2021 The Masters Tournament

[legitimatebeef]

A little early for a thread but I needed an excuse to post this.

[bkuehn1952]

No Tiger.

I need to quickly find a standard bearer for my fandom. Bryson?? No effing ay. Phil? Hmmm. Jordan? Hmmm. I need to think about this.

[DougE]

Since Tiger isn't in it this year, Jordan, Rory, Phil, Bubba, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Tony Finau, and Paul Casey are just a few I'll be rooting for, with Jordan being a sentimental favorite. Actually, there are many others I would root for and be happy to see win it too. It's actually much easier to say who I don't want to see win it. Patrick Reed comes to mind first. Rory Sabatina is another and Jim Herman (only because Trump will take full credit---they are buddies).

[legitimatebeef]

Keep lookin BK.

What happened to Rickie Fowler?

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- One of the most-liked and popular players on the PGA Tour is struggling. He has sniped at his longtime caddie, whom he has known since childhood. He has admitted it has been hard not taking his troubles on the course home to his wife.

Rickie Fowler is no longer one of golf's young stars; he is 32 now. He's stuck on five PGA Tour victories, a number far below what was expected of him when he came out of Oklahoma State.

[legitimatebeef]

[legitimatebeef]

The Masters has arrived. (under a black cloud obviously)

The main story during the run-up, is that Justin and Rory recently paid visits to the Tiger in Florida, and they say he is doing alright.

[legitimatebeef]

Rory is an all-time great and everything but let's face it, he will never fully understand how Tiger thinks. Yet there is this running narrative, that Rory is just a couple of mental cues short of truly dominating golf. As if Rory just needs to figure out the right outlook or perspective, and THEN we'll finally see what he's capable of. I'm not buying it anymore.

[DougE]

Hope everyone's watching. Have had it on Masters.com all morning. Watching the Koepka group and the Bubba Watson group. Heading out to play now, but will be back at it later. Not the same without Tiger, but will be pulling for Spieth.

[legitimatebeef]

These greens look terrible. What is up with that.

Evidently one of Rory's shots struck his own father in the leg. Rory is already out of the tournament. You know what that means--pressure's all off now. Buckle up, he is going to go really low tomorrow. I think on some level he enjoys shooting himself in the foot on the first day and then freewheeling the rest of the tournament.

[legitimatebeef]

I was hoping for Rose to make this one a sleeper so that I might shut off the TV this weekend but no. I think Jordan will contend, but his driver looks wild--I predict heartbreak.

[legitimatebeef]

Coverage is unreal I must say. You can now watch any shot by any player, on-demand. I believe this is without precedent. I am starting to get why Mr. Mike Stone is so nuts about this thing.

[legitimatebeef]

How great would it be for the Masters to be won by an Asian, after all the bullshit that's gone down in this country recently.

[legitimatebeef]

Phil's sunglasses look like cheap shit but you know they cost at least $5k.

[legitimatebeef]

What a huge accomplishment, for a Japanese person to win the greatest title in all of golf. I had a thought, maybe the Japanese media ought to get together and like, agree to not make things so difficult for its beloved sports stars. Because they really do seem to work against the best interests of their favorite sporting sons and daughters, with all their insane scrutiny and expectations. Maybe chill out and give people some space and not create extra hurdles on the path to competitive success.

[DougE]

I was pulling hard for Hideki to hang on near the end (once it was clear Spieth had no chance). He made it exciting after having a 6-shot lead. I'm happy for him and all of Japan.

[MattF]

I think young Zalatoris is going to have a big career if he keeps playing the way he does.

[legitimatebeef]

I think young Zalatoris is going to have a big career if he keeps playing the way he does.

Me and Ms Beef had a discussion about this kid. IMO he needs to add some bulk to excel at the highest level. He has no bulk whatsoever. It does not go well in the long run for golfers built like that. Nobody in the top echelon of golf is that skinny and I believe there is a reason: tournament golf has elements of endurance to it. Few sports contests last for four plus hours and even fewer have a playing field the size of a golf course. Regardless of ballstriking ability, which Will Zalatoris has plenty, it seems that all super skinny golfers face that dilemma. Either have to beef up to withstand the rigors of big-time touring tournament golf, or else go the way of Chesson Hadley. Will Z obviously gets by right now but IMO that is mostly 24yo, what I call retard energy.

[bkuehn1952]

Once it was clear that the tournament was Matsuyama's to win or lose, I pulled for him. No one should have a huge lead and watch it slip away. That tee shot and fairway on #18 always looks soooooo narrow. It was a huge relief when Matsuyama hit the fairway.

[legitimatebeef]

I hope that Matsuyama grows in power and self-belief from here rather than become one of those players who break through but then never reach that level again. Geoff Ogilvy, Stenson, Schwartzel etc.