US Masters
-
<p>Furyk out too with wrist surgery.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I love The Masters and The Open.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>No real hatiest players up the top at the moment. Just enjoy watching them all play. I used to think Fowler was a bit of a head but he has grown on me.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="569876" data-time="1459807542">
<div>
<p>Dustin to win it and then a line of coke as long as his stride!</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>with someone elses Missus on his arm!</p> -
<p>Bradley, Kaymer and Mahan are all $41 for a top 5 finish.</p>
-
<p>Oosty at $31 and Sneds at $61 look good shouts at long odds. Both have great Masters pedigrees.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Kaymer hasn't got inside the top 30 in eight starts, so I think those odds are long for a reason...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But you'd think one or more of Day, Scott, McIlroy, Watson and Spieth will be there or thereabouts on Sunday arvo.</p> -
-
<p>Is Jason Day the most likable Aussie sports person around? Dunno why, I've just really warmed to him.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ian Poulter at $126 is laughable. He could take part in 45,000 masters and he'd never win one. I think Spieth at 9 is great money.</p> -
<p>Masters betting is the easiest golf betting of the year. It's still bloody hard, but at least you can narrow down the list of options to 10-15 people.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the last 25 years, I would suggest that there have been precisely 4 left-field winners - Schwartzel, Immelman, Johnson, Weir. And even those guys were still top pros at the time and not unheard of, unlike some other winners of majors in that time (eg Shaun Micheel, Todd Hamilton, Ben Curtis, etc)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's so rare that people without Augusta pedigrees win the event. And it's one of those courses that you can either play it or you can't. I'd be amazed if the winner wasn't one of the following:</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Jason Day</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">7</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Jordan Spieth</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">9</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Rory McIlroy</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">9</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Adam Scott</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">11</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Bubba Watson</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">11</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Phil Mickelson</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">17</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Rickie Fowler</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">17</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Justin Rose</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">26</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Charl Schwartzel</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">31</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Louis Oosthuizen</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">31</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Brandt Snedeker</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">61</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Matt Kuchar</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">61</span></span></p>
<p style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Zach Johnson</span></span> <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">61</span></span></p> -
<p>Rose came second last year with a score that would win 90% of Masters tournaments. Schwartzel is a past champ in winning form right now, and Oosty has almost won here a few times and is also in great form. All three are in it for sure IMO.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The last three are a bit more speculative, but I think Johnson is a live chance. Can bob up in big tournaments, as he did in the Open last year. And has Augusta form.</p> -
<p>If Rory McIlroy wins he will become only the sixth player to complete a Career Grand Slam of all four Majors.</p>
-
<p>In the Par 3 shootout, Gary Player, at the age of 80, hit the 31st hole-in-one of his career.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Five other holes-in-one on the day recorded as well.</p> -
<p>there was also 2 consecutive holes in one in one of the groups too.</p>
-
<p>I'm firming on Rory as my pick for the week. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The previous two years he has come in as a real favourite, with plenty of expectation that he will win. It's taken its toll, and he hasn't produced his best golf.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This year he is behind Day and Spieth in terms of attention and favouritism, and I think being out of the spotlight that little bit more will help him produce his best. His form is very solid, and he is such a great player in the majors that you just can't count him out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He gets it by 2 from Jason Day. Phil Mickelson will be in one of the final two groups on Sunday but will fade to finish 9th.</p> -
<p><span style="color:rgb(20,24,35);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I bet on the option that a non-american, non-European will win. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(20,24,35);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Its paying $3.25, good value I reckon. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(20,24,35);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My pick is one of Adam Scott, Jason Day, Charl Schwartzel or Louis Oosthuizen. . </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(20,24,35);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Jason Day is in unbelievable touch at the moment, hits it a fucking mile and is an under-rated clutch putter. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(20,24,35);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Adam Scott is playing bloody well at the moment with the short putter. He also has the best caddy in the world back under the strap and loves Augusta. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(20,24,35);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Both South Africans also love Augusta, and Louis has just been falling short of late. One of the best ball strikers on tour. </span></p> -
<p>Stuff like this is why I love the Masters:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/06/the-masters-golf-augusta-pimento-cheese-sandwich-nick-rangos-2016 '>http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/apr/06/the-masters-golf-augusta-pimento-cheese-sandwich-nick-rangos-2016 </a></p> -
<p>heard a soundbite on the radio this morning with Jack Nicklaus and his son (in the car behind) pulling into the Augusta carpark and the gist of it was 'you can park where ever you like Mr. Nicklaus, and yes your son can just follow you'</p>