Go Time

I like what they did with the Par-3 Contest, how about you?  We kid because we love....

Today's "Of Course He Did" Item:  DJ has never been considered the sharpest knife in the drawer, but this may be a new low:

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Masters favorite Dustin Johnson is on the clock, facing a 2:03 p.m. Thursday tee time at Augusta National after a serious fall injured his lower back

Wednesday afternoon. 

It remains uncertain if Johnson, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, will be able to play this weekend. 

“At roughly 3pm today, Dustin took a serious fall on a staircase in his Augusta rental home,” said Johnson’s manager, David Winkle of Hambric Sports, in a statement. “He landed very hard on his lower back and is now resting, although quite uncomfortably. He has been advised to remain immobile and begin a regiment of anti-inflammatory medication and icing with the hope of being able to play.”

No doubt lots of pool entries started with him, so all I can say is Na-Na....

The good news is that he was scheduled to go in the last group of the day, allowing plent of time for the physios to do their magic... The bad news?  Guys with balky backs just love playing in the wind....

Members of the gallery will be given this badge:

That's one military for which forced conscription is unnecessary....

With malice toward none, I eagerly await the play in today's winds:

Jordan Spieth had a compass out as he played the second nine during his Tuesday

preparation at Augusta National – and not because he didn’t know where he was going.

With westerly winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour – gusting to 30 to 40 mph – forecast for the first round Thursday, the 2015 Masters champion was just trying to be ready for the possibly extreme conditions. 

“It will certainly affect the opportunities on 13, 15 and 16,” Spieth said. “It’ll make a significant difference there on the back nine.” 

If the wind blows as predicted Thursday and Friday – when the forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s in the morning and west-northwest wind from 15 to 20 mph, gusting up to 30 mph – the strong breeze will be a huge factor starting at the first hole, which runs uphill to the west.

Jordan is legitimately to young to have heard that you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows... Folks are inevitably comparing this to 2007 (Zach) and 1956, when Jackie Burke, Jr. somehow through up a 71 in very harsh Sunday conditions.  The issue this year is that they could be out there for six hours, with the amateurs and former champions needing to hole out eighteen times.  Thank God Ben isn't playing this year....

My biggest laugh last nigh was when Aaron Oberholser applied his vast intellect to identify holes that would be most effected, and essentially came up with three that will be effectively downwind.  Really, Aaron, so none of the eighteen are into the fan?  Curious, that....

I haven't spent any time over a course map, but a couple of spots come to mind....  No. 12 of course, because that's a bear in almost any wind and at a length where it's really hard to stay under the wind.  Oh, and not too many places to set your ball down....  But I'm looking forward to seeing the guys on No. 15 as well...  Into the breeze it isn't going to be very reachable, and that third shot from a downhill lie is terrifying without the wind...  the only saving grace is that the place will be soft....

You'd have to think that those going early have an advantage...  not only are the winds suppose to strengthen through the day, but hour-by-hour those winds will dry the place out and firm it up.

One does like to see a player keep his sense of humor:

Jordan Spieth sure looked comfortable talking about Augusta National's 12th hole on Tuesday. He looked even more at ease playing the famed par 3. 

Spieth stuck his approach shot to tap-in range to draw a loud early-week Masters roar. And he knew just what to say to get a different kind of reaction from the patrons. 

"It was about that far (indicating a foot), I turned to the crowd and said, 'I really could have used that one about 12 months ago' to some significant laughter," Spieth said.

That hole is always pretty easy....on Tuesday.

Funny, this is mostly how I look listening to the guy on the left:

They didn't get their chance to go mano a mano in the Par-3 contest....

OK, I've kept you in suspense long enough....  here's to entry page for Yale "Bluto" Stogel's Masters pool:

There's a few names missing on the lower right, but unless Sandy Lyle is your guy you'll get the drill...

Bearing in mind that I remain the '62 Mets of Fantasy Golf, my picks were:

1. Spieth
2. Reed
3. Rafa
4. Fleetwood
5. Fisher
6. Kjeldsen

Spieth is an accommodation to the wind on Thursday and Friday.  The pick was made before the DJ news broke, but obviously it's likely that there will be a high premium on scrambling.  Reed is the pick that will undoubtedly tank my roster, as he's never played well there as a pro, despite extensive time on the course as a collegian.  Tyrrell Hatton would be great pick, but not in Tier 2....(same with Alex Noren).  I would have preferred to take two from the last group, as nothing in Tier 5 seems very appetizing....

But there you have it, let the ridicule flow.  Oh, and enjoy the week....