We've got it all for you today, everything from a flora and fauna report to an endangered species sighting... strap yourselves in.
Elvis is in the Building - As they used to say about Tricky Dicky, He's Tan, Rested and Ready.... He's on the property, he's got his groove on and maybe he just needed a hug:.
Each year, on cue, the azaleas bloom, the patrons gather and the hills pop with emerald
Why so serious, big guy? green. And despite injuries, indifferent play and an inexplicable short-game swoon in recent years, the clock also appeared turned back for Tiger Woods on Monday, as he turned in the kind of round one would expect from the four-time Masters champion.
In a relaxed practice round, Woods played the outward loop in a loosely scored 3 under par, although counting up a score seemed to take a backseat to creating some momentum heading into his first event since withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open with a tight back in February.
This sounds like that Woods guy we used to know:
It was vintage Tiger. A drive blown almost into the ninth fairway at the first followed by an approach shot to 3 feet for birdie. A deft chip (that’s right, deft chip) to a foot at the third for another. A wedge that spun to 3 feet at the seventh for birdie.
Obviously doing it on Monday is not the same as doing it on a day that begins with an "S", but it's a start. Everything looked good, per Steve DiMeglio:
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Arriving at the Augusta National Golf Club's practice range at 3:25 p.m. Monday, Tiger Woods immediately ignited an electric current that quickly circulated throughout the grounds.
In his first public appearance since going on hiatus Feb. 11, Woods played 11 holes in front of massive crowds that stayed around on a hot, muggy Southern day. He hit nearly six dozen chip shots on two chipping greens at the end of the range, giving nary a hint of the short-game problems that plagued him earlier this year and sent the four-time Masters champ away from the PGA Tour for nine weeks in search of form.
He looked relaxed. He looked fit. He looked strong.
And he didn't look afraid standing over a chip shot.
And it gets even better, as he was as comfortable with his jargon as with his wedges:
"It's been a process," Woods said about his nine weeks away from the game. "But I'm on the good side now."Asked about the difficulty in making the decision to play the Masters this week, Woods said: "It's a progression. I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament, and it's finally there."
He just needs some reps to get back his golf feels.... I need a Tiger-speak auto-fill feature. He did give us this iota of actual information:
After his opening birdie, Woods tossed a two balls short of the green to work on his chipping. He hit 14 chips - two balls each from various hollows around the green to different pin positions. Most looked reasonable. Some looked good.
"Chipping was fine," Woods said. "I wanted to test out some wedges out here. That's why I was chipping a little bit more - a couple different bounce settings, because it's a little bit different than Florida. We figured the right one out."
But perhaps the biggest buzz was about Tiger warming up with earbuds in, something we haven't seen before. Just a reminder folks, it's a new sponsor and when all is said and done, business is business.
It's a Threeball - The King will be there:
"I will be there," Palmer said by phone Monday from his office at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando. "I am getting myself ready."
I figured he'd have one swing in him, despite the shoulder issues that have him skipping the Par-3. But Arnie, let's not get overly-competitive....just bunt one down the fairway, don't be trying to blow it past jack as per your usual. Don't you just love how competitive these guys still are with each other?
Shack, Floradated - Geoff, who is on site, updates us on the dreariness that is ANGC:
Right on cue the White Dogwood is in all its spring glory. But I bring good news to those expecting some Masters color and not getting their fix the last few years due to oddball winters: the azaleas are on their way, already creating a grand setting at Amen Corner with more color to come. Weather permitting.
An explosion would be fitting, as the club's longtime horticulturalist, Tommy Crenshaw, is retiring. He's been working for the club since 1979. Let the flowers bloom for Tommy!
They've probably had them packed in ice for the last few weeks... but of course the pictures are great:
That last one is the crowd watching Rory on No. 13.
The Secret Thoughts of Tour Pros - ESPN conducted an anonymous poll of 103 Tour pros with amusing and occasionally surprising results. For instance, when asked whether Tiger would win another major:
They don't fully explicate, but I gather that the polling was done over an extended period, and the guys that saw him in Phoenix and Torrey understandably were far more pessimistic.
This is no doubt the query (or rather the responses) that will provoke the most comment:
When we twisted the arms of pros on the topic of whom they wouldn't help in a fistfight, the reigning Masters champion stood out from the rest of his peers. By a lot.
_______ is in a fight in the parking lot. You're not helping him.
Similar to the Tiger question, I'd like a pre- and post-Sony breakout of the Allenby vote...
This one I think is a lagging indicator, as he appears to have improved quite a bit:
Which pro needs to get the first slow-play stroke penalty in 20 years?
Ben, on the other hand still plays at the speed of paint drying, but at least has a sense of humor about it.
Shopping List - Shack traditionally spends some time in the merchandise tents at these events, and adds seven items to his Santa list:
 |
 |
 |
Things no doubt changed from a small invitational in 1934 to modern times, and Billy at that point had missed fifteen consecutive cuts. But I'd love to see what was redacted in that first graph, wouldn't you?
On a related note, in last weeks' Tour Confidential the panelists were bemoaning what's become of the Par-3 contests, most wishing it would return to it's roots as an actual competition where players tried to post scores. I agree that the televised coverage has become a joke, but one of the writers had an interesting suggestion, to have the Par-3 event only for former champions. Now I wasn't clear if his thought was all former champions or just those that have aged out of the main tournament, but discuss among yourselves....
Wasn't Going With Him Either - I've already been devastated by having to take Ben Crenshaw off my list of Masters' picks, now comes this body blow:
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Ian Poulter has played in 10 Masters but has not found the rightcombination coming into the week to play his best. This year, he thinks he might have the answer.
“I think I've tried it several ways to try and prepare for this week, none of which have worked,” Poulter said before his Monday afternoon practice round at Augusta National Golf Club. “I've had two weeks off. I've played in the run‑in. I've been here previous years early to prepare. I've tried all sorts of things. So one thing I haven't tried before was go to Bahamas for a nice week off before a solid week of practice. So we'll give that one a try this year.”
I'm sorry, but what's the evidence that that's NOT his best golf? Were you watching when he sniffed the lead at the Honda?
This and That - It appears that it's a late start to the golf season in Michigan:
Well, firm and fast provides the best test of skill.
I finally found a version of the Tiger/Rory Nike ad that I can embed, for those of you too lazy to click through:
Unfortunately this one I can't embed, but it's a view of Tiger's famous 2005 16th hole chip-in from the front of the green that I haven't seen before. The best part is watching Tiger himself as it's tracking, stopping and ultimately dropping....
And in the "Damn, I jumped too soon" category comes this news:
Ping is offering 5000 limited edition pink G30 drivers just in time for the Masters.
The club is inspired by the model used by two-time champion Bubba Watson, and $60 from the sale of each driver will go directly to the Bubba Watson Foundation. The pink G30 drivers are available for pre-order today through authorized Ping retailers for a suggested retail price of $550.Not only is the driver pretty cool looking, but how about this headcover?
Admittedly, pink isn't really my color...
No comments:
Post a Comment