OT: The Masters - challenging conditions, what do you think?
The Masters is underway, and the second round just concluded.
Are you watching? What do you think? Are there any storylines you’ll look for - or players you’ll follow?
An amateur is in third place - which is a huge rarity - and, I’ll be cheering him on.
Koepka and Rahm will be the final pairing in round three - and, the conditions will be far more challenging than they were on Thursday for the opening round. It’s wet - with more rain expected throughout the day today. Temperatures are in the 50’s, and it’s windy.
I have great respect for the ability of golf professionals, and Mother Nature is making her presence known. And, it was interesting to see what the players had to do on the 18th hole this morning - with tee shots going under 250 yards - hitting their approaches with three woods. Candidly, it makes me feel just a bit better, since I find myself with the same combination - driver / three wood - in tough conditions on a long par four.
One comment that I found humorous was - it’s rainy, wet, and cool creating tough conditions for the players who finished their second round this morning. My thought was - hey, if you play in the spring and fall in the upper Midwest, these are conditions you deal with.
I’m looking forward to the finish, and will watch as much as I can.
Enjoy!
I think it’s the first time in my life that I’m glad I’m watching it on my tv in San Diego than being there in person.
Beyond the course itself, which is challenging enough without evil pin pacements, the wind and weather would break me in two. That's why they are pros and it will be fun to see who can deal with shots that don't necessarily go where you want them. Love Bennett in 3rd, but I think Koepka has the physical strength to hold the field off in these conditions. Will be a fun couple of days of golf.
Not to be the old man yelling at the clouds but I think it's refreshing to see the players have to use long irons into the Par 4's, and the Par 5's are only reachable in 2 with a fairway wood or long iron. Frankly, that makes Augusta play like it was meant to be played when it was built and how it was played until technology massively improved the clubs and the balls. For example, the 13th and 15th holes are less compelling when players can use short to mid irons to reach in two. Far more fun when the golfers need to decide if it's worth it to go for an eagle if carrying Rae's Creek will require a 2-iron.
85, I agree. But, one thing that is interesting - what’s the longest iron most of these players carry in their bag?
As you may know, Augusta lengthened the 13th hole by about 40 yards for this year’s event.
I think it’s going to be great to see just how deep players can hit the ball today. It’s appealing to me that players will go further into their bag because of the length of their approaches. I wonder what mid / long irons and hybrids will be used today. Based on this morning’s conditions - both 13 and 15 were three shot par 5’s, with a few players going for them in two.
More generally - I like that Rory McIlroy has stated publicly that he feels the ball should be “throttled back” (reducing its distance) for professionals.
P.S. - I think we’re standing on the same lawn.
We Kansas residents can only chuckle at the wind complaints. We generally do not play when it is over 30 mph but the "normal" conditions out here on the prairie are winds of 15-25. The other day we watched our 8th grade grandson play in their opening meet in 30-40 mph winds-with gusts over 50. That the 100+ kids playing in the event never batted an eye tells this little story. Just enjoy the game and do your best.
@outside: high winds definitely make the game more challenging.
My wife and I play a lot of golf and the last couple years we have stayed on North Padre Island for the month of March. It is crazy windy down there, very similar to you in Kansas. Makes me appreciate the conditions back home!!
I think you’re the one up at Bowen Lake, right? I happened to have a magical afternoon at North Kent today.
Grampy, a lot of golf left - I think it’s probably 60% that Koepka or Rahm win. As you accurately point out - strength is critical for play in these conditions, and both players are strong.
It would be great to see Bennett (amateur) do well.
As much as I enjoy the Masters for the great golf, the course itself is stunning in its beauty, a botanical garden this time of year.
Blue, I’m not sure if you’ve been to a Masters. I have been fortunate to be there - and, it’s just spectacular.
That it is.
The Masters/Augusta National is one of the top sports venues I've ever visited in person, having walked the entire course during the practice round 32 years ago. The beauty of that course is unreal, the history of the course is 2nd to very few sports shrines, the overall experience is unlike any other.
Two buddies and I went with a plan that day and carried it out almost to perfection: find a prime spot for the first couple hours and stay there, then walk the entire course but stop again to get the best possible viewing for a couple holes of "golf royalty" (back then it was the threesome of Player, Nicklaus, and Arnie), then complete the "walk the entire course" plan.
We arrived what we thought would be early enough to find a good spot near the 12th and hang out there for a while but a good-sized throng of fans got there first. Looking for an alternative, we retreated back to the 5th hole and found a good viewing spot.
How did you score tickets ?
Augusta National has a Masters ticket application lottery that is open in June.
Definitely challenging for the spectators:
The trees fell late on Friday - about the same time play was suspended. It’s really a blessing that no one was injured. Those trees were probably sixty feet (or more) tall.
The third round play has begun, and a little change to the format - in order to address the weather issue. Players will go off in threesomes, and - both the first and tenth tees will be used to start. They’re hoping to finish the third round today.
So, what does this mean to me? Augusta will have play on the entire course for most of the afternoon broadcast - so, all “great shots” will be shown by the CBS crew. And, if you haven’t checked out the www.Masters.org web site - it provides very good coverage and should be available now - before network coverage resumes.
Pimento cheese sandwiches? Gimme a break...
Dude, tradition. I also hear they're cheap, like the cheapest food you'll ever find at a professional sporting event,
Good point Wendy 👍. I've heard that all of the concessions are reasonably priced and that excessive drinking and rowdiness is not tolerated!!
You heard correctly, neighbor BLUE.
Food and drink there was amazingly inexpensive when I visited back in '91. Beers were so much cheaper that it was clearly noticable that some patrons took advantage and got quite inebriated; we even saw one literally passed out in a wooded area alongside a fairway, and another in a restroom hugging the porcelain. I've since heard that about a decade later they put a lid on such unruly misbehavior.
One of the main deterrents that prevented us from over-imbibing that day was we knew doing so would interfere with time better spent enjoying the golf, the course, the beautiful weather, and the overall experience when heading to the concessions (and especially extra trips to the restrooms).
Instead, we did our partying afterwards at a restaurant and nearby bar. Helluva hangover the next day, as I recall.
I still have a few treasured souvenirs from the visit, including a ball marker and a green Masters ball cap (other than a couple St Paddy's Day t-shirts, the only green apparel I own).
Can confirm
I was just there Wednesday and the sandwiches on the course are still $1.50
I was incredibly fortunate to be at Berckmans Place this time, so I did a bit better than pimento cheese… :-)
Only been to two practice rounds, one through the lottery and scalped the other the same trip. Can confirm the food and merchandise is as reasonable there as you can find anywhere. In addition to the best field in the world of golf, a fabulous course in amazing condition, and botanical gardens, they really treat "the patrons" very well there. Love watching it on TV. Should be a great finish again today.
Go to pretty much any sporting event in Europe. Also dirt cheap. Ripping off fans is purely an American thing.
Not only is it a delicious classic, but the entire menu is delicious and more reasonably priced than most high school concession stands these days.
I remember eating those as a kid. Was a nice treat. My guess is it's a southern thing (family from Texas and I lived much of my pre-college life in the South), but I honestly don't know for sure.
It's an acquired taste...
'Bout time those southern schools have to play in the elements....
Cantlay not finding the conditions difficult.
And he’s from the LBC, so not like he group up playing in it, lol.
BRUTAL!! Kept thinking about the "patrons" who paid a bundle and have to watch in those conditions. Guess we know the top seller in the merch tent.
If you are stupid enough to pay to go to a golf event - you deserve this...
I’ll play in February if there’s no snow on the ground so no sympathy for me for the conditions.
I often find the pros a bit pampered (sight line and “temporary structure” relief) so it’s fun to watch them in crappy conditions.
Same. In West Michigan this year I have already played standard outdoor rounds in January, February, March, and already 2 rounds in April.
Never understood that mentality. Those obstructions wouldn’t be there if you or I were playing, so why shouldn’t they get relief.
Also, they’re trying to play with standing water. If you have to chip a 10-foot putt, it’s unplayable.
The Masters is an over-produced piece of rain drenched garbage this year. Listening to the announcers, you would think that these golfers are "heros" for playing in the wet conditions.
But the talent of these young golfers is unreal..
When the masters breaks the seal and lets players talk on the phone or earbuds or whatever during warmups and on the course, you know that golf is…changing.
Koepka's a lock. The only drama is whether LIV players who aren't already qualified for next season's Masters will finish in the top 12.
Tiger falling apart now. Hurts me to see it.
It will be interesting to see him on the senior tour. Is it the "walking the course" that is such an issue for him or is his leg such a mess that he's about done as a competitive-in-majors golfer regardless.
Have a feeling he won't play the senior tour. His body isn't going to get better in the next 3 years.
Looks like play is suspended due to the cold wet conditions. Trying to complete the tournament tomorrow is going to be challenging. Some players will have to play 30 holes.
I am all for the players being challenged but this sucks ass. One of my favorite sporting events if they year and the weather is just killing it.
Masters highlights from yesterday and today look like scenes from Caddyshack when the priest went out to golf nine in a light shower that would blow over.
Va, and - in this morning’s broadcast, they said - “the heavy stuff isn’t going to come down for a while.”
....."your Excellency"
The third round of The Masters will resume play on Sunday at 8:30 am EDT - with a broadcast on CBS. There will be a lot of golf on Sunday - the leaders were on their 7th hole when play was suspended - and every player has at least five holes to play / finish.
I think the course will play long - and I don’t think there’s anything groundskeepers with the greens to prevent them from being receptive.
Enjoy!
CBS really dropped the ball on live coverage, there was about 20 minutes of coverage before the stoppage in play. The leaders teeing off without live coverage is absurd.