Masters Round One Summary
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Updated: Thu 4/8/2010 11:38 pm
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It's interesting to look back historically at past first rounds of the
Masters and how much this year's leaderboard could be one of the best of
all time. As for Fred Couples, he led after the first round in 1998
and finished up T2nd behind Mark O'Meara. But honestly you have to go
back to the impressive leaderboard in 1993 when a 53 year-old Jack
Nicklaus co-led with Corey Pavin, Tom Lehman and Larry Mize
as one of those impressive leaderboards. In 1964 we had some
impressive names out in front as Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Kel Nagle,
Bob Goalby and Davis Love Jr. lead, with Palmer winning. 1947 wasn't
bad either as Jimmy Demaret and Byron Nelson led with Demaret winning.
Of course having the first round lead doesn't mean anything. Of the 109
that have lead or co-led, only 15 were able to claim victory three days
later. As Tiger Woods said after his round of 68 when asked what the
day meant for him he said, "I am two shots off the lead".
As for Fred Couples round, it was a thing of beauty. He hit 12 of 18
greens, 11 of 14 fairways but his key was taking only 24 putts. Couples
started the day making birdies at 1 and 2, then added five more birdies
along with his only bogey at 5. Now the one thing that is really
remarkable about his 66, in 96 previous Masters rounds he has never shot
this low. His low was 67 done four times, the last being in the 3rd
round in 1995. It's amazing to think that just 3 years ago in 2007
Couples was so messed up with his back that he called it quits on the
year after just three starts, the last a T30th at the Masters. Couples
is a long ways away from that injury ridden season.
We all know that the Masters is one of Couples favorite events, but he
has to thank the Champions Tour and three victories in four starts. Tom
Watson talked about the Champions Tour and how much it helped to have a
place to play. Tiger Woods mentioned that for Couples, winning was so
important because it helps you play better afterwards. Still it's only
Thursday and Couples has a long way to go.
The same with Watson, yes he led after every round at Turnberry just to
lose in the playoff. But in a way, Watson's round today was a lot like
the Bishop's round during the storm in the movie "Caddyshack" On the
first hole Watson holed a 30-footer for birdie and made numerous saves
with putts between 3 and 10 feet. Watson even hit it in the water on
his second shot at 13 and still saved par.
It's amazing when you think that some of the oldest players in the
field, Watson and Couples took only 24 putts. But if you look at what
both have done on the Champions Tour, Watson is first in putting while
Couples is 3rd. So what kind of a chance do you give both? Honestly
for Watson not much, this is a tough brutal course for a 60 year old.
This is Watson's 40th year at the Masters, the first time he played in
this event in 1970, 68 of the players in the field of this year's
Masters wasn't even born. As for Couples when he played his first in
1983, 16 of those in the field weren't even born. Still Couples hits
the ball a long way, has the energy and mental powers to do well. I can
see him still being in contention come Sunday.
Now for many Phil Mickelson's round of 67 was almost as stunning as
Couples and Watson. He has had a very tough year, it's not as much
about his game as his mindset. Mickelson over the course of the last
two weeks has played some really inconsistent golf, his last 8 rounds at
Bay Hill and Houston have been in the realm of a low of 67 to a high of
77. He has been working hard on his game and you have to think the
round of 67 which included an eagle, four birdies and a bogey will help
him on Friday. Just like with Watson, he played under some tough
conditions with winds gusting up to 30 mph so maybe he will be ready for
the rest of the week. As for the stats, he hit only 6 of 14 fairways
but did hit 14 of 18 greens. He took 28 putts so for him it was a good
day. Now in the past you would think that Mickelson would be a shoe-in
for being in contention on Sunday, but we have to see how he does on
Friday because of late, we have seen swings like 67-75 and 69-76 the
last two weeks so anything is possible.
I feel that Lee Westwood is one of those that can do some damage. His
game from tee to green is Tailor made for this course. On Thursday he
hit 10 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens. He is a powerhouse of
hitting a lot of greens, but he has to putt well for 72 holes, one of
his Achilles' heal. But you have to wonder if he isn't due real soon,
he has played her since 1997 and only had one top-ten, but with the
history this course has for others from Europe he could be the guy on
Sunday.
But in talking about the one guy that can be there on Sunday, all eyes
will be focused in on Tiger. His 68 was his best first round in 16
Masters, he hit the ball good as he was 9 of 14 on fairways hit and 14
of 18 in greens hit. His putting was not up to par as he missed 4 putts
inside of 10 feet and said that afterwards. Now Tiger is trying to
pull off a feat that only Ben Hogan has done, winning the Masters
without a official round. Now to be fair, Hogan did play in a pro-am
event two weeks before his Masters win in 1953 while Woods hasn't played
in 144 days. But he has practiced hard and simulated conditions that
he would be in. As he said about getting mentally ready, "You have to
take your practice seriously and go out there and play like you
practiced, then everything will be all right.
Still the bottom line is that with Woods past on this course which is
playing easier than it has the previous five years you have to wonder if
it's time for Tiger to break his five year winless drought. Guess in
three days we will find out, but after what we have seen of Woods in the
last four days his game and attitude is just as good as it was before
his problems.
