My Masters observations from Tuesday and Thursday

Status
Not open for further replies.

Kevin Shields

Super Moderator
Had another great time on my annual trip to Augusta. Thanks to ekennedy for hosting us at Secession. It is an American gem....one of the finest golf courses in the country. Took in the practice round on Tuesday and the first round on Thursday. While I'm sure I'll leave out a few things, here are some observations.

First and foremost...I said it in 1993 and I'll say it again and again. Fred Couples has to be the most gifted ball striker on the planet. If you ever have the chance to watch him play, do it. He's the coolest guy in the room, never misses the sweetspot and hits it better than anyone out there...period.

Brian Manzella is a workhorse. Gave a million lessons in entertaining fashion at the SI booth. Great seeing him.

Tiger hits it awfully hard and low nowadays. I'll leave it at that.

There's a whacked out fringe element that has Lee Westwood as a flipper and a less than top ball striker. There's a reason there are lunatics out there.

This is why stats lie. They have Darren Clarke as near the bottom in driving distance. I was on one of the measured holes. Totally heeled it off the bottom. On a few other holes he blew it past Ryo and Freddy.

On that note, Ryo Ishikawa needs a lot of work on his swing before he contends in these events. Way to fast and way too much curve. But he has a lot of time and tons of talent.

Furyk really knows where his ball is going, damn.

Mickelson may be the wildest driver I've ever seen.

Rory Mcliroy has one of the best swings out there. There isn't a shot he can't play. Saw him hit a dozen shots or so and he went thru them all. Cut, low, high high draw. Great short game. No wonder he can dominate any time he tees it up.

We've become way too addicted to slo mo cameras. Internet critics need to go watch live and see movements, ballflight and sequence.

Sat on #4 Thursday for at least 12 groups. Only saw one shot that would be characterized as bad. Vijay flared on in the right bunker. Couple missiles that came up just short. Amazing how at 240 yards how many pin seekers there were. Again, Freddy ripped hybrid to ten feet...never left the flag. He should've been five under on the front if he had Luke Donald putting for him.

The most amazing thing, if you're paying attention, is the pitching. If you honestly want to raise the level of your game...and I'm proof of this, improve your pitching. Sergio was close to last off Thursday and I felt like I had him all to myself on the side of the range. He was hitting this impossible pitch and had about ten balls from 50 yards within four or five feet.

Miguel Jimenez is a stud. It was a circus around Tiger Thursday and he took it right in his face. Hit a ton of solid shots.

Not important but Thomas Bjorn is enormous.

A lot of guys seemed to be working on something like tumble, right over left, clubhead out in front. Some things never change. As usual, Couples looked like he was working on nothing.
 

Jared Willerson

Super Moderator
Great write up. I love anecdotes from those that get to go. I feel like I have an inside scoop as to what is actually happening.
 
S

SteveT

Guest
After his second round, maybe Tiger should have visited the SI booth with Brian ... ya think??!!! ;)
 
Nice write up. I haven't seen many pga tournaments in the flesh, but from what I saw at those tournaments I went to, I completely agree that Freddie's swing and ball striking is the best I have seen. The smoothness and power of his swing is simply amazing to see.
 
Nice write up Kevin, thanks for sharing. Did you get a chance to observe Oosthuisan? Very impressed by what I saw on TV
 
Kevin

I was working a Nike event at the Shell Houston Open last week and got to observe and watch a lot of the guys practice. I noticed a lot of things you mentioned. But I wanted to ask you something about your observation of a lot of the guys working on a tumble, right over left etc. The thing I noticed was how effectively they pivoted through the ball as well. Very efficient and to me, seemed a lot faster than the typical amateur.

I have been focusing so much lately on the club tumbling that I feel my pivot has got lazy. What's your opinion on their pivots and role with the tumble and what not. I think the tumble allows you to get the club in a position that allows you to pivot more free wheeling through the ball.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top