18 Thoughts/Opinions/Facts on The Masters

1. The initial Augusta National Invitation Tournament (as it was known for its first five editions) held in 1934 featured a course with the nines reversed from the order we know today. There is an entire volume of background as to why that was the case and what led to the current routing. Suffice to say, the idea of Amen Corner being in your rear view mirror after roughly an hour of play sounds almost sinful. I wouldn’t however be opposed to the 9th being the closing hole rather than 18 but that is splitting hairs.

2. If given a badge to attend a Masters Sunday, I would walk there if I had to. The only thing in life left I really want to do is see that place in living color and its almost certainly not in the cards. But I would only do it ONCE. Any other day of the Tournament I would go every day but Sunday I would prefer TV where I can actually see what is going on. I find it amazing how many people attend pro golf events of any kind including Majors. No other sport provides a worse live viewing experience in my opinion.

3. Lee Trevino infamously disliked ANGC, thrice declining invitations, which he tacitly blamed on racism and a very real dislike for Clifford Roberts. At the time, Trevino blamed the course insisting it didn’t fit his game which depended on a low bread and butter fade. Over time, the “low” part has been ignored as the conventional wisdom has always been that ANGC favors the right to left player. I’ll address that next but specific to Trevino his shot trajectory was far more impactful to his results there than shot shape. You have to be able to hit the ball over the moon at that place to hold those greens.

4. Does a player who draws the ball have an advantage? Off the tee, there are clearly holes where right to left is preferable. Notably 2, 5, 9, 10, 13, and 14. But its not every hole and those are only tee shots I am talking about above. Like with anything the player who can work it both ways is a step ahead (Bubba Watson comes to mind). And besides the most successful player in Augusta history played a cut—one Jack Nicklaus. Fred Couples is another. Ben Hogan. The key, as stated, is hit the ball a mile high on approaches. Finally, hardly any pro draws the ball off the tee any more. That is due to modern driver design and the margin of error being lower with a fade. This is an old talking point that can be retired.

5. I believe Augusta is a second shot golf course now. That may have always been the case and I am happy for any true historian to educate me on this. But it really seems to be more pronounced than it was when I was a kid. The big hitter will always be a factor because of the par 5’s. But proximity to the flag is paramount. For that reason, I expect the following fringy players to be in contention on Sunday aside from Scottie Scheffler: Shane Lowry, Tony Finau, Corey Conners, and Will Zalatoris in no particular order.

6. As for the LIV exhibition players, there are a few who could win. Only three players have repeated so for that reason I eliminate Rahm. Koepka obviously could be your champion. Cam Smith? Nah. As far as Mickeloil, that 2nd place last year was a mirage. He backdoored it and never had a prayer of actually winning. I’ll be surprised if he makes the cut. Which is too bad for the people he owes money to. DeChumpbeau’s best finish here is 29th and he MC’d the last two years. Dustin Johnson could possibly find a second wind. Joaquin Niemann is probably their best hope outside of Koepka. Oh wait, Tyrrell Hatton could win. I forgot he defected. Adrian Meronk I really don’t know a thing about. Patrick Reed is 33 and should be in his prime. Its being wasted on that “tour” but with his short game I definitely would not be shocked if he picked up another here. The other three (Garcia, Watson, and Schwartzel) are washed up ceremonial players now.

7. Putting at Augusta is in a similar category to right to left players have an advantage in Masters lore. Johnny Miller once said they should change the name to the Augusta National Putting Contest. Johnny also said they oughta go back to Bermuda greens because the speeds now are untenable and with Bermuda the players would be challenged by having to read grain (that is completely over my head but I remember reading it and thought it was wild as hell so I put it in here). Anyway, it is hard to imagine a mediocre putter, let alone a bad one, winning here. BUT THEY HAVE. Several in fact including recently. The aforementioned Scottie Scheffler for one (who granted wasn’t on the struggle bus anything like he is now). Sergio Garcia. Bubba Watson (twice). Adam Scott who admittedly probably doesn’t even win without the broom handle. Trevor Immelman is another. Turning back the clock a bit you had Bernhard Langer (also twice). Ben Hogan who hated putting so much he proposed eliminating it from the game. And so on. Again—Approaches matter most of all, then length at AGNC.

8. Speaking of putting Jordan Spieth (who by rights oughta have three green jackets already) rode the lighting of an electric putter to three quick Major Championships. Even then, his ballstriking was, um, shall we say, Mickelsonian. And when your putter is repeatedly bailing you out it’s the kind of thing that rarely lasts. What eventually happens is that poor iron play ramps up the pressure even further on the flatstick and elite results, particularly under Major pressure is not sustainable. Currently, Spieth’s irons are a wreck not improving at all since the Ryder Cup fiasco. I think Jordan will get another Major one day, probably even here. But it’s not going to happen this week.

9. A primary storyline for several years now has been whether Rory McIlroy can complete the career Grand Slam. Perhaps because of the professional golf split or maybe because of my full attention on college basketball for the first time in 30 years, I haven’t noticed the noise around this like usual. Whatever the case, close but no cigar at these Majors can take on a life of their own (Examples: Greg Norman at ANCG plus Lee Trevino as previously discussed, Sam Snead and FIGJAM at the US Open, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson at the PGA Championship). This will be Rory’s 16th Masters as a competitor. The only player with more starts who finally secured a win was Sergio Garcia on his 19th try. Mark O’Meara did it on his 15th attempt. It feels like McIlroy is running out of time. In fact it says here he is out. Another Rory Fun Fact—he signed an NLI to attend ETSU (where it is rumored I was awarded a degree despite attending roughly 25% of my classes. And that is charitable) at age 15 but later backed out of it and stayed in Europe

10. Statistics most interesting to me:

    A. There have been 5 wire to wire winners, the last being Jordan Spieth in 2015.

    B. The highest opening round score for a player who went on to win was 75 by Craig Stadler in 1982. He won in a playoff over Dan Pohl finishing at -4.

    C. The average age of Masters winners is 32 years old. If betting, might be worth a flyer on: Hideki Matsuyama, Stewart Hagestad (He’s an Amateur, ignore that one), Patrick Cantlay, Corey Conners, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Schenk, and Byeong Hun An who are all 32.

    D. All four Par 3’s have surrendered hole in ones. The 4th hole which is the longest only one. Next is 12 with three then hole 6 with a matching six. Unsurprisingly 16 has been the most assaulted with an absurd 24, including back to back aces by Padraig Harrington and Kirk Triplett in the final round of 2004. There were none in 2023.

    E. The lowest final round is a 64 accomplished 8 times. Of the eight, only Gary Player converted it into a victory in 1978 overcoming a 7 shot deficit to the 54 hole leader Hubert Green who shot a 72.

    F. There have been 17 playoffs out of 87 Tournaments, ~20%. The last was in 2017 so we are pretty close to due on that. In Nick Faldo’s back to back wins in ‘89/’90, both were in Sudden Death over Scott Hoch and Raymond Floyd respectively.

    G. The lowest scoring average with at least 25 rounds played belongs to Jon Rahm at 70.5. With more than 100 rounds played the leader is Mickelson at 71.3 narrowly edging Nicklaus at 71.98. Tiger Woods is 71.1 with 96 rounds played.

    H. The total number of times a player held the lead at any point once all golfers had concluded their rounds is surprisingly not Nicklaus but Arnold Palmer at 14 times. Jack was at 13. The player with the most times holding a lead without a victory is Justin Rose with 7.

    I. The record for most cuts made is 37 by Jack Nicklaus. I am of the belief that this is unbreakable. Mickelson has 27 and he will not get there.

    J. The worst score ever recorded on a hole is 13 and its been done three times. Once on our old friend #12 by Tom Weiskopf in 1980 when he rinsed five balls in Rae’s Creek in the opening round. Tommy Nakajima had the previous “record” making 13 on 13 in 1978. Then Sergio Garcia recently matched them in 2018 when he did his usual give up routine after misfortune hit on 15. That was also his opening round and he was the defending champion. For Sergio and Nakajima those were smooth OCTUPLE BOGEYS! Weiskopf being 10 over I don’t know what that is and I’m not bothering Google for an answer.

11. When Jack Nicklaus won his final Masters in 1986 at age 46 I was a 15 year old freshman in high school. I was an occasional viewer of golf but it wasn’t a priority and at the time I couldn’t play at all. So I don’t know what I did that Sunday afternoon but I didn’t watch it. My Dad thought so little of my fandom he didn’t even mention it. In fact I had no idea it even happened until about 4th period the next day when I heard David Mills talking about it. I swore that moment I would never miss something like that again. And I haven’t, parked on the couch every Masters Sunday since. Except for Tiger’s win in 2019 when I strangely had to work. Despite that being the most revered win since Jack’s that was fine by me.

12. It is hard to believe now as I find Greg Norman to be about as low as it goes on the scum scale (Mickeloil as well) but excluding anything Tennessee his collapse in 1996 was probably the most bitter pill I have ever swallowed as a sports fan. I mean I was full sheep for Norman. Had one of those straw hats that I thought made me look like the coolest dude ever (Editor note: It did not). But watching that unfold was like seeing someone die in quicksand. And the worst part is as unbelievable as it was you also weren’t terribly surprised and you better believe Faldo wasn’t surprised at all. We had seen this movie from Norman before just not on this scale. Now? It’s justice that he lost.

13. The following year was the Tiger Woods demolition and while I just said I haven’t missed a Masters Sunday in almost 40 years I’m sure I didn’t watch much of that mess. It was strange to me how highly rated that Masters was. I thought it was the most boring shit imaginable. Same thing at Pebble a few years later. Who wants to watch that crap? An exhibition and a coronation was all it was. It wasn’t Woods’ fault but it played a large role in why I cheered against him. I wanted to see drama and competition and him in full glory there was precious little of that happening.

14. Most memorable/impactful Masters for me since 1986:

    A. 1987—Larry Mize chip in and Norman is foiled for the 2nd year in a row.

    B. 1989—Nick Faldo’s first win after Scott Hoch (rhymes with choke—coined by Rick Reilly) handed it to him by missing a 2 footer that never touched the hole on the first playoff hole that would have won it.

    C. 1992—Fred Couples in his only Major Championship that was as popular on the property as any other ever including Arnie or Jacks in ‘86.

    D. 1996—See Above.

    E. 2004—Phil Mickelson FINALLY bucked that gorilla thrilling me to no end (SMDH). At the time I had a 4 month old in his crib and a wife who had narrowly avoided death from a brain aneurysm a few weeks prior in recovery. I needed a good day and I got one.

    F. 2010—Many years to come before Mickelson would betray everything that gave him a life we can only dream of, I was still a huge fan. The shot out of the pine straw on 13 is still the greatest shot I’ve ever seen given the stakes.

    G. 2016—Jordan Spieth was cruising to a second consecutive win. My Son likes Jordan so I was pulling for him. He had a five shot lead that was trimmed to three after bogeys on 10 and 11. Then he found the water on 12. Suddenly we had a real problem. My girlfriend at the time walked into the kitchen as he sized up his recovery from the drop area. SPLASH! “Oh my God, he hit it in there again…” I half shouted. She took a giant leap back into the room with her jaw almost literally on the floor. After the quad 7, Spieth battled back gamely with birds on 13 and 15 but it wasn’t enough and damned Danny Willett was the Champion.

15. The first green jacket was awarded in 1949 to that years winner Sam Snead, his first of three wins. My belief is that in ranking professional golfers there is Jack, Eldrick, Hogan, and Snead in that order. If you held a decathlon with the four of them Snead would win rout city. The honorary ceremonial opening tee shot hasn’t been the same since his last in 2002 at age 89. His swing that day has never been nor will ever be equaled by any 90 year old.

16. The 17th hole, which is fairly forgettable relative to its brethren, was diminished markedly when “Eisenhowers Tree” towering at 65 feet plus high had to be removed in 2014 after sustaining lethal damage in a freak ice storm. There was gravitas or at the least something meaningful when a former President from 40-50 years ago was an annual presider over the proceedings long after his passing.

17. Nothing in this world will ever be more identified with Spring and the hope of a new year like the piano and guitar tinkling of the Augusta theme. The first time I hear it, usually in a CBS March Madness promo, I am immediately reassured that 1) Yes I have incredibly survived another year and 2) I am a very lucky soul to get the two best American sporting events essentially back to back. That theme was written by Dave Loggins, BTW. Cousin of Kenny Loggins.

18. Who wins? I like a former Champion, 32 years of age, who won this year already at an event that has been a marker for success, who has his irons dialed in, and has the best short game on Tour statistically this year.

Hideki Matsuyama