Buckle up for ride on Atlanta’s roller coaste

Whether you love or loathe the game of golf, it’s hard not to enjoy the Masters, at Augusta National.

Famed for its stunning scenery and rolling topography, it is a course which provides the attending galleries and TV viewing audiences with a roller coaster ride of emotions — from stupendous shots to calamity.

Quite simply, Augusta is a stunning Dr Alister MacKenzie design which continues to prove itself a very worthy foe for

anyone aspiring to win a Major championship.

Famed for its traditions; the green jacket, the Champions Dinner and the Honorary Tee Shots which officially start the tournament, this staunchly conservative event has over time drawn its fair share of criticism — Augusta up to the past number of years did not allow any black or female memberships — but given that the chairman and the board at Augusta tend to move at their own desired pace it is now wonderful to see them embrace change and so welcome them into the 21st century ahead, dare I say it, of the world’s leading ruling authority of the game of golf The Royal & Ancient Club of St Andrews.

As for the players, well they have no intention of airing their opinions as they don’t want to get dragged into anything that might distract them from winning Majors, especially one at the famed Augusta National.

Yesterday, was a day for players to feel their way into the event. It was a day when the tournament couldn’t have been won, but it certainly could have been lost, so tensions would have been high, none more so than in the Masters’ first competitive father and son pairing of Craig Stadler (winner in 1982) and son Kevin, who was playing in his first Masters.

If ever there was a chip off the old block then it is Kevin, who walks, swings and, it seems, likes his food just as much as his more famous dad.

On a warm day it was nice to see the players making birdies from the off, none more so than the evergreen Miguel Angel Jimenez and the even more evergreen Fred Couples. Though getting on in years these guys are still competitive but will hardly be contenders come the end of the week. That said, they are value for money for their appreciative galleries as they fully understand that giving back (entertainment) is also part of the game. If only they could teach that to some of the younger brigade.

Though no one has jumped out of the pack yet, there is already serious pedigree on top of the leaderboard. But if the weather remains settled and hot — for the first time in many years — we might end up having a very fast and firm golf course which, if the wind blows, could prove treacherous. Ideal conditions for Graeme McDowell.

Whatever the conditions, Augusta guarantees us twists and turns over the coming days. The journey may only have just begun but Ireland’s leading duo are already very nicely in position to have their say in determining the outcome of this event.