The Masters - 2012

First topic message reminder :

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.

BlueCoverman wrote:A drugs test more like!

Maybe they should legalize everything since it seems like half of the field is using the cheating stick for putting.

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

I thought you said we need more coverage. That "photo" you provided of Stenson and Fannie ain't covering much.

Mary showing yet again what will get someone into her fantasies, I mean fantasy league picks

It's got nothing to do with the golf has it Mary!

After one hole and the tourney's over for Coco.

Hey... wait a sec... he's one of my picks.

and a birdie at two.....

Thank god for red button coverage. Sky main channel is sycophanting over jack Nicklaus when some great golf is going on out on the course. Thought sky's coverage was good last year(their first year). This year only half an hour in and getting sick of them sucking Nicklaus off in the studio. Get to the golf you tosssers!!

Sorry guys - I didn't realise the pic would be that big!

I just got told off for referring to Jack Nichlaus as an "old duffer" - obviously I do respect his history, but get a bit fed up of them taking up so much air time with this type of thing.

Back home after watching a couple of hours of red button coverage in the pub and settling in for the evening's entertainment - and Stenson ends with a quadruple(??)

Mary - we're not like the other place and going to slap a ban on you for posting such an outrageous picture .. I may just put it within a spoiler tag though for anyone who may be browsing the site over the holiday weekend from work!

PS - I'm glad Fanny didn't decide to join Henrick in his attire

I see the Masters tradition of the first round leader being someone you know has no chance of winning is carrying on - go on Westy!

It's funny, Lawrie is a major winner in the form of his life but nobody gives him a chance of winning it. Me included I have to say.

First rerun of Woods' round some 30 minutes after he finished. How many more times before they go off air?

Shocking leaderboard as usual with the masters! I guess that's what you get when you have a gentlemans agreement with IBM to provide it for gratis in return for offerening the chairman of the board free membership!

How long till Westy melts and let's another slip.

Like to see a few Water Balls from rory, early days on my bets but c'mon king louis at 80/1 I couldn't resist that one

But IBM's CEO is a lady....makes things interesting.

diggers wrote:But IBM's CEO is a lady....makes things interesting.

Really!!!!!! Take it they have a new CEO, was not aware of that at all! So how does that work for the ANGC sexist no ladies allowed brigade because I was always led to belive the CEO of IBM was always given membership along with the likes of Bill Gates etc!

Can't work out if I'm in favour of host coverage or SkyGo! Both as bad as each other!

Yep Ginni Rometty took over late last year. I'm sure she will not rock the boat and it will go to someone else in the organisation instead. It is a partnership I guess so can't see them falling out.

Rumours that Luke Donald is getting disqualified for signing for an incorrect score - apparently now unfounded!

Guess she'll take one for the team and let the vice president or someone take it.

Anyone else ever seen Patrick Cantlay or Robert Alenby in the same room no! Looks like Cantlay stole Allenbys swing! Almost carbon copy.

C'mon Louis

Thing that makes me laugh about all this highlighting the 'inequality' of Augusta's membership policy is that it's assumed to be sexist and racist when it's pretty much just a club of CEOs of large US corporations, who've always traditionally been WASP males.

Couldn't ask for a better group of gents now currently leading in the clubhouse.

I'll let you know if I agree in 10 minutes when my sky+ catches up!

Did Butch Harmon just slate the collar on Zachers shirt! This is butch who has more endorsements on his jersey that tin cup mcilroy or a bloody f1 driver!

smithersjones wrote:Thing that makes me laugh about all this highlighting the 'inequality' of Augusta's membership policy is that it's assumed to be sexist and racist when it's pretty much just a club of CEOs of large US corporations, who've always traditionally been WASP males.

All that means is the majority of members should statistically be white males, not that they should exclude women through choice.

diggers wrote:

smithersjones wrote:Thing that makes me laugh about all this highlighting the 'inequality' of Augusta's membership policy is that it's assumed to be sexist and racist when it's pretty much just a club of CEOs of large US corporations, who've always traditionally been WASP males.

All that means is the majority of members should statistically be white males, not that they should exclude women through choice.

No, it means that if you're in a position to be able to afford membership and to know someone who'll invite you to take it up, you've always in the past been white and a man. And probably a republican, and a baptist. We never hear anyone moaning about Catholics or democrats not being allowed to join.

All of which isn't to say that I don't think women or non-whites are discriminated against there, just that it's never normally an issue since so are 99% of all people who aren't in charge of a massive company.

What did Luke Donald get on 5?

The scores originally said '5' but now they say '3'?!?

And, yes, it is important!

Ha ha Sandy Lyle is 14 (fourteen) over. Get to the glue factory.

Mercurio wrote:What did Luke Donald get on 5?

The scores originally said '5' but now they say '3'?!?

And, yes, it is important!

Wonder what's gone on there? His score is now showing as 73 not 75, so I assume he had some sort of provisional penalty which they've now decided needn't apply.

PS Thanks for posting about the actual golf!

No that's true enough but ifit's not an issue there shouldnt need to be restrictions on the membership. As soon as you say women can't be members it becomes a sexist institution whether or not only a handful would ever be permitted. I'm sure there have been catholic and democrat members in the past, even if they were merely previous winners of the Masters.
The simple fact is they dont want them there which is fine, whether that means such an institution should be feted to hold a global sporting event is another matter.

Mary_S wrote:Rumours that Luke Donald is getting disqualified for signing for an incorrect score - apparently now unfounded!

Apparently this is still being investigated. Very confusing.

Final decision - it was a smudge which occurred when the scorecard was faxed - made the 5 look like a 3. Can somebody please explain why and where they fax the scorecards?

Sounds quite modern for ANGC!

Westwood really ought to take a couple of months out just doing nothing but chipping and putting. If he was even (tour) average at those, with his long game he'd be untouchable.

Perhaps IBM could supply them with a new fax machine!

Just seen Sergio's beard. If he's doing a Raphael Jacquelin and not shaving it off till he wins again I fear he could end up getting it caught in his backswing.

Apparently, it was Rory & Tiger against the field coming into this. Well done that field!

Haven't seen Tiger hit a shot for ages - what's going on?

Well done Lee for recognising the difference between and adjective and and adverb. He said he played very solidLY. So nice to hear a sportsman speak vaguely correctly.

I trust you've all noticed how much wine I've had, btw?

John Huggan's obviously on the rioja too -

John Huggan ‏ @johnhuggan
major shock...Lee westwood says he played "solidly" in contrast with so many of his colleagues who insist on playing "solid" #justsaying

People have very selective memories - suddenly Lee's 'England's finest' and 'best player never to win a major'. Luke Donald, world No.1, anyone remember him?

Nice finish from Coco - never looked like he'd be under par but finishes 3,3.

I wonder how many people had their money on Peter Hanson in that 3 ball?

Just watched a video of Bubba Watson and thought that's a nice looking watch! Anal I know, but most people on here know I'm a watch collector.

Google - bubba watsons watch -

Didn't want you to be completely on your own SJ.

Here we go, Roe has just unashamedly said 'Nice round by Lee Westwood, but we need to scroll down the leaderboard to tied 29th to find Tiger Woods'. 'WE NEED'. No you fucking don't. There are at least 28 players who did better. Who gives a shit what happened to him?

FFS, stop it.

Blimey, he's stuck his neck miles out there - "if he keeps doing that (double crossing it and hooking it miles left), 'I don't think' Tiger's going to win the green jacket".

Thanks OS. Though I'm not alone, I've got my rioja!

Over half a million dollars and they couldn't even put a face on it to hide the mechanism!

It seems to be a bit of a copy of the Rafa Nadal watch also by Richard Mille.

Disgusting - half a squillion dollars for a copy I can get them for £50 at replicasRus!

Thoughts on the first day - excellent. It feels like it's going to be a classic.

I'm running a competition at work where you choose 6 players and give them 3 holes to make up your 18 holes (no holes can be shared by your players) - it's making me analyse what everyone player is doing a lot more.

The only woman that's entered is having a shocker - she's +7. Choosing Phil for the 10th didn't help

This is what winds me up about the Masters...Rory shoots 3 under on the front 9 and we don't see any of it live!

It's a joke really Blue. I look forward to the Masters and forget just how annoying the lack of coverage is. Mystique my arse, it's just plain irritating.

diggers wrote:It's a joke really Blue. I look forward to the Masters and forget just how annoying the lack of coverage is. Mystique my arse, it's just plain irritating.

Agree. The folks calling the shots are woefully living in the past. Inexcusable. And the way the major entities cater to their b.s. is embarrassing.

The thing is Venice there should be a way to basically blackmail Augusta into playing ball. As you say it's just bloody mindedness on their parts really.The cameras are there anyway, the patrons would go anyway, what difference does it make if the coverage is all day. Tossers.