Masters 2015: Tiger Woods ready to win in Augusta [Golf Ping]

BBC Sports News ^ | April 7, 2015 | BBC News

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Former number one Tiger Woods believes he is in the right shape to win a 15th major as he declared himself ready for the Masters, which begins on Thursday.

Woods, who is now world 111, has been working on his game since carding a career-worst score of 82 at the Phoenix Open, before injury saw him withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open.

[noexcuses]

I think that Tiger’s joints are too far gone to make it competitively anymore

You could very well be right... I have been a Tiger fan since before he became a pro so it's difficult for me to let go :-)

[Hot Tabasco]

Tiger Woods is 40-1.

I'd take those odds over Mickelson's 20-1.........

Mickelson's peak years are over, his age and his back problems are taking their toll.....he's currently 22nd on the tour.

What I've admired most about Woods throughout his career was his obsession with physical conditioning and weight training, something that was pretty much unheard of in the world of professional golf. Others have trained but not to the extent that Woods did. The intensity of his workouts could have been his downfall since you only stay young for a short period of time before your body stops responding to the stresses being put on it.

Phil Mickelson is now 44 with a back problem. Woods is 39 with a head problem. In terms of physical conditioning, Woods is by far in better condition to resume and continue winning on the PGA tour than Mickelson is.

Tour players say that golf is 90% mental and if Woods can regain his mental confidence again, there's no reason not to expect him to return to the top of the tour players.

[Hot Tabasco]

I think that Tiger’s joints are too far gone to make it competitively anymore. His ligaments and tendons simply give out under the stress of a pro level golf game.

I don't agree with your assessment, I feel Woods' history of physical conditioning puts him in far better position to play at the age of 39 than anyone else at his age or older. I truly believe that his major problem right now is his mental game considering all that he's been thru over the past several years in both his personal life and injuries.

If he's got his head back together then he'll become a feared force on the tour like he was before......

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Master's Pairings have been announced by the BBC.

Tee-off times and pairings for Thursday's first round and Friday's second round

(all players US unless stated; all times BST; a=amateur)

12:45 (Thurs), 15:52 (Fri): Charley Hoffman, Brian Harman

12:56, 16:03: Larry Mize, Danny Willett (Eng), (a) Byron Meth

13:07, 16:14: Tom Watson, Gary Woodland, Camilo Villegas (Col)

13:18, 16:25: Mike Weir (Can), Ben Crane, (a) Corey Conners (Can)

13:29, 16:36: Vijay Singh (Fij), Russell Henley, Darren Clarke (NI)

13:40, 16:47: Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa), Brendon Todd, Kevin Na (Kor)

13:51, 17:09: Jonas Blixt (Swe), Kevin Streelman, Stephen Gallacher (Sco)

14:02, 17:20: Patrick Reed, Keegan Bradley, Ian Poulter (Eng)

14:13, 17:31: Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Lee Westwood (Eng), Anirban Lahiri (Ind)

14:24, 17:42: Bubba Watson, Justin Rose (Eng), (a) Gunn Yang (Kor)

14:35, 17:53: Adam Scott (Aus), Dustin Johnson, (a) Antonio Murdaca (Aus)

15:19, 18:26: Webb Simpson, Hideki Matsuyama (Jap), Paul Casey (Eng)

15:30, 18:37: Charl Schwartzel (SA), Joost Luiten (Ned), Sangmoon Bae (Kor)

15:41, 18:48: Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy (NI), Ryan Moore

15:52, 18:59: J. B. Holmes, Martin Kaymer (Ger), Brandt Snedeker

16:03, 12:45: Ian Woosnam (Wal), Erik Compton, Marc Leishman (Aus)

16:14, 12:56: Trevor Immelman (SA), Kevin Stadler, (a) Scott Harvey

16:25, 13:07: Ben Martin, Robert Streb, Cameron Tringale

16:36, 13:18: Sandy Lyle (Sco), Seung-Yul Noh (Kor), (a) Bradley Neil (Sco)

16:47, 13:29: Bernhard Langer (Ger), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut), Geoff Ogilvy (Aus)

17:09, 13:40: Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els (SA)

17:20, 13:51: Angel Cabrera (Arg), Louis Oosthuizen (SA), (a) Matias Dominguez (Chi)

17:31, 14:02: Mark O'Meara, Chris Kirk, Shane Lowry (Ire)

17:42, 14:13: Padraig Harrington (Ire), Ryan Palmer, Thomas Bjorn (Den)

17:53, 14:24: James Hahn (Kor), Mikko Ilonen (Fin), Hunter Mahan

18:04, 14:35: Matt Kuchar, Brooks Koepka, Graeme McDowell (NI)

18:15, 14:57: Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson (Swe), Billy Horschel

18:26, 15:08: Fred Couples, Branden Grace (SA), Thongchai Jaidee (Thai)

18:37, 15:19: Luke Donald (Eng), Victor Dubuisson (Fra), John Senden (Aus)

18:48, 15:30: Tiger Woods, Jamie Donaldson (Wal), Jimmy Walker

18:59, 15:41: Jason Day (Aus), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Rickie Fowler

[rainee]

Big fan here too!
Rumor is that he’s even more impressive off the course. He handles the media, crowd etc..with total respect. Tons of talent & well beyond his (maturity) years.

Excited to watch him play!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson (Swe), Billy Horschel

Like this, good players will push each other.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

All three are great strikers of the ball and grind, grind, grind.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Steady too, don’t get worn out mentally.

[Hot Tabasco]

Jordan Spieth

Spieth is only 21 years old.......I don't see him being in the top ten finishers..

Don't get me wrong, he's good but he doesn't have the experience for that pressure........

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

and smoking cigarettes! you FORGOT smoking cigarettes!

The networks absolutely cringe when he is playing well. Good news is that is usually in the THU/FRI rounds when no one is watching...still, they cringe!

Needles to say, I’m a JD fan because it shoves that sharp stick in their eye everytime.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Reed defeats Woods in a playoff.

[newfreep]

Tiger will struggle to make the cut...or will just drop out midway thru the 2nd round.

Hard to play championship golf without his PEDs.

[onedoug]

It’s all downhill from there. It’s a curse.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Don't get me wrong, he's good but he doesn't have the experience for that pressure.......

Spieth finished 2nd last year behind Scott . . .

[Tijeras_Slim]

Perhaps you’re right, but it would be great for him to be in the mix.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping/posts; thread. FORE!

[Baynative]

I’ve always joked that so many guys I’ve played with will spend an eternity looking for a $2.00 ball in a hazard (even an older one) but think nothing of blowing $20 on a round of drinks after the game.

[Baynative]

There are so many elements that are going to make this one of the most interesting and most watched Masters. A lot of money is going up in smoke from people who think they can predict the winner, that's for sure.

Also for sure; if Tiger makes the cut and especially if he is on the leaderboard on Saturday ratings will go through the roof!

I think the big three are Rory, Bubba and Jordan with Phil right on their heels. For sentimental reasons I'd like to see Sergio get the big one to put a crown on his already superlative career. Stenson has the game, but the greens could be his downfall and don't discount Patrick Reed, or Brooks Koepka if his back is healthy.

I don't expect Amateur Champ Gunn Yang who wasn't even ranked in the top 500 to make the cut. IMO, his win was a bit of a fluke and playing along side Bubba and Justin Rose could turn his first day into a potential disaster.

Sidenote: I'm disappointed that the Golf Channel hasn't given better or repeat coverage to the Drive-Chip and Putt championship. I love watching the kids.

[Doogle]

I predict a newcomer.............

[proxy_user]

Drive, Chip, and Putt was repeated at 9 AM Monday morning, after they showed the whole thing on Sunday.