For me, this is greatest single week in GOLF
…ladies and gentlemen, “Welcome to the 2011 masters"
Let’s not even start the debate as to what the greatest MAJOR is…because this week, the Greatest MAJOR is being played in Augusta, Georgia hidden behind in impenetrable stand of trees and heavy growth. You would (as I nearly did) drive past it if you weren’t looking close. The entrance is a simple hut, with a small sign that says, Member’s Only. You can have breakfast a block away at the IHOP (International House of Pancakes) – but, you can’t go in. And I have only been as close as this…
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It’s on my bucket list!
This year may be the most “open” Masters (on paper) ever. There are too many guys capable of winning; capable being the key word – physically capable is one thing and mentally capable is something else (speaking of Els, yes I will be rooting for him again as usual).
Jack Nicklaus celebrates the 25th Anniversary of his dramatic victory in 1986 when he shot an amazing 30 on the back nine to capture his 6th Green Jacket! 50 years ago, Gary Player put on his 1st Green Jacket - FANTASTIC MEMORIES!
Last year, standing in the pine straw under the trees on the right of 13, Phil Mickelson looked at his caddy, “Bones” and said something like “I am taking six-iron at the flag and I will win the tournament today.” Bones reflected that he his house was paid for by caddying for Mickelson, and at this point, who was he to argue! Lefty hit it to 4-feet and the roar could be heard around the world– no, I’m sorry; that would be referencing Gene Sarazen’s double-eagle (albatross) – Read on…
| The Greatest Shot in Golf History Despite his well-earned reputation as a finisher, being down 3 with 4 to play at Augusta National is never an enviable position to be in. Still, Sarazen whacked his drive on the 15th straight down the fairway where it came to rest about 235 yards from the pin. At 5-5 and 145 pounds Sarazen wasn’t a big man by any means. But he was known for a compact and ferocious swing that gave him great distance. So, with his 2nd shot, Sarazen stepped up and lashed a 4-wood straight at the pin. As if it had eyes, the ball rolled across the green and finally dropped for a double eagle – the rarest score in golf. With one mighty wallop, Wood’s lead was erased. The pair finished their round tied, forcing a 36-hole playoff. From there, though, the outcome was never in doubt. The Squire won the playoff easily by 5 shots for the last Major title of his career. |
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Although he would later call the shot “lucky,” Sarazen’s spectacular double eagle captured the public’s imagination. The media popularized it as the “Shot Heard Round the World” and the Masters gained enough attention to lock it in as a true 4th Major.
Whether it was luck, skill or a bit of both, Gene Sarazen’s amazing double eagle put the Masters on the map and is still regarded by many as golf’s greatest single shot.
…back to Mickelson! He went on the Masters last year, and most of us were up to watch it.
You see, what makes the Masters so special is the fact that it is played on the same course, and, until golf balls started going so far, it was played on a course that was primarily unchanged for all of those years. It was “Tiger-ized after he demolished the field a few years back – made longer and longer. But regardless of the length they play, it’s the Masters at Augusta.
One of my favorite golfers of all time is Ben Crenshaw. I watched him win the Texas State OPEN three weeks after I started my first job in Texas at Horseshoe Bay (in 1980)! I think he shot 63 to win…it was awesome. A year later, I opened the Ramrock Course in HSB and he came and played the course…amazing day! Later, when at Houston Country Club, he came, after his win in 1984 to tell “the story” to my juniors in summer camp…it was really cool! Then, in 1995, when I was working at Fancourt, one of my real teaching mentors, Harvey Penick, passed away. Ben, after a call from U of Texas teammate, Tom Kite, flew from Augusta to Austin for the funeral. When he returned, he repeated history.
I can still see Ben Crenshaw’s amazing putt on the 10th hole that led to his first victory in 1984.
| I found a great interview with Ben Crenshaw in GOLFER magazine… The highlight of your final round in '84 was the 60-footer you made at No. 10. Your dad, Charlie, later said of that round: "I'm glad the old friendly hand was on Ben. It just guided him through there." Did you feel an external force at work? That's a wonderful way to put it. I have always believed in fate and destiny. The golf in major championships is so difficult and so high strung and players are trying so hard to win that some little unexpected turn can change everything. Mentally, you can't believe what a lift that gives you. You feel like you can get through this thing. I think some of those things are unexplainable and are part of the fascination of golf and sports. The emotional win in 1995… |
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Your second Masters win, in '95, was emotional because you won it a week after the death of your mentor, Harvey Penick. How did that win compare to your first?
I had a great sense of relief in '84, but '95 was surreal. I played so well that week. I had no extemporaneous thoughts about my mechanics because I had hit on something with the help of Carl Jackson [Crenshaw's longtime caddie]. Carl told me to move the ball back in my stance and take a tighter turn in my shoulders. I started hitting the ball right in the middle of the clubface, and my confidence grew just like that.
When did you hear that Harvey had died?
I was at Augusta, on the Sunday night before the tournament. I was having dinner with Jack Stephens [then the Augusta National chairman], and Tom Kite called me. I had to make a plan to go back. We knew it was going to happen sometime, but I had always hoped not to be away from Austin when it happened.
You must have figured you wouldn't be able to focus on golf that week.
I know, but after the funeral service, we accepted it as well as we could. I remember when I got back to Augusta on Wednesday I wanted to try this little deal again. I continued hitting the ball well on those couple of swing thoughts. That first day I posted a good score [70], and that helped me quite a bit. I don't know what possessed me to play so well that week — I still don't know. But it lasted most of the week, and I will always be so happy that I got to do something for Harvey's memory.
Yes, folks…it’s The Masters!
Join us this weekend for golf and then watch the golf! Members, you will be competing in the first MAJOR of the year, as well. Saturday is the qualifier for the 2011 Champion of Champions – finals at Pearl Valley!
The Supersport broadcast times for the tournament this week:
Thurs, April 7 – Day 1 - 20h30–01h30 (SSHD); 21h00–01h30 (SS1
Fri, April 8 – Day 2 – 20h30–01h30 (SSHD); 21h00–01h30 (SS1);
Sat, April 9 – Day 3 – 21h00–01h00 (SSHD); 21h30–01h00 (SS1)
Sun, April 10 – Day 4 - 19h30–01h00 (SSHD); 19h30–01h00 (SS1)
Regards,
Jeff
Jeff
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