2011 Masters: Inside the Ropes

April 10, 2011: Schwartzel grabs jacket, Woods grabs attention

April 9, 2011: Hoffman makes cut at first Masters

April 8, 2011 - 13th hole at Augusta: Risk vs. Reward

April 7, 2011 - When tradition meets technology

April 6, 2011 - Fun, family themes at the Par 3 contest

April 5, 2011 - A Day in the Life of an Amateur at the Masters

April 4, 2011 - Welcome to Augusta

What else can I say about Sunday’s final round but  — wow. Simply, it was the most jaw-dropping final round I have experience in my six trips here. Hearing the roars, trying to guess who would come out on top, it was amazing. It’s the kind of drama and excitement that makes the Masters the best tournament in the world.

There were so many stories that came out of Sunday’s final 18 holes. There was the dramatic collapse of Rory McIlroy, who started the final round looking like no one would beat him.

There was Adam Scott, who after years of unfulfilled promise finally made his presence felt at a major championship.

There were young phenom Jason Day, hanging tough in his first Masters Sunday and nearly playing his way into a playoff.

And of course, the solid play of Char Scwartzel, the young South African who we all virtually ignored through the first three rounds but whose steady play and precision putting made him the third player from his country to slip on a green jacket.

But of all the stories, none are bigger in my opinion than the reappearance of Tiger Woods. For the first time since the 2008 U.S. Open, Tiger looked like Tiger. He may have lost the Masters by four strokes on Sunday, but he also may have won back a career in the process.

Showing the fire and shot-making that made him the game’s greatest player, Woods clawed his way into contention with a blistering 5-under 31 on Augusta National’s front nine which included the only eagle of the day on the par-5, eighth hole.

While he was unable to maintain the pace over the final nine holes, Woods may have proved to himself and the rest of the world that his best days are indeed still ahead of him.

Paired with Woods on Sunday, Martin Laird had the chance to see the “old” Woods stand up and be counted.

“It was a lot of fun playing with Tiger on Sunday at Augusta when he’s making a charge up the leaderboard,” Laird said, “It doesn’t get much better."

“The crowds were unbelievable. Some call it madness but I wouldn’t. It was a lot of fun. You know his swing, hitting shots — he hit some of the best shots you’ll ever see today.”

Adam Scott, who held the lead with just two holes left to play, admitted he was watching the scoreboard and specifically Woods, when they were playing the front side.

Scott said he was on the tee at the par-3, sixth when a wave of noise rushed down to the bottom section of Augusta National.

“I kind of figured out where Tiger’s position on the course was and just heard roars, and the big one on eight,” Scott said. “A hell of a run from him. You could just tell what’s going on out there. It’s quite unique.”

Geoff Ogilvy, who made a late run of his own on the back nine to get into a group with Woods at 10 under, was playing in the group right behind Woods.

Ogilvy admitted like everyone else at Augusta National late Sunday afternoon, he too enjoyed watching the Tiger show.

“It was quite fun just to listen to the roars of what he was doing on the front nine because usually you get him on the back,” Ogilvy said. “I was an interested spectator. You hear the noises and think wow, he shot 5-under on the front. I wish I had done that kind of thing.”

Woods admitted to feeling like he left a few shots out on the back nine, particularly making par on the par-5, 13^th and failing to convert a 4-foot eagle putt on the par-5, 15^th.

“I should have shot an easy 3- or 4-under on the back side but I only posted even,” Woods said. “This entire weekend I hit it good. So that was a nice feeling.”

Asked if there was any one shot that gave him particular satisfaction during the day, he smiled and said there were a lot of them. He said his second shot on 15, a 6-iron from 207 yards, was pretty special, landing soft and coming to rest four feet from the pin.

Having already finished his round as Woods was beginning to make his charge, Justin Rose was able to sit back and enjoy the spectacle.

“The crowd getting behind that (Woods’ run), that was awesome,” Rose said. “Playing today was Augusta Sunday, you heard the roars and you knew exactly who it was and what hole it was, and what type of cheer. It was a classic Augusta Sunday.”

Amen to that.

Like most top-flight junior players, San Diego native Charley Hoffman grew up dreaming about playing in the Masters.

During a very successful amateur golf career, one that included participating in several SCGA championships, including winning the 1995 CIF/SCGA Southern California Regional Championship, the Poway High graduate showed his game was strong enough to potentially make the drive down Magnolia Lane some day.

Hoffman’s dream was realized this week, as he’s taking part in his first Masters Championship.

With this long blond hair and surfer persona, Hoffman might not look it, but he greatly appreciates the history and tradition that goes along with being part of one of golf’s greatest tournaments.

To help diminish the “ah factor” during tournament week, Hoffman made two separate trips to Augusta National before showing up for this week’s tournament.

“I came out early to take it all in and get past the sightseeing,” Hoffman said following his round on Friday. “That helped a lot because once I got here this week it was a normal week getting ready for a tournament.”

During one of his two pre-tournament trips, Hoffman happened to meet up with fellow San Diegan Phil Mickelson. The three-time Masters winner invited Hoffman, Rickie Fowler and Steve Marino to have lunch with him in the Champions locker room.

“You can’t really go in there unless you’re a champion or with a champion, so hanging out there was really cool,” Hoffman said.

While his focus this week has been primarily on playing, Hoffman also took part in one of the extra activities that makes this tournament so unusual, the Par-3 contest.

Hoffman had never watched the Par-3 contest on TV or even stepped foot on the course before showing up to play on Wednesday. Like many players, Hoffman used the event as a way to share Masters week with his family.

His wife Stacy and their 5-month old daughter Claire were out to watch Hoffman play and Stacy actually offered to caddie for her husband. Instead, Hoffman asked his father Ernie to carry his bag and share the memory. After a brief mix-up that caused Hoffman’s father to miss the first two holes, the father and son got to share the final six holes together.

When the group reached the ninth green, Hoffman took Claire in his arms and made his putt.

“It was cool,” Hoffman said. “She’s obviously not going to remember it, but we’ll have photos forever from our first Masters. Having a child is the best thing ever. I can’t express how awesome she is. She doesn’t care what I shoot or how I play. She’s always happy to see me.”

Hoffman’s first two official rounds at the Masters were polar opposites. In Thursday’s opening round he found the water twice, including back-to-back at holes 11 and 12.

“The wind sort of got me in Amen Corner,” Hoffman said. “Everybody talks about it, and it happened to me. At the par-3 12th, I hit my tee shot to go over the right bunker and the wind switched and pushed it right into the water. I hadn’t seen the wind do that in any of my practice rounds. On both of those, I hit good shots. Once the ball leaves the club, you can’t control what happens to it.”

Hoffman refused to let the few bad shots sabotage his entire round and he finished at 2-over. Knowing he needed to shave a few strokes in the second round if he wanted to play the weekend, Hoffman did just that, firing a 3-under 69 on Friday, including birdies to open and close his round.

“I played great,” Hoffman said. “I hit a lot of great shots into the greens to give myself a lot of good looks. I hit a bunch of putts that I thought were pretty good, but here at Augusta they don’t turn out all that great. All in all, 3-under-par around here is a great round.”

With that he accomplished his first goal, make the cut and play the weekend at Augusta. Now he can go about the try to finish as high as he can.

“Great course and lots of history, but when it comes down to it you have to execute and hit golf shots,” Hoffman said.

One of the things that makes Augusta National so special is the azaleas that bring so much beauty to the golf course.

Appropriately, Augusta National’s 13^th hole is named azalea. Most consider the 510-yard, par-5, dogleg left hole the most beautiful and dynamic hole on the golf course. Over the course of the 75 Masters Tournaments, the legendary 13^th has often played a key role in determining who slips on the green jacket.

One only needs to look back a year ago to see how much impact the 13^th can have on the tournament. In 2010, Phil Mickelson stood on the 13^th tee holding a slim one-stroke lead. Mickelson pushed his drive into the pin straw in between several large Georgia pines.

Most believed Mickelson would punch out and try to make birdie with his wedge, but Mickelson shocked the world, opting to hit his 6-iron through the small gap between the trees. He pulled off the shot of the tournament, earning him his sixth green jacket.

Mickelson calls 13 his favorite hole at Augusta National and why not. In his 18 Masters, he is 58 under par on the dogleg left par-5. His next-best hole is the par-5 15th, at 32-under.

“It sets up very well for me being able to carve a slice around that corner, as opposed to trying to time a hook.  So the tee shot is a much more comfortable tee shot for me,” Mickelson said. “And it's at a point in the course where your round is going one way or the other, and it gives you an opportunity to get a shot back, or to keep a hot round going if you're able to make a birdie or eagle. I think there's great risk/reward there.

“Rae’s Creek has hurt a lot of players' chances to win this golf tournament, and that hole has also propelled a lot of players on to victory. It’s not only a challenging golf hole strategically placed and designed, but it’s also one of the most beautiful holes in golf, too, as you look down and see the azaleas.  It’s really a special part of this course."

Mickelson isn’t alone in thinking that the 13th is a very special hole. Rickie Fowler is playing in his first Masters, but he’s already gained a deep appreciation for how great a hole the 13^th is. In his first official round at Augusta National on Thursday, Fowler got his round moving in the right direction by making a birdie on No. 13.

“It’s a great hole, and one I really enjoy playing,” Fowler said. “I have always been fairly aggressive in the way I play and that hole gives you a chance to be aggressive when the conditions are right.”

Fowler said in his limited chances at playing 13, he’s developed a checklist of things he looks at to determine whether he goes for the green in two or lays up. The list includes the distance to the green, the wind, where the pin is and what is happening in the tournament.

“If you’re behind, 13 gives you a chance to make a more aggressive play and try and get yourself back in contention,” Fowler said.

Augusta National founder Bobby Jones may have put it best when talking about the decision players have with regard to going for it on No. 13.

Jones said, “A player who dares the creek on either his first or second shot may very easily encounter a six or seven at this hole. Yet the reward of this successful, bold play is most enticing.”

One oddity of the 13^th hole is that it’s the only tee box on the golf course where there are no patrons around. The tee is tucked to the right and behind the 12^th green. When I played the golf course in 2006, I walked back to the championship tees to see what players see. Surrounded by azaleas and other beautiful plants, you are in your own little world.

“The 13th tee is eerily quiet,” Justin Rose said. “Sometimes you can hear golfers playing the course next door, which is kind of strange.”

The 13^th has already impacted the 2011 Masters. Y.E. Yang made eagle there on Thursday to propel him toward an opening round 5-under 67. Only time will tell what other magic moments will take place at famed Azalea.

One of the things that many of us love about the Masters is how steeped in tradition the tournament is. From the Hogan Bridge to the green jacket, the event oozes history.

But within that tradition is a willingness to embrace the technology that continues to evolve and impact the way we all view the world.

Some of the technology employed here at Augusta National isn’t visible to the naked eye. Over the years officials at Augusta National have sought out the best ways to keep their golf course at the very pinnacle of the game. To that end, they have installed sophisticated heating and cooling systems under each green to ensure that each one is in peak condition no matter what the weather is like.

More visible evidence of Augusta National’s use of today’s technology is the evolution of its website and the use of various delivery platforms to make the tournament more accessible to everyone.

That effort started three years ago, when Chairman Billy Payne sent out a letter asking his people what they could do to bring the Masters online.

“Simply trying to incorporate on the Internet the less is more concept that’s made the Masters famous is somewhat of a contradiction to the way the Internet develops,” Payne said. “To me, that meant uncluttered, immense beauty. Can we convey through some vehicle the experience that people feel the first time they walk on these grounds? I think if you spend some time with our website this year, it's pretty dog-gone good."

“It's a completely different approach to the Internet that I hope is well received. I think it's consistent with what Augusta has meant to so many people for so many years. While we are not quite there yet, we are getting better.”

The Masters site features eight, live video channels, all in high definition. There are features like live scoring, DVR functionality and news updates, and live video stream.

For the iPad, the Masters released its first-ever application with the App. Store designed to compliment the television broadcast.

They also have an application for Android-based phones and an updated iPhone app, giving fans the ability to follow the tournament from wherever they are.

“I've said over the last several years, to the extent that emerging technology is allowed, the development of digital media will continue to be a part of our larger communications efforts and will hopefully present the Masters and the great game of golf in a unique and exciting manner,” Payne said. “Our website offers the many options that its visitors have come to expect:  Live, high‑definition quality video, real time scores and comprehensive coverage.  This year we have added groundbreaking enhancements with up to nine live video feeds and some truly amazing beauty sequences showcasing Augusta National at its best.”

The club and tournament is also doing its best to try and stir interest among young people by getting involved with EA Sports and Tiger Woods to include Augusta National in Woods’ very popular video game.

The images in the EA game are so realistic that if you were watching them without knowing it was a video game you would think it was a shot from the CBS fly over.

While getting into the video game market might seem contrary to the tradition association with the Masters, Payne believes the club must continue to work outside the box in their attempts to grow interest in both the tournament and the game of golf.

“We want to use our resources and our capabilities to attract and interest kids to this game at an early age, because we believe that will have the greatest long‑term potential of making them lifetime advocates and lovers of the game of golf,” Payne said.

“We embraced EA after much research on the video game side. It has, in its very early days, proven to be an enormous success, and we think will very significantly impact the kids in a very positive way, and be very beneficial to our new foundation that we have created, as well.”

Payne has even tried the game for himself, taking on his 12-year-old grandson Bo. How did the chairman fare?

“I quit after nine holes,” Payne said. “I told him my back was hurting.  He was up seven in our match play.”

While Payne and the other members have welcomed much of today’s technology, there is apparently some areas where they refuse to go. Asked if we might some day see high-tech video screen scoreboards out on the golf course during the tournament, Payne quickly said no.

“We already have cutting-edge technology, but most of it is buried underground,” Payne said. “I don't think, at least in my tenure, you're not going to see any video boards or those kind of things out there.”

Other than Sunday and the final round, Wednesday might just be my favorite day of Masters week. The day before things get serious and players start focusing on winning the Masters, everyone at Augusta National takes a collective deep breath.

Wednesday at the Masters is a day to celebrate golf, family and the fun that golf is supposed to be all about.

That is especially true at the annual Par 3 contest. It literally has something for everyone.

As someone with two young kids, I love getting a chance to watch the players and their kids share the experience of being on the golf course together. I’ve known the joy of taking my son Shaun out on the golf course with me and I look forward to sharing a similar moment with my daughter Sophia.

This year, I also went out and watched the three legends, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, play together. I never got the chance to see those three compete against each other in their prime, so it was awesome to see them share the tee box at the Par 3 contest.

Like many things associated with the Masters, the Par 3 contest is totally unique. Name another sport where the day before the start of the championship, players get out and share the stage with their families and the fans.

“This is a unique way to start a championship,” said Fred Ridley, chairman of the Masters Competition Committee. “You look around and see the kids in the gallery, see the smiles on their faces and how excited they are.”

While many players choose to have their kids caddie for them, others like Ian Poulter and DA. Points had their moms participate with them.

Former Masters champion Zach Johnson asked tennis star Andy Roddick if he would like to caddie for him this year.

Roddick, who took up the game a few years ago, even got a chance to take a swing, hitting a shot on the ninth tee.

“In sports there are very few places that live up to the hype,” Roddick said of Augusta National.

The famed tennis player said the closest parallel to Augusta National and the Masters in his sport would be Wimbledon.

“There is a similar pride that people have at being in the venue,” Roddick said.

While the contesthas always been a big event, it has taken off in popularity since the tournament became televised.

“I know the players seem to like it more,” said Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne. “They like it because they can showcase their kids, their kids like it, and it's fun.  Some of them play some pretty good golf. Some of them just have fun.  I think it is entertainment before the seriousness of the following four days, and everybody has bought into it, and I think the product itself on TV is great. I would expect the popularity to continue to grow.”
Former U.S. Open champion and current ESPN analyst Andy North said he used to use the Par 3 contest to sharpen up his short game skills prior to the actual tournament.

“The speed and slope of the greens on the Par 3 course are the same as on the big course, so when I had putts on the Par 3 I really tried to make them so I could build some confidence for the tournament.”

With the fun and games now over, the main event is set to begin. Many are predicting defending champion Phil Mickelson to repeat as champion. I too like Mickelson’s chances, especially if he can get off to a solid start on Thursday, building confidence in the process. As for Tiger Woods, he’s always going to be a factor here, evidenced by last year’s fourth-place finish. But his game does not seem up to the challenge of winning. I ran into Greg McLaughlin, CEO of the Tiger Woods Foundation. While he is pulling hard for his boss, he thinks Mickelson is the man to beat this week based on recent play and past success. We’ll see Sunday night who is right.

With Augusta National founder Bobby Jones being one of the great amateur players in golf history, the Masters has always done what it could to promote amateur golf around the world.

One of the coolest things the Masters tournament does for amateur players is to offer winners of the top amateur events a spot in the following year’s Masters.

Peter Uihlein, who won the 2010 U.S. Amateur title, got to Augusta National on Friday night just so he could have an extra few days to soak in all the sights, sounds and excitement that goes along with playing in his first Masters.

He played a practice round each of the first four days. On Saturday, he played with Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, and David Chung (who he beat in the finals of the U.S. Amateur). On Sunday morning, he played with former Oklahoma State standout Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson. He played with Fowler again on Monday and Tuesday, he joined Bo Van Pelt, Nathan Smith (the U.S. Mid-Amateur champion) and Ryan Palmer.

“Playing in the Masters is obviously pretty special, and to be here as the Amateur Champion, it’s even more special,” Uihleim said. “I'm excited.  I’m nervous and I'm definitely looking forward to this week."

While he was looking forward to playing every hole before his arrival, Uihlein said he was most looking forward to hitting the tee shot on the par-3, 12^th, one of the most famous holes in golf.

Asked how he fared the first time he played it this week, Uihlein smiled and admitted he hit in the water in Rae’s Creek.

“Right pin, I went for it,” Uihlein said. “I think just hitting that shot was pretty cool.”

As he made his way around the course, Uihlein said he visited some of spots where players in past Masters have hit memorable shots en route to victory. He checked out the spot in the trees on No. 13 from where Phil Mickelson hit his second shot in the last round that propelled him to victory.

He tried the chip on No. 16 that Tiger Woods holed for birdie on his way toward winning the 2005 Masters. He even tried hitting the putt on 17 that Jack Nicklaus holed in 1986 to win his final Masters title at age 46.

The Oklahoma State standout said it’s all part of soaking in as much Masters history as he possibly can this week.

Uihlein took part in another tradition on Monday night when he stayed in the Crow’s Nest with Chung and Jin Jeong. Located at the very top of the Augusta National Clubhouse, the Crow’s Nest is reserved for amateur participants playing in the tournament. While conditions are sparse, Uihlein said he wanted to have the experience of staying on the grounds of Augusta National for at least one night.

He picked quite a night to do it. A huge storm rolled through the area at around 3 a.m., bringing thunder, lightening and plenty of wind and rain. It was so strong it knocked down several trees, including one on famed Magnolia Lane.

“Me and David, we watched the basketball game, and then went to sleep,” Uihlein said. “David doesn't remember anything about the storm but I was up all night.”

Uihlein, whose father is Acushnet CEO Wally Uihlein, said with the facilities at Augusta National being so good, it’s hard for him not to go out and spend 12 hours a day working on his game.

He’s been told by other players to avoid preparing too much, to make sure he doesn’t overdo it before Thursday so he can be fresh for when the tournament starts.

He said the first Masters he remembers really well was Woods’ historic victory in 1997. Now he’s teeing it up next to the four-time Masters champion. And he will have the chance to play the first two rounds with Mickelson.

“They both are obviously the best players of my generation, and it’s been exciting to watch,” Uihlein said. “I'm obviously looking forward to playing with him (Mickelson) on Thursday and Friday. I'm trying to get a practice round with him tomorrow morning and will try and pick his brain a little bit.”

Like anyone who has ever picked up a golf club, Uihlein admits he’s dreamed about what it would be like to be in contention on Sunday afternoon and even win the Masters.

He’s trying to keep those kind of thoughts in check as he gets closer to teeing it up on Thursday.

“First and foremost I want to have some fun, enjoy the experience and enjoy being out there with all of the patrons and everything, they are pretty special,” Uihlein said. “Making the cut would be nice, and being low amateur, that would be great. But first and foremost, just have some fun.”

No sporting event I cover gets my blood pumping more than the Masters. Evidence of that came this morning, when I actually willingly got out of bed at 3 a.m. in order to be ready for my shuttle ride to LAX for my flight to Augusta.

Twelve hours later and I have arrived at our home away from home in Augusta which myself and several other writers, including Tod Leonard of the San Diego Union Tribune, will share for the next week as we cover the 2011 Masters.

Monday is a pretty quiet day at Augusta National, most players don’t show up in earnest until Tuesday, but that didn’t prevent the club from making some pretty big news of its own.

Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, announced that beginning today (Monday), golf fans around the world can visit http://www.masters.com/ to submit an application for 2012 practice round tickets and, for the first time, a small number of daily tournament tickets that will also be made available to the golfing public.

“We are also pleased to provide a limited number of tickets for the individual tournament round days, which, up until now, have only been allocated to our Series Badge holders,” Payne said.

All applications for practice round and daily tournament tickets are now being accepted exclusively at http://www.masters.com/. Daily Tournament Ticket applications must be submitted by June 30. The deadline for Practice Round Ticket applications is July 30. Each allocation will have its own random selection process and all applicants will be notified by e-mail within several weeks after the respective application deadlines.

It’s awesome news for golfers everywhere who have dreamed of seeing the Masters and Augusta National in person yet can’t afford to pay big money for a ticket.

This year, however, I will be your behind the scenes eyes and ears for the 2011 tournament. As I tried to do at both the 2010 Masters and U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, my goal is to give readers of the SCGA website interesting stories and tidbits, everything from what it’s like to be an amateur playing in golf’s greatest major to the color and excitement that goes on at the annual Par-3 contest.

My hope is to make you feel like you’re with us, getting a chance to stand under the old oak tree in front of the clubhouse and listen to some of golf’s greatest players talk about the game’s biggest event. I hope you’ll enjoy and if you have any suggestions for what you’d like to hear about in the next couple of days, email suggestions to communication@scga.org and I’ll see what I can do.

— Bob Buttitta, golf writer for the Ventura County Star is in Augusta covering the 2011 Masters. He will be providing daily blog posts for the SCGA.