Preview: The 2009 Masters
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 07 April 2009 - 16:54
Author: Tom Driscoll
It is somewhat adroit that the first full week of April coincides with Easter, the Christian calender's most sacred event and with it the end of Lent, since another festival of a quasi- religious proportion also begins in earnest this Thursday.
This year, Good Friday and Easter Sunday will hold further celestial significance to millions of Golf pilgrims around the world as they mark the culmination of the 2009 Masters Tournament, held in the sport's very own sacred grounds of Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia.
The course, designed in tandem by the great Bobby Jones and architect Alister Mackenzie in the 1930s, is the United States most revered and possesses a unique myriad of traditions and customs – holes 11,12 and 13 make up the holy triumvirate known as 'Amen Corner', for example – which have collectively reinforced its status as one of the most prestigious competitions in sport.
This year's contest marks the 72nd quest for the famous Green Jacket and with it, the ultimate prize of sporting immortality. But it will begin behind the continued rumblings of discontent voiced by a host of current players who argue that the extensive redesigning of the course in recent years has taken away the potential for the final–round magic synonymous with Augusta's illustrious past.
Re-designs not par for the Course
The contentious redesigns were orchestrated under the stewardship of the clubs previous chairman, Hootie Johnson, as an attempt to ensure Augusta National was at an equal standing with the advances in distance modern players were able to strike a ball.
From 2002 to 2006, he extended the length of the course by 6.5 per cent from 6,985 to 7,445 yards, a factor that was clearly influenced by the emergence of the game's superstar, Tiger Woods. In 1997 and aged just 21, Woods announced his mercurial talent by posting the lowest four-round score ever seen on the great course of just 270. A symbolic feature of Woods' 12 shot victory was his use of a pitching wedge on his second shot on several of Augusta's par-five holes.
Whilst specific changes were clearly needed it has come in for significant criticism, most noticeably from Woods himself, who in rather prosaic but unequivocal terms noted of the Augusta course: “It's not what it used to be.”
Also, this programme of increasing the length of the course has resulted in the compromise of several of Jones and Mackenzie's original golfing principles. A mass of newly planted trees and a policy of increasing the length of grass beyond the fairways has led to narrower fairways and thus reducing the number of angles players can use to approach the hole.
In the quest for higher scores in more challenging course circumstances, players have become more defensive in recent years. This was most noticeably seen last year when South African Trevor Immleman shot a final-round 75, three over par, to plod his way to victory.
This is polar to the games purists who resonate with the Augusta tradition of stirring fourth-round comebacks, most memorably seen back in 1996 when Nick Faldo overcame Greg Norman's six-shot lead to seal a remarkable third Green Blazer.
Woods, who finished second to Immelman in 2008 and grasping the majority feeling amongst the players, said: “It's hard to make eagles and big birdies out there. I miss the guys being able to go out there and shoot 31 on the back nine and win a championship.”
A rivalry renewed.
One man who did shoot a magical 31 on the last nine holes to win the title back in 2004 is World No 2 Phil Mickelson and following Woods' return from an 11 month injury lay-off and victory in the recent Bay Hill Invitational tournament, the world's media has forecast this bitter rivalry to rear-up again.
The pair have long had a frosty relationship despite being paired together on several occasions, mostly unsuccessfully, in various Ryder Cup matches. This was exasperated in recent months when Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, insulted Mickelson at a charity event back in his native New Zealand. When asked to comment on his thoughts on Mickelson as a player, Williams said: “I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player because I hate the prick.”
Mickelson meanwhile has enjoyed a resurgence of form during Woods' enforced absence, winning the Northern Trust Open at Riveria County Club in February this year and then just a month capturing the World Golf Championship title in Florida.
Augusta has also been the scene of the pair's domination in previous years. From Tiger's second victory in 2001 to Mickelson's second triumph in 2006, only Mike Weir in 2003 could prevent one of these two heavyweights from donning the Green Jacket. But the recent victories by less celebrated player such as Zach Johnson in 2007 and Immleman in 2008 show that a fantastic week by a solid golfer earn them a place in Golf's most sought-after club.
The Challenge from Britain.
One man who has befitted most from Woods' enforced absence is Ireland's Padraig Harrington who has been victorious in both the Open and US PGA Championships in 2008– the two majors Woods missed as a result of his injury. The thirty-seven year old Irishman will be hoping he can build upon his three major career titles to lead him to victory in Georgia despite a rather unsuccessful start 2009.
Another Irishman causing more than a smudge of hype in the last year is Holywood's Rory McIllroy. The nineteen year-old sensation has stormed his way up to 16th in the world rankings and is considered by many as a bona fide heir to the crown of the World's number one golfer. He has already secured his first tour title victory, emerging victorious in the Dubai Desert Classic in February and Augusta will hold no fear for this precocious talent.
Elsewhere, Englishman Paul Casey will also be a challenger following his victory at the Shell Houston Open last weekend as will Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who has already secured two titles this year at the Mercedes Benz Championship in January and the WCG-Accenture Match Play Championship, defeating Casey in the final.