Fore Please. 2024 Masters Thread

[Chef2]

If I got the chance to play Augusta, I wouldn't care if I shot 62 or 162.
It would be walking on cloud 9 for 18 holes.

 

[John]

Exactly this. It would be very cool to hit some of the shots on that course (12, tee shot on 10, 16), but I think overall it would be a painful experience.

Played some media day outings on courses set up for USGA events, and some courses right after they hosted PGA Tour events, and when it was over, I felt like I had just gotten my ass kicked for 4 hours straight. Surely a lot of that was because my game is garbage, but still ...

The two times I played the TPS Sawgrass stadium course, back in the mid 90s, I played really well -- was even on the par 3s -- and still shot in the low 90s. Playing from the blues, I just didn't hit it far enough to avoid trouble - and numerous doubles followed. I'm sure the same thing would happen at Augusta but probably 20% worse.

Eventually I learned to not keep score when playing great courses. Celebrate the rare birdie and occasional par, and don't even keep track of the rest.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

I had my first ever birdie playing on a guest pass on the Mystic Rock course at Nemacolin a month before the 84 Lumber Classic on my way to a 100-whatever.

 

[goalmouth]

I played Pinehurst #2 a few years before Payne Stewart's win. The caddies' guidance on putts seemed counter-intuitive; it took a few misses on the domed greens until I started to listen.

Also, today I hit 700 balls at the range. I get a boost when the local high school team shows up and the driver was so good I just kept going.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Speaking of caddies, this is a great story about the caddies at Augusta a few weeks back. Cool to see these guys finally get some recognition.

https://gardenandgun.com/feature/masters-of-the-green-the-black-caddies-of-augusta-national/

 

[playthrough]

One last comment on this threadjack: If I could play just one hole at Augusta, it would be the 12th. First of all, because it's a hole I could (in theory) actually par with a good tee shot, and second, so I could better understand how some of the best golfers on the planet so often misjudge their tee shot.

Every year it amazes me that (I believe) the shortest and seemingly most straightforward of the holes at Augusta National causes so much trouble.

My guys had this exact debate the other night, which hole do you play if you just get one. Some guys took 12, my answer was the 13th -- I never want my first shot of a round to be on a par-3 and especially not over water. I like my driver and the 13th from the member tees sounds like a decent birdie opportunity. In theory. And I'd have to walk all the way down there, which maximizes the stunt.

Alas, I was not picked for the lottery this year. That's also a discussion I enjoy hearing from longtime scribes, how much of a "lottery" it really is. The consensus is maybe it's a half-lottery and I can believe it.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

I'd play 16. Too many memorable moments not to.

 

[UNCGrad]

I wish I could quit Rory. It's ruining my Masters viewing every year now. Goddammit.

(...Maybe he'll shoot twin 62s this weekend to finish T2...)

 

[I Should Coco]

I wish I could quit Rory. It's ruining my Masters viewing every year now. Goddammit.

(...Maybe he'll shoot twin 62s this weekend to finish T2...)

He actually scrambled his ass off for pars on the last two holes — after horrible tee shots — to make sure he made the cut.

But dumping it into the water on No. 11 was a very avoidable mistake IMHO.

Yes, I too keep waiting/hoping Rory will get back on the victory train in majors, but he always seems to have just enough disaster shots and/or holes to keep himself out of contention. Or his putter goes ice cold.

 

[Chef2]

Ok
I might be alone here, but so be it.
If I'm Rory, come Monday, I'm firing my caddy and getting someone else.
I know he's one of his best friends, but he's not a caddy.
He needs someone to say "no……you've got this…..hit this."
He doesn't have that now.
He's got someone that says "yep. That's it."
He doesn't need that.

 

[nickp]

There is no doubt in my mind I am going to cry on Sunday when CBS does a tribute to Verne Lundquist as he calls his last moments at the 16th tower

 

[playthrough]

He actually scrambled his ass off for pars on the last two holes — after horrible tee shots — to make sure he made the cut.

But dumping it into the water on No. 11 was a very avoidable mistake IMHO.

Yes, I too keep waiting/hoping Rory will get back on the victory train in majors, but he always seems to have just enough disaster shots and/or holes to keep himself out of contention. Or his putter goes ice cold.

Rory hasn't won a major since sports betting was legalized and DraftKings could probably fund a year of advertising off those bets.

There's no shame in never getting that last leg of the Slam, just ask Arnie, Watson, Byron, etc. Rory is just cursed for getting them all when he was so young.