Nicklaus advice key to success
As someone who has been fortunate enough to attend the Masters to get a first-hand feel for the terrain of the course, as well as the undulations and speed of the greens, this indeed was a special moment, given that no other player has ever won more US Masters titles (6) than Nicklaus.
Nicklaus spoke about key driving holes on the course like the tee shots on 2, 11, 12 and 13.
He also spoke about the importance of patience and playing the percentages. For example, in his opinion, any approach shot finding the centre of the greens would invariably leave the players with a relatively easy putt to whatever hole position on the green, regardless of the length. When talking about playing the percentages, he became visibly animated, as if to say “look, take it from me”.
To play Augusta successfully, he argued that the players needed to play the right shots at the right time, play the percentages and not flitter away shots through stupidity or frustration.
For a man noted for his conservative approach to winning tournaments, this insight, this “moment of truth” would probably have gone down like a lead balloon to most of today’s players, who have been built to bomb the ball, attack every flag and hole every putt. But Nicklaus’s record in golf, especially majors, demands respect.
Therefore, for anyone who cared to carefully listen, he spoke about keeping the game plan and the strategy simple, so as to keep the mind relaxed. Augusta may be an old course, but it is one that demands complete concentration and respect, especially when you are in pursuit of a major championship. Augusta takes and gives precious little back. Not only that, it takes in an excruciating way; it torments the mind, body and soul because more often that not, it is the player himself who pushes the self-destruct button.
If we look over the history of the great champions that Augusta has produced over the past 76 years, we can easily identify some of the key traits of the individuals. For example, Augusta favours the player who is capable of hitting the ball high and right to left; the player who has a lot of imagination and creativity, especially in their shot game; someone who is a great clutch putter and most importantly someone who is completely in control of the mind. A resilient, confident and unflappable individual who knows and understands how to play percentage golf. Have you got the picture? Augusta most especially favours the game of the two greatest players ever to grace the game: Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
As we roll into the weekend, it is hardly unsurprising then to take a look at the leaderboard and see it dominated by “mellow” individuals like Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott and the most horizontal of them all, Fred Couples.
Couples is a man born for Augusta and its tradition. Amiable, jovial and considerate off the course, he is a strong, tough competitor and he plays to win. Augusta sets up very well for Couples. Quite apart from his length, it suits his high ball flight and his imagination. Most importantly for him, his experience has shown him not necessarily where to hit it all the time but more crucially where not to miss it.
Comfortable with hitting balls from uneven (crosshill or downhill) lies, Couples knows that the challenge over the weekend will not be whether or not he is capable of posting more good scores but whether he will be able to sustain his usual brilliance for all 72 holes.
When Couples won his Masters title in 1992, it was a full six years before the youngest player in the field, 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, was even born. Couples’ pedigree is not lost on the young Chinese man, who himself has ambitions to win the Masters some day.
During the practice rounds, Guan went out of his way to meet Couples. Perhaps he wanted some advice. Could he get it from a better candidate?
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