The large group next to the outdoor dining area between the clubhouse and the putting green included Garcia’s parents, his wife’s parents, two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal and Jon Rahm, who hopes to become the fourth Spaniard in a green jacket.
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Scott and other top pros also wouldn’t be surprised if Woods wins this week. American Justin Thomas, ranked second, victor of the 2017 PGA Championship in August and February’s Honda Classic in Florida, is vying for a second straight major title.
“I’m excited to go back there and defend my title as well as I can be and as well as I can do”, Garcia said about returning to Augusta National for the April 5-8 Masters. “I’ve been there for the dinner and as great as that is, it’s frustrating, knowing that I’m young enough to play the event, where some of the other champions are not, and I just have not been able to physically do it, which is hard”.
Schuster has overcome a battle with Multiple Hereditary Exstosis, including multiple surgeries to remove bone spurs, and played in the first-ever DCP National Championship in 2015, finishing third in the 11-12 division.
Schuster reacts to her chip shot attempt at the Tournament Practice Facility at Augusta National Golf Club.
Tiger has posted seven top-six finishes in his last nine outings at Augusta, without adding to his haul of Masters titles.
“The quote of the year to me has been from David Duval”, two-time U.S. Open victor Curtis Strange said recently.
“Augusta is a place that can tempt you into doing too much so being disciplined with your iron play is important”.
If Woods is one shot off the Masters lead heading into Sunday, however, double-digit Nielsen ratings could happen.
Most golf fans remember that seminal moment in 1997, when Woods won the first of four Masters by shooting a course record -18.
He chips out again but can’t clear the water around the green.
“But without that par save on 13, I don’t think I’d have had the energy and belief to make birdie on 14, or eagle on 15”. So that’s the part of his game that looks the sharpest to me. You are damn right I would but Rory is my favourite.
“Our goal here is to inspire a lifelong passion for the game of golf, and if our participation helps, then we’ve accomplished our mission. So, yeah, just watching the mental side is always fun”.
The main reason: One Eldrick “Tiger” Woods, who is newly relevant and one of the favorites for a fifth green jacket after making a remarkable recovery from back surgery.
“It’s very disappointing”, he said.
“He’s going to threaten”, Faldo said. The fact that he was even in position at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to make a Sunday charge says it all.
“Then there’s Phil Mickelson – Tiger might well be the greatest player but to me Mickelson is the greatest champion”. The victor of this week’s Houston Open will be added to the list, if he has not already qualified.
The 47-year-old lefthy, who hasn’t won a major since the 2013 British Open, put together a string of four top-10 performances that concluded with a win at the World Golf Championships event in Mexico at the start of March.
“I loved Phil’s victory”, said Casey, whose victory at the Valspar was his first since on the PGA Tour since 2009.
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Whilst we can speculate on who might perform well at Augusta this year, it is exceptionally hard to pick out the victor, as The Masters is predictably unpredictable. “I think I lost sight of that a little bit”.
