But you are talking like it is what will define whether he wins or loses. Even if he takes the 3 wood off the tee and lays up with his 2nd, he will get birdies the way his short game and putting has been this year. Lets face it too, even when he uses a smaller wood, he is still in the position that 80% of the others would love to be in. He wont win by a record margin, but if he chips and putts as he has been, he will win. That is where Augusta IS won. It helps to have a big drive, but its not the end of the world if you have to play shorter.

Most Victories at Augusta National:
6, Jack Nicklaus,1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986
4, Arnold Palmer,1958, 1960, 1962, 1964
4, Tiger Woods, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005
3, Jimmy Demaret,1940, 1947, 1950
3, Sam Snead, 1949, 1952, 1954
3, Gary Player, 1961, 1974, 1978
3, Nick Faldo, 1989, 1990, 1996
3, Phil Mickelson, 2004, 2006, 2010
2, Horton Smith,1934, 1936
2, Byron Nelson,1937, 1942
2, Ben Hogan, 1951,1953
2, Tom Watson, 1977,1981
2, Seve Ballesteros,1980, 1983
2, Bernhard Langer,1985, 1993
2, Ben Crenshaw,1984, 1995
2, Jose Maria Olazabal, 1994, 1999

Bookies Odds put Woods and McIlroy way out in front. There has to be some serious value somewhere in the field.

Just watched the end of the PGA tour event, McIlroy looks like he's timed his 'form' well. He also looks like he's been on the same diet as 'the rock' either that or his new nike gear is skin tight...

I'm glad he didn't win too! No one ever backs up. Good performance but hell pretty much be playing competitive golf for a week and a half running. I'm not sure if that's ever a good thing.

Sandy Lyle & Phil Mickleson beg to differ.

Personally I think that it is a good thing for Rory playing himself
Into some form.

Sorry, 2 in 76 attempts

It might work, you never know, but he'll have played 6 days straight last week before jumping on a plane either last night or this morning to Atlanta where he will be on the course solid all week. I hope it does work and I hope both him and Tiger match each other blow for blow. Golf needs a major rivalry like it had in the 70's. Tiger and Phil was decent but you always had the feeling that one was far superior to the other. Tiger and Rory, at the top of their games, would be quite something.

It would be good to see them both at the top of their game battling it out. Mark Rowe make a good point regarding woods. He thinks if the wind is up he doesn't fancy woods as he isn't the the best with wind effects the ball flight

Feel sorry for Luke Donald, seems to get screwed over by the hand picked pairings far too often.

Wish Blubba Watson would stop it with the waterworks aswell!

Not seen the pairings.

Can't see Donald winning, gives up too much distance from the tee

Pairings of note in Round 1
Weir, [uWestwood[/u, Furyk - 1406
Snedeker, Ishikawa, [uRose[/u - 1417
Z. Johnson, Choi, [uGMac[/u - 1450
B.Watson, [uPoulter[/u, Fox - 1534
T.Woods, [uDonald[/u, Piercy - 1545
Day, Fowler, [uHarrington[/u - 1556
Mickleson, Oousthuizen, Kaymer - 1830
[uMcIlroy[/u, Bradley, Jacobson - 1841

Par 3 comp tonight on SS 1HD at 7pm.

They've been having somewhat of a mini heatwave this week. Last Thursday it was 11c. It's 29c today there. Thunderstorms to pass through tomorrow afternoon and rain Friday but still warm in The daytime.

I can't wait for it to start. THE best sporting even of the year.

Oh, I was just having a look around StubHub last night and 4 day badges are being sold for around $15,000!!



Today's practise round was pushing $2,000

Ted Potter Jr. won the Par 3 Contest at the Masters on Wednesday afternoon after a five-way playoff with Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney, Ernie Els and Matt Kuchar.

Potter beat Mickelson and Kuchar on the second playoff hole as Watney and Els didn't return to the course for the playoff.

They all finished at -4 in regular play. I think it's pretty safe to say the streak will continue

Mickelson's gonna win....

Shame woods never competes. And did van pelt throw it so as not to win the par 3

Yeah, he had a straight 10 footer uphill to go to -6 but he let his kid take it so the score didn't count. The kid missed anyway and he officially finished on -4.

Top 10(ish)

K Na is up there the tip from a few years back!!!

Got money on rose, poulter and fowler this year

Westwood doubled the 1st hole and is now -3 as well. That's some turnaround. Last thing you want is to start at 2 over. If he loses by 2 I bet he kicks himself.

I would love Westwood to win this one

Agree would be great for him to win, I have always thought he never had the putting game to win. But he has placed well at Augusta for the last few years. And he has moved to the states now.

Top 10 after Round 1:


Selected Others:

Westwood,Rose and Donald nicely placed to move into position for the weekend.

Freddie Couples again making a good start to this tournament.Would love a Brit or European to win but if not would be great to see old Fred get another Green jacket.