Tiger man to beat at Masters
Noted author Hank Haney had one of those moments of profound insight when asked about the chances of his former pupil, Tiger Woods, at the Masters this week.
If Woods can only avoid those three-putts, Haney suggested, he could have a good chance at Augusta National.
Well now. How about that? Haney went on to tell basketball players they could score more points if only they didn’t miss free throws.
To be fair to Hank, what he surely meant was that Woods finally is hitting the ball both well and consistently with his long clubs — in part thanks to his new swing coach, Sean Foley — that his normal clutch-putting game will be enough to make him a serious contender over a course (and greens) he knows so well.
Haney would be correct, even if Woods weren’t coming in off his first PGA Tour victory in ages, because Woods almost always plays well at Augusta National. He hasn’t won here for seven years, but since winning that fourth green jacket in 2005, his worst finish is sixth. What about winning? Bookmakers on both sides of the large water hazard have named Woods the betting favourite at around 4-1. His victory at last week’s Bay Hill Invitational, his seventh over Arnold Palmer’s big-shouldered golf course, is widely regarded as evidence that he is “back” after a 21⁄ 2- year career blip, fuelled by injury and personal disgrace. The ’makers might have the number right, but so many good players appear capable in their own right that this might be the most interesting Masters in years. With his career pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors stalled at 14 since 2008, Woods has the most “unfinished business,” as it were. He and he alone is the reason TV ratings for Bay Hill last Sunday were double those of 2011 and NCAA basketball games in opposition fell 20 per cent. His drawing power has been consistent for 15 years. As for his personal issues, here’s betting he won’t say word one about Haney’s recent book or the porno tape some of his old lady friends have assembled, leaving all comment to the usual chattering classes. But if we’re speaking of unfinished business, how about Rory Mcilroy? The sensational young Ulsterman, second favourite in the betting, led last year’s Masters by four strokes entering Sunday, blew up to a ghastly 37-43 and ended 15th. He was so unnerved, he won the U.S. Open two months later by only eight strokes. Since then he has played outstanding golf and (temporarily) raised himself to No. 1 in the world. He took three weeks off to prepare for this event and while some observers question that, Mcilroy clearly knows what is best for his game; he will be very good next week. Others suggest world No. 1 Luke Donald finally is ripe for that first major. Ditto for No. 3 Lee Westwood. Some will anoint Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson (who beat Woods like a drum head-to-head at Pebble Beach) or defending champ Charl Schwartzel, No. 6 in the world and surely fuelled by the memory of becoming the first Masters winner in history to birdie the final four holes to get there. There’s also Angel Cabrera, who disappears for long periods, then resurfaces in majors.
It was, to many eyes, inevitable that Woods would return to the favourite’s role based more on form than reputation. Whether fans love Woods or hate him, and there are plenty in both camps, the quality of the crew ready to welcome him “back” to the golf season’s first major championship should make it all unmissable.