Happy Birthday Seve Ballesteros
Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
Categories: European Tour • Miscellaneous • PGA Tour • Pro Golf • The Masters
Categories: European Tour • Miscellaneous • PGA Tour • Pro Golf • The Masters
Seve Ballesteros walking the grounds at Augusta National Golf Club – Photo by Alan Nelson
Today is the birthday of golf great Seve Ballesteros, a golf legend we lost way too soon at the age of 54 back on May 6, 2011. If he were still around, he would be 56. Happy birthday Seve. You are missed.
My Son
Speaking of Seve, some of you may not know that my lovely lass and I had a baby about 5 months ago. His name? SEVE.
“Drive for show. Putt for dough, son.”
Forget your pick to win… Who is your pick to NOT win the Masters?
I’m getting so tired of the repetitive golf blog and social networking subjects that I feel the need to mix it up a bit and ask something different! Why ask you who will win the Masters when 12 billion other sites are asking the same question? I want to know who you think is a guaranteed lock NOT to win the Masters? And tell me why? Who do you pick to miss the cut?
Masters Stuff You Don’t See On TV – Spent Beer Kegs
While everyone else is posting shots of the holes on Amen Corner, I’m bringing you the hard-hitting blogging that Hooked On Golf Blog has become infamous for. Today’s “Masters stuff you don’t see on TV” photo was taken by me, behind one of the Masters green concession stands. I believe this one is near 16 tee. They hide them in the trees…
Spent beer kegs at the Masters – click to zoom
What’s your favorite hole at The Masters?
One great thing about The Masters is the fact that the tournament is played on the same wonderful golf course every year. We as fans get to know the holes and remember the historic shots made on each one.
What’s Your Favorite Hole at Augusta National?
There are so many holes I love at Augusta. My all time favorite is the par-3 12th. I think that this hole is possibly the best golf hole in the world, or perhaps a tie with the Road Hole at St. Andrews. 12 is beautiful and extremely challenging, and only about 150 yards long. The design of this hole, so challenging and so short, stands the test of time. 12 is almost always a crucial hole in the round of the eventual winner of the tournament, just ask Fred Couples.
Augusta National’s 12th hole – Golden Bell
When I made my first trip to Augusta I was most blown away by hole 10. 10 is a long and downhill par-4 with a dogleg left. TV can’t come close to showing how dramatic the elevation change on this hole is and the way the trees frame it up. Looking back up the fairway from the green is impressive. Of course, hole 10 is where Bubba Watson made the incredible gap wedge shot from the right pine straw in last year’s playoff to seal his Masters win.
The Masters & Augusta National’s Hole #10
Hole 12 is my favorite hole in the world, but hole 10 ranks right up there for me.
What is your favorite and why?
The Masters & Augusta National Golf Club – A Look At Hole #1
Welcome to Masters week, the BEST week of the year in golf. I’m going to post some photos, with commentary, from my trips to the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club. Sure I may post photos of Amen Corner, holes 12 and 13, but everyone posts those. I’m going to try and feature some shots most people don’t see on TV to give some better perspective to the golf course and the Masters.
Hole #1 – Tea Olive – Par-4 – 455 Yards
“Tea Olive” is a long par-4, uphill dogleg right of 455 yards. Tea Olive gets its only decent airtime when the honorary starters are teeing off in the morning early on Thursday. TV viewers only see the tee box. The hole starts in front of the clubhouse and by the practice green. The fairway dips down, then goes back up in elevation. The biggest hitters can sometimes reach flat ground at the top of the dip. Errant tee shots left or right will have tree trouble.
Right of the lowest part of the dip is where the big Masters scoreboard is. That’s the scoreboard with “Masters” across the top and the flags. That is also one of the main entries into the course. The largest merchandise store as well as food and beverages are located farther right of the main scoreboard.
Masters Hole #1 – Don’t miss the green… Click for larger image
Why did Rory McIlory struggle so much on #1 last year? The fact is that it is a tough hole. The green is like an upside down soup bowl. #1 green is hard to hit with collection areas rolling off to almost all sides. Any shots long, short or off to either side will roll off. If players miss the green on #1 they will be faced with a very tough up-and-down. If a player manages to hit the green with a less-than-accurate approach, two-putting will be difficult.
Bearings
There is a grandstand behind #1 green which is where I took the photo above. Next to #1 green (left of the green as it is approached) is #9 tee. A little farther in the same direction #8 green can be reached as well as #2 tee.
Conclusion
The first hole can set the tone for a player’s round and it is non an easy go. TV viewers may never see the action on hole #1, which is a shame.
Related Links
Hooked On Golf Blog Masters/Augusta Image Gallery
« Previous 1 … 338 339 340 341 342 … 1,165 Next »
