2014 Masters

[Jack Lambert]

I'd thought I'd get the 2014 edition of this thread up and running. I always love watching one of my favorite sporting events, and look forward to The Masters every year.

As I'm writing this, Bill Haas has the clubhouse lead at -4. Defending champ Adam Scott is currently at -3 through 17 holes. Rory McIroy's been playing good as well, posting -2 under so far. Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth are at -1 so far. I'm sure that ESPN has been scrambling to find other things to talk about since The Great One isn't in the field this year.

Should be a great weekend!

 

[Carolina Speed]

Yes JL, I'm looking forward to it!

I've got a few favorites to win like, Mickelson, Scott, etc., but I would rather McIlroy win his 3rd Major at 24 years of age or someone like Jordan Spieth win at 20 or even a Patrick Reed, 23. Someone to come in and take some of the attention away from Tiger. One of these 3 seem to be poised to become the next great Major champion with McIlroy the leader.

The only way we're ever going to stop hearing about Woods is if one of these young players come in and win 12, 13, 14 or so Majors. If not we're forever going to be stuck with hearing how great Tiger is and the comparisons to him and Jack Nicklaus.

Some here will disagree, but until someone steps up, I'll never believe today's talent is as tough or as good as in the days of Snead, Hogan, Palmer, Player, Watson, and Nicklaus!

I hope someone does, I'd like to see another Nicklaus in my lifetime!

 

[Don Wassall]

I'm not following it this year because Tiger's not in it.

 

[Don Wassall]

A lot of big names missed the cut, including Phil Mickelson for the first time since 1997, but it should be another great weekend of golf. 2012 champ Bubba Watson has a three shot lead at -7, with defending champ Adam Scott tied for third at -3. Scott will play tomorrow with 20 year old phenom Jordan Spieth.

Six men in their 50s made the cut, led by Fred Couples who is right in the hunt yet again. I'll be rooting for Adam Scott to repeat.

 

[Carolina Speed]

A lot of big names missed the cut, including Phil Mickelson for the first time since 1997, but it should be another great weekend of golf. 2012 champ Bubba Watson has a three shot lead at -7, with defending champ Adam Scott tied for third at -3. Scott will play tomorrow with 20 year old phenom Jordan Spieth.

Six men in their 50s made the cut, led by Fred Couples who is right in the hunt yet again. I'll be rooting for Adam Scott to repeat.

I like Scott also, but I'm rooting for someone who wants more than 1 or 2 Majors! I guess I'm greedy, but I want someone to come along and get 10, 11, 12 or more Major wins! If that doesn't happen, we'll be forever hearing about Tiger Woods.

There are some young players who have that potential, but they've got to get tougher and go and get it!

 

[Carolina Speed]

Yes JL, I'm looking forward to it!

I've got a few favorites to win like, Mickelson, Scott, etc., but I would rather McIlroy win his 3rd Major at 24 years of age or someone like Jordan Spieth win at 20 or even a Patrick Reed, 23. Someone to come in and take some of the attention away from Tiger. One of these 3 seem to be poised to become the next great Major champion with McIlroy the leader.

The only way we're ever going to stop hearing about Woods is if one of these young players come in and win 12, 13, 14 or so Majors. If not we're forever going to be stuck with hearing how great Tiger is and the comparisons to him and Jack Nicklaus.

Some here will disagree, but until someone steps up, I'll never believe today's talent is as tough or as good as in the days of Snead, Hogan, Palmer, Player, Watson, and Nicklaus!

I hope someone does, I'd like to see another Nicklaus in my lifetime!

Looking forward to tomorrow at the Masters!

Jordan Spieth the youngest at 20, 54 hole leader ever! I'm rooting for Spieth. Maybe this is the guy to become the next 10 or 11 or more Major winner!

 

[Jack Lambert]

Looking forward to tomorrow at the Masters!

Jordan Spieth the youngest at 20, 54 hole leader ever! I'm rooting for Spieth. Maybe this is the guy to become the next 10 or 11 or more Major winner!

I am as well, Carolina. Tomorrow is going to be a great day of golf! I'd really like to see Spieth win as well!

 

[Don Wassall]

I'll be rooting for Spieth too now that Adam Scott has fallen well off the pace. I don't know if he'll win tomorrow, but Jordan definitely has star quality about him -- character, mental toughness and charisma. Hard to believe he's only 20 years old the way he comports himself.

 

[foobar75]

Watching the Masters without Woods and the virtually all-white crowd has been great. I'm rooting for someone other than weeping wuss Bubba Watson to win it. Agreed about Jordan Spieth, could he finally be that player who can become the dominant golfer of this era?

The more we get these 1 and done first time winners, the more we hear about "Tiger's greatness" from his nut-huggers in the media. The upcoming years in golf should be competitive given the young talent in the sport, but if 1-2 players can separate themselves by winning more than 1 major and become the undisputed next star of golf, the quicker we'll all forget about Woods.

 

[Don Wassall]

Leading up to its third round coverage today, CBS aired a one hour show on the "Big Three" -- Arnie, Jack and Gary -- who 13 of the 29 Masters between 1958 and 1986. Tomorrow the lead-in will be about Nick Faldo, who won three Masters (and three British Opens). Faldo can be irksome as a golf commentator, but he was an iron-willed and very talented player.

The Golf Channel will air a three-part series on Arnie beginning tomorrow night after the final round at 10:00 EST. Parts two and three air on Monday and Tuesday. One of the very best things about golf is that greats like Palmer and Nicklaus are openly revered by the public and even by the media to an extent. Are there any other White men in this very sick society with similar status? And that's another reason why I like The Masters so much -- it's about the only slice left of the old, far better America that still exists and is presented positively when it comes to sports and even society at large.

 

[icsept]

The Masters has been an absolute joy to watch this year. 13 players within 4 strokes of the lead, and none of them named Tiger.
The Masters has amazingly remained uncorrupted by political forces. We won't see Obama, hear about gays or gun control, there won't be any drunk white fans acting like fools, no offensive commercials, no illuminati half-time performance. Just a beautiful competition on a stunning golf course, between first class, elite athletes.

 

[Jack Lambert]

It's been a great final round thus far! Bubba and Jordan Spieth have been going shot for shot pretty much so far in the final pairing! Spieth is -7, with Bubba at -6. Fred Couples has also had a nice round, making two birdies to open his round. It's amazing how well he's still playing at 54.

 

[Don Wassall]

Spieth's play through the first 7 holes, which is the hardest part of Augusta National, was impeccable. His birdie putt on 7 was as good as it gets.

CBS and the Golf Channel certainly have geared the bulk of their coverage over the past 24 hours to Jordan. Perhaps even the dinosaur media has a bit of a case of Tiger Fatigue? Given that Jordan is American and even younger than Rory McIlroy when he won the U.S. Open three years ago (and Tiger when he won The Masters in '97), this will be huge if he gets the win.

 

[The Hock]

I find the "KOOCH" chant a little irritating, but otherwise a fun round to watch. Shoot themselves into a tough spot then shoot themselves out of it. Oops, Spieth just didn't savvy the burro on that green.

 

[The Hock]

That was a bad-ass gravity putt by Fowler.

 

[Don Wassall]

Four shot swing in favor of Bubba over the past two holes. If it doesn't turn out to be Spieth's day, Watson will be a very deserving winner. When he won in 2012 he was a birdie machine on the back nine, hopefully we'll see an epic back nine today.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Four shot swing in favor of Bubba over the past two holes. If it doesn't turn out to be Spieth's day, Watson will be a very deserving winner. When he won in 2012 he was a birdie machine on the back nine, hopefully we'll see an epic back nine today.

That's what I'm hoping for as well. It looks like it's either Bubba or Spieth right now; Kuchar and Blixt are still on the fringes yet, but it's coming down to two deserving winners. Either of these guys winning would be great.

 

[icsept]

Spieth has recovered and the shootout with Watson continues. Great stuff.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Congrats to Bubba Watson on his 2nd Green Jacket! He played a great round of golf today; a well-deserved win for Bubba!! Great job to Spieth as well for tying for 2nd in his 1st attempt. Another great weekend at The Masters.

 

[Carolina Speed]

I'm not gonna hide it. I'm disappointed in the Masters outcome! I was really hoping that Rory McIlroy would get his third Major, but then Jordan Spieth came into contention and had a chance to become the youngest Masters winner ever and take some of the shine off of Eldrick Tiger Woods.

However, it didn't happen and now we have another major winner that probably won't win too many more at age 35.

Congratulations to Bubba Watson, but he really doesn't have the game to win any other major except possibly the PGA.

We're faced again with another 1 or 2 Major Winner, Watson, Simpson, Glover, McDowell, Johnson, etc.. and done.

I hate it for Spieth. I think he and McIlroy could become a 10 or 11 Major winner, but there is so much more pressure on these guys than in the days of Player and Nicklaus. There's more made about their age, more TV coverage, more endorsement responsibility, more everything. I'm not sure if these guys have a fair chance to become a Nicklaus.

This would have been a good start to a Major charge for Spieth. I hope this doesn't mess with his confidence. His game sets up better for all the Majors, not just the Masters.

Looking forward to the U.S. Open. Maybe Rory, Jordan, or Patrick Reed can get a Major or 2 this year!

 

[Don Wassall]

Bubba becomes just the 17th man with two Masters victories. The other 16 are all in the Golf Hall of Fame.

Bubba's his own man -- he's from a small town, blue-collar background, is not only self-taught in golf but has never taken a lesson or had a swing coach or a "psychologist" and the rest, and has a unique playing style and attitude. He's a devout Christian, doesn't drink, and places great importance in being a husband and father. He does things his way and more power to him for being an individual in this age of rigid conformity.

 

[The Hock]

Bubba becomes just the 17th man with two Masters victories. The other 16 are all in the Golf Hall of Fame.

Bubba's his own man -- he's from a small town, blue-collar background, is not only self-taught in golf but has never taken a lesson or had a swing coach or a "psychologist" and the rest, and has a unique playing style and attitude. He's a devout Christian, doesn't drink, and places great importance in being a husband and father. He does things his way and more power to him for being an individual in this age of rigid conformity.

I second the motion. Many on the PGA come across to me as clone-like and corporate. There's just something different about Bubba and I'm glad to see him win.

 

[FootballDad]

Would you ever see Cheetah Woods at a place like this? Kudos to Bubba:

[h=1]Bubba Watson hits Waffle House after Masters win. Of course he does.[/h]

 

[sport historian]

Leading up to its third round coverage today, CBS aired a one hour show on the "Big Three" -- Arnie, Jack and Gary -- who 13 of the 29 Masters between 1958 and 1986. Tomorrow the lead-in will be about Nick Faldo, who won three Masters (and three British Opens). Faldo can be irksome as a golf commentator, but he was an iron-willed and very talented player.

The Golf Channel will air a three-part series on Arnie beginning tomorrow night after the final round at 10:00 EST. Parts two and three air on Monday and Tuesday. One of the very best things about golf is that greats like Palmer and Nicklaus are openly revered by the public and even by the media to an extent. Are there any other White men in this very sick society with similar status? And that's another reason why I like The Masters so much -- it's about the only slice left of the old, far better America that still exists and is presented positively when it comes to sports and even society at large.

I saw Part one of the Arnold Palmer series last night, very good.