Conditions dry for Masters so far
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tony Finau was to the right of the 11th green at Augusta National trying to chip to an imaginary front pin, a tough shot when it matters. This was the first full day of practice Monday at the Masters, and it wasn’t any easier.
The first attempt rolled across the green and off the putting surface. So did the second.
It was like that all over the famed course, where the azaleas blooms are on their last leg and turf is firm under a blazing sun, save for a few minutes during the solar eclipse.
The conditions — always pristine, because everything is at Augusta National — is as good as players can remember. There is rain in the forecast for the opening round, but otherwise players are faced with what could be the two “F” words that take on different meanings to different games — firm and fast.
“The course is very firm,” Xander Schauffele said. “It’s probably some of the best shape I’ve seen in previous years, to be honest. I don’t know how the weather has been, but it’s a shame that it might rain at some point this week because it’s looking like a really hard, really firm.
“I was hitting 5-irons that were coming into par 5s that were bouncing, tomahawking over the green,” he said. “And I was like, ‘This is pretty cool.’ It’s been a while.”
Tiger Woods was first out when the course opened at 8 a.m. playing nine holes with Will Zalatoris. Several of them stopped in mid-afternoon to don special solar sunglasses — Masters green with the famous logo, sure to be a keepsake — for a look at the eclipse.
But Hurley didn’t sound like a man who wanted to load up a moving truck anytime soon.
“Yeah, yeah, I don’t think that’s a concern,” Hurley said laughing. “My wife, you should have her answer that.”
At this point, it’s understandable why Hurley is comfortable in Storrs. He was rewarded after last year’s title with a $32.1 million, six-year deal that could keep him on campus through 2029.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if another raise is in the near future.
Despite Hurley’s hardcharging personality, his players don’t seem to mind. He’s been able to attract five-star recruits and also has a knack for finding mid-major transfers who can play at an elite level.
Castle, a five-star talent who could have played just about anywhere in the country, said one of the reasons he picked Uconn is because he wanted to learn from Hurley’s intensity.
Spencer played his first three seasons at Loyola (Maryland) before transferring to Rutgers last season.
With one year of eligibility remaining, Hurley coaxed Spencer to Uconn, and it was a perfect fit.
Hurley joined an elite group of coaches Monday, becoming the first coach to lead a school to back-to-back titles since Billy Donovan accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2007. Others who have done it — UCLA’S John Wooden and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski — are some of the sport’s biggest icons.
But Hurley said he’s still chasing some of his mentors, particularly his dad. Bob Hurley Sr. won more than two dozen state championships at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, New Jersey, producing dozens of Division I college players in the process. He was at State Farm Stadium on Monday night to watch his son clinch another college title.
“Even after back-to-back for me, I’m still just a worse version of him,” Hurley said. Then he grinned.
“A little bit worse,” he added. “I’m getting better, and I’m coming for him.”