The collective eyes of the world of the golf are focused on a former nursery in Augusta Georgia this week. The 73rd Masters starts this week and is jam packed with interesting storylines. All the world’s top players are ready to claim the first major of the season. A major win can change your career. A win at Augusta can
change your life. This is a major that is revered more then most. The Masters is the only major played on the same course each year so that gives Augusta more history then all the other major courses. They love their history at Augusta and every golfer will be trying to forge his own piece of history.
There are many interesting storylines at Augusta this week.
First and foremost is the possibility of a Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson duel. Both players are in good form. Tiger is healthy and has a signature win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this year. He is motivated to continue his chase of Jack Nicklaus’s major record. Phil Mickelson has already won twice this year and has been busy tweaking his game the past few weeks. He likes to work specific shots and club selection before any major. He missed the cut at the Shell Houston Open this week, but he always uses the week before a major as his own golf laboratory. It would be the match that all of golf has been dreaming about, if Phil and Tiger would be playing on Sunday together in the final pairing.
Padraig Harrington is looking to for his third consecutive major. He has a chance to continue his try at the “Paddy Slam.” He had a rough start to the season but has been rolling into form lately and looking forward to the Masters. He has three top tens at Augusta and finished tied for fifth last year. Augusta places a premium on putting and Paddy has developed into a good clutch putter.
The last two masters have been won by first time major winners, Immelman and Johnson. Could the trend continue? Sergio Garcia is third in the world and his ball striking is the best in the game. If he can find his putter this week he may break through. Paul Casey is fresh off his win last week and was at the top in driving and putting, just what Augusta demands. Rory McIlroy brings his long locks and teenage spirit to Augusta. He has won on the European Tour and has been playing well. He would be the youngest winner ever if he could find a way to tame Augusta.
The men that run the Masters always make sure that the course is pristine and the players always love the condition of the course. They are less pleased with all the changes that have been made at Augusta over the last ten years and many would rather play “the old Augusta.” If the weather cooperates and there is little rain, they can look forward to greens that roll faster than any they will see this year. Augusta never discloses the speed of the greens, but the pros say they never get slower than thirteen on the Stimpmeter and sometime are faster than that.
No matter what the first few days bring, as the old saying goes; “The Masters doesn’t start until the back nine on Sunday.”
