The Masters - 2012

So it seems there is only one story in town this week and we may as well have a thread about it right from the start of the week!

Obviously no golf to talk about yet (though last week at the Shell Houston may bring up some talking points) but at the moment it's the dreaded "Meeja" generating the talking points

Poulter not wanting advice from the venerable masters (with a small "m"). Rory splitting from Chubby last year hitting the headlines again- and of course in the UK, Sky Sports throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at the coverage

On the media front, I'm surprised to see Kirsty Gallagher getting an apparent top billing on the SS shows. I'd much rather see Rob Lee in the hot seat (at least Kirsty is taking the limelight away from the dreadful David Livingstone though) - and what has Sarah Stirk done wrong? She seems to have made a good start as TV anchor-person

Of course Roey is also there so we can expect the Tiger/Coco-fest to continue - from what I've seen of coverage so far anyone would think the world #1 isn't even there!

Worst of all, Sky have announced that they have Jack on their team this year so expect the sycophancy to reach levels even greater than we saw at Arnie's party.

Having said all that I'm still glad that we have them to watch rather than Steve Ryder or Gary Lineker on good old Auntie Beeb and we should all say a prayer of thanks (could we get Zach Johnson to lead the prayer circle?) that ITV don't get the coverage or it could be the execrable Jim Rosenthal or that prat that now does the football (Adrian Childs?)

My own hopes for the week are that Luke consolidate his #1 spot and breaks the duck in the Majors - either him or LW would make my weekend. Bradley or Rose to get into the mix and I have a sneaking feeling that Jason Day could once again feature at ANGC when he's had a very quiet year so far.

Luke has, apparently, decided not to defend his par-3 title

While he explicitly said that it was nothing to do with the "par 3 jinx", but more to do with the fact the greens on the par 3 course are different, the US media are, as expected, saying he doesn't want to jinx himself again

I may have put some money on Zach Johnson to win the par 3 at 50/1

How long before he drops out??

Kevin Na and Ben Crane in 1 group! 9hour round coming up

Not sure what it means but there's only one group that doesn't contain at least one European or Commonwealth player. Several groups have 2.

I'm a little disappointed with the draw TBH. I know they have some traditions at The Masters, such as the US Amateur Champ always plays with the defending Masters champion, but apart from that is the draw a little more random than the rest of the Majors?

Hard to find one real marquee group where all three players catch the eye. Quite a few groups with two interesting players and "a.n.other" but I didn't really see any three ball where all 3 names stood out as an exciting group to watch

Looked like they were finishing with 2 marquee groups on day 1 with Big Phat Phil and Coco in the last two groups, I'm guessing that's for TV audiences.

Just seen Cod Roe's first cum face of the masters as he just climaxed about Tigers swing on the range, maybe Roe could start playing again and get a Kleenex endorsement.

Also what's with the odds they posted those are very different from the ones I took advantage of from William Hill, fortunately I got better odds.

Haven't decided yet whether to watch this through SkyGo as I am at the moment or the local broadcaster! Kirsty maybe swaying me toward SkyGo if only she had a uniform mmmmmm..........

Just noticed Thomas Bjorn at 175/1 on Victor Chandler

Can't seem him winning it but that's not bad odds for a top 5

Par 3 contest called off due to a storm. Was looking forward to watching it (and Kirsty) too.
Zach Johnson let me down. Was 3 shots off but had to stop after 8. I suppose if he'd played the last in zero??

I thought Sky would ditch this stupid Georgia on my Mind song this year, and why get Nicklaus in as a special guest tomorrow. Might have to watch it on mute

Well they're off and Tim Clark was the first with a birdie.

Robert Garrigus opens with a tripe bogey and Ryan Palmer with a double

Are they playing lift clean and place?

Is that a joke? Surely they can't be?!

Suggestions were the "should be" (by whose definition I don't know) but there are lots of tweets about mud balls.

Tweet from Steve Elling said...

If you know the history here, you'll not be surprised to know they are playing ball "down" today, despite high probability of mudballs.

So I guess that means no lift/clean/cheat

Craig Stadler goes to +4 after 6

No one currently under par

"Chippy" Lawrie level after 4 .. one of 11 on level but he's currently 2nd on holes played

MustPuttBetter wrote:Is that a joke? Surely they can't be?!

Nope they were seriously talking about it cause the course is very wet.

Thanks Davie, I got the BBC live text up and it's practically useless. Took about an hour and a half to give any update on the groups already out. I know they're not pulling up any trees but at least let us know what's going on. They might not have any live pictures to go off but there are journalists on site who could provide info.

Davie wrote:Craig Stadler goes to +4 after 6

No one currently under par

Harrington leads the Masters!! now if he can just stay there for the next 70 holes

Yep - Harrington wins the first crystal glass prize this week for an eagle on the par5 2nd

He picked up some crystal for the par-3 yesterday too.... I think he is determined to break the par 3 curse!!

Davie wrote:Yep - Harrington wins the first crystal glass prize this week for an eagle on the par5 2nd

He played a par 5 well? Only 15 more of them (hopefully) to go.

I didn't realise it was that wet Hogie, fair question then!
That being the case i would guess it's going to make things a lot more difficult for the likes of Donald as the course will play longer

Harrington to win the par 3 and the Masters??

Crenshaw joins Harrington under par!

One of my bets, Jason Day bogeys the first

I know that it's part of the "mystique", but I wish that we could see more coverage of the early starters.

Cink and Badds join the under-par club. The walrus slips further to +5 to prop up the field

Mary - if you have Sky Sports, I believe there is limited coverage on the red button (amen corner?) in about an hour even though full coverage doesn't start until 7pm

I wish it was atleast on shotlink so we could follow it... Can't see the Masters allowing that though.

Not sure its a case of them not allowing it - just that they provide their own scoring service rather than the one done by the PGA at other events - and their own service just doesn't offer it (if that makes sense)

Tiger apparently starts with a massive hook off the first!

Trying to emulate Rory off the 10th last year

Can't wait to get out of this office and get home to watch some golf this evening...Why is it always bloody chaos just before a bank holiday?

Davie wrote:Tiger apparently starts with a massive hook off the first!

Makes a change from a massive hooker I suppose!

I fancied Keegan Bradley to do well here, opens with a double!

The scores so far are not living up to the ideal conditions on the course and the pleasant weather.

Kaymer joins Harrington and Cink as the only players under par

Bradley is another of my choices Hogie

Davie wrote:Tiger apparently starts with a massive hook off the first!

but still gets away with a par...

hogie wrote:

Davie wrote:Tiger apparently starts with a massive hook off the first!

but still gets away with a par...

... then plays a massive hook off the 2nd!

Best information coming from Andrew Cotter on Twitter it seems. BBC "live text" is a joke! Who on earth is Aimee Lewis???? I can't wait to get home either

Luke bogeys the first. Tiger scrambles for a par on 1st but hits an even bigger hook off 2 and incurs a penalty shot and a drop from a creek. Short of green in 3 and needs chip and putt for his par

Cheers Davie - on the red button now for Amen Corner.

if anyone i sick of looking at leaerboards this blog is giving a bit more detail...
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/04/live-blog-the-masters/1?csp=34sports&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsatodaycomSports-TopStories+%28Sports+-+Top+Stories%29

Official leaderboard going wonky now! Shows Bradley as starting 6 6 for +3 yet his total shows as +1

Edit: correction - they've now got him for a 4 on 2 so +1 is correct

LP I'd given up on live text and decided to just have the leaderboard up. After reading your comments I checked the live text again. She really is clueless; short hole - obviously a par 3, long hole - must be a par 5. Tiger out of bounds on 2 and then gets a penalty drop from the creek. It's one or the other, can't be both.

Oh live text is about to get better. The wonder of Ben Dirs, very good journalist but utterly awful at golf live text. He stiffed it 35 feet from the hole. Not really stiff then is it Ben.

Lawrie is getting a bit greedy .. Two crystals in three holes, and a share of the lead too!

Snap Hogie, way to go Paul Lawrie, no birdies but two eagles for -3 and joint lead through 15.

Apologies to Dirs who seems to have improved his text performance, maybe Kwini had a word in his shell like. They got into it one time on the BBC when after Kwini's article got hijacked for the have your say on 606.

Two eagles for Stenson also - he's -5 through 8.

Mary_S wrote:Two eagles for Stenson also - he's -5 through 8.

Does he get a free decanter if he makes eagle on the other two par fives in this round?

A drugs test more like!

Spoiler:

Go Henrik!