This Masters featuring the oldies but the goodies

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta National and the Masters, we know, reveres its history.

Even as it lurches into the modern age, it does old really well.

The course is reputed, unlike so many other work places in the real world, to actually value experience. And the older a player gets here, the more he inevitably quotes the value of that experience.

And, yet, there hasn’t been a Masters winner over the age of 40 this century. A subtle ageism has crept its way onto the grounds.

With the start of this 82nd version of the Masters, the odds may have shifted ever so slightly in the favor of the midlife brigade.

“Maybe you bump them up a little bit with T-Dub,” 2007’s champion Zach Johnson said. That was 42-year-old’s hipster way of referring to Tiger Woods.

The competitive dynamic has shifted this season. Old (relatively speaking) has become new again. The 42-year-old Woods has been the most visible torchbearer for the 40-somethings, his comeback from debilitating back problems dominating all media. But keep in mind also the March of time, when last month two of his peers, 47-year-old Phil Mickelson and 40-year-old Paul Casey won on consecutive weeks on Tour. Ian Poulter, 42, had a Hail Mary victory last week in Houston to gain last-minute entrance to his little picnic.

It is Mickelson who is poised to make the loudest noise among the old lions, as a win this week would make him the oldest ever Masters champion, edging past Jack Nicklaus who was 46 in ‘86.

For this Masters, you could make the argument for one spirited generational scramble, should they ever decide to fiddle with the format. Hmmm, look at it. Maybe the elder generation could hold its own.

Team 20-something: Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler.

Team Life Begins at 30: Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson.

Team You Kids Get off my Lawn: Woods (42), Mickelson (47), Henrik Stenson (41), Casey (40).

“The 40-some-year-olds, the ones out there competing, we know what we’re doing,” Zach Johnson said. “I am so not surprised that Phil played well (in Mexico). Really not surprised that Paul won, he’s been knocking on the door for two or three years now. Tiger was right there, too. I like where I’m at.

“There are a handful of guys who