The Masters Golf tournament is special to casual golf fans and golf enthusiasts alike. It signifies that we should awake from our winter slumber and get spring started. Kinda like the Daytona 500, it too could be compared to the Super Bowl of the Golf Season. And this year, there's a chance that the tournament, specifically the back nine on Sunday that will finish in prime time, will rival the greatest ever. Of course, ever year has that billing, and last year when Charl finished with a birdie flurry on the last 4 holes was something to behold. But this year sets up for what Mr. Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. intended for the Invitational when he dreamed up the plan for converting a 365 acre nursery into the cathedral it is now.
This year, unlike any year in recent past, the top players in the world are on top of their games. 6 of the worlds top 9 have won on the PGA Tour this season, and that doesn't include Phil. (He's 14th...) Johnson Wagner (#61) and Kyle Stanley (#47) are the only players outside the top 26 that have won an event on tour this year. That's 10 players inside the top 26 that are coming to Augusta with a W in the past 3 months. Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy have each taken over the #1 spot in the world by winning that week. Phil won at Pebble. Mahan has won twice. Tiger won 2 weeks ago. Stricker won in Hawaii. Previous week collapses have been vindicated the following week by Kyle Stanley and Brandt Snedeker. I can't remember another Masters (or even Major) where as many of the top golfers in the world have had this much momentum going to the first tee. Here's hoping for a tournament worthy of its excitement and anticipation, and maybe even a few twists and turns along the way. No matter, I will be watching Sunday afternoon despite the absence of azaleas.
