Winner needs impeccable credentials
For sure, Augusta’s stunning scenery counts, but so too does the fact that the course consistently demands respect and exceptional shot-making, something really appreciated by both the professionals and audiences alike. If that wasn’t already enough, now throw a Major championship in to the mix and it’s simply pure drama!
This week players would have come to Augusta with preconceived ideas as to what to expect. In fact, the elite players would have been studiously preparing for this week for months. Attention to detail counts especially when there is a Major championship at stake. So what will it take to win this week?
Firstly, the eventual winner will need a lot of good luck over such a treacherous course, but with good preparation these players will expect to create their own luck.
Secondly, the winner will need a flexible game plan for an ever-changing course. The firmer Augusta plays, the more difficult the test — less control, faster greens and breaking putts — and with this being a Major, the organisers will have absolutely no concern for the players’ welfare. As if to prove this point only four players managed to beat 70 on Thursday and that was on a calm day. Think how difficult it will be if the wind starts to blow?
To date, Graeme McDowell has proven himself as one of the world’s best tacticians on difficult golf courses, but Augusta is not a course that suits his game and low ball flight. Augusta constantly proves to be a struggle for him and though he had a very good round yesterday, I still believe his best chances in securing another Major championship lie elsewhere.
The last piece of the puzzle is the players’ appreciation of the winning statistics of past champions. For example, in the last 20 Masters the eventual winner has:
* been inside the top 10 in greens in regulation 15 times
* been in the top five in total putts seven times
* been inside the top five in driving distance seven times
* been inside the top five in number of fairways hit three times
So, distance counts over accuracy and greens in regulation counts every bit as much as great putting.
Stats, they say, never lie and you can now see why Augusta favours the likes of Adam Scott, Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy. Although Scott and Watson have already won the Masters all three are in contention and, most importantly, all are in a rich vein of form. But such is the pedigree on top of the leaderboard, it is still anyone’s championship.
I am not a huge fan of Watson’s but few can argue with his pedigree. A winner here in 2012, I wasn’t too surprised when he disappeared off the radar soon afterwards, but I have been impressed with him this year.
Although unorthodox, there is a lot of substance to his game, assuming he drives the ball straight.
His length is definitely an advantage but if the other competitors can get close enough to him, he istemperamental. Yesterday he did everything that was asked of him, applying all the pressure back onto late starters Scott and McIlroy.
Watson’s blistering golf proved there were plenty of birdie opportunities out there for the guys following, but in just two short hours he had made the chasing pack’s task all the harder.
His efforts had forced them out of their comfort zone and into action early.
To win the tournament, they now would have to prove their credentials.
