If the trend holds true, the last 16 champions have come from the last pairing which today is Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples. Either way I will be happy. These guys are two of my favorite golfers and both very likable. Each one would make a great story for sportswriters around the country.
For Fred Couples, 46 years old and 20 years since another 46 year old won the Masters, Jack Nicklaus, it would be a fairy tale beginning for his season. Fred has won the Masters before as has Phil, but in the twilight of his career the wins are few much less a chance at another major.
For Phil, well he just shot the PGA record this year at the Bellsouth Classic, the warm up PGA event to the Masters. Phil needs this win to solidify him as Tiger's main competition. Also, Tiger is lurking 2 strokes back and if he wins it will just further show his dominance over Phil. Phil needs this win more than any other to show he is Tiger's rival and his equal. Just as Jack had Arnold Palmer to push him, Tiger needs Phil and vice versa.
Good luck to both and may the best man win. A little luck and slick greens will provide plenty of drama this afternoon. This may just be one of the best Master's finishes ever with 5 great players in contention. Don't forget abou Vijay Singh or Retief Goosen all within striking distance. I plan on pulling up the couch and the TV tray and enjoy my afternoon. I wish I were at Augusta, but CBS will have to do. Go ahead and make your Master's prediction below.
Phil Mickleson hit his second shot to the fourth hole on Saturday. In doing so he hit branches on his back swing but as he walked off a spectator also moved and released the branches that Phil hit - he was holding them back. Surely Phil was gaining an unfair advantage by the spectator interfering with play - otherwise Phil would not have had as full a backswing as he did?
Can any blogger answer this or do you know who can?
I don't follow golf very closely, but I think Lefty will choke. He is winning to much lately to be the tragic hero we all love. I see a bogey on the 18th to lose to....? Tiger Woods would probably make it the most tragic since he is the consumate winner.
Hitting branches in your backswing is not against the rules. Now if a spectator held them that would be a violation, but surely with all the marshalls on the course and his caddie there this did not happen. If it did, he would be disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. You may not have seen what actually happened. In your statement you say as Phil walked off, which is clearly after he swung his club. If he had hit branches in his backswing, then the spectator was not holding them. I don't know about you, but I am not holding branches that are about to be struck by Phil with a club. Possibly a fan tried to watch and pulled back some branches as he walked away. Either way, I am sure the shot will be replayed if it was an important one and we can all see. My guess is Phil was within the rules. Most PGA golfers are very strict with adhering to the rules of golf even if it meands disqualifying themselves when they know they made a mistake.
Last edited by socalsportsfan on April 9th at 9:40 AM.
Either way I will be happy. These guys are two of my favorite golfers and both very likable. Each one would make a great story for sportswriters around the country.
For Phil, well he just shot the PGA record this year at the Bellsouth Classic, the warm up PGA event to the Masters. Phil needs this win to solidify him as Tiger's main competition. Also, Tiger is lurking 2 strokes back and if he wins it will just further show his dominance over Phil. Phil needs this win more than any other to show he is Tiger's rival and his equal. Just as Jack had Arnold Palmer to push him, Tiger needs Phil and vice versa.
