Each year during Masters week, the game of golf has been reflected upon in its purest form. Golfers of days gone by were revered, statistics and quotes of incredible shots were remembered and everyone was deciding on the "right" way to make a pimento cheese sandwich.
Do a Google search this week for "Masters" and a more bizarre and less "Southern" feeling emerges.
John Daly has set up his RV directly across the street from the Augusta National parking lot conducting his own business by selling and signing memorabilia to fans. Daly was not invited to Augusta National as a guest but decided to show up anyway, hoping to make more money in sales than from an appearance fee.
There is more Tiger Woods chat than you can shake a stick at since he is the big draw this week and the reason for an 82-person security detail. Partnering with Woods will be K.J. Choi and Matt Kuchar. The big scoop, however, is that former(?) mistress Joslyn James will be headlining her own act in nearby Atlanta.
James is making a special appearance at the Pink Pony strip club during Masters week. The Pink Pony is playing up the Tiger Woods/Joslyn James scenario by offering directions from Augusta National to (another good ole boys) Club and the tag line, "The former porn star will be dancing on the bars while Tiger is hitting pars!"
Two greats of the game are also making their appearance in the news, Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd. Couples thinks he still has a chance to win and Floyd realizes that it's the end of the line and is calling it quits after 45 Masters Tournaments. Couples should consider sticking with the Champions Tour because even though he has won three times this year and placed second, no fifty-year old golfer has ever won The Masters.
This year at Augusta National will certainly NOT be your father's Masters!
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Monday, April 05, 2010
Ernie Els' Caddie Switch Before Masters May Hand Green Jacket to Tiger Woods
Ernie Els' arrangement with former NHL player Dan Quinn to carry his bag at this week's Masters Tournament may very well be his downfall allowing a grimacing, unshaven Tiger Woods to don yet another green jacket.
Els' plan to give both caddies a chance, and a stake, in his career is not a bad one but choosing a beginner over a veteran for a major event could pose trouble for Ernie.
Roberts, eighteen-year veteran on Els' bag, has helped Ernie to win all three major championships and fifty-seven victories whereas Quinn has been on Ernie's bag for seven events with this being his first Masters event.
Els doesn't seem convinced that either caddie will make a difference in the way he will play golf at the Masters.
"I don't think anybody can tell me anything more about Augusta than I already know. I've had local caddies take me through there. I've had everybody take me through there. So I know exactly where everything goes," mentioned an overly confident Els this week.
Could this self-assurance be Els' undoing at the Masters or is he correct that the final decision at the bag is really only his to make?
Roberts was on the bag when The Big Easy made those back-to-back wins but as Els' manager Chubby Chandler said, "Dan being an athlete is very positive. It's a new perspective. Ricci comes back and is fresher. It has worked out marvelously."
Shane Bacon of Devil Ball Golf points out that "the caddie isn't there just to give you course advice. They're the person that calms you and understands you and handles your nerves and remembers your strengths and weaknesses."
The question as to whether or not Ernie Els believes this mantra will soon be answered at the Masters. If Els wins, both caddies will understand that they serve a minimal function for him.
If he loses, Els will have an unfortunate as well as expensive learning experience.
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