Easy Thursday, Tough Friday: The New Masters MO?

by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 9, 2010 7:30 PM EDT in Pro Golf

Last year in the Masters, Thursday pin locations last year were set up in the easiest possible locations on several holes. In some ways, it artificially lowered scoring and quickly quieted the murmurs that Augusta National had become too long and too penal. Last year, Chad Campbell led the tournament after shooting 65. The end winning total was -12, which got into the playoff - meaning that the lead only increased by 5 strokes over three rounds.

Amidst all of the talk among the media and fans about Tiger Woods' return to competitive golf, the great scoring yesterday greatly resembled the setup on Thursday last year. The pin locations yesterday were admittedly easy, at least as easy as it is going to get at Augusta National. Scoring was great, including low scores from a 50 and 60 year old man.

Both older players, Fred Couples and Tom Watson, knew that today would be tougher. It was. They both shot over par, but lurk quietly behind the leaders. Scoring was tougher for the whole field, though. The easier locations from Thursday were replaced by more treacherous holes today. The result was still solid scoring, but balanced out by many more poor scores even among those in form.

Last year, the lead was -7 after day one. It increased by two strokes to -9 after play on Friday. Couples took the lead yesterday at -6. The leaders today - Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter - are at -8, though Westwood did reach -10 at one point. The conditions today were pointedly more difficult today than yesterday.

In '09, Campbell went low and leveled out with 70 to reach -9 by the weekend. Kenny Perry tied the lead with 68-67. Both Poulter and Westwood played consistently in the opening two rounds and did so with great iron play that led to scoring opportunities.

What happens next, though, is quite a guess. A year ago, Angel Cabrera asserted himself in the lead with Kenny Perry after 54 holes. Tiger Woods sits two back of the leaders, whereas he was not really within intimidating distance last year. Tomorrow, he will have an opportunity to apply pressure by scoring well ahead of the final group. But, perhaps the new setup mantra of the weekday rounds at Augusta National will now reward aggression out of the gate and a stealthy Friday move.

Tweet Comment 3 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Sigh – WEATHER. They aren’t stupid inside the gates there at ANGC. They have a lot of weather predicting equipment…some of it is even run by that new fangled EEEEEE-lectric stuff – not just the farmer’s almanac.

The course was set up the way it was yesterday because there was supposed to be a good bit of rain in the afternoon, plus winds. The thunderstorms didn’t get there until overnight – and those storms would have stopped play had they come in as originally predicted.

Is it REALLY necessary to ignore the obvious to come up with a master plan ? (no pun intended)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Apr 9, 2010 7:39 PM EDT reply actions

The same positions were used in a lot of places as last year on Thursday and the weather was fine.

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Apr 9, 2010 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

But not the LENGTH of the course. That’s the key element that you’re leaving out. They shortened the course in case the weather got bad and the afternoon players wouldn’t be playing an impossibly long course. Hole locations do have a lot of tradition at The Masters. Players who have been there a number of times can tell you where they will be and on which days.

Really – it’s not a conspiracy. They have a formula – you’d love it. Positions are graded on difficulty from 1-4 and they try to get those positions to add up to the same number all 4 days.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Apr 9, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions