Sunday, April 5, 2009

Masters Week Is Upon Us


It's Masters Week, the season's first major tournament and my personal favorite. As with all sporting events, there's an unwritten law that we must try to predict the outcome.

Tiger is the favorite, naturally. He has to be.

As for Phil Mickelson, he was driving the ball better than he ever has before this year, that is until this week's Shell Houston Open where he missed the cut by a long shot. Still though, Lefty always has a shot at winning any time he tees it up. If he gets his driver working again, watch out.

I'd love to see Ernie Els finally win a green jacket. He's been my favorite player ever since David Duval dropped off the radar. The Big Easy has the best golf swing in the game right now, and he gives Sam Snead a run for the best golf swing ever. But he just hasn't played well the last few years, owing to injury and family issues.

Last but not least, you have to like Padraig Harrington's chances. He hasn't played extremely well yet this year, but he did win the last two majors played. Paddy has a chance to become the third player, after Tiger and Ben Hogan, to win three straight major championships. I'd love to see him do it.

Here's some trivia for you: who scored the first of two double eagles at the Masters?

5 comments:

Phil Stiefel said...

You give good predictions on who might win but who do you think has a chance to come from out of nowhere... ie Zack Johnson, Mike Weir... not that htey were nobodies before but just not given a chance before to win a major... I would have said Sean OHair before last weeks collapse because he was have a really good year... I am not sure this year though.... My money is on Tiger or Paddy thought.

Brian O'Rourke said...

Phil,

You took the words right out of my mouth. I would have picked Sean O'Hair to come from out of nowhere to win, but not after last week.

That being said, I don't think anybody comes from out of nowhere to win the Masters usually. That happens more often at the US Open and the PGA Championship. For some reason, Augusta usually picks someone who's seasoned and playing well at the right time. Both Zach Johnson and Mike Weir had earned their bones before they got to put on the green jacket.

Brian O'Rourke said...

PS - That was a rough one yesterday for JB Holmes. Waiting close to three hours to see if he'd be in a playoff and then starting the playoff on the 18th tee was just too much.

Phil Stiefel said...

Where has VJ been all year and after the way lefty missed the cut so badly last week I do not know what is going to happen... Ill be watching and maybe even teeing it up myself weather permitting Sunday

Brian O'Rourke said...

Philly,

VJ's still around, but I'm worried he's just past his prime at this point. Shame too, because the guy is so good and works so hard.

Here's my dark horse this week: Anthony Kim.