Almost every year a member of the golf media fraternity offers an article about playing Augusta the Monday following the tournament. My favourite example was Rich Lerner's (The Golf Channel) video essay about playing a few years ago. This year Jaime Diaz has obliged. I like these articles simply because they offer a glimpse of what it would be like if I or any of my friends got to play Augusta National.
Note: Watch for it, though, there is one of these articles EVERY YEAR. Much in the same way they have a lottery for the credentialed media about who gets to play, within that sub-set they must have a lottery for who has to write the article.
Monday, April 16, 2007
The Players in NYC
For New York readers:
The PGA Tour and UBS are teaming up to set up a 1/4th-scale replica of the famed island-green 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass in Rockefeller Center in New York City from May 4-13. Visitors to Rockefeller Center during that time will be able to take a shot on the hole, which will feature a green surrounded by water. The exhibit will coincide with the 2007 playing of The Players Championship. -- PGA.com
That looks like fun. It will probably only cost you about 30 bucks a ball.
The PGA Tour and UBS are teaming up to set up a 1/4th-scale replica of the famed island-green 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass in Rockefeller Center in New York City from May 4-13. Visitors to Rockefeller Center during that time will be able to take a shot on the hole, which will feature a green surrounded by water. The exhibit will coincide with the 2007 playing of The Players Championship. -- PGA.com
That looks like fun. It will probably only cost you about 30 bucks a ball.
BOO WINS!
What a finish! Weekley's two chip-in pars beat Els by a shot. Then, just when you thought it was over, Els almost holes out his second shot at 18 to force a playoff. A really great finish to a strange week of weather and golf.
A few thoughts:
Weekley's chip-ins were karmic justice for his unfortunate miss at the Honda earlier this year. Weekley is a great character, with a lot of game, and this victory ensures his place at the '08 Masters. This blog looks forward to that appearance.
Ernie's game continues to confound. He let this tournament get away from him twice. First, he shot a pedestrian even-par 71 in the third round when he led by three coming after round two. Then, three putts at two and three put him behind the eight in today's final round.
What was all the more frustrating for the big easy was his play over the final four holes. Two huge shots got him an easy two-putt birdie at 15, he followed with a perfect drive and approach to 16 that led to a tap-in par. At this point, Ernie appeared to be in complete control, but Weekley chips-in at 17 and then Ernie hits his drive in the hazard and makes bogey. With the tournament seemingly over, Els crushes his drive and almost holes his second for an improbable eagle, finishing with a birdie at the toughest hole on the course.
Is Els getting closer? Well, the results would indicate he is, but it still seems that Ernie's killer instinct/confidence is not quite there. This week was obviously a huge improvement over the Masters, but it's still not there. Els is planning on playing in Asia this week, but will be back in North America in a few weeks. I still think, as I said at the beginning of the tournament, that he's very close to running off a few wins, but Ernie is getting harder and harder to figure.
Finally, a comment about the conditions. Were they crazy or what? The wind on those final three holes was right out of the '02 Open Championship at Muirfield when Tiger shot 80. It was fascinating to see the players try to attack those final holes with all kinds of different shots. Here's hoping The Open serves up similar conditions in July.
A few thoughts:
Weekley's chip-ins were karmic justice for his unfortunate miss at the Honda earlier this year. Weekley is a great character, with a lot of game, and this victory ensures his place at the '08 Masters. This blog looks forward to that appearance.
Ernie's game continues to confound. He let this tournament get away from him twice. First, he shot a pedestrian even-par 71 in the third round when he led by three coming after round two. Then, three putts at two and three put him behind the eight in today's final round.
What was all the more frustrating for the big easy was his play over the final four holes. Two huge shots got him an easy two-putt birdie at 15, he followed with a perfect drive and approach to 16 that led to a tap-in par. At this point, Ernie appeared to be in complete control, but Weekley chips-in at 17 and then Ernie hits his drive in the hazard and makes bogey. With the tournament seemingly over, Els crushes his drive and almost holes his second for an improbable eagle, finishing with a birdie at the toughest hole on the course.
Is Els getting closer? Well, the results would indicate he is, but it still seems that Ernie's killer instinct/confidence is not quite there. This week was obviously a huge improvement over the Masters, but it's still not there. Els is planning on playing in Asia this week, but will be back in North America in a few weeks. I still think, as I said at the beginning of the tournament, that he's very close to running off a few wins, but Ernie is getting harder and harder to figure.
Finally, a comment about the conditions. Were they crazy or what? The wind on those final three holes was right out of the '02 Open Championship at Muirfield when Tiger shot 80. It was fascinating to see the players try to attack those final holes with all kinds of different shots. Here's hoping The Open serves up similar conditions in July.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Els Backs Up
All I can say after watching Ernie during today's coverage is that he really hasn't turned the corner. I was wrong. His putting was erratic at best, the body language was poor, and the results were, obviously, not stellar. Els clearly is making strides with his game. His consecutive 65s to open the tournament proved that, but the killer instinct and the confidence still aren't there. Today was a step back, and the pressure of Sunday won't help. Look for Ernie to shoot over-par tomorrow and fall out of the top ten.
Jerry Kelly, on the other hand, is an entertaining player to watch. His physical reactions, genuine enjoyment of the game, and fearless approach to every shot make him an absolute joy to watch.
Wonderful round from Stephen Ames today. When he's on, as he was last year at The Players, he really is as good as anyone in the world. There's been a few players like that over the years. Guys who for a few rounds every year would just show remarkable form, and then the rest of the time would be just average. John Huston and Calc are two guys like that, and Ames has now taken on that mantle.
Jerry Kelly, on the other hand, is an entertaining player to watch. His physical reactions, genuine enjoyment of the game, and fearless approach to every shot make him an absolute joy to watch.
Wonderful round from Stephen Ames today. When he's on, as he was last year at The Players, he really is as good as anyone in the world. There's been a few players like that over the years. Guys who for a few rounds every year would just show remarkable form, and then the rest of the time would be just average. John Huston and Calc are two guys like that, and Ames has now taken on that mantle.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Els Fires Another 65
Ernie Els looks like a new player this week making 6 birdies against no bogeys for his second consecutive 65.
My buddy Greer pointed out that Ernie missing the cut at The Masters, while forcing him to acknowledge that he needed to redouble his efforts, also probably pissed him off...a lot. After all, Sandy Lyle and Fuzzy Zoeller made the cut and Ernie didn't. Ernie always comes across as such a nice guy, perhaps, so suggests Greer, missing the cut forced him to say to himself "Stop playing like an asshole", and that shift in mindset (as much as anything technical with his swing) has led to this week's results.
My buddy Greer pointed out that Ernie missing the cut at The Masters, while forcing him to acknowledge that he needed to redouble his efforts, also probably pissed him off...a lot. After all, Sandy Lyle and Fuzzy Zoeller made the cut and Ernie didn't. Ernie always comes across as such a nice guy, perhaps, so suggests Greer, missing the cut forced him to say to himself "Stop playing like an asshole", and that shift in mindset (as much as anything technical with his swing) has led to this week's results.
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