Tiger Woods Masters Week thread -- GOLF discussion only

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[duswalk]

I think that Tiger with a clear mind and a good knee is bad news for the rest of the field. Knowing that I think I am still going against the grain and leaving him out of my fantasy lineup this week. I just cant wait for it to start!

[cAsE sEnSiTiVe]

Looks like Tiger goes Thursday with Choi and Kuchar at 1:42 pm EST.

[walterjay25]

[quote name='cAsE sEnSiTiVe ' date='06 April 2010 - 01:01 PM' timestamp='1270573283' post='2363773']
Looks like Tiger goes Thursday with Choi and Kuchar at 1:42 pm EST.
[/quote]

Nice work Case - right on top of it!!!

Here's a link to the full pairings:

http://www.masters.com/en_US/scores/pairings/index.html

Enjoy!

[Carolina Golfer 2]

Some good pairings, here's some I find interesting.

Group 7 at 8:56 M. Kaymer, G Ogilvy, L Donald.
Wouldn't surprise me if the winner came from this group.


Group 13 at 10:13 E. Els, A. Kim and R. Ishikawa
Some great golf to be played in this group, again I wouldn't be surprised if any or all 3 are there at the end.


Group 21 at 11:41 R. Moore, R. Fisher, N. Watney
I look for any of these 3 to win a major one day..why not this week!!

Group 25 at 12:36 C. Villegas, K. Perry, R. McIlroy
Outside of Tigers group this group could attract the most attention. Wow, marquee names!!


Group 26 at 1:53 A. Scott, D. Duvall, R. Barnes
As if you needed any reason to watch to the very end...but here it is anyway.

I'm so excited about Thursday. Taking the day off, playing a round in the AM with some buddies, then home to watch the streaming action until the Live Broadcast begins. What a day!!

[rblmp32]

Boy they didn't do Choi and Kuchar any favors with that pairing...lol

[vjswing]

[quote name='Carolina Golfer 2' date='06 April 2010 - 12:29 PM' timestamp='1270574974' post='2363829']


Group 21 at 11:41 R. Moore, R. Fisher, N. Watney
I look for any of these 3 to win a major one day..why not this week!!


[/quote]


That is a GREAT under-the-radar grouping! That would be exactly the kind of group that I would follow if I was there for the week as a spectator! (yeah, I know - dream on)

As far as Tiger's group, all I can say is good luck to Matt Kuchar in dealing with the giant circus that will be the gallery. Too bad, Kooch...you coulda been a contendah this week! I actually think K.J. Choi will be fine...seems like an incredibly focused guy.

[grizzlyblades]

I think anything outside of golf that he did wrong that doesn't hurt his golfing reputation is not going to deter his fan base. people are still mesmerized by this guy's playing ability and just his sheer presence on the course. And you can see that with so many people watching him practice this week at the Master's.

To be honest with you, I am excited that he is coming back to golf since we all have been watching most tournaments with him in it, and it's just the way it is with this era. The Tiger era!

And i'm also excited about this Years Master's with the drama that unfolded that gave other golfers the little break away from Tiger to gain confident in their own game by winning some tournaments without playing against Tiger.

With top players like Ernie, Anthony, and Jim all coming off a tournament win, where will the momentum shift? In favor of a hungry/or lackluster Tiger or someone who has found his game since the absence of Tiger?

[Tmiller72]

Any word if he's playing in the Par 3 Contest? I know normally he doesn't.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='vjswing' date='06 April 2010 - 01:39 PM' timestamp='1270575588' post='2363854']
[quote name='Carolina Golfer 2' date='06 April 2010 - 12:29 PM' timestamp='1270574974' post='2363829']
Group 21 at 11:41 R. Moore, R. Fisher, N. Watney
I look for any of these 3 to win a major one day..why not this week!!


[/quote]


That is a GREAT under-the-radar grouping! That would be exactly the kind of group that I would follow if I was there for the week as a spectator! (yeah, I know - dream on)


[/quote]

Golf Fan.

You're right, anyone that follows this group around the course will see some quality golf shots, and just might end up following one of the leaders. I think Fisher has one of the best swings in golf that doesn't get talked about much.

[mission_scratch]

[quote name='Tmiller72' date='06 April 2010 - 01:35 PM' timestamp='1270578900' post='2363976']
Any word if he's playing in the Par 3 Contest? I know normally he doesn't.
[/quote]


last I heard he was not playing in it.

[profsmitty]

We still need to limit the number of embedded quotes in this thread. There are several problems with stacking quote after quote within a potentially active thread like the various "Tiger" threads: [list=1][*]They become almost unreadable after awhile.[*]They tend to inspire attacking and aggressive behavior as one party endlessly responds to the posts of someone who does not agree with them.[*]One that effects the mods more than other members, is that it makes it very hard to edit out objectionable material. Imagine how long it would take a moderator to manually track down an objectionable post that has been replicated numerous times within a thread. If a post with embedded quotes is moved from one forum to another, an objectionable quote may go unaddressed.[/list]We originally tried to limit the number of quotes to a finite number. This has proven to be difficult. Please keep the number to a reasonable limit.

Thanks

[jaskanski]

Intersting that Woods remains the bookies favourite to win despite the long lay-off. Faldo was quick to pour a critical eye over his chances though, stating that you cannot simply perform to the best of your ability without playing competitive for some time. Being half a yard out with your irons would be disasterous at Augusta, as would a rusty putting touch. It would be intersting to see how TW manages to make the cut. Here's the article:
[url="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23821750-tiger-woods-could-suffer-an-early-exit-at-masters-warns-nick-faldo.do"]http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23821750-tiger-woods-could-suffer-an-early-exit-at-masters-warns-nick-faldo.do[/url]

[rblmp32]

[quote name='jaskanski' date='06 April 2010 - 03:38 PM' timestamp='1270582702' post='2364111']
Intersting that Woods remains the bookies favourite to win despite the long lay-off. Faldo was quick to pour a critical eye over his chances though, stating that you cannot simply perform to the best of your ability without playing competitive for some time. Being half a yard out with your irons would be disasterous at Augusta, as would a rusty putting touch. It would be intersting to see how TW manages to make the cut. Here's the article:
[url="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23821750-tiger-woods-could-suffer-an-early-exit-at-masters-warns-nick-faldo.do"]http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23821750-tiger-woods-could-suffer-an-early-exit-at-masters-warns-nick-faldo.do[/url]
[/quote]


I agree with Faldo for sure. I wish Tiger would have started things up earlier, at least at Bay Hill. I understand his motivations (at least as much as we can surmise) for waiting til Augusta, but I don't like his chances. He's the best player out there for sure but who knows what sort of performance he'll be able to summon.

[scotchblade]

Tiger hasn't won the Masters in five years. It would blow my mind if he won this under the circumstances. And what a demoralizing reality check to all the players who have been competing this season who can not beat a guy that has gone through what he has and is under that kind of scrutiny / pressure. If anyone can do it, it would be him but I just don't see it happening.

I'd much rather see a first time winner slip on the green jacket anyway, I always pull for underdogs.

[CasualLie]

[quote name='scotchblade' date='06 April 2010 - 01:28 PM' timestamp='1270585723' post='2364217']
Tiger hasn't won the Masters in five years. It would blow my mind if he won this under the circumstances. And what a demoralizing reality check to all the players who have been competing this season who can not beat a guy that has gone through what he has and is under that kind of scrutiny / pressure. If anyone can do it, it would be him but I just don't see it happening.

I'd much rather see a first time winner slip on the green jacket anyway, I always pull for underdogs.
[/quote]

It wouldn't change anything really. TW is not going to win without making some great shots, solid putting, and a little luck. Same things that went into every one of his victories. Why would it be demoralizing if you got beat by a guy who obviously has more talent and put that talent on display, particularly if you played your best and came up a little short? Now if TW wins at -5 and everyone else chokes it away, I don't know what you would call it; something worse than demoralizing.

[swbyps]

I think Tiger will struggle to make the cut. He's my favorite player, but I just cant see him showing up after all this and being in good enough form to play well. I hope he does, but I cant see it. And lets not forget he's going out there with somewhat of a different mental\emotional approach. How is he going to handle all that? But if somehow he was to win this tournament, can we all just get along and finally agree that he is the greatest golfer of all time?

[EasyDDI]

We all know he is Tiger Woods and it is risky to bet against him, but I must say that I would be surprised if he makes the cut and I believe a victory would be a miracle. What a story it would be though!

[PlatinumNike]

No one for sure knows how much he's been practicing though, I doubt he's been sitting on his butt all this time.
It might not have been competition golf but I don't think that matters as much with Tiger.

Go TW

[marcw]

I'm just wondering how many more people will follow his group this Masters. There are not going to be more people at Augusta, but I'm sure there will be more following him this year than before.
What do they expect to see? Are they hoping to see some miraculous performance or a bust? Are they there for the fact that they can say they saw Tiger at his first tourny since "the incident"? I really wonder why people are so looking forward to his return (both at Augusta and watching on tv). We've all seen him play for the last 10+ years, what is going to be so different now?

[bigred90gt]

i said it in another thread, and I'll go ahead and say it here as well: I think he wins, and wins big. He is playing with a clear mind, and has said in his press conference that it is fun again, which is something he said it hasnt been in a long time. Everyone knows about his mental strength, but with his secret out, that pressure is gone, and he can focus more on his golf.

[bobfoster]

[quote name='bigred90gt' date='06 April 2010 - 04:46 PM' timestamp='1270590413' post='2364357']
i said it in another thread, and I'll go ahead and say it here as well: I think he wins, and wins big. He is playing with a clear mind, and has said in his press conference that it is fun again, which is something he said it hasnt been in a long time. Everyone knows about his mental strength, but with his secret out, that pressure is gone, and he can focus more on his golf.
[/quote]


That is a very good - if unusual - point. I don't really think he'll win, just because he's too rusty (I agree with Arnie. Going into a major after many months off of competitive golf is just insanely hard even for the best in the world).

But I definately see him winning a major this year. Everyone has been talking about how hard and stressful it will be coming back with all the galleries knowing what he did. What I've been think these past few months is the opposite, thinking about how in the world he could have been focusing on golf enough over the past 5 years to have had such an amazing record of wins. He was living a completey double life, and doing it as one of the most recognized sports figures in the world. The perpetual stress of that had to be incredible.

Now that the double life has stopped, and once the tabloid aspects have passed (a matter of months I suspect) I have a feeling Tiger's golf is going to hit some whole new level.

[rblmp32]

[quote name='scotchblade' date='06 April 2010 - 04:28 PM' timestamp='1270585723' post='2364217']
Tiger hasn't won the Masters in five years. It would blow my mind if he won this under the circumstances. And what a demoralizing reality check to all the players who have been competing this season who can not beat a guy that has gone through what he has and is under that kind of scrutiny / pressure. If anyone can do it, it would be him but I just don't see it happening.

I'd much rather see a first time winner slip on the green jacket anyway, I always pull for underdogs.
[/quote]

I agree. I don't think he'll win, but you never know with that guy. The fact that he hasn't won since 2005 is irrelevant though, he's finished what like... T3, T2, 2, 6th. It's not as though he's getting hammered out there like '03 and '04

[Virginia hacker]

A focused Tiger would absolutely make my Masters. He's the Jack Nicklaus of my generation. His "A" is a joy to behold.

[mission_scratch]

Looks Like Tiger IS going to play in the par 3 contest.

[Mward2002]

Really? Where'd you hear he was playing the Par 3? Can't find that anywhere

[bfactor]

Playing the Par 3 seems logical to me. It endears him to fans and gives him an informal way of "competing" to get an early start on shaking out the butterflies. If folks are appreciative and he gets some cheers, that should reduce some anxiety for the real tournament. If not, he'll know to mentally prepare for a cold reception. He's freely admitted being uneasy re: what to expect from the galleries...

Edit: confirmed? http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2010/04/woods-to-play-par-3-contest.html

[Golf_Beauty]

[quote name='Mward2002' date='07 April 2010 - 10:16 AM' timestamp='1270660580' post='2365851']
Really? Where'd you hear he was playing the Par 3? Can't find that anywhere
[/quote]

It was announced this morning on TGC and here [url="http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2010/04/woods-to-play-par-3-contest.html"]Press Tent[/url]. I wonder who's caddying for him....

[mission_scratch]

Now its being said he is NOT playing.. good grief...lol... oh well, will still be fun to watch.. was hoping he would get out there and play.

[Huskypride28]

Glad to see him playing in the Par 3 contest. Shows he's backing up his statement about being more fan friendly on non competition days.

As for how he plays and if he wins, that's gonna depend on his driving and putting. Nothing else. Mentally and emotinally, he's ready. He wouldn't be here if he didn't think he was. And I honestly don't think the outside influences are going to effect him. I also think he got the first tee jitters out of the way during the Monday practice rounds. So at this point it is all about his game and if he can keep it in the fairway and make some putts, he's the favorite.