They have been holding the Masters tournament at Augusta National since 1934, and no one had ever made a 9 on the first hole – until Ernie Els, the easygoing South African and four-time major champion, reached the green in three shots Thursday afternoon and proceeded to experience perhaps the most acute, most cringeworthy case of the yips ever seen on these grounds. Lahiri, who had his wife Ipsa, taking pictures and manager Neeraj, on the bag as caddie, enjoyed himself thoroughly and hit some great shots, too. But Johnson said length off the tee won’t determine who gets to make the green jacket a reality this week.
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Els’s score was recorded as a 10 for much of the day, until a scoring review of the hole determined it was actually a nine.
But this has also been the most hard green to hit in two shots. “One of these days I will get it done”.
The promo on CBS Sports, uttered so dramatically by Jim Nantz – “a tradition unlike any other – the Masters”, reminds us that tradition is one of the main reasons the first major on the men’s calendar, played every year at Augusta National, is so special.
Eighty-six-year-old Arnold Palmer watched from a chair at the first tee, deciding not to take a swing this year because of health issues.
DeChambeau wandered out to the first tee just after 8 a.m.to witness Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus hitting the ceremonial first tee shots.
“So we are in the middle of all of those studies, a lot of arithmetic, a lot of design issues, and we would only resort to equipment as the last resort because we believe that the governing bodies in golf deal with that very effectively”. I had a lot of fun here. McIlroy is the only player from the top five in the world ranking who has not won this year. With Palmer unable to take a shot, and needing to be helped to stand up, Nicklaus was overcome with emotion.
“I’m going tomorrow”, the Carolina Panthers defensive end said on Wednesday. “I think it’s good for the game of golf and I think it’s good for this tournament, as well”.
I can’t talk about this hole without mentioning my chip-in at the 2005 Masters.
“I don’t know why I would”, he said.
Fowler opened the Masters with an 8-over 80 on Thursday as he tries to shed that label of best player without a major title. “But I do feel good with how I’m playing right now and where I’m at mentally and physically”.
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“Right now, I’m not even thinking about it because I don’t have any problems at all”.
