Cue the music and let the azaleas bloom – it’s the Masters
Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
The Masters is known for much more than four days of tournament play. What’s your favourite event outside the actual tournament: the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the Masters Drive, Chip and Putt competition, the Champions Dinner, the Par 3 Contest, the ceremonial tee shots or some other activity?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): I think the Women’s Amateur has been a grand slam home run for ANGC and has placed it right up there with the USGA in terms of golf governance and development. The other events you mention are all interesting — especially Drive, Chip, and Putt — and have made the first two weeks in April almost an official Welcome to Spring fortnight, which is welcome to all winter-suffering golfers everywhere. The only item that I could do without is the oldest: the ceremonial tee shots. I find it very depressing to see my lifelong heroes – Jack, Gary, now Tom — almost wheeled out to the first tee to make old man swings. They’re always good shots, yes — but I find it almost demeaning to these guys to be exhibited like they’re otherwise preserved in jars of formaldehyde.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: All the events you list are spectacular. I wish we could see more of the Champions’ Dinner; being in that room would be fantastic. However, I am blessed to have been able to attend twice, and I can tell you from personal experience that when you walk through those gates about 100 feet, the atmosphere takes your breath away. The colours, the gardens, the neatness, the spectacle are burned into my thoughts forever. A cute story. We waited outside until the gates opened at exactly 7:00 AM. The people are standing politely. The gates open and people walk quickly, trying to get wherever they are going until the quick walk becomes a brisk walk, and then some speed walking, and then some running. Suddenly, a Security Guard as big as Shaquille O’Neal appears, raises his arms and says in a voice deeper than Tim Storms (Guinness World Record holder) booms out, “There’ll be NO running at Augusta National. So much for discipline for the rest of the day.
TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): I was lucky enough to visit the Masters on the Wednesday in 2016 and watched a bit of the par 3 contest. On site, it’s a pretty awesome event. You can get so close to the players, and the year we were there, I believe there were 7 aces, the most ever. I have come to love watching both the DCP and the ANWA, they are amazing additions to the Masters week plus. Not sure which one I prefer to be honest, but I hope they both continue to grow and get shown more and more on tv. It would be great if the ladies played more than the one round at Augusta, hopefully that changes some day.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): As Jim says, the ceremonial tee shot is depressing. It’s supposed to represent continuity and nostalgia but dragging 85 and 90-year-old men out of bed on a cold morning to hit one drive each smacks of stretching celebrity a tad too far. Let them sleep. I prefer the Drive, Chip and Putt event and Augusta National’s commitment to junior golf.
What’s the most compelling storyline about a Masters competitor as we head into the year’s first major? (Hint: Rory chasing his personal grand slam, Rory only player with 2 wins so far this year, Scottie Scheffler with no wins to date, Scottie as defending champion, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, another LIV player, a blast from the past (former champion), changes to Augusta National, other story)
Deeks: For me, it’s Rory. If ever a player deserved a Masters victory, it’s him. But I fear he’ll put too much pressure on himself as he so often does, and, frankly, blow it. I pray that won’t happen. The only thing I know for sure is, I’ll be watching every single second of the Masters, as I have done since Arnold won his first, in 1958.
Schurman: One of the great things about the Masters is that golf is always first. I was at the Masters on one of Tiger’s returns, and he was spanked (admonished) by the Chairman for his poor behaviour. They don’t recognize the PGA vs. LIV fight; they just play golf. This year is a perfect example with the return of Angel Cabrera, who served three years in an Argentine prison for domestic violence. Cabrera is a Champion and has an invitation to play because the Masters is about golf.
Rule: Rory. It will always be Rory until he wins there. Hopefully this is the year, he’s playing as well as he probably ever has entering the tournament, so it may be his best shot since he led heading into Sunday’s back nine in 2011 (I can’t believe that was 14 years ago already!).
Mumford: All of the Masters competitors have a right to be there, either by recent or past performance. Yet it seems like the 12 LIV golfers in the field represent something a bit off. Kind of like that hated hockey team from the next town that you don’t play during the season but have to face in the playoffs. Rude, angry brutes with too much swagger and just enough game to get on your nerves. It’s not quite Ryder Cup intense but the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf rivalry makes for a very compelling game-within-the-game story.
McIlroy, Scheffler, Rahm, Xander Shauffele and Ludvig Aberg are considered to be the top 5 by the oddsmakers. Would you bet those top 5 against the rest of the field or would you take the field? Also, what player from the rest of the field do you think has the best chance to steal the green jacket from one of the favourites?
Deeks: Tough choice, but I would take the field. There are SO many good young players that I’d say 20 guys would have a realistic shot at winning. Canadian national pride (more fervent than ever before), and truly realistic analysis, suggests to me that any one of these three guys could find stardust next week, and win it all: Conners, Pendrith, or Taylor. Go Leafs Go!!
Schurman: Yes, I’ll take the Top 5. My motivation is mostly my wish for Rory to win. When you take these five out of the field, that only leaves about 25 legitimate contenders, so the odds aren’t quite as high as they appear. Of course, I’d love to see Cory Conners in the jacket, and I think Russel Henley has a chance, but my dark horse pick is Lucas Glover.
Rule: I think I would take those 5 to be honest, although the odds probably don’t say that. But I’ve never been good at betting on golf, so anyone reading this should take the field. But I just feel that there are definitely horses for the course, and Scheffler and Rahm in particular are good bets next week. Throw Rory and Aberg in the mix, who both have great games for Augusta, and I like my chances with those 5. If I had to pick someone outside that group, maybe it’s Jordan Spieth turning back the clock, as he has always played well there also. And I’ll go out on a limb and pick Will Zalatoris if you give me a second pick. He’s starting to play well again and has also had some success at Augusta in the past.
Mumford: The much hyped and hoped for ROS (Return of Spieth) is on for Springtime at Augusta. Whether he leads the charge of the out-of-favour contenders or not, there are too many other great players in the field to tilt the competition to the Top 5. As for a darker horse, an Irishman may well nab the green jacket but perhaps not the one everyone expects. A few quid on Shane Lowry might be a worthwhile wager.
