Golf Talk With Greg Holman – #6

Click play to listen to Greg’s Podcast, or read below.

I went back and listened to my Masters preview to see how many of my predictions came true at this years tournament. I actually made 4 predictions. I predicted the weather would be cooler, actually except for a 2 and a half hour rain delay in the first round the weather was not a factor, and the weather was similar to April weather, in the 70’s and hovering around 80 degrees, unseasonably warm for November even in Georgia. So I got that one wrong.

I also predicted the course would be longer and softer, I got that right, especially the first two days with 3/4’s of an inch of rain in a short amount of time.

I also thought the scores would be higher than usual. I was way off there, the cut was even par. The eventual winner set a Masters 72-hole scoring record of 20 under par. The runner-up Cameron Smith also set two records, the lowest score for a second place finisher at 15 under par, and the only golfer in the history of the Masters to shoot all four rounds in the 60’s.

My last prediction was that Rory McIlroy would finally break through and add the Masters to his collection of major wins and capture the grand slam by winning all four major tournaments. Rory dug himself into a deep hole the first day by shooting 75 and had to play catch-up the rest of the way.

Tiger Woods had a great first round tying his best opening round ever at Augusta by shooting a 5 under par, 67, Wood’s set a record though he’d rather forget on the short 150 yard par 3 12th hole in the final round, Tiger Wood’s recorded the highest score he’s ever made since turning pro on a hole. He made a 10, and here’s how he did it. He hit his first shot, an 8-iron into the water and dropped, hitting 3 with a penalty shot, he hit another ball into the water and dropped, hitting 5, he overshot the green into a bunker, his sixth shot found the water on the other side, he then chipped his eighth shot onto the green and two putted. But, Tiger is to be commended for the way he handled the bad luck and brutally bad score. He was able to regain his concentration and record one of the best finishes in Masters history by making birdie on 5 of the last 6 holes, shooting even par for the tournament.

Meanwhile, the number one golfer in the world Dustin Johnson was unstoppable and deserved the win, in addition to the record low score he also set a record with four, for the fewest bogies in a Masters. Four bogies in the entire tournament 72 holes.

So even without fans it was another thrilling Masters, Jack Nicklaus still holds the record for the most green jackets with 6, Tiger will have to wait until next year for a chance to tie him. If it can be played in April of 2021, it will once again be the first major championship of the year, and unofficially usher in Spring.

Congratulations to Dustin Johnson, runner-up Cameron Smith, the tournament committee and the PGA along with CBS, ESPN and the Golf Channel, for once again pulling off a tradition like no other in sports.