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

First topic message reminder :

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.

Loads of "stuff" to play for today, quite apart from the Hooties' (Mac, I really like that!) haberdashery.
The leading twelve get to come back next year. Among those who might not make it otherwise are:
~T4: Hoffman & Moore
~T9: Westwood & Pieters
~T11: Casey & McGirt
~T17: Chappell
~T21: Perez, Henley, Haas

Diggers wrote:

sirbenson wrote:I'm going to be incredible biased and say Harrington is the best commentator on Sky by a mile!

Hours late I know but that up and down on 10 from Spieth sensational!

Completely agree that he was a breath of fresh air, he actually seemed to bring out the best from the other guys when they were in the studio. His comments about Sergio were very honest but we'll balanced.

Yep!!! One thing you will get with Padraig is honesty and no point in lying about the fact he has never got on with Garcia...

Also he offers an insight that former players like McGinley and Bjorn have been unable to give

I think Rose is a good partner for Garcia, I think they are buddies which may well make life easier for both to play the course rather than each other.

GPB wrote:Then there are 9 spots from "Final Qualifying".  

[pedant mode] Then there are 12 spots from "Final Qualifying". [\pedant mode off]

Watching the "Featured Groups" on the red button on Sky. Oosthuizen on the par 5 second. Would he do it again?
(Unfortunately not)

Wow! Watching Jason Day on the second. Ball came right towards the camera and may have hit the cameraman. Right in your face it appeared.

Gossip update: word has it Rory & Erica are tying the knot next Friday in Ashford Castle Co. Mayo. Beautiful place if you ever get the chance to visit.

Faldo already embarking on a "Sergio scar tissue" rant. Who needs Mac & Shotrock when you've got Faldo?

Guys with nothing much to play for (or focus on) making plenty of birds & eagles - stage set for something really low?

Kwini

Does Sergio actually have any recent major "scar tissue"?

It was nearly ten years ago that he last had a really close call at a major, you would think he was now more used to not winning majors rather than worrying about not winning them. Whereas a Fowler, Spieth or Rory might still be in the desperate to win or keep winning them stage.

Robert Lee just called them fans!

Mac,
Just repeating Sirnick. I reckon there's a very fine line; Sergio wins often enough it may not be an issue, but I guarantee he'll get grief from the gallery at some stage and he gets distracted almost as bad as Montgomerie. Hope none of the above becomes an issue.

Yesterday's play was terrific, hoping for even better. Time for a drink.

Pea Head!!!!!!

If Sergio wins this it will be a great achievement, With his history of putting problems to win at Augusta would be incredible.

The others are doing their best to give it to him. Surprised how poor their yardages are today.

Sergio could have a sizable lead heading into the back nine. How will he deal with that?

Has he ever lead during the back nine on a major Sunday. I assume he did at one point in him vs paddy at the PGA.

Boredan Spieth really struggling.

Shows how much I've been paying attention. Just noticed that the caddies are all in Masters caps. Must be a rule. I thought that the caddies caps was the one place where they could earn some money by advertising. So do the Masters compensate them, or their employers?

I really thought Spieth would have walked this.

Hoffman deserves to lose because of that novelty glove.
It's like a crap Christmas present.

Super

Do you like how Sergio had his crucifix hanging out on show today?

No, I think that's a pea headed thing to do. It's basically advertising you're a gullible fool.

If Rose were to win this, would his Olympic gold or a green jacket mean more to him?


PS, surprised no one can answer my question on Sergio and back nine major leads.

Did some knobhead Yank just shout "Ham and Cheese Rickie"?

What's wrong with these oafs?

Spieth wetter than Fitzpatricks jim jams on 12 again.

Justin's swing is looking very tidy.

Cat among the pigeons from Vacant Kuchar there.

Matt Kuchar, what a top bloke, lovely touch to sign the ball and give it to the lad. Good man.

Who finishes higher, Sergio or Pieters?

Kuchar must wish he hadn't bogeyed the first three holes of the tournament.

Mac,
I thought you answered your own question. EDIT: About Harrington/Garcia.

Would think Rose just needs to par in from here.
Sorry to see Kjeldsen ruining a promising week.

Where is John Paramour, stop watch Nazi.

Rose/Sergio (11th green) are miles behind Fowler and Spieth. (13th green).

Kwini

It was the only example I would have been relatively sure about, but just couldn't really remember when else Sergio had been in contention over the last ten years.


GPB

I wonder if allowances have been made with sergio having found some tricky spots in the last few holes. But you are correct, they are way off the pace.

McLaren wrote:
GPB

I wonder if allowances have been made with sergio having found some tricky spots in the last few holes.  But you are correct, they are way off the pace.

Allowances because they are Euro players

Spieth currently +6 for the round - equal to the worst round of the day so far.

Allowances made because even the officials are feeling a little sorry for Sergio.

Masters Live coverage at Amen Corner indicates that Sergio's ball might have moved in the pine straw after his drop on #13 according to a Geoff Shackleford tweet.

Here we go again.

No mention on our coverage yet GPB.  Would the Hooties tolerate being told how to run things by a mere stay at home patron?

There own rules guy was right there.

I wasn't watching it. But I think the Masters Live announcers said something.

Jon Rahm is doing all right in America

Spoiler:

Tremendous shot from PH.

Makes you wonder how we lost the Ryder Cup . . . . . . . .

Who is PH?

GPB wrote:Masters Live coverage at Amen Corner indicates that Sergio's ball might have moved in the pine straw after his drop on #13 according to a Geoff Shackleford tweet.

Here we go again.

Sky just reported that the ball was deemed not to have moved.

PH = Pea head?

Play off?

Loved how Sergio hit a little cut putt up there on 17, just took a little off the shot.

I can't remember what happened at the PGA, but this finale reminds me of the Open, two players fighting it out.

I remember Jimmy Walker being somewhere right of 18, but can't remember how many shots he had in hand over Day, who hit a great shot in.

Rose played for that bounce... right?

Is this going to be a cliche? Rose holes it, Garcia misses? ...and the other way around?

Got that wrong, as usual...