If Watson wins, will The Masters change?

[Rick Sides]

I don't know if Tom can sustain the same numbers throughout the weekend, but they people said the same thing last year at The British.  I will be cheering my ass off for Tom.  How amazing would a final pairing Sunday be with Tiger and Tom?

[Chuck Brown]

The guy who wins the Masters gets to choose what the menu is at the Champions Dinners  the follow year right. Wouldn't it be interesting if they got to change the design, or at least choose the set-up of the course too.....

Tom might change the course to a links. Maybe put some pot bunkers around ANGC?

scott

Do they call that H-O-R-S-E?

[Sean_A]

Its not magic.  The course didn't play as long as it has in many of the past rounds these recent years and Watson made some putts.  Sounds like Turnberry.  Hopefully it stays dry and the old boys aren't punished for their lack of length too badly.

Ciao

[Paul Stephenson]

Tom's driving average was 281 for the day.  Longer than Kim, Els, Mahan, and a few others that one would think he couldn't come close to.

This surprised me.  Almost as much as Sandy Lyle's 290 average.

[Phil McDade]

Its not magic.  The course didn't play as long as it has in many of the past rounds these recent years and Watson made some putts.  Sounds like Turnberry.  Hopefully it stays dry and the old boys aren't punished for their lack of length too badly.

Ciao

Sean:

Course commentators today suggested the course played longer than it might have otherwise, as it was a fairly damp day with intermittent drops of rain throughout the day. I heard this said in particular about Stricker's (who is not that long) difficulties.

But it was quite windy, in addition to the general dampness. I'm not sure there has ever been a better wind player in the modern era than Tom.

[Tim Nugent]

Looks like it could be a very interesting weekend.  While everyone was talking about TW(1) Watson and TW(2) Woods, Freddie sneaks up to the top of the heap.  And what's with Phil? Looks like he found his game. And Richy Barnes, lightning in a bottle?

[Sean_A]

Its not magic.  The course didn't play as long as it has in many of the past rounds these recent years and Watson made some putts.  Sounds like Turnberry.  Hopefully it stays dry and the old boys aren't punished for their lack of length too badly.

Ciao

Sean:

Course commentators today suggested the course played longer than it might have otherwise, as it was a fairly damp day with intermittent drops of rain throughout the day. I heard this said in particular about Stricker's (who is not that long) difficulties.

But it was quite windy, in addition to the general dampness. I'm not sure there has ever been a better wind player in the modern era than Tom.

I think Augusta has had unseasonably hot weather this week.  Watson stated the warm weather was making it easier to hit the balll further.  It isn't any recent swing or club change.  Bottom line, I think Watson had 24 putts and got up n down several times.   

Ciao

[Scott Warren]

He did, Sean. 11 greens, 24 putts.

[Jonathan Cummings]

Love him but Watson has exactly zero chance of winning the Masters.

[Jud_T]

Love him but Watson has exactly zero chance of winning the Masters.

Just wait till these greens firm up and he's standing over some 5-footers for par...

[Adam Clayman]

JC. That's a 30 year old mindset. Old timers are better putters. Their experience makes it so. While Tom botched the Open Championship last year on the final hole, that experience won't happen again if given another opportunity within this close of a timeframe.

[Brent Hutto]

Yeah, just think about all those guys who had the yips in their 20's but then became great putters once their nerves settled down around age 35 or so. Let's see there's...well, I guess I can't think of any.

It sure seems to me the usual pattern is to get a great putter early on and eventually become a nervous wreck over the short ones. Like Tom Watson for example.

P.S. This forum is a great place for contrarian opinions to find a home but I'm not buying a) that the competition is tougher on the Senior Tour than the PGA Tour or b) Tom Watson's recent years of experience at yipping 3-footers makes him more bulletproof on slick greens than he was 30 years ago. Nope, that's just crazy talk.

[JC Jones]

Yeah, just think about all those guys who had the yips in their 20's but then became great putters once their nerves settled down around age 35 or so. Let's see there's...well, I guess I can't think of any.

I read the first part and started to think there was hope for me.  Then you stepped on that dream, thanks.

[Brent Hutto]

Yeah, just think about all those guys who had the yips in their 20's but then became great putters once their nerves settled down around age 35 or so. Let's see there's...well, I guess I can't think of any.

I read the first part and started to think there was hope for me.  Then you stepped on that dream, thanks.

OTOH, for you I'd recommend leaving them pine stamens on the green. Never know when one might come in handy.