The Masters

[bdtex]

Getting a thread started now. The tournament begins this Thursday. A lot of players that competed in The Houston Open last weekend said the course there is great preparation for the Masters. 4 past Major winners finished in the top-10. Victor Hovland won the Valspar Championship the weekend before. Rory McIlroy won The Players Championship and some other past Major winners played well there. Brian Harman leads by 3 going into the final round of the Valero Texas Open. He won The Open Championship in 2023 and has played well in major championships for the past several years.

A lot of PGA players are playing well now. 12 LIV players are in The Masters field. Not sure how well any of them are playing now, but at least 4-5 of them are still in the prime of their careers.

Got a new tv in my bedroom yesterday. I seldom watch TV but I plan to watch some of The Masters this coming week. There's a few guys I'd love to see play well and win it next week. No predictions though. Too many guys playing well now.

 

[MarathonMike]

Getting a thread started now. The tournament begins this Thursday. A lot of players that competed in The Houston Open last weekend said the course there is great preparation for the Masters. 4 past Major winners finished in the top-10. Victor Hovland won the Valspar Championship the weekend before. Rory McIlroy won The Players Championship and some other past Major winners played well there. Brian Harman leads by 3 going into the final round of the Valero Texas Open. He won The Open Championship in 2023 and has played well in major championships for the past several years.

A lot of PGA players are playing well now. 12 LIV players are in The Masters field. Not sure how well any of them are playing now, but at least 4-5 of them are still in the prime of their careers.

Got a new tv in my bedroom yesterday. I seldom watch TV but I plan to watch some of The Masters this coming week. There's a few guys I'd love to see play well and win it next week. No predictions though. Too many guys playing well now.

Good summary. I'll be curious to see if any of the LIV guys finish in the top 5. Jon Rahm only has two wins on the LIV tour. Brian Harmon has one of my favorite swings on tour but his lack of length hurts him at Augusta. Does Rory get the Masters monkey off of his back? He might but he would do well to go into Brooks Koepka mode and not be so chatty with the Press.

 

[odanny]

We will see if some of the LIV guys can make it through 4 rounds of golf, they are at a disadvantage because they are used to playing 3.

Guys like Bryson, Jon Rahm and Koepka should be challenging up till around Saturday, we will see if any stay in contention. I love watching the Masters, it's my favorite tournment of the year.

 

[okfine]

I'd rather watch paint dry.

 

[bdtex]

Good summary. I'll be curious to see if any of the LIV guys finish in the top 5. Jon Rahm only has two wins on the LIV tour. Brian Harmon has one of my favorite swings on tour but his lack of length hurts him at Augusta. Does Rory get the Masters monkey off of his back? He might but he would do well to go into Brooks Koepka mode and not be so chatty with the Press.

With the way a lot of past Major winners are playing now, I think it's going to be real hard for anyone to break through with their first major championship next week. Even guys who's last major championship win was years ago like Keegan Bradley and Lucas Glover are playing well.

 

[Manonthestreet]

The Masters never disappoints

 

[bdtex]

I'd rather watch paint dry.

Enjoy yourself then

 

[bdtex]

Caught some of the final round of the Valero Texas Open today. Brian Harman lead by 3 at the start of the day and won by 3. Conditions were tough. We've had high and dry winds all across Texas today. In the middle of the round Harman was only up by 1 and proceeded to make some crucial par putts while others dropped shots. To me it helps legitimize his Open Championship win in 2023. I hope he plays well at the upcoming Masters.

 

[MarathonMike]

Brian Harmon's 4th win, and that course was brutal today. 30 mph gusts and temps in the 50s, not fun. He's a grinder and a great ball striker. He just gives away too many yards off the tee at the Masters.

 

[odanny]

There are 5 players who have won the Grand Slam of majors in the PGA:

Jack, Tiger, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen.

Rory will join this elite group if he wins on Sunday, and he has been playing well, 2 wins this season (Scottie has none)

Spieth can also join this club if he wins the PGA Championship this year. I still wonder why this guy flamed out after his historic collapse at Augusta. Is that why? He was so good for such a short time.

 

[MarathonMike]

He had 3 wins in 2017 including The Open. I think I remember him getting an injury that affected his swing and his confidence after 2017 but I could be wrong about that.

 

[odanny]

Spieth was the second youngest golfer (behind Tiger) to win the Masters, his first major, in 2015. His -18 tied the course record (1997, Tiger) at the Masters. He then wins the 2015 U.S. Open and was the youngest champ there since 1923 (Bobby Jones)

Jordan Spieth - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Rory is playing some of the best golf of his career, the pressure is on this year. Everything sets up nicely this year with his momentum, heard someone say today that the old Rory of taking unnecessary risks is gone and that will help him in the Masters.

 

[DGS49]

Don't discount Phil Mickelson. The course favors Lefties and he has been structuring his play and preparation this Spring to be in top form for this week.

Golf is unpredictable (since Tiger retired), and the usual story is the top five or so will be in contention on Sunday, plus someone who comes out of the blue. If either McIlroy or Scheffler wins, nobody will be surprised. LOTS of people will be pulling for Jordan Speith to get his game right for once.

My watching pattern is to tune in for the last hour of coverage on Thursday and Friday, a little bit more on Saturday, and I will keep tabs on all the action on Sunday. I hope the weather doesn't fuck it up.

 

[bdtex]

My watching pattern is to tune in for the last hour of coverage on Thursday and Friday, a little bit more on Saturday, and I will keep tabs on all the action on Sunday. I hope the weather doesn't fuck it up.

Except for Friday, the weather forecast is good for the tournament. Might be some rain on Friday. So many guys are playing well right now.

 

[MarathonMike]

Watch out for Jordan. His driver has been his only problem and that doesn't matter as much at Augusta. Plus he is sneaky long now with that magician's short game we all marvel at.

 

[bdtex]

He had 3 wins in 2017 including The Open. I think I remember him getting an injury that affected his swing and his confidence after 2017 but I could be wrong about that.

He won the Valero Texas Open in 2021 and the RBC Heritage in 2022. He lost in a playoff in 2023 at the RBC Heritage. He has 18 second place finishes and 11 third place finishes in his career. He has battled a wrist injury on and off since 2018. He's still only 31 years old.

 

[MarathonMike]

65 yr old Freddie Couples shoots a great 1 under round! I hope he can follow it up and make the cut.

 

[bdtex]

Rain in the forecast overnight at Augusta. Morning groups tomorrow should have some scoring opportunities.

 

[MarathonMike]

Has there ever been any multiple major champion as disliked as Brooks Koepka? Dude has FIVE MAJORS and they've barely mentioned him today. I'm not a fan either but give the guy some respect. They've talked way more about John Rahm.

 

[Blaster]

Has there ever been any multiple major champion as disliked as Brooks Koepka? Dude has FIVE MAJORS and they've barely mentioned him today. I'm not a fan either but give the guy some respect. They've talked way more about John Rahm.

Brooks and Mickelson are disliked by golf analysts for bailing to the LIV league.