US Masters Golf

[CK]

Can Tiger return seamlessly to the tour, or will he need this hitout to get back to his best? Really difficult to say, but would be prepared to go against him.

Think that Matt Kuchar, Chad Campbell and Charl Schwartzel could be the dangers. Of the Australians, Nathan Green has had a solid 12 months on the US tour and could be a surprise. Marc Leishman's form is a bit topsy turvy, but his first trip to Augusta will be interesting. John Senden's game is suited by the course also.

[Footy Smart]

I cant wait for the first round. It will reinvent Golf in a way i think this will be a close one.... as for the top 5 i cant really say as there are a heap of golfers in good form and the players always lift for this event!

[Booney]

Ever since I heard this was his return tournament I have felt he was going to come back with blistering form and belt the living suit case out of the rest of the field.

My thoughts have not changed. This bloke, on course, is the best we have and probably will see and when he is focused he is near impossible to beat.

I'm saying a 6 shot win for him come Sunday afternoon.

Can you imagine the weight of guilt lifted off his shoulders? He will be a new man on the course IMO. Look out.

[heater31]

Certainly don't think the crowd will affect him too much. Not only will there be a massive protection force around him. He will be focused solely on his next shot.


I know a bloke who has seen Tiger up close in the States and said last week that at one tournament over there his playing partner Henrik Stenson asked his caddy to remove a woman and baby from the crowd as the child picked the worst moment to scream its lungs out. A few minutes passed while this was sorted and Tiger only standing 5 m away from him in the crowd asked his Caddy what are we waiting for? He didn't even notice the child in the crowd making all the noise

[CK]

Progressive leaderboard (bearing in mind a number of players still on course)

1. Mickelson, Phil -5 -5 18 67 - - - 67

1. Watson, Tom -5 -5 18 67 - - - 67

1. Westwood, Lee -5 -5 18 67 - - - 67

1. Yang, Y.E. -5 -5 18 67 - - - 67

5. Kim, Anthony -4 -4 18 68 - - - 68

5. Watney, Nick -4 -4 18 68 - - - 68

5. Couples, Fred -4 -4 13 - - - -

8. Lyle, Sandy -3 -3 18 69 - - - 69

8. Toms, David -3 -3 18 69 - - - 69

10. Molinari, Francesco -2 -2 18 70 - - - 70


10. Immelman, Trevor -2 -2 16 - - - -

10. Kjeldsen, Soren -2 -2 15 - - - -

10. Johnson, Zach -2 -2 14 - - - -

10. Kuchar, Matt -2 -2 10 - - - -

10. Woods, Tiger -2 -2 10 - - - -

16. Els, Ernie -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Johnson, Dustin -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Karlsson, Robert -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Langer, Bernhard -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Mahan, Hunter -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Manassero, Matteo -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Marino, Steve -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Senden, John -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Weir, Mike -1 -1 18 71 - - - 71

16. Poulter, Ian -1 -1 11 - - - -

16. Schwartzel, Charl -1 -1 11 - - - -

16. Choi, K.J. -1 -1 10 - - - -

16. Duval, David -1 -1 9 - - - -

29. Allenby, Robert E E 18 72 - - - 72

29. Crane, Ben E E 18 72 - - - 72

29. Green, Nathan E E 18 72 - - - 72

29. Haas, Bill E E 18 72 - - - 72

29. Ishikawa, Ryo E E 18 72 - - - 72

29. Kelly, Jerry E E 18 72 - - - 72

29. Leishman, Marc E E 18 72 - - - 72

29. Merrick, John E E 18 72 - - - 72

[CK]

Tiger has just made his own slice of history - the first time today that he has ever made two eagles in the same round at the Masters. Currently at -4 after 16. Long game looks like nothing has been missed, but the putter looks rather rusty so far.

[CK]

Current leaderboard:
Pos Start Player Name Overall Today Thru R1 R2 R3 R4 Total
1. 7 Poulter, Ian -8 -4 18 68 68 - - 136
1. 2 Westwood, Lee -8 -3 18 67 69 - - 136
3. 7 Barnes, Ricky -6 -2 18 68 70 - - 138
3. 2 Choi, K.J. -6 -1 18 67 71 - - 138
3. 7 Kim, Anthony -6 -2 18 68 70 - - 138
3. 2 Mickelson, Phil -6 -1 18 67 71 - - 138
3. 7 Woods, Tiger -6 -2 18 68 70 - - 138
8. 2 Yang, Y.E. -5 E 18 67 72 - - 139
9. 1 Couples, Fred -3 +3 18 66 75 - - 141
9. 17 Kjeldsen, Soren -3 -1 18 70 71 - - 141
9. 2 Watson, Tom -3 +2 18 67 74 - - 141
12. 32 Haas, Bill -2 -2 18 72 70 - - 142
12. 12 Immelman, Trevor -2 +1 18 69 73 - - 142
12. 22 Karlsson, Robert -2 -1 17 71 - - - 71
12. 22 Mahan, Hunter -2 -1 17 71 - - - 71
16. 22 Johnson, Dustin -1 E 18 71 72 - - 143
16. 17 Kuchar, Matt -1 +1 18 70 73 - - 143
16. 32 O'Hair, Sean -1 -1 18 72 71 - - 143
16. 32 Perry, Kenny -1 -1 18 72 71 - - 143

Of the Australians, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Nathan Green and Robert Allenby should just make the cut (Currently +3).

Some of the bigger names likely to be missing are Tim Clark, John Senden, Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Rory Sabbatini, Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh. After a -3 yesterday, Sandy Lyle fired a +14 today to go +11 for the tournament.

[Pottsy]

Just planning my weekend - thought I'd finish off with a big night on the couch infront of the Masters to see Tiger come romping home...

And it's not bloody on! What's going on? Has the Pay TV monster swallowed the Masters as well? I can get a 20 minute wrap of the evenings proceedings. **** a duck!...

[CK]

Just planning my weekend - thought I'd finish off with a big night on the couch infront of the Masters to see Tiger come romping home...

And it's not bloody on! What's going on? Has the Pay TV monster swallowed the Masters as well? I can get a 20 minute wrap of the evenings proceedings. **** a duck!...

ONE HD are from 5.45am to 9.00am, live action. They just finished round two.

[Pottsy]

I tried to look for Monday morning, but should have gone to Sunday late night.

Whew. I was pretty annoyed there. Thought I might have to put up with Wedgie singing the praises of pay TV...

Couch booked. Carn the Tiger!

[CK]

Phil Mickelson pickes up FIVE shots in THREE holes (back to back eagles followed with a birdie) to move to -12 after 15. Westwood -11 after 13; Couples -8 after 16, along with Tiger after 15, then Barnes and KJ Choi both on -7 after 15 and 14 respectively.