The Masters 2023

[TR1PTIK]

I've flip-flopped over the years about Brooks, but watching him play healthy again this past week was incredible and was honestly pulling for him to get it done. He clearly did not have the iron game he needed yesterday though. He had a few errant drives, but approach play was absolutely abysmal - especially compared to his playing partner who was on fire!

Great win for Rahm. I know he's a phenomenal player and I wouldn't say I slept on him; I just kind of expected him to get a bit too hot under the collar at some point and lose a few strokes - he never did that. Starting the week off with a 4-putt you would have thought that might have been enough but he's clearly taking a new approach to his mental game and handling his emotions on the course. Just incredible job all the way around by The Masters Champ!

Amazing performances by Spieth and Phil even though the former slid back a bit right at the end. I don't think anyone expected much of anything from Phil given his questionable results over on LIV, but he proved he still has game. Hoping that the LIV vs PGA Tour dispute can be resolved much quicker now. It's clear he should be playing against the best players in the world as often as he wants to and right now that just isn't happening.

Super disappointed (though not surprised) about Tiger's withdrawal. While Augusta is arguably the best chance for him to win again due to his course knowledge and shot-making ability, it is also his worst chance to win again simply because of the terrain. I'll be surprised if he continues to tee it up there and that is just not the way you want to see his Masters career end. 

Another disappointment (and much more surprising) was McIlroy. I don't think there are any words really. You would have thought he finally had some sort of breakthrough after his final round performance last year and how his game has trended leading into the tournament, but he was never really even close. Benign conditions on Thursday and he failed to put himself in a position to succeed when the weather moved in Friday.

All-in-all, great week, great tournament, and I can't wait to see what the next major brings!

[Shapotomous]

14 hours ago, Kanoito said:

Is it just me (and m provider) or they aren't showing the final group at all?

I can only see featured groups and Amen corner...

The Masters controls which networks get to broadcast which holes / groups.  I think maybe they were trying to drive traffic to their website coverage?

[Headhammer]

I had Rahm in all my pools and contests, so I am happy he pulled out the win. However, I always feel bad for that guy that collapses on Sunday.

[tony@CIC]

WAIT.......!   was that @Yellow Ball that Couples was gaming? 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

On 4/6/2023 at 12:45 PM, GolfSpy_BOS said:

Zalatoris WD. 

Sad update on Will Z. that I just saw on IG. He has undergone back surgery and will miss the remainder of the season 

[GolfSpy BOS]

Just now, Jnoble89 said:

Sad update on Will Z. that I just saw on IG. He has undergone back surgery and will miss the remainder of the season 

That is very sad... but hopefully it is what he needs to fix it and be ready to play in the future.  I enjoy watching his game.... well outside of his putting!  Sounds like he's going to have some time to work on that though while he recovers.  

 

 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

2 hours ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

That is very sad... but hopefully it is what he needs to fix it and be ready to play in the future.  I enjoy watching his game.... well outside of his putting!  Sounds like he's going to have some time to work on that though while he recovers.  

 

 

From what I am reading in this article, he was quoted saying he's already seeing benefits from the procedure. Guy must have been in a good amount of pain yet. Definitely gives him ample time to recover correctly, I hope he does because he is fun to watch!

[Javs]

10 hours ago, ryan.mzzz said:

I have to congratulate phil. what I saw sunday as he climbed from -4 to -8 and inched past speith was a display of greatness. i’m not a liv backer and think the bifurcation of top talent is bad for the game, but that argument can wait for another day. as a human interest story, at the start of the week I thought phil looked like skeletor, and everyone was making those cocaine bear jokes and talking about phil sitting quietly alone at the champions dinner. Then I saw what he’s been reduced to as far as sponsors go, and I have to admit I felt bad for the guy. he hasn’t played decent golf in years. He’s definitely been humbled, in a way. Then he went out there on sunday and trashed most of the field and threw up a middle finger at all his critics, including me. He earned the right to though, on this one day at least. As a competitive person, I can’t help but respect it. 

Valid points, we could all learn from slowing down and looking at things from the other perspective before judging. You made me rethink my thoughts on him. 

[Rickp]

1 hour ago, tony@CIC said:

WAIT.......!   was that @Yellow Ball that Couples was gaming? 

How do you think Freddy made the CUT…..YB carried him to the weekend.

[Rickp]

1 hour ago, Jnoble89 said:

Sad update on Will Z. that I just saw on IG. He has undergone back surgery and will miss the remainder of the season 

Oh man sorry to hear this, kid can’t catch a break.  Hope he pulls thru this and gets back to Tour.

[drrlramsey]

I'd bet that Sam Bennets name-image-likeness (NIL) endorsement money that college athletes and amateur golfers can now collect far exceeds what he would have collected competing as a professsional finishing tied for 16th at the Masters this year. 

[GolfSpy SAM]

18 minutes ago, drrlramsey said:

I'd bet that Sam Bennets name-image-likeness (NIL) endorsement money that college athletes and amateur golfers can now collect far exceeds what he would have collected competing as a professsional finishing tied for 16th at the Masters this year. 

Interesting.  I think coming out and competing the way he did, as a (fifth-year) senior, means this will launch him into turning pro immediately after graduation.  I'm not sure how long he can take advantage of the NIL deals (are they kaput once you graduate?), though I'm SURE his agent is licking their chops at the thought   The kid was really fun to watch, and despite a rough last day, he still played with such class and skill, I'm excited to watch him continue his journey. 

[TheCount]

On 4/5/2023 at 9:11 AM, mikeanthony said:

I hope every single LIV player misses the cut. And their silly LIV team names/logos on their shirts is silly as well. 

All done with the subject and I feel better!

Now, Rory … LFG!!!  

LOL.. I think it's priceless that Rory the Arrogant spent all that time flapping his gums about LIV's 54 hole format.. only to get in 36 at the missing part of his career slam..  

[Bang60]

1 hour ago, TheCount said:

LOL.. I think it's priceless that Rory the Arrogant spent all that time flapping his gums about LIV's 54 hole format.. only to get in 36 at the missing part of his career slam..  

yeah so true, and all the interviews I’ve watched both tour players have said absolutely % no issues with anyone just having fun it’s just the MEDIA beat up, go figure huh  

[Splatt]

6 hours ago, Jnoble89 said:

Sad update on Will Z. that I just saw on IG. He has undergone back surgery and will miss the remainder of the season 

I read somewhere that he was ready to start his round and it wasn't until his caddy asked him what was wrong that he admitted he was in a lot of pain. 

What a battler!

I hope he gets better soon. Happy Gilmore needs his caddy back

[fixyurdivot]

An bonus for some of the LIV players is OWGR movement.  A few stayed about the same, a few dropped a little, but these guys jumped way up.  

Mickelson goes from 425 to 72

Mickelson 118 to 39

Reed 70 to 45

[cnosil]

10 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

An bonus for some of the LIV players is OWGR movement.  A few stayed about the same, a few dropped a little, but these guys jumped way up.  

Mickelson goes from 425 to 72

Mickelson 118 to 39

Reed 70 to 45

I think you meant Koepka for the 118 to 39

[mikeanthony]

6 hours ago, TheCount said:

LOL.. I think it's priceless that Rory the Arrogant spent all that time flapping his gums about LIV's 54 hole format.. only to get in 36 at the missing part of his career slam..  

Priceless indeed!

And Brooks choking away The Masters AFTER having played 54 holes was even more priceless!

[Splatt]

1 hour ago, fixyurdivot said:

An bonus for some of the LIV players is OWGR movement.  A few stayed about the same, a few dropped a little, but these guys jumped way up.  

Mickelson goes from 425 to 72

Mickelson 118 to 39

Reed 70 to 45

Mickelson's jump from 425 back into the top 100 is insane.

Old man has still got it

[Shankster]

21 hours ago, ryan.mzzz said:

I have to congratulate phil. what I saw sunday as he climbed from -4 to -8 and inched past speith was a display of greatness. i’m not a liv backer and think the bifurcation of top talent is bad for the game, but that argument can wait for another day. as a human interest story, at the start of the week I thought phil looked like skeletor, and everyone was making those cocaine bear jokes and talking about phil sitting quietly alone at the champions dinner. Then I saw what he’s been reduced to as far as sponsors go, and I have to admit I felt bad for the guy. he hasn’t played decent golf in years. He’s definitely been humbled, in a way. Then he went out there on sunday and trashed most of the field and threw up a middle finger at all his critics, including me. He earned the right to though, on this one day at least. As a competitive person, I can’t help but respect it. 

I have to believe the LIV guys miss the competition.  Pretty much all of them showed up ready to play aside from the dudes that would have missed the cut anyways.  I noticed that BK was wearing the same (looked like the same pair) of shoes all week.  I wonder if his swoosh endorsement is shaky? 
 

I truly hope the “powers that be” come to their senses and figure out a way to make this whole thing work for golf.  BK in his prime is the best player on the course.  Having the battle between Rahm and Him was must see TV, just like years past.

[fixyurdivot]

1 hour ago, Splatt said:

Mickelson's jump from 425 back into the top 100 is insane.

Old man has still got it

At least on that course, on that long weekend.  The odds of him catching fire like this will continue to wane with each passing year.  But, like Tom Watson at The Open, it can happen and it's exciting. I was starting to enjoy watching Phil play a few Champions Tour events and figured he'd mix both tours in his schedule as he continues down the prime side of the career.  Then Tour 54 happened .

[fixyurdivot]

3 hours ago, cnosil said:

I think you meant Koepka for the 118 to 39

Yup.  That's two beers I owe you. 

[Bang60]

15 hours ago, Jnoble89 said:

Sad update on Will Z. that I just saw on IG. He has undergone back surgery and will miss the remainder of the season 

Pleased to hear the operation went well, anytime you’re under anaesthesia it’s very risky. Hoping he’s coming back strong and healthy, good luck  

[Yellow Ball]

On 4/10/2023 at 11:55 AM, tony@CIC said:

WAIT.......!   was that @Yellow Ball that Couples was gaming? 

Sorry, late to the party. I was taking swimming lessons. 

Glad you noticed me with Freddy. I got to run I'm playing with Ernie right now. 

Edited April 15, 2023 by Yellow Ball