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Masters, Masters and More

by Jeff Skinner

Not every golfer gets an invite to the Masters. There are plenty of golfers at home this week watching the action like the rest of us. Paul Goydos is one of those golfers. He’s not playing this week but I’m sure he is taking care of business. Paul thinks he is just a regular guy doing what regular guys do. He’s much more than that. Take a break from our Masters Mania and read John Feinstein’s article in Golf Digest. There isn’t a more insightful writer than Feinstein anywhere in golf.

It was great watching those three teenagers play Augusta yesterday. The “Green Jackets” could have set a Masters record for the youngest grouping ever at Augusta. The “teenage” grouping of Ryo Ishikawa, Danny Lee and Rory McIlroy combined ages would have been 54 years. They combined for a total of three over par. Maybe we can call them “The Young Three”. That would have to be the youngest grouping ever at Augusta. Arnold, Gary and Jack, “The Big Three”, combined for a total of 160 years in the Par Three Tournament. The youngsters have a long way to go.

After a perfect day at Augusta there were some great scores shot out there. That’s the “Old Augusta”, birdies and eagles all over. It left us with a very interesting leader board after day one.

Chad Campbell killed it with strings of 5 and 4 birdies. He could have gone much lower.

Young stud Hunter Mahan continued his hot play with nine birds to finish at -6.

Jim Furyk, nothing but pars and birds on his card. Eighteen GIR’S, are you kidding me! He keeps that up and he’ll be there on Sunday.

Surprise of the day: Larry Mize, Wow! At 50 years old he’s T4. Let’s hope he and Norman are paired for the third round.

Surprise: Todd Hamilton T6? Where did that come from?

John Merrick T6, we shouldn’t be shocked. He’s been good all year. Two top tens and a second so far.

Tim Clark flies under the radar and laid up on all the par fives. Don’t be shocked if he contends all week.

If it wasn’t for Mize, Kenny Perry would be the “old guy” on the leader board. He’s T6 and all he does is hang around the top in every tournament.

Phil Mickelson has got to turn it on in round two. He has a late start in round two and they are calling for poor weather. He had trouble hitting fairways again (43%)and needs to tighten it up.

That Woods guy shoots 70 and could have had a 67-68. He is right where he wants to be.

Tomorrow when Gary Player walks up eighteen it’s going to be one of those great moments that can only happen in golf. Player’s 52 Masters appearances will never be broken. There will never be another golfer like Gary Player. Player’s an emotional guy and I expect a little bit of vintage Player. How about a birdie to finish and a few tears of joy. That’s Gary Player.

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