Ready for the major league?
This week, the 76th Masters at Augusta has been painted by many in the media as a duel between arguably the greatest player in history, Tiger Woods, and the most exciting young talent in the game, Rory McIlroy.
The fact that one is an American and one is European in a Ryder Cup year only adds to that hype.
Such rivalries in sport are nothing new and generates greater interest amongst fans and media. But they also build resentment from those in the sport who are on the outside looking in. Lee Westwood is one such figure. This week he made no attempt to hid his annoyance at the media’s fixation with Woods and McIlroy ahead of the Masters and the demotion of every other player into the ‘also ran’ category.
And, as if to prove his point, his opening round of 67 left him leading the championship on his own.
His frustration is almost palpable, given a major championship is all that is missing from a remarkable resume. He has never won a major in 55 starts, despite 37 victories worldwide, seven Ryder Cups and at one stage he enjoyed 22 consecutive weeks as the world’s top ranked player. He has finished top three in five of the past 10 majors. He has been runner up in both the Masters and British Open.
Yet close does not amount to much in professional golf. The majority remember winners.
But this weekend Westwood has the potential to spoil the party for Woods, McIlroy and company.
Augusta suits his game. There are few in golf more accurate than him and he is long enough to take advantage of the par fives. For the most part, he was head and shoulders the best player on the course on Thursday hitting 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation en route to his 67, his fifth round in the 60s in his last nine at Augusta. If he shoots three further rounds in the 60s, he’ll win.
If Westwood has a weakness it is his chipping. He doesn’t possess the natural flair of former champions like Mickelson, Woods or Olazabal. Instead his efforts are all a little wooden, a little “scoopy”. Over the weekend all aspects of Westwood’s game will be tested but that load has been lightened somewhat with all the hype over Woods and McIlroy.
His rivals know all about the Englishman’s pedigree. As a result they will be forced to be more aggressive and take more chances. Some will undoubtedly fall by the wayside but expect the main protagonists to be there or thereabouts tomorrow evening. And whoever claims the title, you better believe he has earned it.
