PGA Tour: The Masters - The Elimination Game: Notes from the Ballwasher

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OK, We haven't done this for a couple of years, going through the field of 94 golfers in completely arbitrary and biased fashion until we find a winner we can be happy with. Inspired by Andy North.

No consideration is being made for the conditions which may be influenced by the weather forecast. Storms on Monday closed the course, should be pleasant today, but more storms expected Wednesday. Perhaps the SubAir will presumably cope unless it blows a gasket through overuse, but it sounds as if fairways will still be soft. Then cool and quite windy for Rounds 1 and 2, fine and calmer for the weekend, greens drying out and running at 20 on the Stimpmeter.

1).No amateur has won The Masters and that won't change this week. Five golfers eliminated.

2).And Augusta first-timers haven't won since Fuzzy almost 40 years ago. That gets rid of 14 more, but this is an impressive crop of debutants including Fleetwood, Hadwin, Noren, Pieters & Rahm. Sorry guys, maybe next year.

3).Old Masters and Past Masters: This year in particular, the over-forties crowd who have flourished in the past, have been put into their place by the Young Guns. No-one over 40 has won the Green Jacket since Fatty O'Meara in 1998 and I don't see that trend changing, although Mickelson would undoubtedly bet against that trend. Green Zimmer frames for Phil, Lee, Henrik and 20 others, including 38-y-o Trevor Immelman who won't be in contention. Will he?

For those scoring at home, that's 42 down, 52 to go.

4).We haven't seen an Asian-born Major winner and who's to say Matsuyama won't be the first? Just not this week, Hideki, and you can commiserate with Ben An, James Hahn, Ikeda, Kevin Na (got to get rid of him somehow) and Tanihara. That's another six deported, 46 to go.

5).Continental Europe hasn't produced a winner since Jose Maria 18 years ago and that won't change this year, much as I think Rafa will have a good week. That's five more gone, plus I'll throw in Shane Lowry if my back can take it. 40 remain.

6).Lightning won't strike twice, willett? Very thin ice here as I really like Justin Rose to have a fine week. Good form all year and this may be his focus, much as Rio was last year. But the rest of the British contingent (including Rory) will drown their sorrows with the Patrons, and that's another 9 down the drain. 31 still playing.

7).I like winners and recent winners even more. That sees the field narrow considerably if I eliminate all those who haven't won this year or last - 11 more leave the premises, and then there were 20 (hate to see Kisner go).

8).Some high-flyers from last year have been under the radar this. Augusta National is no place to rediscover your game so adios to Jason Day, Spieth (but he'll surely be around the lead, won't he?), Scott, Reed, Bubba, 3 x Saffers, Walker, Koepka, Berger, Moore. That's a dozen to the exit, and an elite eight remain.

9).Most Masters winners are terrific putters, and Justin Thomas (48th in putting), Brendan Steele (102nd) and Johnny Vegas (164th) won't get it done.

10).Which leaves DJ, Fowler, Henley, Leishman and Sneds.
Sneds ticks most of the boxes, not least being someone who embraces the "Augusta" thing. Not in top form though.
Fowler still has that double-bogey in his DNA.
So this leaves us with a top 3 of Russell Henley, Marc Leishman and Dustin Johnson. All recent winners of course, but nothing wrong with a hot golfer. I can't see past DJ; he may be unsettled by the wind early in the tournament but soft fairways won't hurt him at all.  
Best of the rest: Berger, Oosthuizen, Rose, Spieth.

I expect Hoffman will drop off today or tomorrow.

Rory's three up and downs on 10, 11, and 12 were very impressive as was his run from there in.

Also Segio for going bogey free.

But the three guys at the top and in particular Hoffman must take the majority of the plaudits. To play like that in those conditions was fantastic.

Finally if Rose can get his putter going I have a feeling he will be the man to beat.

I gave up at just past 10pm, went to bed with the radio on. Shaun Micheel on radio 5 was pretty good.

Im sure in the pre tournament stats, it was mentioned all recent winners were within 4 after the first round. So we can pick give the jacket to Billy Mcgirt who looks like he should be working on a farm somewhere.

Still wide open though, grate round by Charley though, but surely he isnt that good he will walk it from here?

Can't see McGirt or Hoffman lasting the pace really. Quite often there is someone in this position, only for them to fall off a cliff. I think there is a lot of Europeans very well placed, could this actually be Westwood's, McIlroy's or Garcia's year?

If it's going to be a rookie, I'd fancy Rahm over McGirt.

beninho wrote: Billy Mcgirt who looks like he should be working on a farm somewhere.

I reckon a bystander at the OK Corral, especially with that name

I would be very surprised if Mcgirt or Hoffman win it, but I would expect Hoffman to be in the last few pairings saturday and sunday. even a 74 today would probably see him leading.

Was very impressed with Mcilroy, but he does seem to have one horror round at the Masters, lets hope it was yesterday and he turned it round.

I like watching players struggle with wind and conditions, just not for the whole round, so i would like to see the weekend be good playing conditions and players scoring well.

Not forecast to get much easier for Round 2 - winds may not be quite as gusty, but still 20+mph in the middle of the day. Cool (40's) for the early tee-times.

Hope you GB&I viewers weren't burdened with the commentaries from ESPN/CBS . . . . . . .

Plenty will hope that Hoffman hits the buffers today as it looks as if the cut-line parachute of "within ten strokes of the lead" will not be applicable. Top 50 only, most likely.

No we had the misfortune of Cap'n Thomas. On the plus side no Monty.

Does anyone know why Wayne Riley wasn't there? Is he too off the wall for the Committee a la McCord?

I like Rich Beem but he has got nothing on Riley.

CBS have a bloke called Verne Lundquist who is in his late 70's and hasn't got a clue what he's talking about, earned his Masters annuity by plagiarising Ben Wright, and probably wouldn't recognise any of the players even if they bought him a drink - which he looks as if he'd enjoy (and nothing wrong with that).

And he fits super's bloated corpse description of Lord Butch to a tee.
POTUS has an advisor who is described as decomposing in front of our eyes, and that also reminds me of "Verne". Ghastly man.


wire, They might have warned Riley off; they certainly barred CBS from using Gary McCord, and a commentator of distinction from an earlier era.

We occasionally get the CBS (or NBC) guys over here for the tournments Sky can't be bothered sending their own.

It is almost always Nantz / Faldo / Baker-Finch / McCord / Kostis unless Jim has got a football / basketball game on.

I haven't heard Lundquist for years, do they just wheel him out for the Masters now?

Is Azinger still on ESPN? If so I fear the BBC will nab him for Saturday and Sunday thinking they have got a scoop.

I also heard Micheel on the radio on the preview show earlier this week and did come across very well. I just can't listen to golf on the radio when I know I can be watching it on TV.

Aah yes, poor auld Gary McCord, you'd swear none of the members of Augusta have ever had a back, crack and sack bikini wax before, pffft.  

If Matthew Fitzpatrick wins this, that will be back to back Green Jackets for the Blades, and with them only one win away from automatic promotion there will be some party in Sheffield.

If Fitzpatrick wins, yorkshire will let you know. They don't hold back the Yorkies!

Zinger works for Fox now, the only good move they made for their golf coverage.

Average age of the CBS team has got to be in the mid-sixties.

Here we go, McGirt in the first twosome out of the traps; he's a (relatively) local lad, very content to play within himself and it'll be interesting to see how he follows up his fine round yesterday. Hoffman out in two hours' time, then the Lee/Sergio/Shane group, and Rory/Rahm.

I have to think the Lee/Fatso/Sergio group is a good one for all those guys. All know one another well, all going to be comfortable playing with one another.

super_realist wrote:I have to think the Lee/Fatso/Sergio group is a good one for all those guys. All know one another well, all going to be comfortable playing with one another.

Agree with that, not unlike Westwood & Willett in Round 4 last year.

Five have played #1, all five bogeyed.

Billy Mcg chipping in from bunker for a birdie.

I was a bit slow to get the Masters app and have only just downloaded it as I have to pop out away from a computer, and it seems like it might be really good. Just had a go at viewing the track player feature and it is so good.

Is this new for this year or has it always been a pretty good app? Hooty and co obviously have a lot of money to burn.

Super

I am surprised you have commented on how fat Dufner is now. Even bigger than he used to be. The divorce obviously has him huddled on the kitchen floor having raided the fridge at 3am.

Duffner lost loads of weight, became crap at golf and got dumped.

Ben

He has clearly piled it back on.

yep, didn't help him when he lost it was my point.

McLaren wrote:I was a bit slow to get the Masters app and have only just downloaded it as I have to pop out away from a computer, and it seems like it might be really good.  Just had a go at viewing the track player feature and it is so good.

Is this new for this year or has it always been a pretty good app?  Hooty and co obviously have a lot of money to burn.

Hootie retired Mac.

Opening snowman for Danny, Champion of the World (2016 edition)

But Hootie and Co is a good nickname for ANGC.

Kwini

Do you reckon he will get it back today?

Dunno, what do you think, Mac? First task is to make the cut - if he does that, he'll've done well.

McLaren wrote:But Hootie and Co is a good nickname for ANGC.

It's about as good a name as Simba is for Spieth.

Kwini

He probably needs to go level par from now on to make the cut. Currently +5 is t60 but most players are shooting in the black at the moment.

What the hell happened to WIllet, the shotlink thing looks like I was playing. 6 yard chips and sideways shots!

Duff boy starting with a pair of 6s too!

McLaren wrote:Is this new for this year or has it always been a pretty good app?

Not new this year Mac, seen it before. Might have tweaked it though.

Hoffman to eagle to second?

Nope, but 2ft for birdie.

Double bogey, eagle start for Henrik. As you do.

Come on Shane, Keep up!

Birdie-Birdie start for Sergio too - Mac must be having kittens!

drop for Rory, but has seemingly hit a 393 yard drive down the second

Birdie birdie birdie for Serg. go on serg.

Davie wrote:Birdie-Birdie start for Sergio too - Mac must be having kittens!

Birdie, birdie, birdie now! Hate the feeling that Sergio is making his run 45 holes too early.

The app's not new Mac, but I think the Track feature a la shot link I believe is.

I would love to see how Mac would react to a "pea head" victory.

serg being serg, he builds you up, then knocks you back.

Golf Channel reckons it took the Charley Hoffman 3-some one hour to play the first three holes.

Considering the Hooties (nice one, Mac) dinged an Asian amateur a stroke for slow play a couple of years ago, you'd think they should get out their stopwatches and put them to use today. Potential for six hour rounds.

prediction time

What will the leading score and cut line be at the end of the day?

Olly birdies the 10th so all Espanners on the course are under par so far today, Rafa still to start his round.

Rory has to figure out how to play the front 9 or he will never win a masters. He chucks so many shots away before the scoring holes.

beninho wrote:What the hell happened to WIllet, the shotlink thing looks like I was playing. 6 yard chips and sideways shots!

one them was apparently a shank.

beninho wrote:What the hell happened to WIllet, the shotlink thing looks like I was playing. 6 yard chips and sideways shots!

The film shows a dead-right shankapotomous from a rotten lie on the side of a bunker - played a recovery from the forest and then played hockey backwards and forwards across the green. Not pretty.

Do you think Sergio would serve fried chicken if he wins

I think McIlroy could be really well placed after today, crept into the top 5, wind is getting up so could be tough for the later players. I'm also watching and thinking I wouldn't mind seeing Garcia win, have never warmed to him so don't know where that's come from, I must be mellowing in my dotage.

A Spanish win on Sunday would only be appropriate, Seve's 60th birthday.

Majors league table:

Most Majors without a win:
Westwood: 75
Garcia: 73

Most Major Top Fives w/o a win:
Garcia: 12
Westwood: 11

You can't really begrudge either guy a major when you look at those stats Kwini, would make the difference between finishing a fantastic career pretty satisfied rather than having to think about the what ifs.