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The SportsBoss
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2010 Masters Storylines
First off obviously Tiger Woods is the principal story. In a change from his preceding interviews and comments surrounding the day after Thanksgiving and the details that followed, he
placed no restrictions on questions this afternoon and answered all that were posed to him. From the start I haven’t thought he was truly remorseful for his behavior and each and every
step he had completed in the past made him look worse, however today he handled each and every question posted to him with emotion, showed some remorse and appeared genuine.
Let’s hope we all can put this story behind us, let Tiger, Elin and their children work things out so we can all move on to golf. Speaking of such, his golf game should be tight as usual but
it will be very tough for him to win this tournament, even though he is still the favorite and rightfully should be whenever he tees it up. There hasn’t been a single major championship in the
last 10 years I would have taken any golfer over him and that probably will not change in this next decade either. There are lots of reasons I don’t think he wins this tourney, obviously all the
distractions, the rust on his game, and the course, so let’s take a quick look at some of his major challengers and their respective odds:
• Tiger Woods +350 : rightfully so still the favorite even after his long layoff.
• Phil Mickelson +800 : Lefty is seeking his 3rd green jacket in 2010, but first since winning in 2004 & 2006. Phil doesn’t come in playing great golf thus far, but is almost a guarantee
to be within reach of the title on the back nine on Sunday.
• Ernie Els +900 : perhaps no golfer comes into this year’s version in better form than the 3 time major winner from South Africa. This championship has eluded him even though he
has been in contention quite often come Sundays. Expect Els to be a factor.
• Padraig Harrington +1600 : another 3 time major winner, the Irishman is seeking his first green jacket and first win by a European since Olazabal’s win in 1999. After going through
swing changes in early 2009 he settled down some late 2009 and should be prepared for the course this year.
• Jim Furyk +3750 : very nice odds for the one time US Open champion. Picked up his first win earlier this year in some 40+ starts over the last few years. Length can be an issue for
Furyk most years at Augusta, but with the course playing hard and fast this year, he could be a factor if his putter isn’t ice cold.
• Martin Kaymer +3300 : perhaps the best player on the European Tour, this young German is back in Georgia with a big game looking to win his first major. It still might be too early,
but this guy has the ice in his blood to handle the pressure if he can get in position.
• Sergio Garcia +4000 : I doubt anyone would have believed Sergio wouldn’t have at least one major by 2010, but he is still looking for his first big win. He cannot come into this
tourney anymore under the radar than he is this year, which might be just right for the Spaniard. Great ball striker which is always a premium at Augusta, but his putter often falters,
especially late on Sundays.
As mentioned above, the course is going to play extremely hard and fast, or BRUTAL. A recent review of the weather shows it’s been over 80 down there for about a week with not a drop
of rain and similar conditions are expected thru Sunday - including NO RAIN at all and near record highs. With all the changes the course has seen over the last few years, it rarely plays
hard and fast, always seems to rain some during the 4 days of the tournament. Yes, these conditions do even the field out in one aspect - length will not be as big a factor as it usually is
(typically of the 4 majors the Masters is the one most influenced by length). However, playing hard and fast is going to make precision iron shots a necessity and will test the players iron
games to the highest degree. As usual putting will be very critical, and with these greens drier than nitrogen oxide, it’s going to be harsh out there. Premium ball striking and putting will
win it - that statement is not bold necessarily, and yes Woods is probably the best ball striker and is the best putter possibly of all time - but the rust will make it tough. The precision
needed with iron play into these tiered and undulating greens are going to be exceptionally tricky. The lone time the course played truly hard and fast was the year Zach Johnson won it - it
was hard and fast for different reasons as it was very cold; his winning score was +1, and I will be very surprised if this year isn’t at best -3 and possibly even worse than Johnson's.
Last minor point, parts of the telecasts will be broadcast in 3D. The Masters is notoriously known for their limited coverage, only just a few years ago finally showing the entire final round
of the leaders on Sunday and we still don’t get that on Saturday. And the first two rounds is a weak 3 hrs late in the day. But the 3D angle should be pretty cool for those who have the
technology which is probably few and far between.
In closing, this year’s version of the Masters should be even more wide open than usual as the dried out course will play much shorter than the usual beast Augusta is. In addition,
scoring will be at a premium with the faster than usual greens. I look for a winning score around Even, with putting being the most important stat of the week. I recommend plays on
Mickelson as a favorite, Ian Poulter +3000 as a mid range selection, and quite a few of the long shots I feel have a legit shot as this tourney really is wide open and there is lots of value on
the board. My other three selections will be Luke Donald +5500, Mike Weir +5800 and Robert Karlsson +6000.
First off obviously Tiger Woods is the principal story. In a change from his preceding interviews and comments surrounding the day after Thanksgiving and the details that followed, he
placed no restrictions on questions this afternoon and answered all that were posed to him. From the start I haven’t thought he was truly remorseful for his behavior and each and every
step he had completed in the past made him look worse, however today he handled each and every question posted to him with emotion, showed some remorse and appeared genuine.
Let’s hope we all can put this story behind us, let Tiger, Elin and their children work things out so we can all move on to golf. Speaking of such, his golf game should be tight as usual but
it will be very tough for him to win this tournament, even though he is still the favorite and rightfully should be whenever he tees it up. There hasn’t been a single major championship in the
last 10 years I would have taken any golfer over him and that probably will not change in this next decade either. There are lots of reasons I don’t think he wins this tourney, obviously all the
distractions, the rust on his game, and the course, so let’s take a quick look at some of his major challengers and their respective odds:
• Tiger Woods +350 : rightfully so still the favorite even after his long layoff.
• Phil Mickelson +800 : Lefty is seeking his 3rd green jacket in 2010, but first since winning in 2004 & 2006. Phil doesn’t come in playing great golf thus far, but is almost a guarantee
to be within reach of the title on the back nine on Sunday.
• Ernie Els +900 : perhaps no golfer comes into this year’s version in better form than the 3 time major winner from South Africa. This championship has eluded him even though he
has been in contention quite often come Sundays. Expect Els to be a factor.
• Padraig Harrington +1600 : another 3 time major winner, the Irishman is seeking his first green jacket and first win by a European since Olazabal’s win in 1999. After going through
swing changes in early 2009 he settled down some late 2009 and should be prepared for the course this year.
• Jim Furyk +3750 : very nice odds for the one time US Open champion. Picked up his first win earlier this year in some 40+ starts over the last few years. Length can be an issue for
Furyk most years at Augusta, but with the course playing hard and fast this year, he could be a factor if his putter isn’t ice cold.
• Martin Kaymer +3300 : perhaps the best player on the European Tour, this young German is back in Georgia with a big game looking to win his first major. It still might be too early,
but this guy has the ice in his blood to handle the pressure if he can get in position.
• Sergio Garcia +4000 : I doubt anyone would have believed Sergio wouldn’t have at least one major by 2010, but he is still looking for his first big win. He cannot come into this
tourney anymore under the radar than he is this year, which might be just right for the Spaniard. Great ball striker which is always a premium at Augusta, but his putter often falters,
especially late on Sundays.
As mentioned above, the course is going to play extremely hard and fast, or BRUTAL. A recent review of the weather shows it’s been over 80 down there for about a week with not a drop
of rain and similar conditions are expected thru Sunday - including NO RAIN at all and near record highs. With all the changes the course has seen over the last few years, it rarely plays
hard and fast, always seems to rain some during the 4 days of the tournament. Yes, these conditions do even the field out in one aspect - length will not be as big a factor as it usually is
(typically of the 4 majors the Masters is the one most influenced by length). However, playing hard and fast is going to make precision iron shots a necessity and will test the players iron
games to the highest degree. As usual putting will be very critical, and with these greens drier than nitrogen oxide, it’s going to be harsh out there. Premium ball striking and putting will
win it - that statement is not bold necessarily, and yes Woods is probably the best ball striker and is the best putter possibly of all time - but the rust will make it tough. The precision
needed with iron play into these tiered and undulating greens are going to be exceptionally tricky. The lone time the course played truly hard and fast was the year Zach Johnson won it - it
was hard and fast for different reasons as it was very cold; his winning score was +1, and I will be very surprised if this year isn’t at best -3 and possibly even worse than Johnson's.
Last minor point, parts of the telecasts will be broadcast in 3D. The Masters is notoriously known for their limited coverage, only just a few years ago finally showing the entire final round
of the leaders on Sunday and we still don’t get that on Saturday. And the first two rounds is a weak 3 hrs late in the day. But the 3D angle should be pretty cool for those who have the
technology which is probably few and far between.
In closing, this year’s version of the Masters should be even more wide open than usual as the dried out course will play much shorter than the usual beast Augusta is. In addition,
scoring will be at a premium with the faster than usual greens. I look for a winning score around Even, with putting being the most important stat of the week. I recommend plays on
Mickelson as a favorite, Ian Poulter +3000 as a mid range selection, and quite a few of the long shots I feel have a legit shot as this tourney really is wide open and there is lots of value on
the board. My other three selections will be Luke Donald +5500, Mike Weir +5800 and Robert Karlsson +6000.