson the year before?
That’s why it isn’t a forgone conclusion that Tiger will win, right?
So you need to put your pool of 10 together? I’d thought I’ll throw a few names to consider....
Henrik Stenson, so long as he keeps his clothes on. Seriously though, he’s playing very good golf this year......
Padraig Harrington, he won the last 2 majors, right?
Anthony Kim, cause right now he’s not played too well and he’s flying under the radar......
Of course the usual suspects too......
Weather for the tourney looks great. Weather for today and tomorrow is going to be brutal. Winds are ferocious here in Atlanta and they are headed towards Augusta. It would be fun to see the players play in these condition come tournament time.
The Masters is my favorite tournament and I think the “best” one. Best field in the world on one of the best courses in the world. Simply a wonderful event.
It’s too bad Greg fell apart yesterday. I figured with him not having to play any extra holes would have kept him in the mix, but oh well.
He is 54 after all. But he still gets to go home to Chris Evert, AND WE DON’T!!!!
LUCKY SHARKIE!!!!!
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