PGA Tour: The Masters Winner, via Process of Elimination: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Last year I slurped a couple of bottles of Malbec and attempted to make a case for a European Champion. Henrik Stenson was the chosen candidate and he played well but not nearly well enough, Jonas Blixt finishing ahead of him as the leading Swede. So we changed the formula this year, not the Malbec of course, but let's revert to Andy North's time-honoured process of elimination.
NB: Any bias or prejudice is entirely intentional.

2).Starting with Amateurs. One or two have come close, Patton, Venturi, but none won a Green Jacket and that won't change this year. Seven eliminated.

3).No rookie has one since Fuzzy Zoeller over 35 years ago. I fancy Tringale to play well, but I'll go with history and take out the 13 first-timers.

4).Jack Nicklaus won the 1986 Masters at the age of 46, the oldest Champion. I don't see any of the forty-somethings in the field improving their game, so let's dispense with the likes of Westwood, Furyk and Els and 20 others. 23 can exit, best chances Phil, who's only had one top ten finish since Muirfield, and Cabrera, always a decent each way punt.

5).Augusta National could be the toughest walking course these guys play, not good if you're carrying a knock, physically or mentally, or in some cases Tiger, both. Bye bye to seven crocks, including McDowell, Stenson and Reed.

6).Poor putters and scramblers need not apply. 24 still standing are #110 or below in the PGA Tour's primary putting or scrambling stat. On your way then Dustin, Rickie, Keegan, Webb, Kaymer, Rose, Charl and Adam. Big risk sending Matsuyama and Oosthuizen down the road, but their putting has not been good enough. Russell Henley may be a putting genius but he needs to scramble too.

7).As baseball fans know, "Chicks dig the long ball", and so do Augusta's Green Jackets; bad news for slowpokes Crane and Na and eight others, none of them in the top 100. Sorry Sneds, still good for a place.

8).Only fourteen left so time to discard those currently out of form. Regardless of what they might have done elsewhere in the world, none of this lot have a PGA Tour top ten finish this year: Dubuisson, Grace, Ilonen, Mahan, Streelman, Villegas. Adios to the 6 of you.

9).And of the rest, only Jason Day, Spieth and Jimmy Walker have wins, so San-Moon Bae, Sergio, Rory, Ryan Palmer and Bubba can leave quietly down Magnolia Lane.

10).Day, Spieth and Walker have all played well at Augusta. Day and Spieth have play-off wins this year, Walker has two wins by a total of 13 strokes. Give me the proven winner and measure up Jimmy Walker for a Green Jacket. Cheers.

What a bunker shot for 4 birdies on the trot for Rose!!!

Classy stuff by Rose.

4 in a row for rose, was disappointed with him earlier but now looking good. 5 back..but will need to do something different at the start tomorrow to have a chance.

Different league again from Jordan.

How things turn back. He could have an 8 shot lead..

super stuff from Mickelson on 18, bet he drains the putt too.

And the hope returns...

Bang. Rose you flipping diamond. 12 under.

Rose to Faldo/Norman Speith tommorow..

Great back nine by Justin Rose especially the chip in from the bunker on the par 3 and the put on the 18th. Shame about his first few holes else he would have been right behind Spieth.

Fair play to Rose I didn't think he'd be 2nd on his own at the end of today(humble pie)

Hard to see anyone outside the top 3 wearing green tomorrow evening

That was fantastic viewing I must say! Still think Spieth will cruise this but he did drop plenty of shots today to give the field hope if he stops making birdies.

Tiger and Rory to play together on the Sunday was 80/1 before the tournament!

Great par save from Spieth on #18, only four men in it.
Lots of hyperbole for Woods's 68, none for Poults's 67.

Koepka's front nine and Justin Rose's back nine yields -20.

Can Rose actually do it on Sunday? Perhaps he can, but he has to get off to a better start; giving shots a way early these past two days.

A winner from Hartley Witney or Hook somehow seems better than a winner from Dallas.

Thongchai will open the batting on Sunday, at 10.00 a.m.

Remember, Top 12 and ties qualify for the 2016 Masters. As things stand, staying in the Top 12 would be important to Messrs Poulter, Oosthuizen, Haas, Blixt, Casey, Matsuyama, Hoffman, Na, Streelman,
Should be dry, chance of breeze picking up around noon and fingers crossed for a 59 from Rory.

Did they just read out a tweet from Maverick on Masters breakfast??!

Major winners Rose and Mickelson should be formidable competition for young Speith. We'll find out if Jordan can keep it together ... the others surely will.

There must be a dozen guys wondering why they spent so much time smelling the azaleas on Thursday and early Friday while Spieth went about his business.
Now they can see there are mid-60-somethings out there it's too late.
Spieth is basically ten shots clear, only has to worry about Phil and Justin; can't remember a Masters before this one where I didn't fancy Phil, so it would make sense if he shot 63 and won going away. Not holding my breath though, this has been magnificent from Spieth.

Hopefully the greens are crazy quick today!

It's hard not to like Spieth. He's got guts. What a strange demeanour Charley Hoffman has?

Clutching at straws:
Wouldn't it be great if Saints passed Citeh for Champions League?
Wouldn't it be great if Rory threw a 59 at Spieth. But would it be enough?

kwinigolfer wrote:Clutching at straws:
Wouldn't it be great if Saints passed Citeh for Champions League?
Wouldn't it be great if Rory threw a 59 at Spieth. But would it be enough?

I suppose if you were Rory or Tiger and you were offered a 65 now, you'd have to take it. 64 or better probably not on.

I think Spieth will finish it off, and Magnolia Lane will become Coronation Street

According to Hazel Irvine Justin Rose has "legendary mental strength" that an over night thing?

kwinigolfer wrote:

I predict a big round for either Donaldson or Walker, paired for the third day running, but without the hoopla of Tiger.

A day early kwin..

!!!

Westwood trying hard for Darren Clarke to beat him, two pretty dismal weeks for lw1.

Feels a bit flat, i think Mr Hoffman may have a mare today!

One down, three to go on the Rose to glory.

Like everyone else I hope tonight has an exciting climax - but I really would hate to see Spieth lose it now and read all the posts about him being a choker. If he does lose I hope it's to a 61 or 62 that would go down in history and no one would blame him

Justin Rose seven under par for his last eight holes. Keep that up please.

Spieth's putting this week must rank with the best ever seen

It's a bit weird for me this year. I'd ordinarily be pulling for Justin all the way, and uninterested in Tiger but I've got Jordan to win and TW each way, so I'm not cheering for Rose the way I should be.

Wishing I could be cheering for MAJ as I had him at 200/1

Spieth's won. Rose won't come back from this. All he had to do was hit the fairway.

Wishing I could be cheering anything.

Now that Rose has blown up we are entering the speith procession.

Steady play keeping Rose at bay ... for now.

C'mon Jordan!!

Imagine how stupid - ok how even more stupid - I would have looked if he had holed the pitch from the crowd?

Hoggy_Bear wrote:Spieth's won. Rose won't come back from this. All he had to do was hit the fairway.

Mebbe not.

Woods injured?

Doesn't start til the back 9...

Woods wanted a 66 but looks like he got the Root instead.

Nice round for Hedrick, must be feeling better.

Yeah Woods' wrist seemed to hurt on that tee shot. Hope it's not too serious.

Speith back to 4 ahead again.

Still have a funny feeling Rose will do it.

NickisBHAFC wrote:Still have a funny feeling Rose will do it.

Doubt it now. Speith 5 shots ahead.

SKY coverage far superior to the BBC.............

All over now.

John Cregan wrote:SKY coverage far superior to the BBC.............

Are you watching both?

Have a few quid e/w on Charley Hoffman at 200/1 and Zach at 80/1... Please guys!

Faldo vs Norman starts now!

SKY coverage probably better than CBS too.

12th place and better gets a return trip. Big for Casey & Poults.