Well, it looks like this one is over already.

Lifetime, Tiger is +8 in the first round of the Masters. -61 after that. By only being 5 back after round 1, the rest of the field knows they're done.

It will still be fun to watch. I predict David Toms for second and Luke Donald third.

I just love the Masters and always my favorite.

I have been to Augusta National 7 times, and a special place each and everytime.

I also have had many a fun time at TBonz.

Go Tiger go!

quote:

Originally posted by Spiral:
Well, it looks like this one is over already.

Lifetime, Tiger is +8 in the first round of the Masters. -61 after that. By only being 5 back after round 1, the rest of the field knows they're done.

It will still be fun to watch. I predict David Toms for second and Luke Donald third.

Sorry, but you're wrong. This tournament hasn't even begun yet. And anyone that really knows golf knows that it doesn't start until the back nine on Sunday.

With conditions the way they are, hard, fast AND cold, and more of the same expected thru the weekend, the field is in great shape. The number of contenders expands when the golf course is hard and fast. It takes one of Tiger's advantages, length, away. The keys become where you place your ball on the green and, of course, the great equalizer and the #1 defense of Augusta National, PUTTING!

If the boys at The National are smart, they keep the course as it is and we finally get a tough Augusta National with a potentially over par score. In other words, a test, not a birdie fest.

Now, I believe Tiger will most likely win, you would be a fool to think he isn't always the favorite, but make no mistake, it ain't over yet.

Tiger's round this morning is HUGE. Remember, a great majority of the big numbers posted yesterday were in the morning (Ernie - 78, Sergio - 76 etc. etc.) and Tiger tees off very soon, in the morning.

It will be over if/when he shoots somewhere in the neighborhood of 68/70 today and even lower than that tomorrow, conditions being the same as yesterday. And the way he will do that is by straightening out his driver and making some of the putts he burned the edges on yesterday.

I just hope there is something interesting to watch on Sunday. If Tiger is in or within 2 -3 of the lead by Saturday evening, it's not even worth watching Sunday.

Forget about it. Stephen Ames Mike Weir will win this one.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: steve8,

What, no Mike Weir? He's a REAL Canadien!

Klymkev,

Excellent analysis. Hard and fast conditions bring the medium and short length hitters into the mix, thus shifting the premium to the short game. This may be the year that someone outside of Tiger or Phil wins. The big thing will be will a non-Masters winner have the nerve on Sunday afternoon.

Two words for you, Vijay Singh.

12:45 Friday
Tiger is +3 thru 7 and Wetterich is hanging around at -1 thru 13. Will be interesting to see what Tiger pulls up to by the end of the day. You know he'll scratch and claw to at or just under par.

As for predictions? Really, who knows. You can probably make predictions after today, and certainly after tomorrow, but picking someone on Thursday or Friday is just grasping for straws IMO.

Who do you choose? Guys who are coming in playing well? Ok, then Charles Howell III would be your guy. What does he do, throws up a 75 Thursday. How about Robert Allenby, 6 Top 10s in 8 starts this year. He's currently +6 for the day +13 overall!

Ok, well then stick with the big guns, someone in the Top 10 like say, Ernie. Well he scratched it around to 78 yesterday. Tiger? See above.

Ok, well then I'll pick someone who has won before or at least consistently plays well at Augusta. Those guys would include Goosen, 74 Thurs., +2 thru 10 today. Seve? Two time winner, 86 on Thurs, +22 overall!

All that being said, I watched a lot of VJ's round yesterday and that guys has NO fear. He's hitting driver everywhere (did you see his rip around the corner on 13!) and has won before, so he's a great pick.

It's always fun to watch. I wish they would go back to no commercials.

The British Open (when the weather is narly) and the U.S. Open are the TRUE tests of golf.
Any course and/or conditions that force players to think 'Out-of-box' and have to use some creativity is golf I enjoy watching.

Given the cooler and dry conditions, Augusta National is playing "firm and fast" for the first time since the extensive changes were made in 2002. This tourney is resembling more of the conditions usually seen in a US Open as even par may be the winning score. It has the look of a solid player without many previous wins taking the prize.

The Masters is my favorite event of all kinds during the year.
The course is so beautiful. It is exciting every year on Sunday afternoon. There are always surprises (except the year that Tiger won by 12-but even that was a surprise).
It is an amazing test of nerves, for sure.
Today, Ben Crenshaw made the cut for the 25th time. Fred Couples made the cut for the 23rd consecutive time. This ties Gary Player's record (1959-1982). Fred has never missed a cut at the Masters. Player missed the cut, though he played in his 50th consecutive Masters.
Some of us are old enough to remember his greatness, and when they televised matches between Palmer, Player and Nicklaus.
They were something!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: irwin,

If you just happened to

1. Be in Las Vegas before the Masters started and

2. Put a few dollars on Zack Johnson to win,

you'd be looking good right now. Maybe have some first growth money to spend.

Congrats Mr. Johnson!

My favorite part was when some bozo announcer concluded that Tiger must be ill to be playing this poorly.

Congrats indeed to Zack Johnson. Was anyone, anywhere, picking him to win at the start? Even at the start of today?

I heard that announcer also. Tiger would never make excuses for himself and he sure didn't need that guy doing it. What a dope.

I think if I played Augusta from the tips, I'd probably shoot about 80.

But, then I would shoot 80 on the back nine.

quote:

Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
...My favorite part was when some bozo announcer concluded that Tiger must be ill to be playing this poorly. ...

the announcer that made comment was Peter Oosterhaus... i think he saw what i did and that Tiger was noticeably spitting up flem & clearing his nose alot... i think it was just allergies from the conditions personally or we'd have heard something about it earlier in the week... hey, its his job to comment, not that i agree with it, but oh well...

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:
I think if I played Augusta from the tips, I'd probably shoot about 80.

But, then I would shoot 80 on the back nine.

there was a neat article in Golf Digest about a year or 2 ago with Ray Romano... when his show got popular and the obvious CBS connection, he got the few opportunities each year to play the course the day after the tournament... supposedly he's between a 13-15 handicap (if i remember correctly) and being that it was the day after, got to play from the pro's markers & Sunday pin placements - never broke 100, closest he got was 101

Kumazam: Well, then I'd have a shot at 110, actually. Certainly, I wouldn't be going for any of the par 5's in two.
When I watch on TV I always read the greens pretty well.

quote:

Originally posted by kumazam:
...the announcer that made comment was Peter Oosterhaus... i think he saw what i did and that Tiger was noticeably spitting up flem & clearing his nose alot... i think it was just allergies from the conditions personally or we'd have heard something about it earlier in the week... hey, its his job to comment, not that i agree with it, but oh well...

I didn't see the flemathon going on, but my reaction had more to do with Woods' darling status with the media and his over-saturation in it. The guy is super talented, but it's gotten to the point where I actively root against him. Not like with Singh, where I don't like the guy, but just to see other people win and take him down a notch. The commentators fawning over him just gets to me sometimes.

quote:

Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
My favorite part was when some bozo announcer concluded that Tiger must be ill to be playing this poorly.

Congrats indeed to Zack Johnson. Was anyone, anywhere, picking him to win at the start? Even at the start of today?

I have him on my fantasy golf team.

. . . too bad I was an idiot and started Aron Baddely over him!

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:
When I watch on TV I always read the greens pretty well.

Did you read that putt that Sabbatini made with the 110 degree right turn, then a left right before the cup? Or that chip that Westwood made on Saturday, where he chipped it about 40 feet past the hole, made a 180 degree turn, came back and dropped in? Some incredible shots around those greens. I'd probably 5-putt half of them, and 4-putt the rest. That's an 81 without even having to tee off.

quote:

Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
I didn't see the flemathon going on, but my reaction had more to do with Woods' darling status with the media and his over-saturation in it. The guy is super talented, but it's gotten to the point where I actively root against him. Not like with Singh, where I don't like the guy, but just to see other people win and take him down a notch. The commentators fawning over him just gets to me sometimes.

i know what you're saying... he does get the royal treatment. he's done so much for the game in general, its hard to say he doesn't deserve it. ive seen him play twice and there is no way around it - dude is the man... i can't help but root for him everytime he plays. but i understand what you say about the commentators gushing over him

Now that is how a major should be - winners around par. Tiger's power can be a double edged sword for him. He was all over the place off the tee.

Good to see an up and coming player win a major. It's good for the game.

quote:

Originally posted by kumazam:
i can't help but root for him everytime he plays.

I can't help but root against him every time he plays.

quote:

Originally posted by Foghorn:

quote:

Originally posted by kumazam:
i can't help but root for him everytime he plays.

I can't help but root against him every time he plays.

Me to. His behavoir on the course is disgraceful, and I wish the announcers would hold him accountable for it. How anyone could cheer for such a rude, childish, arrogant and spoiled jerk I never can understand. My thoughts watching golf is ABT, anyone but Tiger.