Masters Reactions?

[analog_kid]

I know it's a little late now, but what were all your reactions to the Masters on Easter? I was glad Tiger didn't win, and was bummed some nobody did win. I'll give Zach Johnson all the credit he deserves, he played some very good golf, but it's the Masters! You don't really expect a guy who 3 putts from 3 feet to wear a green jacket you know? Phil was playing terrible! That triple bogey on the first hole was painful to watch. I know Augusta is a tough course(and by tough, I mean it owns your soul, those greens are possessed I swear it!), but did anyone else think that everyone seemed to be off their game?

[Doc4]

I missed the bulk of the play what with Easter vacation and all, but I hear that the course was in terrible shape. Did anyone who actually watched the thing notice that?

[Hawkeye5]

My observation was that the course was fine, the weather, in particular the wind and temperature, was horrid.
As a native Iowan, I was pleased Johnson won. Now we will wait for the rest of the story.
I also thought Tiger was magnanimous in defeat. He identified his play in earlier rounds as the source of his problems as I recall.

[TimmyBoston]

and was bummed some nobody did win.

I find this comment incredibly troubling.

Johnson played a great round, he played his round, his game. And he deserves much credit, even if his is some nobody.

[Hurling Frootmig]

I thought it was a nice story. Johnson hit some really nice shots along the way and had his share of bad ones. The important thing is that he had the lowest score!

I'd take his golf game.

[tim8557]

I think that one of the highlights to this years Masters, was that a NOBODY did win !

What....an athletic contest is only enjoyable if a "star" wins???

[rikrdo]

I watched the entire last round.
The golf course was in fabulous shape and played so difficult
because of the dry conditions.
I dont watch much golf these days except for the majors but was glad to have been around to see this "nobody" become a "somebody".
I wasnt going to watch but was encouraged when I saw that Tiger has NEVER won a major when trailing after 54 holes (day 3).

[ClockworkOrange]

I know it's a little late now, but what were all your reactions to the Masters on Easter? I was glad Tiger didn't win, and was bummed some nobody did win. I'll give Zach Johnson all the credit he deserves, he played some very good golf, but it's the Masters! You don't really expect a guy who 3 putts from 3 feet to wear a green jacket you know? Phil was playing terrible! That triple bogey on the first hole was painful to watch. I know Augusta is a tough course(and by tough, I mean it owns your soul, those greens are possessed I swear it!), but did anyone else think that everyone seemed to be off their game?

Just a few observations.

1) Zach Johnson is not exactly "some nobody" who just walked in off the street to play the Masters and win. You want to give the man "all the credit he deserves"? He's been a PGA professional since 1998, has 100 career placed events, won over eight million dollars in his career so far to date, stands ninth in FedEx cup standings for 2007, his scoring average for 2007 is 69.89. He has made 24 cuts, placed in the top 25 17 times and in the top ten 11 times out of 33 US tour events. He's paid dues, hit hundreds of balls, and worked hard to get to Augusta. Just like anybody else in that field, I suspect.

2)Tiger Woods was some kid out of nowhere before he started winning majors, too.

3) On any given day, anyone can miss a putt. Palmer, Player, Woods - anyone. It's not what you want or expect to see, anymore than you expect fumbles, interceptions, or dropped passes from pro football players, but they happen, too, don't they? It's actually more painful for me to watch a missed putt - I feel for the player in that "clutch" moment, as do most of us, I think. But here's what gets me - some of the guys I've spoken to who've bitched about Johnson's three-putt green and said "Man, everyone else must have been playing so badly," - are the same guys who, if it had been Tiger who'd had a bad putting day and came back to win the green jacket, would be trumpeting that as the evidence of what a good player he is - to be able to re-focus after something as devastating as a three-putt mistake. I'm not saying that anyone here is guilty of that type of thinking, but it's a frustrating double standard to see in play against the "new kid", and it exists. It irked me when they were using it against Tiger, and it irks me now. Heck, they probably did it against Lee Trevino, or Jack Nicklaus for all I know. It's still crap logic.

Ultimately, golf is the last true gentleman's sport, IMO. As such, it deserves a gentlemanly response. It was a tough field, and a difficult tournament, and Augusta is always a tough course. (G-d knows if I ever had the chance to play it my score would most likely approach triple digits. I'd love to play it anyway.)

Nobody really played great golf, but there were great moments. There were terrible moments. Johnson played his game, and it was better than anyone else's - for that tournament, that weekend, on that course.

And that, gentlemen, is golf, isn't it?

[Hurling Frootmig]

I don't know that I would say that Tiger was a kid out of nowhere. I recall that he was heralded as the next great golfer as soon as he started to enter pro tournaments and he had great success in college and before as an amateur. Remember his whole "hello world" announcement along with a 40 million dollar endorsement deal? Not exactly the kind of money thrown at unknowns.

[ClockworkOrange]

I don't know that I would say that Tiger was a kid out of nowhere. I recall that he was heralded as the next great golfer as soon as he started to enter pro tournaments and he had great success in college and before as an amateur. Remember his whole "hello world" announcement along with a 40 million dollar endorsement deal? Not exactly the kind of money thrown at unknowns.

True. I stand corrected.

[analog_kid]

Just a few observations.

1) Zach Johnson is not exactly "some nobody" who just walked in off the street to play the Masters and win. You want to give the man "all the credit he deserves"? He's been a PGA professional since 1998, has 100 career placed events, won over eight million dollars in his career so far to date, stands ninth in FedEx cup standings for 2007, his scoring average for 2007 is 69.89. He has made 24 cuts, placed in the top 25 17 times and in the top ten 11 times out of 33 US tour events. He's paid dues, hit hundreds of balls, and worked hard to get to Augusta. Just like anybody else in that field, I suspect.

Well that's what I get for taking the announcers opinions as gospel. They made it sound like he was fresh out of Q school. I realise the guy is human, and heck, even Tiger makes some bad shots, and I like too root for the underdog, it was just very unexpected to me. I got up Sunday thinking, well, everyone is playing like crap, guess Tiger will snag another one! I really don't have anything against the guy, my girlfriend's mother has actually played with him(he was sponsored by Transamerica which she works for).

[boboakalfb]

Zach Johnson is not exactly "some nobody" who just walked in off the street to play the Masters and win. You want to give the man "all the credit he deserves"? He's been a PGA professional since 1998, has 100 career placed events, won over eight million dollars in his career so far to date, stands ninth in FedEx cup standings for 2007, his scoring average for 2007 is 69.89. He has made 24 cuts, placed in the top 25 17 times and in the top ten 11 times out of 33 US tour events. He's paid dues, hit hundreds of balls, and worked hard to get to Augusta. Just like anybody else in that field, I suspect.

Was also a member of the Ryder Cup team...you guys remember, that event we got spanked at.

[Hurling Frootmig]

I remember when we used to actually win Ryder cup events.

The kid seems like a decent player. Reminds me a bit of Fred Couples (not sure why though).

[BigDawgBarkin]

I missed the bulk of the play what with Easter vacation and all, but I hear that the course was in terrible shape. Did anyone who actually watched the thing notice that?

The course was definitely in great shape as is to be expected at the Masters ( I was there so I can attest).

Johnson is definitely not a "nobody". All of the big names did seem to struggle with the wind and cold combined with the tough course though. I was glad to see Tiger not win. As outstanding a golfer as he is I just don't care for him all that much.

What is pretty impressive is that Johnson won by having par or better on all of the par 5's and layed up on every single one. So much for the argument that the course changes over the last few years only favor the big bombers (FWIW, Johnson ranks about middle of the pack on driving distance).

[Doc4]

Thanks to those with better info than I, as to the course conditions. I was going on some 2nd-hand commentary or some such thing, and wanted a clearer picture of things.

I always like the British Open better. Maybe its the weather, or the more rugged courses (more windswept heather, fewer azalias). I loved the year the British chap (Rose?) won it at the end and the French chap sort of self-destructed. My last interest in the Masters was Jack's last win. Still, I often watch just to see how people do on #12!

[boboakalfb]

Thanks to those with better info than I, as to the course conditions. I was going on some 2nd-hand commentary or some such thing, and wanted a clearer picture of things.

I always like the British Open better. Maybe its the weather, or the more rugged courses (more windswept heather, fewer azalias). I loved the year the British chap (Rose?) won it at the end and the French chap sort of self-destructed. My last interest in the Masters was Jack's last win. Still, I often watch just to see how people do on #12!

Ahh...Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie for the '99 Open. Paul Lawrie ended up winning.

[rtaylor61]

Zach did a great job. I was never interested in golf until the last few years. I like that these gents can be held up as role models. Two things that were enjoyable at the end of the Masters. The press conference with Zach, and the interview with Tiger. How would it be to be praised by the best in your profession?

Randy