As I’ve been doing this week, I’m posting some odd images from Augusta and the Masters which are unique; shots not normally seen on TV or in standard media outlets.
Estimated 80 spent kegs of beer behind a concession stand. Click to zoom.
Behind a concession stand (I think near hole 16) is a shot I caught at the end of the day Monday. About 80 spent beer kegs. The beer is cheap at Augusta, but they’re still making a fortune in sales.
7:35PM ET
Once again, quite a while ago Fred Couples finished with a 67 today at is tied for 1st at -5 with Jason Dufner.
Thankfully Tiger Woods is finished for the day. A up-and-down par on 18 gave him a round of 75, his 2nd worst round at the Masters. In the post round interview Tiger said, “I didn’t quite have it today with my swing.” Tiger finishes the day tied for 40th at +3.
Tiger’s playing partner Miguel Angel Jimenez finished where he started the day, -3. Jimenez is tied for 8th.
World #1 Luke Donald finished the day at +4, tied for 47th with nine other players.
Nick Watney finished up the day at -2, T11.
7:00PM ET
Tiger Woods hit a really poor 2nd shot on 15 and beaned someone in the gallery right of the green. Following the bad 2nd shot the microphones picked up a “Goddamn it.” He ended up making a good recovery par after trying to flop the 3rd shot but ending up in the bunker.
Then the temper showed itself on 16 tee. Tiger blocked his tee shot right of the par-3 green into the bunker. He let go of his club then turned around and kicked the club a good 10-15 feet. At that point Nick Faldo commented, “We can officially say Tiger has lost his game, and his mind.” The ball was plugged and Tiger was lucky the bunker shot didn’t end up in the water left of the green. Bogey. On 17 tee he’s at +3. More bad swings could make missing the cut a possibility.
Jimenez knocked his 2nd shot in the water on 15 and made bogey. Through 16 he’s at -3.
6:00PM ET
Not too many players left on the course right now.
Tiger Woods is not having his best day. He is showing frustration. Having started at even par Tiger is +2 for the tournament through 13. 52% of fairways hit so far.
Jason Day has withdrawn. I hear it is an ankle injury but not sure yet.
Miguel Angel Jimenez is playing very well, and in Tiger’s pairing. He is -4 total through the 13th hole. He can knock a big crowd of people out of the tournament with the 10 shot rule if he can make a couple of birdies coming in to finish at -6.
There is a group of active players still on the course at -3 which includes Matt Kuchar, Henrik Stenson and Nick Watney. They’re through holes 16, 14 and 12 respectively.
4:20PM ET
Wow. Fred Couples is in the house with a total of -5, tied for the lead with Jason Dufner. Freddy shot a 67 today, after starting with a bogey on the first hole. Turn back the clock.
There’s a five way tie for 2nd at -4 among players who have finished: Rory McIlory, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson.
Phil Mickelson has really worked his way back into a good spot, three shots back of the lead. Phil shot 68 today, turning a +2 upside down and now at -2.
Tiger Woods is struggling a bit today. He started the round at even par and has made two bogeys and two birdies. Still at even after seven holes.
Luke Donald is quite a bit out of sorts. Donald made double bogey on the par-5 8th hole and is sitting at +5 after eight holes. He’s flirting with the cut.
3:20PM ET
Ouch. Lee Westwood came into the 18th hole with a one shot lead at -6. After hitting a poor approach his chip above the hole surprisingly did not come down. From there, he 3-putted for a double bogey and is now one shot behind the lead.
There’s a FOUR way tie for the lead now at -5 between Fred Couples (yes you read that right), Rory McIlory, Jason Dufner and Sergio Garcia. Dufner is finished while Couples is through 17, Garcia and McIlroy through 16.
Bubba Watson is at -4 through 16.
2:15PM ET
Jason Dufner started the day at -3 and had brought his score to -6 through 16 holes. He is alone in the lead, ahead of Lee Westwood who is still at -5.
My dark horse pick Oosthuizen is in the clubhouse at -4, sitting well.
Fred Couples is playing very well, -3 through 13 holes.
Rory McIlory got it to -4 on the front, and then made bogey on #10. He is in good position at -3.
Phil Mickelson is clawing back. He started the day at +2 and is now +1 through 12.
Sergio Garcia is putting well. He is tied for 2nd currently, at -4 through 13 holes.
Tiger Woods made birdie on his first hole today and sits at -1.
Kevin Na had the shot of the day on hole #13 when he holed out with a wedge for eagle. He finished the round at +2.
Angel Cabrera is struggling greatly. +5 through 12. Needs to make up serious ground to make the cut.
12:15PM ET
Temperatures are colder. Players are all in sweaters. The winds are kicking up a bit as well. Conditions look to be a bit tougher today so far.
Leader Lee Westwood is through seven holes, seven pars. Still at -5.
Peter Hanson is now tied for the lead at -5. He has completed five holes so far.
Jason Dufner had it to -5 but is back at -3 for the first nine.
Rory McIlory has appeared on the first page of the leaderboard. He has made birdie on #3 and #4 to climb to -3.
Phil Mickelson is on the course now. He started the round at +2 and is now +1 through four holes.
Tiger Woods has yet to tee off.
I spent some time Tuesday by the new practice green at Augusta National, by the new practice facility. There was a huge crowd there because Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory had been practicing their putting. I parked by Masters round one leader Lee Westwood and watched him and his caddie work on the stroke. Westwood has quite a setup.
Lee Westwood's putting drill setup - click to zoom
Straight Line
The first thing they did was find a putt on the practice green of about 10 feet which was dead straight. It took them a while, about 10 minutes to get the perfect spot. When they found the straight putt, they installed a string line on the line of the putt with two small spikes and a 10 foot string.
I get this. You can putt along the line and also use the line to check your putter head and stroke against it.
Arc Unit
The next thing they setup was a putting arc training unit. These units help putters with their stroke’s ark and some can be setup for straight arc or the “swinging gate” style.
Tees
Westwood put two tees in the ground outside the heel and toe of the putter. This is a common drill to force players to keep their putter head in the proper position. If the head moves inside or ouside the initial position, it will hit the tees. The tees can also provide a visual representation of a line 90 degrees perpendicular to the line. So they help the player visually make sure the putter face is square.
Towel
This is the part I’m not so sure about. Once the string, tees and arc trainer were in place, Westwood put a towel down beneath his feet. I’m assuming that since he plans on standing in the same position for a long time to groove the putting stroke, the towel is to reduce the possible damage or indentation his feet might put into the green.
Below is the round one leaderboard for the Masters.
| POS |
PLAYER |
TO PAR |
TOTAL |
|
1
|
Lee Westwood
|
-5 |
67 |
|
T2
|
Ben Crane
|
-4 |
69 |
|
T2
|
Jason Dufner
|
-4 |
69 |
|
T2
|
Peter Hanson
|
-4 |
68 |
|
T5
|
Zach Johnson
|
-3 |
70 |
|
T5
|
Bubba Watson
|
-3 |
69 |
|
T5
|
Paul Lawrie
|
-3 |
69 |
|
T5
|
Miguel A. Jimenez
|
-3 |
69 |
|
T5
|
Francesco Molinari
|
-3 |
69 |
|
T10
|
Ian Poulter
|
-2 |
72 |
|
T10
|
Jonathan Byrd
|
-2 |
72 |
|
T10
|
Vijay Singh
|
-2 |
70 |
|
T10
|
Scott Stallings
|
-2 |
70 |
|
T14
|
Louis Oosthuizen
|
-1 |
68 |
|
T14
|
Patrick Cantlay (a)
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Kevin Na
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Webb Simpson
|
-1 |
72 |
|
T14
|
Jim Furyk
|
-1 |
70 |
|
T14
|
Angel Cabrera
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Rory McIlroy
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Ross Fisher
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Stewart Cink
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Padraig Harrington
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Steve Stricker
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Aaron Baddeley
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Hideki Matsuyama (a)
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Matt Kuchar
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Henrik Stenson
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Keegan Bradley
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T14
|
Nick Watney
|
-1 |
71 |
|
T31
|
Sean O’Hair
|
E |
73 |
|
T31
|
Charles Howell III
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Bernhard Langer
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Rory Sabbatini
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Fred Couples
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Sergio Garcia
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Hunter Mahan
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Martin Kaymer
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Bill Haas
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Justin Rose
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Charl Schwartzel
|
E |
72 |
|
T31
|
Tiger Woods
|
E |
72 |
|
T43
|
Kevin Chappell
|
+1 |
71 |
|
T43
|
Brandt Snedeker
|
+1 |
72 |
|
T43
|
Mike Weir
|
+1 |
72 |
|
T43
|
Thomas Bjorn
|
+1 |
73 |
|
T43
|
Darren Clarke
|
+1 |
73 |
|
T43
|
David Toms
|
+1 |
73 |
|
T43
|
Tim Clark
|
+1 |
73 |
|
T43
|
Harrison Frazar
|
+1 |
73 |
|
T43
|
Bo Van Pelt
|
+1 |
73 |
|
T43
|
Y.E. Yang
|
+1 |
73 |
|
T43
|
Gary Woodland
|
+1 |
73 |
|
T54
|
Phil Mickelson
|
+2 |
74 |
|
T54
|
Robert Karlsson
|
+2 |
74 |
|
T54
|
Kyung-tae Kim
|
+2 |
74 |
|
T54
|
Rickie Fowler
|
+2 |
74 |
|
T54
|
Geoff Ogilvy
|
+2 |
74 |
|
T54
|
Kelly Kraft (a)
|
+2 |
74 |
|
T60
|
Martin Laird
|
+3 |
76 |
|
T60
|
Graeme McDowell
|
+3 |
75 |
|
T60
|
Fredrik Jacobson
|
+3 |
76 |
|
T60
|
Jose Maria Olazabal
|
+3 |
75 |
|
T60
|
Ryan Palmer
|
+3 |
75 |
|
T60
|
Adam Scott
|
+3 |
75 |
|
T60
|
Lucas Glover
|
+3 |
75 |
|
T60
|
Kyle Stanley
|
+3 |
75 |
|
T60
|
Sang-Moon Bae
|
+3 |
75 |
|
T60
|
Luke Donald
|
+3 |
75 |
|
T70
|
Edoardo Molinari
|
+4 |
75 |
|
T70
|
Paul Casey
|
+4 |
76 |
|
T70
|
Ryo Ishikawa
|
+4 |
76 |
|
T70
|
Brendan Steele
|
+4 |
76 |
|
T70
|
Anders Hansen
|
+4 |
76 |
|
T70
|
Larry Mize
|
+4 |
76 |
|
T70
|
Ben Crenshaw
|
+4 |
76 |
|
T70
|
Jason Day
|
+4 |
76 |
|
T78
|
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
|
+5 |
74 |
|
T78
|
Scott Verplank
|
+5 |
73 |
|
T78
|
Mark Wilson
|
+5 |
76 |
|
T78
|
John Senden
|
+5 |
74 |
|
T78
|
K.J. Choi
|
+5 |
77 |
|
T78
|
Robert Garrigus
|
+5 |
77 |
|
T78
|
Bryden MacPherson
|
+5 |
77 |
|
T78
|
Tom Watson
|
+5 |
77 |
|
T86
|
Simon Dyson
|
+6 |
78 |
|
T86
|
Corbin Mills (a)
|
+6 |
74 |
|
T86
|
Trevor Immelman
|
+6 |
78 |
|
T86
|
Alvaro Quiros
|
+6 |
78 |
|
T90
|
Ian Woosnam
|
+7 |
77 |
|
T90
|
Johnson Wagner
|
+7 |
79 |
|
T92
|
Chez Reavie
|
+9 |
79 |
|
T92
|
Craig Stadler
|
+9 |
81 |
|
T92
|
Randal Lewis (a)
|
+9 |
81 |
|
95
|
Sandy Lyle
|
+17 |
86 |
7:10PM ET
Lee Westwood sits on top of the leaderboard by himself at -5. He looks very focused and all parts of his game are working well. I was standing by Westwood on Tuesday and couldn’t help noticing that he’s in much better shape physically than the last time I was that close in 2010. His back looks muscular.
My dark horse pick Louis Oosthuizen is alone in 2nd at -4.
Favored players who really struggled today included Phil Mickelson (+2) and Tiger Woods (E). None of these favorites seemed to get anything going. Tiger and Phil both suffered from wild driving.
Phil Mickelson had to tighten his driver on the 18th hole. I wonder if his bad driving was attributable to the head being loose? Phil only hit 8 of 18 greens in regulation. His 74 looked much worse than the score would indicate.
Rory McIlory struggled but with a finish of birdie-birdie on the last two holes managed to grind to a round of -1.
The Luke Donald scorecard situation turns out to be a fax machine smear issue. He is not DQ’d. Shot 75.
Bad rounds of the day from players who should be able to compete (not including the old players like Sandy Lyle (+14) include Robert Garrigus (+5), Alvaro Quiros (+6) and Johnson Wagner (+7).
6:00PM ET
Louis Oosthuizen is in the house at -4, the current lead.
Lee Westwood is playing very solid and is at -4 as well after 16 holes.
There are currently only three Americans in the top 10.
Luke Donald turned in a scorecard of +1. The tournament officials are reviewing that because it is thought that he scored a round of +3. Could #1 be disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard?
Phil Mickelson lost a ball on #10. He ended up making triple after barely keeping his provisional in play. He’s at +4 and looks to be a little in shock. Update: he just made birdie on 13 and has it back to +3.
Rory McIlory isn’t really doing much. He’s at +1 and looks a little winded.
4:00PM ET
Tiger Woods had it to -2, but after making bogey on the last two holes he finished at even par. Tiger’s solid driving this season wasn’t there. He hit 6/14 fairways.
The nuttiest round of the day is that of Henrik Stenson. He had it to -6 after making birdie on #11. Coming into 18 he was at -5. He pulled his drive hard left into the trees on 18, then couldn’t quite get it out of the pine straw. It took him SIX shots to get the ball on the putting surface, where he two putted for a snowman. In the last two holes he went from leading at -6 to -1.
Tiger Woods’s playing partner, Miguel Angel Jimenez is in a 5-way tie for the lead now at -3. The other four at -3 are Paul Lawrie, Lee Westwood, Bubba Watson and Francesco Molinari. Molinari and Lawrie have finished but Westwood is through 10 and Watson through 8.
Short hitter Zach Johnson made eagle on the par-5 13th.
The biggest surprise bad ground is that of Johnson Wagner, finished at +7.
Rory McIlory and Phil Mickelson are at even par through eight holes.
1:00PM ET
Mark O’Meara has withdrawn due to an injury. Not sure what it is yet. Bummer.
Henrik Stenson is ON FIRE. He started with an eagle on #2 and now that he has birdied #10 he is at -6 and on top of the leaderbaord.
Paul Lawrie finished at -3.
Tiger Woods is on the course and has finished the front 9 at -1.
Robert Garrigus finished at +5.
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