Thoughts after Thursday at The Masters

1. For the gamblers out there…

2. It's insane to make the honorary starter’s “caddie” wear the full Masters outfit. Why is Barbara Nicklaus dressing up? Everything else about the ceremony I find charming.

3. This week, on the No Laying Up pod, they started mulling over who will be the next generation of honorary starters. Nick Faldo? Phil Mickelson after a reconciliation? Jose Maria Olazabal? Ben Crenshaw? Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Gary Player have 35 majors between them. No trio is going to touch that total.

4. Tiger Woods will play 23 holes on Friday. His consecutive cut streak is on the line, as he’s made 23 in a row, and 24 would set the record. He looked solid today; his course knowledge erased the bad shots that he did hit. We’ll see if his body can handle short rest and extended golf tomorrow.

5. Good stuff from John Huggan about Ian Woosnam shooting 71 on Sunday during a practice round. It’s cool that the past champions just get to hang out for the week, play some golf, have a lovely dinner, and reminisce.

6. I loved this video…

7. Jack Nicklaus said this week that there are six shots at Augusta that determine the winner - tee shot on 2, approach into 11, tee shot into 12, first two shots on 13, second shot into 15. Of course, some of those shots require a shot to get to that pivotal shot, namely the tee shot on 11 and the tee shot on 15.

8. I love watching short-game shots at Augusta. There are so many on Thursday and Friday because featured groups show all the shots. Jason Day’s chipping and pitching are aspirational, his fashion is not….

9. This Tiger pitch was a delight. No notes

10. It should make golf fans angry that we only have four events a year where all these guys compete… I miss watching Cam Smith and having guys like Sergio Garcia wearing insane pants and Bryson DeChambeau shooting 65.

11. Bryson said that Augusta National was a par 67 back when he was drinking eight protein shakes a day. His 65 today is the best round he’s shot his uttering that statement.

I’m glad you made it here. Subscribe below to receive my Friday newsletter.

When I’m not golfing…

I’m reading…

• This piece by Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic about the pitch clock and pitcher injuries was interesting. I am a fan of the golf ball rollback. The one thing that could happen is players swing harder to recoup their distance.

  • “The league, before continuing its “let’s shave five more minutes off the time of game” roll, could have spent multiple seasons studying the effect of the clock. But instead of continuing to gather data and anecdotal information, it waited only one year after making what Clark accurately called “the most significant rule change in decades” to further push down on the accelerator.”

• This story about technology, namely YouTube, in schools was very interesting. Get Tech Out of the Classroom Before It’s Too Late

I’m listening to…

• Vampire Weekend’s new album is a very good listen.

• Maggie Rogers’ new stuff is good, too.

I’m drinking….

• I cut back on my alcohol intake after doing a Dry January. Met up with some college friends this weekend in Boston and did enjoy a Smithwicks at Solas on Boylston St. Forgot how good it is, usually get a Guinness.

I’m watching…

• Finished The Gentlemen this week. I can now strongly recommend it. Just a great series.

• Some would point to this "Warming Up” Golf.com video as an example of why Phil would be great on TV as an analyst. Feels to me like Mickelson would just spend the entire broadcast talking about himself. This is a FIGJAM master class.

PLUGS

New stuff:

• Spent a lot of time the last couple of weeks working on some Masters pieces for Amateurgolf.com. Here’s our Masters hub if you’re looking for amateur coverage at The Masters.

• 413 Golf’s Ben Larsen joined me on the podcast to talk about Western Mass. golf, his work in golf media, golf storytelling, and why he launched 413 Golf. Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Old stuff: 

I'm (shamelessly) plugging...

• A list of golf courses open in the winter.

• Bay State Picks: Best courses you can walk for less than $60.

• Bay State Picks: Nine-hole courses to play before or after work

• Bay State Picks: 18 public golf that is worth your time

• Bay State Picks: Easy 18-hole public walks

• Bay State Deep Dive: Myopia Hunt Club

   

• "On Course" New England Journal Podcast

  • LISTEN HERE (and subscribe!)

  • WATCH HERE (and subscribe!)

• Amateur Golf Podcast

  • LISTEN HERE (and subscribe!)

New here? Subscribe below.