2017 Masters Preview!
The Masters. The best week in golf (sports) — the first week in April. Every spring since 1934 this has meant the golf world sets its sights on one place and one place only: Augusta.
Bobby Jones sought after he retired from golf to build a championship course. He essentially envisioned the Masters before the Masters existed. After searching different potential locations, he stumbled upon the land where Augusta National now sits, and said, “Perfect! And to think this ground has been lying here all these years waiting for someone to come along and lay a golf course upon it.”
Work began in 1931 and the course opened in 1933. Jones and Alister MacKenzie designed the course; sadly, MacKenzie died before the first Masters first began in 1934.
That year, the nines were reversed from their present order. They’d be flopped the following year and have remained that way ever since.
Jack Nicklaus has won the most Masters with 6; Tiger and Arnie each have 4.
The Course
Augusta today is 7,435 yards, par 72. It’s got virtually no rough. We were there yesterday, which I logged in detail here, and honestly the entire property is perfectly mowed grass. It’s wild.
Even the pine straw is perfect. There’s no funky lies — it’s all immaculate and right in front of your face.
Notable holes? Let’s look at a few of my favorites.
Hole 1, 445
Tough little opening shot with the huge bunker right, trees left. And the green is no joke, just ask Ernie Els.
Hole 2, 575 yards
I love this hole, then again I love every hole. Need to feature a little right to left off the tee, then give it a rip on this severely downhill approach to an AWESOMELY unique green.
Or just do this.
Hole 3, 350 yards
The shortest par 4 on the course. Tiger famously asked Jack one time the best way to make birdie, to which Jack responded, and I’m paraphrasing, “It’s not a birdie hole.”
Guys will hit all sorts of clubs off the tee here, from irons to drivers.
Hole 4, 240 yards
BRUTAL par 3. The best part? It’s been 240 forever. Phil made a wild triple here while in contention in 2012.
Hole 5, 455 yards
The 5th was inspired by the famous Road Hole at St. Andrews. Bobby Jones originally disapproved of the bunkers, but they’re damn well there now. They’re taller than a man and even more impressively huge in person (I know because I was there yesterday, nbd kbd).
Also, I think there’s a new front pin location. Don’t quote me on that, just felt like I’d never seen it before then bam, front pin during Tuesday’s practice round.
Hole 6, 180 yards
Elevated tee to an absolutely crazy right to left sloping green.
Hole 7, 450 yards
Tough tee shot. Elevated green. Would be nice to have the mid-2000s Tiger stinger.
Hole 8, 570 yards
Much different par 5 from the course’s other 3. The 8th starts with a pretty straightforward tee shot that just needs to avoid the right bunker, then a MASSIVELY uphill, dogleg left approach to a green surrounded by huge mounds. Awesome 5-par.
Hole 9, 460 yards
Another right to left hole and very downhill. Then you go back up the hill for your approach to a multi-tiered, false-fronted green guarded on the left by punishing bunkers.
Here’s a good look at it.
Hole 10, 495 yards
I wrote yesterday that this hole’s more like a black diamond ski slope than a golf hole and I was right. It’s got CRAZY slope and, once again, requires some right to left play (there’s a reason we say lefties have the advantage here; fading it is easier and more controllable than drawing it).
Rory’s collapse started with a triple here, but Adam Scott’s Masters was won here.
As was Bubba’s.
10 is my brother’s favorite hole in the world. Sup Kyle.
Hole 11
Toughest hole on the property. 11 is long, tricky, has water left, crazy slopes right, and a SLIPPERY, dicey green.
‘Cept for my dad’s hero Larry Mize.
Hole 12
Golden Bell. It’s like 150 but you can make 2 or 7 (sorry Jordan). The wind swirls. It’s beautiful but pivotal. Probably the most famous par 3 in the world. Bobby Jones said, and I’m paraphrasing, “It’s not that it’s impossible, it’s just that it requires more skill than I currently possess.”
Hole 13, 510 yards
Many consider 13 the best par 5 in all the game. At just 510, it’s obviously not particularly long, but requires a significant right to left tee shot to hit the fairway. From there, you’ve got a long iron in from a STEEP hook lie (for a righty). No exaggeration, guys are basically taking baseball swings at it.
Unless you’re in the pine straw between some trees. Then you just do this.
Hole 14, 440 yards
The only hole out here without a bunker. 14 is a pretty straightforward par 4 with a WILD green.
Hole 15, 530 yards
The final par 5. 15 can produce all kinds of results. From this.
To this.
Hole 16, 170 yards
Water left. Severe ridge running through the middle of the green. It always plays a dramatic role on Sunday, but never more so than 2005.
Hole 17, 440 yards
The 17th was for what feels like ever known for the Eisenhower Tree (named because Ike hit it so many times he lobbied to have it removed), but that sucker passed in 2014 after suffering irreparable damage in an ice storm a few months before the Masters.
Jack’s most emphatic “Yes sir!” came here in ’86.
Hole 18, 465 yards
That chute tho. I mean, it’s the 18th at Augusta. Pick any one of dozens and dozens of ICONIC moments here. I’ve included three.
It’s the 18th at Augusta.
Clubhouse
10.
The Field
Well this section of the blog changed dramatically when Dustin Johnson fell down the stairs at his rental home today. He’s questionable for tomorrow.
94 players in the field at the Masters this year (routine Tour event has 156). If you’re a player, and you’re healthy, you’re here. That’s it. It’s the Masters.
But it’s not the toughest field in all of golf. With a win comes, of course, a lifetime invite, so my dad’s boy Larry Mize, among other old timers, will be out there putzing around. As they should — they’ve earned it.
Predictions
Winning Score — (-7)
It’s supposed to be windy as fuck Thursday and Friday. Yes, lots of rain has softened ANGC up, but that combined with the colder air and the tough wind will make her play LONG. I think it’s going to be tough, especially because it’ll keep the guys guessing by firming up over the weekend.
-7 wins it folks.
Winner — Rickie Fowler
This is not the guy I expected to pick but based on how events have unfolded I have to. First, Trent and I watched Rickie can 15 putts in a row on the practice green yesterday, all while shooting the shit with Paul Casey’s caddie (who expertly chirped me one time); about 9 of them were from 6 feet, next 6 were from 15 feet. Insane.
Next, CapFather texts me and says he talked to some people that coach Rickie or something and they say he’s in better form than in 2014 (when he finished top-5 in all 4 majors).
Third, DJ fell down the stairs.
Rickie obviously wins the 2017 Masters.
DFL — Larry Mize
He’s just too old.
Dark Horse — Adam Hadwin
Great putter. 80 to 1. Book it.
Weather
Coverage
We’ll be doing LIVE pregame Facebook Live shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from the Natty Shack. Th-Sat 2:30pm. Sunday 1:30pm.
We’ll also be doing a post-show Sunday immediately following play, with a potential electric chair depending on the situation.
Fore Play will be publishing a bonus podcast Friday morning.
TV coverage looks like this:
Thursday: ESPN 3-7:30pm
Friday: ESPN 3-7:30pm
Saturday: CBS 3-7pm
Sunday: CBS 2-7pm
There’s also all sorts of live streaming on Masters.com and their app. No free advertising but their shit’s really, really good. Highly recommend.
Final Thoughts
Masters week. Best week of the year for guys like me and those of you that made it this deep into the blog. Enjoy it, enjoy every minute of it, and if you want to know what it’s like to walk these hallowed grounds, read my blog from yesterday: I Spent My First Day At Augusta National Today And This Is What It Was Like
And buy a shirt.