Augusta National Women’s Amateur – innovative but no surprise

The news today that Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) and the Masters Tournament Foundation are the founding partners in establishing the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship comes as no real surprise.

Having seen first-hand their just how much tangible support the Masters Tournament provides for not only the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, but also the Latin America Amateur Championship and the Drive Chip and Putt event, which culminated last weekend at Augusta National, has opened my eyes to the preparedness the ANGC have displayed to give back to the game.

“I think that goes back to really the inception of Augusta National,” said recently appointed ANGC Chairman Fred Ridley. “I read a lot in the past few months about things our founders said about really what our role and obligation was in the game of golf, and it’s been a consistent theme and part of our culture that we have an obligation to give back to the game.”

It would be very easy look at the amazing dollar number the Masters Tournament generates in terms of ticket and merchandising sales and broadcasting rights and wonder just where this money goes but the manner in which they support the development of the game, sometimes in many less obvious golfing regions of the world, is there for all to see.

The success of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, which is run as well as nearly any professional event this writer has attended, led then to the creation of the Latin America Amateur Championship. With little expense spared in providing a tournament experience like no others for participants, both events have been a must play event for amateurs from countries through those respective regions as a prelude to a potential professional career or as part of developing their own game or golf in such regions.

Now, another event is added to that list of events which the ANGC and the Masters Tournament support via dollars, expertise and manpower with the announcement of the inaugural event by Ridley during his media conference today ahead of this week’s first men’s major of the year.

“We certainly plan to have this event televised globally,” added Ridley. “We have not had any specific discussions with our television partners, but — as you know, we have great relationships with those television partners, and I wouldn’t be surprised to have a couple messages on my desk when I get back in a few minutes.

The Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, a 54-hole, stroke play tournament will feature an international field of 72 players. Invitees will be determined by awarding winners of other recognized championships and using the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking.

The opening two rounds are to be played at the Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans in the suburbs of Augusta in Georgia, the final round taking place on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Augusta National Golf Club.

Chairman Ridley Announces Creation of Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship

“Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts left behind a legacy of always trying to contribute meaningfully to the game of golf.”Chairman Fred Ridley announced today the establishment of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.http://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2018-04-04/2018-04-04_chairman_fred_ridley_announces_augusta_national_womens_amateur_championship.html

Posted by Masters Tournament on Wednesday, 4 April 2018

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Jordan Spieth and Augusta National – inseparable

Jordan Spieth begins this week’s Masters as the player with the hottest record in the event in recent years. Twice a winner and once runner up in his last four starts and 11th last year after being well into contention heading into the final round, Spieth’s game suits Augusta National and vice-versa.

Today, in a press conference the 24-year old spelt out his thoughts on just why he does so well at this event.

“I think this game brings out the feel aspect of my game, which is the better side of me on the golf course. It’s not a technical driving range golf course, you have a lot of uneven lies and very slopey greens, and so you have to play a lot off of feel and what that lie gives you.

“I think that that’s helped me kind of settle in and not overthink things out here and get into a nice groove, and it’s led to some success at this event.  So it is my favorite tournament in the world.  I’ve certainly made that pretty clear going back the last five years.

“So excited for this week.  Game feels good, and the golf course is looking to be already pretty firm and fast.  We’ll see how it holds with the weather that’s coming in.”

Spieth has hardly played badly this of late but until last week’s improved effort at Houston he was below his best and his 3rd place finish three days ago has him primed for his 5th appearance at Augusta National.

He is not fazed by the fact that his form in 2018 has taken a little longer to kick in.

“I feel better coming into this week than I did in 2016 and 2014 where I came off of missed cuts in Houston.  There’s a lot to be said off of the previous week, the previous week’s momentum.  And being able to work my way last week into contention and hit some putts under pressure I kind of pretended like I was tied for lead even though I figured I was a stroke or two back. I kind of wanted that “you need to make this” feeling.”

“I would say this year I’m certainly hoping that I’m approaching this as this is the beginning of the year, it’s not been the greatest start to the year of any that I’ve had.  But I kind of look at it almost in like thirds.

“You kind of get the half a dozen to ten events, you get kind of before the Masters, and then you get the Masters through kind of that U.S. Open stretch is the next third, and then you get the last two Majors and the playoffs, the FedExCup is kind of like the last third.

“So this maybe starts kind of the second ‑‑ kind of end of the first, beginning of the second, third of the season.

When asked as to how he feels as to whether this is the most anticipated Masters ever Spieth had his own thoughts but was keen to not overstate the fact.

“I think it probably is.  I think the addition of Tiger being healthy and playing well, no matter what else happened, was probably going to make it as anticipated as any going back five, six, seven years.  So that in its own.

“But then Phil winning recently, Rory winning recently, Bubba winning recently, Justin playing well, D.J. playing well, I mean, yeah, there’s just a lot of guys playing really good golf that create story lines in general.  And then when you put it at kind of the biggest stage in our sport, I think that creates that anticipation.  But for me personally, I mean, it’s just ‑‑ it doesn’t feel any different to me.”

Despite his young years Spieth has already built a special relationship with this event and vice versa and when asked how this event sits with him against the other majors he responded.

“The other Majors and other golf tournaments certainly have similar history, and The Open Championship has even more history than any other tournament.  But to be played at the same place, to have ‑‑ to play 16 and see Tiger’s chip putt in, to see Phil’s holing bunker shots on 15 for eagle, all the putts guys have made on 18 to that Sunday pin, it’s just ‑‑ and the amphitheater setup as you come up 18, it’s just like, it’s a walk that I’ll certainly never forget.

“So personally it’s a no‑brainer for me to say so.  But I don’t know why necessarily other people would feel that way.”

The love affair between Jordan Spieth and Augusta National looks set to continue this week. His is a record like no other in recent years and despite that his 12th hole demise in 2016 could well have left an indelible scar on his memory he has found a way to put that behind him and look ahead to the possibility of not just contending but winning this week.

If he does, few will be surprised.

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Jason Day looks ahead to 8th Masters Appearance

Five years after Adam Scott’s breakthrough for Australia at the Masters which in turn came nearly eighty years after the event was first played, Australian hopes at Augusta National this year appear to rely on Jason Day converting his outstanding record at Augusta National into his second major championship title and Australia’s second Green Jacket.

Day is playing the event for the 8th time having made the cut on six of those, the only time he did miss the weekend coming on his second appearance in 2012 when forced to withdraw after the opening round.

Today Day spoke to the media and reflected on his first appearance at the Masters in 2011 and just how far he has come since that amazing debut..

“Yeah, it was funny, when I first came here, I think everyone knows this story about how ‑‑ funny how it opens up the story, but I was almost close to quitting the game in 2011 when I first was a rookie coming and playing this event for the first time.

“I met my agent, Bud, and a sports psychologist, and we ended up coming up with a plan of just going out there and having fun.  I ended up finishing second.  Had a good chance of winning the Tournament, and Charl Schwartzel came home in a flurry and birdied the last four holes.

“And then in 2013 I was very close again.  Had the lead with I think three holes left and didn’t quite get it done, but Adam Scott ended up finishing and being the first Australian to win the Masters.

“Going back on it, obviously, I think the preparation is huge coming to an event like this. Being here the last ‑‑ I got here Thursday night, and I’ve been here the last few days and just been really kind of just fine-tuning things and trying to adjust.

Day has played a limited schedule to date in 2018 but when he has played he has done well but despite that he talked about his confidence levels being a little down on what they might have been in previous years although he did not seem too concerned by that aspect.

“This is probably not close to the high that I’ve had before, coming off 2015 and winning late and then obviously coming into an event where I was No. 1 in the world, I think, that was pretty high, but I just ‑‑ the last two events didn’t really pan out the way that I wanted to, especially at Bay Hill and Match Play.  Didn’t quite perform the way I wanted to.  But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

Day will play his first Masters without his long time caddy Colin Swatton but he has the benefit of Swatton’s presence in a coaching role this week and has one of his closest friends (Rika Batibasaga) on the bag.

“Yeah, I think that to a certain degree you take ownership of your actual golf game, going back with Col, he was great for the 10 years that we had, and he is still my coach.  He’s here.

“But to a certain degree I think when you have your coach on the bag, you kind of not worry but you kind of think, okay, well, he’s going to say something about this shot, so I better not play that shot, you know, after the round.  And it takes a little bit of free will to your game to let things happen.

“I think that I always get back to if it comes down to the line of me trying a shot on the last hole to win the Masters and it ends up failing, I would much rather fail in front of millions instead of failing in front of nobody.  And if I can pull it off, then great.

I think that’s what Rika will bring to this week, is a lot of fun and enjoyment.  And we’re best buds, so we’ll go out there and enjoy the time.  I think he’s going to be nervous walking down the first hole, but he should be fine.”

Day is aware for him to do well he will have to better a very much in form field.

“This is probably the top of what’s going on.  There’s just so many good players right now that can (win). Like, obviously, you look at the odds, I mean, Tiger’s probably a favorite right now, and there’s just so many guys that can play well and win.  And there’s guys that you wouldn’t even expect that you go, man, I forgot about him, and you know that he’s a great player.

“So there’s just a lot of medium‑large fish chomping at the bit.  It’s just how it is.”

Day might be flying under the radar a little given the hot form of several others but his game overall and his Augusta National record  suggest he should be a serious consideration.

Picture shows Day and Batibasaga playing a practice round together at an earlier Australian Open – now they are player /caddie

 

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The 2018 Masters – A Form Guide

The Masters captures the attention of not just the golfing world but the sporting world generally. As is so often the case with all of the great sporting events internationally, everyone, golf fans and others, become experts during tournament week and for golf that is a very good thing.

Picking a winner is never easy in tournament golf but let’s take a look at the leading chances and see if we can do just that in addition to assessing the Australian chances.

Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has a very good record at Augusta National without winning. The one remaining leg of his career Grand Slam has been tantalisingly close at times and his most recent form indicates that such a feat is not beyond him. Four top tens in his last four visits to Augusta National suggest that he has every reason to be one of the favourites if not the favourite.

Jordan Spieth
Spieth’s most recent form until last week’s impressive share of 3rd at the Houston Open has been below his best but his record at Augusta National speaks for itself. Once a winner, twice a runner-up and an 11th place finish last year after starting the final round just two from the lead is a stunning record in his four starts and so if there was a place to regain his brilliance this could well be it. Every reason to believe his great run at the Masters will continue.

Dustin Johnson
Johnson began as the Masters favourite last year although an accident on the eve of the event cost him a chance to continue what was then a great run of form to begin 2017. He has been 4th and 6th at his last two Masters appearances however and his most recent form has been good enough for him to be considered a genuine chance.

Bubba Watson
Firmed in favouritism for this week’s event with his win at the Dell Match Play which followed just a few weeks after his win at the Genesis Open. As a two-time winner of the Masters, the left hander’s game clearly fits Augusta National nicely and he now appears back playing at the level that saw him win here in 2012 and 2014.

Justin Thomas
Thomas is playing his third Masters with two midfield finishes previously and now, with the benefit of that experience at the venue, along with seven PGA Tour titles to his name in that period he should begin as one of the favourites. He has yet to record a round in the 60’s in eight attempts at Augusta National but his most recent form, which includes top four finishes in each of his last three starts, suggests he has the credentials for his best Masters finish and perhaps something significantly better.

John Rahm
The Spanish star and world number three makes just his second Masters appearance following an encouraging debut in 2017. Rahm was well enough placed through 36 holes last year but struggled over the weekend but given his rapid rise in the rankings, his significantly more tournament experience since and that he has won on three occasions worldwide in the last twelve months there is every reason to believe he can better his first attempt. He started 2018 brilliantly and while not at that peak since he has continued to play solidly.

Justin Rose
Rose has been twice runner-up at Augusta National in his last three starts and boasts several other solid Masters finishes. The Englishman was playing in Houston this week and was average at best but his great weeks in Tampa and Orlando recently suggest he is close to his best and if he can produce it then his chances of a breakthrough win at Augusta National and his second major title are good.

Tiger Woods
There is perhaps greater interest in Woods appearance and effort at this year’s Masters than ever before. His recent comeback form has been encouraging having been runner-up in Tampa and 5th at Bay Hill. His record at the Masters is amongst the best in the history of the event and so there is every reason to believe he can at least contend. Dismissing champions has proven folly for many in the past and I am not about to do that. If he was able to win it will be as big a moment as that of Nicklaus in 1986 and while there is little doubting the magnitude of the task, his re-appearance adds an amazing dynamic to an event which he won by 12 shots 21 years ago and subsequently won on three other occasions.

Jason Day
In seven starts at the Masters Day has yet to miss a cut, the only time he did not make the weekend was when forced to withdraw after round one in 2012. A runner-up finish on debut in 2011 and a 3rd place finish behind Scott in 2013 tell the tale of Day’s liking for the Augusta National layout and its suitability for his style of game. His form this season has been excellent with a win at Torrey Pines and a runner-up finish at Pebble Beach and so a second major title is not beyond the 30-year old.

Phil Mickelson
A win by Tiger Woods would no doubt be a great boost for the game and excite golf and sports fans worldwide but so too would a victory by Mickelson. With three wins in the event and so many other top threes Mickelson has arguably the greatest record of those playing this year’s edition and his most recent form has been first class including the WGC win in Mexico. A final round of 67 in Houston will also assist his cause. There is no real reason to believe that Mickelson could not potentially surpass Nicklaus and become the oldest player to win the Masters.

Paul Casey
Casey has not been outside the top six in his last three Masters appearances and his recent form in 2018 suggests he could easily add to that impressive run of form at Augusta National. His great consistency over the last few years is perhaps deserving of a first major and, although golf is rarely fair, if Casey was to produce that major breakthrough then few would deny him the right to do so.

Sergio Garcia
As the defending champion Garcia deserves respect but so too because of his most recent form which includes a win in Singapore in January and three consecutive top tens in his most recent PGA Tour starts. The recent arrival of his first child should serve to inspire him even further. He has not always performed well at Augusta National but his win last year and a new attitude to his life and game served him well in 2017 and he could well become the first player to successfully defend this great title for the first time in 16 years.

Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama has, in recent weeks, become the forgotten man to a large extent although an analysis of his form in 2018 suggests it is not as bad as it might seem. Early in the year he finished 4th in Hawaii and then 12th at Torrey Pines before being forced to withdraw from the Waste Management Phoenix Open with a wrist injury. If his recovery from that injury is complete then his record at Augusta National suggests he could be a chance. He has been no worse than 11th at his last three appearances at the Masters and also played well there as an amateur.

 

THE AUSTRALIANS

Jason Day (see above also)
In seven starts at the Masters Day has yet to miss a cut, the only time he did not make the weekend was when forced to withdraw after round one in 2012. A runner-up finish on debut in 2011 and a 3rd place finish behind Scott in 2013 tell the tale of Day’s liking for the Augusta National layout and its suitability for his style of game. His form this season has been excellent with a win at Torrey Pines and a runner-up finish at Pebble Beach and so a second major title is not beyond the 30-year old.

Adam Scott
Scott has always shown a liking for Augusta National ever since his debut 9th in 2002 and he has missed only two cuts in a total of 16 starts. He has only played five events in 2018 but does appear to be getting better with each start and while contention and winning might be beyond him this year I think we can expect a good showing.

Marc Leishman
Leishman has been going along nicely in 2018 with three top tens in eight starts and appears to be peaking for this. Leishman’s record at Augusta has been mixed, however, finishing 4th behind Adam Scott in 2013 but in four other starts he has missed three cuts and been 43rd in the other.

Cameron Smith
Smith will make his second Masters appearance having made the cut on debut two years ago. His overall form in 2018 has been very solid culminating in a 5th place at the recent WGC Dell Match Play. Smith has jumped most of the bars put in front of him in his career to date as he goes quietly about his business and while contention this year is probably out of the question a good solid week appears likely.

 

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