PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

With the 2009 Masters to begin tomorrow who ya taken...? I'll put in my pick later but I would like to see Couples win this baby. But I have a few other thoughts to share when I get a moment.

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/masters09/columns/story?columnist=sobel_jason&id=4041692]The Masters: Jason Sobel ranks the entire Masters field 1-96 - ESPN[/url]

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

I'll take Goosen because it's cliche to pick Tiger, I see him and Tiger as having the best chance. I'll be rooting for Tiger, though.

Goosen's game is well-suited for Augusta and he comes in having won a tourney already this year.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

im not into golf, but have a question for you schneed. why tiger? is it like your favorite team? or just because he is the best?

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

A tradition unlike any other.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

Hey why are starting a thread here in the correct forum when I have one started in the parking lot. Hey mods freeze this thread.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

I love golf in general - playing and watching- but the Masters is great, especially when it falls on Easter weekend. To me, it signifies the start of Spring (my favorite season). Easter Sunday is always a great time to be with family, and mine happens to be a big golf family. So it's going to be a blast.

I think it's going to be a fun tournament this year. I'll take Tiger. I'm not one to be enamored with any athlete, but Tiger is the exception. I love the guy. I see Goosen, Paddy Harrington, and Zach Johnson having nice weekends, too. And Greg Norman could surprise some folks.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

Ben Crenshaw... anyone...anyone at all? I kind of have a soft spot for the guy. He is the only PGA Golfer that I have ever met. He gave a clinic at Fort Gordon 3 years ago during masters week and I was among some of the soldiers who were in attendance. I got his autograph for my Step Dad and my Uncle.

Other than Tiger a player that I really like is Boo Weekly. The guy is so down to earth and he cracks me up. He is like a Redneck version of Happy Gilmore.

[YT]YuqTE8xwhow[/YT]

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

I watched the Par 3 competition today. How come the Par 3 here in town isn't that nice? Jeez. The Par 3 is prettier than the regular course.

My pick to win is Carl Pettersson.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=70Chip;544273]My pick to win is Carl Pettersson.[/quote]

Makes me think of:

"Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!"

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=FRPLG;544299]Makes me think of:

"Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!"[/quote]

LOL! He's just crushing those flowers at Bushwood.

"that's- oh, he got all of that one! He's gotta be pleased with that! The crowd is just on its feet here. He's a Cinderella boy. Tears in his eyes, I guess, as he lines up this last shot. He's got about 195 yards left, and he's got a, looks like he's got about an 8-iron..."

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=dmek25;544209]im not into golf, but have a question for you schneed. why tiger? is it like your favorite team? or just because he is the best?[/quote]

I find him extremely likable as a person and I kind of view it as a privilege to watch him play. It's like watching Michael Jordan. You were hard pressed to find someone who didn't like Michael Jordan, and when you think back on it, it's kind of cool to be able to say I saw the greatest basketball player who ever lived.

I root for Tiger in every major because it could mean he's one step closer to one of the most impressive career achievements in all of sports: 18 majors. I've watched every single one of his major victories so far live on TV. When he retires as the greatest golfer of all time, I'd love to be able to say I saw them all.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

One thing I think they do need to change with the master is the life time pass players get if they have ever won the Masters. For example. Gary Players is still playing at his age and he has no chance of ever winning and cannot even make the cut. There are about a dozen of these guys who I think for selfish reasons take up a spot every year. I say they limit them to so many times playing without making the cut and then they are gone. This will open up more spots for younger players that actually have a chance to win. Most older players like Nicholas and Palmer stopped playing when they could not compeate any longer in the Masters but some of these older guys just don't seem to care they are bumping out younger guys trying to make a living.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=firstdown;544384]One thing I think they do need to change with the master is the life time pass players get if they have ever won the Masters. For example. Gary Players is still playing at his age and he has no chance of ever winning and cannot even make the cut. There are about a dozen of these guys who I think for selfish reasons take up a spot every year. I say they limit them to so many times playing without making the cut and then they are gone. This will open up more spots for younger players that actually have a chance to win. Most older players like Nicholas and Palmer stopped playing when they could not compeate any longer in the Masters but some of these older guys just don't seem to care they are bumping out younger guys trying to make a living.[/quote]
It's called the "Masters" for a reason. It is the top tournament in the world for a lot of reasons. Many of those reasons are it's unwavering traditions. They will never get rid of that tradition I'll guarantee it.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=FRPLG;544388]It's called the "Masters" for a reason. It is the top tournament in the world for a lot of reasons. Many of those reasons are it's unwavering traditions. They will never get rid of that tradition I'll guarantee it.[/quote]

Yeah that tradition is cool, IMO. Plus it's not like there's a shortage of quality players in the Masters. Ways to get invited:

- All previous Masters Winners invited
- Last 5 US Open Champions
- Last 5 British Open Champions
- Last 5 PGA Champions
- Last 3 Players Championship winners
- Last year's winner and runner up of the US Amateur
- Last year's British amateur champion
- Last year's US Public Links Amateur champion
- Last year's US Mid-Ameteur champion
- Last year's top 16 from the Masters (including ties)
- Last year's top 8 from the US Open (including ties)
- Last year's top 4 from the PGA (including ties)
- Last year's top 30 on the PGA money list
- Win any PGA event within the last 365 days that awards a full-point allocation in the FedEx Cup race.
- Qualifiers from the previous year's Fed Ex Cup.
- Anyone ranked within the top 50 in last year's world golf rankings.
- And then the Masters Committee can make special exemptions for whoever they want.

That pretty much gets everybody.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

I always pull for Tiger because he's hands down my favorite golfer and he was probably my father's favorite, as well. However, if pressed to pick someone not named Tiger Woods, gimme Camilo Villegas. I love that guy's game.

Also, I really like Weir, but if Tiger doesn't win, I'm rooting for Villegas.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[URL="http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/index.php/2009/04/vijay-singhs-water-skip-shot-hole-in-one-during-masters-practice-round/"]Vijay Singh’s Water Skip-Shot Hole In One During Masters Practice Round[/URL]


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Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=Buster;544434][URL="http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/index.php/2009/04/vijay-singhs-water-skip-shot-hole-in-one-during-masters-practice-round/"]Vijay Singh’s Water Skip-Shot Hole In One During Masters Practice Round[/URL]


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Wow what luck and look at the crowds there just for the practice rounds.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=firstdown;544448]Wow what luck and look at the crowds there just for the practice rounds.[/quote]

The traffic during Masters week in Augusta rivals that of the DC Metro area, but their roads except for I520 are not designed to hold that much volume. I used to just stay on Post that week.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=firstdown;544384]. There are about a dozen of these guys who I think for selfish reasons take up a spot every year. I say they limit them to so many times playing without making the cut and then they are gone. This will open up more spots for younger players that actually have a chance to win. Most older players like Nicholas and Palmer stopped playing when they could not compeate any longer in the Masters but some of these older guys just don't seem to care they are bumping out younger guys trying to make a living.[/quote]


This is not so. The Masters is an Invitational. They have criteria they use to invite people and you either qualify or you don't. They don't bump people to make room for former champions.

Several years ago Hootie Johnson sent out a letter sugeesting that players over 65 stop competing and it went over like a lead balloon. People like watching the older players.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=70Chip;544273]
My pick to win is Carl Pettersson.[/quote]

What I meant to say was Kenny Perry.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

What a collapse by Perry. That has gotta suck

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

Great finish to a Great tournament! Lefty put on a show, had a heck of a front (-6 to start the day), just could not put together a back, the double at I believe 12 the par three was a killer. But,nice pairing with himself and woods.

Was hoping to see an American finish/WIN...but Perry OR Campbell couldn't get it done. And it was Perry's to loss up by two with two to go. But as golf goes its a game of inches.

Who would know better than Cabrera..on the 1st extra hole (18) in the woods, gets a lucky bounce off a tree right into the fairway. Win some and ya loss some. Today was his day. He must of had that Angel.......on his shoulder! Congrats to Angel and this accomplishment being the first Argentinian to win The Masters!

[URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/masters09/news/story?id=4063010"]Angel Cabrera wins the Masters on second playoff hole over Kenny Perry - ESPN[/URL]

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=skinsfan_nn;545166]Great finish to a Great tournament! Lefty put on a show, had a heck of a front (-6 to start the day), just could not put together a back, the double at I believe 12 the par three was a killer. But,nice pairing with himself and woods.

Was hoping to see an American finish/WIN...but Perry OR Campbell couldn't get it done. And it was Perry's to loss up by two with two to go. But as golf goes its a game of inches.

Who would know better than Cabrera..on the 1st extra hole (18) in the woods, gets a lucky bounce off a tree right into the fairway. Win some and ya loss some. Today was his day. He must of had that Angel.......on his shoulder! Congrats to Angel and this accomplishment being the first Argentinian to win The Masters!

[URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/masters09/news/story?id=4063010"]Angel Cabrera wins the Masters on second playoff hole over Kenny Perry - ESPN[/URL][/quote]
What a tournament yesterday. It turned out to be a Master within a Master with Phil and Woods having their own shoot out infront of the leaders. I have never seen so many people following a pairing as they did yesterday and it seemed people where stacked up 20 to 30 people deep at times to watch Phil and Woods. After Phil dropped out I found myself cheering on any US player but that did not happen. It just shows if you can show up on Sunday and keep yourself around the top of the leader board anything can happen.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

That must have been awesome to be there following him and Tiger around, watching them push each other towards the top of the leaderboard.

Hard to believe Mickelson shot a 30 on the front, and had every opportunity to be in that playoff, but double bogey on 12, missing the Eagle on 15, missing birdie on 17 (I think) and bogey on 18 and he called it a day.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

When Cabrera went in the woods on the 1st playoff I thought he was done. Then he bounces it off a pine right into the fairway. Ha. What an awesome tournament.

After Phil's front 9, I didn't think anyone was going to catch him

Phil's 2nd shot on the 7th and Perry's tee shot on the par 3 16th were just amazing.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=firstdown;544384]One thing I think they do need to change with the master is the life time pass players get if they have ever won the Masters. For example. Gary Players is still playing at his age and he has no chance of ever winning and cannot even make the cut. There are about a dozen of these guys who I think for selfish reasons take up a spot every year. I say they limit them to so many times playing without making the cut and then they are gone. This will open up more spots for younger players that actually have a chance to win. Most older players like Nicholas and Palmer stopped playing when they could not compeate any longer in the Masters but some of these older guys just don't seem to care they are bumping out younger guys trying to make a living.[/quote]

There are plenty of guys that play that have no chance of winning. Fuzzy Z, Crenshaw, Lyle, Omera, Player and on and on. But that's the tradition of The Masters and that's why it's different from other majors. Jack and Arnold kept playing when they had no shot at winning. I remember Arnold's last round and it was just painful. And the TV people eat that shit up. I'm not sure why people that are competitive keep trucking themselves out there when they have no chance of winning.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=skinsfan69;545288]There are plenty of guys that play that have no chance of winning. Fuzzy Z, Crenshaw, Lyle, Omera, Player and on and on. But that's the tradition of The Masters and that's why it's different from other majors. Jack and Arnold kept playing when they had no shot at winning. I remember Arnold's last round and it was just painful. And the TV people eat that shit up. I'm not sure why people that are competitive keep trucking themselves out there when they have no chance of winning.[/quote]

There is no chance, but I am sure all the greats think they always have a shot at it no matter what. It is delusional but at that point in their careers money is not an issue.

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

[quote=hooskins;545158]What a collapse by Perry. That has gotta suck[/quote]

Trained with Greg Norman?

Re: PGA: The 2009 Masters
 

It was a very good Masters. I thought Philly was on his way after the 30, which is a score you see once every 10 years or so on that front nine, but he faltered on the back which is by all accounts the easier scoring side. If he pars 12 and makes those short putts at 15 and 17, he wins the thing outright with a record tieing 63. He'll be grinding his teeth over that one for a while.