Opinion & Analysis

Blame the rules committee, not Tiger

Published

11 years ago

Apr 13, 2013

Moving Day at Augusta began with a bang on Saturday as news broke about Tiger Woods being assessed a two-shot penalty for an incorrect drop on No. 15 Friday after his ball struck the flagstick and spun backward into the water.

The unfortunate shot unleashed an explosion of opinion and controversy that resulted in the Masters rules committee making the correct decision not to disqualify Tiger from competition.

Keep in mind that it does not come down to whether Tiger broke a rule or not — he certainly did, and he has admitted it. It is simply the series of events and decisions made by the committee that would have made it unfair to Tiger for him to be disqualified.

So let’s start at the beginning:

Being a water hazard (not lateral) Tiger had four options he could exercise under Rule 26-1:

Play the ball as it lies, which was not possible because it was submerged in water.
Take a one-shot penalty and drop his ball in the drop zone at the left side of the fairway toward the grandstand.
Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped.
Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played.

Tiger attempted to exercise the fourth option and drop where he hit the prior shot from. At the time, it seemed as though Tiger had proceeded correctly. Between the time that he dropped his ball and the end of his round, the Masters rules committee received a call from a viewer prompting it to reexamine how Tiger proceeded at No. 15. At that time, the committee ruled that Tiger had proceeded correctly, and no penalty was issued.

Many are wondering where the rules official was during all of this. Surely the world’s No. 1 player must have an official with him at all times, right? Yes, pretty much. However, it is the responsibility of the player to call the official in to assist with procedural questions. Rules officials are essential silent observers unless called upon for a ruling, or they can prevent a rules infraction.

So why didn’t the official step in this time?

Since we never saw the official with Tiger short of the pond on No. 15, we can’t be sure. But I have to believe he was up near the green or drop area. From the perspective of the official some 85-plus yards away, those two yards back that Tiger dropped his ball had to look very near to the original spot where he hit from. Therefore there was no reason for him to step in.

In an interview after his round, Tiger stated that he purposely dropped his ball about two yards behind where he hit his original ball from, not knowing he had broken a Rule 26-1. Upon seeing the interview, the committee believed that the ruling warranted further discussion, and they asked Tiger to meet Saturday morning. It was during this meeting that it was deemed that Tiger had not proceeded correctly, and had played his ball from a wrong location.

Playing a ball from an incorrect location in stroke play competition is a two-stroke penalty. However, in Tiger’s case he had already signed his scorecard for a 71. Signing for an incorrect score in stroke play competition will usually result in a disqualification. So why was Tiger not disqualified?

Under Rule 33-7, “A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.” To some, this rule might make it seem like the committee made an exception in Tiger’s case in order to keep the most exciting player in golf in the field for the weekend.

It did not.

Before Tiger finished his round on Friday, the committee had already reviewed what happened on No. 15 and ruled no penalty. Since the committee initially ruled that there was not penalty and thus facilitated the player into signing for an incorrect score, they enacted Rule 33-7 and waived the penalty of disqualification.

Yes, it is the player’s responsibility to know and follow the rules as best he can. However, it would not have been fair to Tiger for the committee to disqualify him from competition.

It was the committee who ruled initially that there should not be a penalty issued. It was the committee who didn’t say anything before Tiger signed for his 71. And it was the committee who reversed its decision and assessed a penalty.

Tiger simply did exactly what the committee instructed him to do. He proceeded under the rules to the best of his knowledge, did not intentionally breach Rule 26-1, and wasn’t told of a possible infraction before he signed his card because the committee had already decided that no penalty was warranted at the time

I fully expect him to continue his exceptional play and make a run at the green jacket. And if Tiger goes on to win The Masters, it will go down as possibly the greatest win of his career.

Click here to read five reasons why Tiger should have withdraw from the Masters this weekend.

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Grant Shafranski

Grant Shafranski is the Program Director for the First Tee of Minneapolis and Head Teaching Professional at Hiawatha Golf Club in Minneapolis, MN. He is a Level 2 PGA Apprentice following a successful amateur career where he played collegiately at Division III University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN).

59 Comments

Dino

Apr 17, 2013 at 10:16 am

this is wrong. the committee does not nor has to remind players of thier penalties for breaching a rule or of any shot resulting in a penalty stroke prior to handing in thier cards. That is not thier job. Had they noted from the begining that Tigers drop was illegal they do not have to tell him prior to card signing. He simply would have been disqualified for handing in the wrong card. And wether or not Tiger knew the rule or not also does not matter. It is is his 100% resonsibility to know the rules and to play by them. This is not the same as what happened to P. Harrington becaues he did not know his ball moved but he still played by the rules. There is a big difference. Tiger (ignorant or not of the rule) did not play by the rules. They cannot dismiss the disqualification if they are going to penalize him for the play. They must do both or do nothing at all and say we missed it an its too late, its over. They should not acknowledge the penalty without acknowledging the wrong card. This notion that they missed it at first is not an excuse to excuse the disqualificatiopn because they do not have to discuss it with tiger prior to card signing anyway. That is not what they do. If a player hit a ball into water and hands in a card without penalty stroke he is disqualified. Its the same thing. They do not remind or tell players prior to signing who lost a ball in the woods or hit into water or whatever that they must add those strokes. They simply check the card against such and if it is wrong they are disqualified. They cant simply dismiss one and not the other because they go hand in hand. And cant dismiss it simply because they missed it. they should iether accpet it all and say they screwed up and its too late or penalize for both. Thats the only two ways which they should handle it. As said, totaly different from Harrington because he didnt know the ball moved or if a player double hits and doesnt know it. Harrington or other players in such situation still played by the rules. Tiger did not play by the rules and not knowing the rules is never an escuse. Whats to stop players from now doing things and pleating they didnt know the rule? they are using the right to waive for the wrong reason and unfairly applying it. They should have said. he handed in his card, we accepted his card and we screwed up so its over thats the breaks. But to acknowledge the penalty later on and also assess it as such they must also assess the disqualification. They cannot use the excuse they missed it for one penalty and not the other. They iether missed both which they did and decide to penalize for both or they should have done nothingdo nothing. There is no such thing to warrant an inbetween. It did not have to be discussed with tiger at all had they cought it earlier so thier notion that thats thier fault does not fly. If thats the case then penalize him for nothing. But shoulodnt do one without the other.

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Gene

Apr 15, 2013 at 7:38 pm

Tiger and the Masters lost their integrity. There is no way they DQ Tiger because they lose their tv ratings. Any other player in field would have have been DQ. And dont tell me Tiger doesnt know the rules. He would cheat to win another major and he just proved it and the Masters proved they are willing to over look the rules and give preferential treatment to Tiger Woods.

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- Steve
  
  Apr 16, 2013 at 1:06 pm
  
  Lol. If he was cheating on purpose, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to admit it later. Especially after the rules committee watched the video and said nothing was wrong with the drop. If he actually was a cheater, he would have gone forward without saying anything and not get punished at all.
  
  Reply Report comment
Ty

Apr 15, 2013 at 12:58 pm

so, the third option for a drop from this type of hazard is:

3.Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped.

Tiger’s drop was behind the hazard, the poing at which the ball crossed the hazard was between the hole and his drop point, and he droped the ball farther back from the original shot. The rules state that there is NO distant limit to how far back you can play your drop. So if anything I think Tiger is guilty of confusion between the 3rd and 4th option allowed by the rules.

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Ty

Apr 15, 2013 at 12:53 pm

This one falls on the Rules Committee. After the caller notified them of the potential infraction, they should have not only reviewed the tape themselves but also notified Tiger in the scorer’s tent before he signed his card. Had they done this, Tiger would have admitted his mistake, signed for the correct score and all of this would be a non-issue.

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Clark

Apr 15, 2013 at 11:40 am

Maybe Tiger should be able to see instant replay from last shot. Haha

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Joe C.

Apr 14, 2013 at 6:17 pm

Kind of late to be jumping into the Tiger Wood’s controversy but …… When Tiger signed his score card, wasn’t it an incorrect score card? Does the fact that he did not asses himself a penalty mean that his score was correct on the card? This is where I am confused.

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- TWShoot67
  
  Apr 14, 2013 at 8:06 pm
  
  At the time Tiger signed the scorecard NO. No one who was at the event said anything about it before he signed his card. When a rules official (and its their job) thinks there’s a rule infraction he will in fact talk to the player ie…. just like they talked to the 14 year old Tianlang Guan after they clocked him for slow play. When they it got brought up about Tiger possibly braking a rule they said he didn’t that it looked like the drop was proper. No one really knows how far he actually dropped the ball until an interview with tiger where he stated it was 2 yards longer shot. well when I watched him drop and seen the replay it didn’t look 2 yards but that what he said he did. The rule as been explained over and over but the Tiger haters or so called PGA pro’s who say the older pro’s like JACK would have just DQ themselves. Tiger has been cheating for years, thats why he has the wins he has…. pure cheater.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - char005
    
    Apr 15, 2013 at 11:17 am
    
    name one other instance. this should thread should just be i like tiger or i hate tiger.
    
    Reply Report comment
Bob S

Apr 14, 2013 at 5:43 pm

Well….at least they have an official w/Snedeker and Cabrera when they needed ’em…..

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Alex

Apr 14, 2013 at 2:24 pm

Trying to argue that a pro should know all the rules is like saying that a business owner should be familiar with the legion of laws and practices regarding taxes, statues, etc. I’m never going to buy that one.

Sorry, but it’s easy to “remember” everything at home watching on TV.

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- TWShoot67
  
  Apr 14, 2013 at 6:21 pm
  
  Great answer Alex.
  
  Reply Report comment
oilfield7550

Apr 14, 2013 at 11:27 am

Hmmm…seems as though the Masters rules committee called Eric Holder before rendering their decision.

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Brian

Apr 14, 2013 at 10:49 am

If the rules of golf intended for someone to be DQ’d for failing to execute a proper drop, they would not have the rule imposing a strict 2-stroke penalty! If Tiger intentionally violated the rule (i.e., cheated), there would be grounds to DQ him. The evidence does not suggest this as he voluntarily explained the improper drop. As a result, the evidence suggests that he had no knowledge of the error until after he signed his card. While this would have resulted in immediate DQ in the past, that has changed with the new rule. The conspiracy theorists are nuts if they believe this rule was created for Tiger, as will be shown in time as others reap the benefit of the new rule.

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JeffMac

Apr 14, 2013 at 10:49 am

Grant has quoted the rules correctly, but some others in this discussion have not. The rules do NOT state that a player is to “drop” his ball as near as possible to where the previous stroke was made. He is to “play” his ball as nearly as possible from where the previous stroke was made.

If a player was allowed to place his ball, obviously he could place it in the exact spot where the prior stroke was made (in this case, the divot left behind). But you can’t place – you are required to drop the ball.

I believe Tiger was on a down slope, and so it would make sense to me that a player would drop his ball some distance behind where the original stroke was made, so that if it rolled towards the hole, it has a chance of not rolling nearer the hole then where prior stroke was made (which would require a re-drop).

In addition, the ball cannot roll more then 2 club lengths (2 yards?) from where it first hits the ground. So it makes sense to me that dropping 2 club lengths behind, when on a downslope, is your best chance to have your first drop be a legal drop and have the ball in play without having to re-drop.

I think Tiger knows the rules, and the above is what was going through his mind when dropping. True, he may have been hoping the ball did not roll, or did not roll much, so he could play from a slightly further distance then previous. And sharing that thought process was his downfall that caused the penalty.

It almost seems like he should have tried to drop his ball into his divot, and if he missed the divot, or if the ball rolled or bounced out of the divot, then re-drop. If it happens again, then place the ball in the divot.

That is the only way to indisputably play your stroke from as near as possible to where prior stroke was played.

Anything else is subjective.

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Larry

Apr 14, 2013 at 9:44 am

No,No,NoThe rules committtee knew exactly what happened. They tried to ignore it until ESPN told them about the interview. Then they had no choice. Tiger knew the rules and he thinks he is above them. He knows they all want him there to bring in the ratings but once there was no way out they had to work something out. All the other golfers and critics who called for Tiger to withdraw knows what was going on. Anyway you are right about one thing you can’t blame Tiger because the media has made him believe that he is above everyone and should not have to account for his actions on or off the golf course.

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- jake
  
  Apr 14, 2013 at 10:48 am
  
  Larry I am inclined to agree with you. I think that is exactly what happened. This isnt the first tine he has taken a funny drop. As someone who has played professionally I can tell you it does not sit well with other professionals when stuff like this happens, the worst thing you can have as a professional is to have a cloud of “gray” attached to your name.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Woodie
    
    Apr 14, 2013 at 12:26 pm
    
    Once there was this nice drop of a parking lot… which was out of bounds till then 😉
    
    Reply Report comment
Jack

Apr 14, 2013 at 3:20 am

This really changes everything. I don’t like how they can go back and change what was approved and signed for in the name of making it right. To me there were many opportunities to make it right, but that time had passed.

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sam

Apr 14, 2013 at 12:40 am

Rule requires you drop at spot as near as possible to prior spot. He knew he didn’t do that when he admitted he took it back two yards to a more favorable spot to hit his next shot. Rule does not provide you can take it as far back as you want. Committee or no committee it is a game of honor and if the committee didn’t dq him he had the moral obligation to withdraw. Aside from having a rules official with each group they should probably let players have their lawyers with them.

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- jake
  
  Apr 14, 2013 at 7:59 am
  
  Thank You
  
  Reply Report comment
- Woodie
  
  Apr 14, 2013 at 12:23 pm
  
  well said, Sam. Thank you!
  
  Reply Report comment
J

Apr 13, 2013 at 11:13 pm

Yet again, people making comments without the skill most kindergarten children posess.

READ THE ARTICLE

Tiger was told, by the rules committee, that his drop was legal.

Read it.

The rules committee changed its mind.

Read it.

They assessed him a penalty as described in the rules and proceeded to follow the rules even farther by not DQ’ing him but waiving the DQ because… Now get ready… Here it comes… The reading part…

They told him his drop was correct. They changed their mind. They waived the DQ.

READ before you comment. You look stupid when you speak from a point of emotion, with some sort of weird, obsessive dislike of someone you’ve never met or interacted with, rather than speaking from a point of educated information and the benefit of all the information available. And… Here’s the best part..

Augusta… The Masters… It’s an invitational. They make the rules. It’s their Tournament… They can say everyone uses pink balls and croquet mallets for putters… The PGA Tour rules… The USGA.. The R&A.. All of their rules…ALL OF THEM… Are irrelevant. Augusta makes em…breaks em…enforces em… All of you crying foul because of the rules are speaking from a point of ignorance. The rules are what AGNC says they are… They spoke. SU.

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Greg DeLaney

Apr 13, 2013 at 10:58 pm

For the signing the incorrect scorecard argument: Tiger didn’t knowingly sign a wrong scorecard, and when it was signed, the rules committee had determined it was the right scorecard. So Tiger obviously didn’t knowingly sign a wrong card. After the interview it was determined he broke the rule, he admitted he did this after the rule was further explained to him, and he was assessed the 2 stroke penalty, as the new rule states. Everything was followed by the book. Any other player would get the same treatment. This wouldn’t happen to any other player tho, because every single shot of Tiger’s is on TV therefore he probably follows the rules by the book more than any other golfer out there because he was more closely watched.

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Greg DeLaney

Apr 13, 2013 at 10:52 pm

Nicely put Grant! Who on here really believes he should have been DQ’ed? He obviously didn’t know the rule, or at least the full rule, but within 5 feet is close enough anyways. And he hit the pin on the shot he was retaking anyways. Y’all that think he should have been DQ’ed are haters. Committee made the mistake, not Tiger. If anything Tiger should be commended for tattling on himself and taking the 2 stroke penalty. If he doesn’t say anything, all this is mute. 2 stroke penalty was more than fair. Hope he can make a nice run tomorrow. And anybody would get this treatment, but I don’t think any other golfer has enough haters who look up a rule such as this in the rule book and takes the time to call it in. LOL get a life. Probably one of you haters on here hating on Grant.

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- jake
  
  Apr 13, 2013 at 11:52 pm
  
  There is no “close enough anyways”…..he broke a rule.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jeff

Apr 13, 2013 at 9:18 pm

I find it interesting that ALL of this hand-wringing about who-knew-what-when began LONG AFTER the fact. None of his playing partners or caddie said, “Hey, wait a minute” either as he dropped or after the shot. None of the announcers calling the play-by-play at the time recognized a problem. None of the folks watching with me noticed it. And most important, none of the officials, until notified by fans watching TV (something I’m not fond of, by the way.) So now all of a sudden everyone is an expert on what happened and what Tiger should do or should have done. If he was trying to cheat, I’m pretty sure he’s smart enough not to yap to the press about how he tried to illegally gain an advantage. I see it as an honest mistake that in retrospect makes US ALL look a little foolish, most of all Mr. Woods, but one that has been ruled on and…play on, Tiger.

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Don

Apr 13, 2013 at 9:17 pm

This ruling is comical….Anyone defending not DQing tiger is either 1)a huge fan of tiger (so I understand) 2)doesn’t believe in DQs for
sometimes lame golf rules which can be understandable, see Dustin Johnson at the PGA or 3)can’t understand the rules (or is a CBS tv exec).

The rule is pretty simple, especially when you read the examples. Basically the rules are set up to protect someone from DQ when he doesnt REASONABLY know that he DID SOMETHING that caused him to break the rules. It does not matter if he knew he broke the rules or not, only if he knows that he did the act (which is prohibited).

So in this case, if there were a bunch of divot marks around the area he hit from, and he dropped next to a divot where he thought he hit from previously, he would be saved. However, misinterpreting a rule is not a defense….

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- Greg DeLaney
  
  Apr 13, 2013 at 11:01 pm
  
  it was pretty reasonable that he misinterpreted the rules since he tattled on himself in his own after round interview there Elin. So by the rules he didn’t have to be DQ’ed just like the rule was put in place for. It’s too protect the players
  
  Reply Report comment
- J
  
  Apr 13, 2013 at 11:19 pm
  
  He didn’t break the rules. ANGC spoke. It’s their tournament… How is it absolutely so few of the people posting comments fail to understand the basic facts…
  
  Augusta makes the rules. It’s an invitational.
  
  They make the rules. ALL of the other rules are subject to…. Ready for it…. Wait for it…. Wait for it….
  
  LOCAL RULES.
  
  You don’t like it… Fine. But the rules were enforced the way AGNC wanted them enforced. Which means… Here it comes again….ready….
  
  LOCAL RULES supercede those of the PGA… The R&A… The USGA… Their rules stop at the gate.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - jake
    
    Apr 13, 2013 at 11:45 pm
    
    Local rules do not supercede USGA rules they have to be formed with USGA approval. Rule 33-8
    
    Reply Report comment
    - J
      
      Apr 14, 2013 at 2:16 am
      
      Wrong.
      
      It’s an Invitatinal. The USGA has no authority over an Invitational tournament. Period.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - jake
        
        Apr 14, 2013 at 7:57 am
        
        UH-Hello–They play by USGA rules.
        
        Reply Report comment
  - TWShoot67
    
    Apr 14, 2013 at 6:19 pm
    
    Thank you , explain that to Woodie a PGA professional.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Woodie
      
      Apr 15, 2013 at 4:31 am
      
      Thanks TWshoot. Everything is said, I will not reply any further here. Guys like you are not seeing the facts, but ok. Play what you like, it is not Golf.
      
      Reply Report comment
- Metrybill
  
  Apr 20, 2013 at 7:42 pm
  
  misinterpreting a rule is not a defense.
  
  EXACTLY.
  
  Reply Report comment
jake

Apr 13, 2013 at 8:48 pm

What I can’t believe is that the rules committee, after reviewing, ruled that what he did was ok! Mind you they had a forner USGA President and Mark Russell, a well respected official that has officiated on the PGA Tour for years. Forget all the other stuff that happened after… That where it starts getting funky for me.

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Troy Vayanos

Apr 13, 2013 at 8:22 pm

Well said Grant,

The rules committee need to take full responsibility for what happened. Tiger was doing as he was told and has every right to continue playing.

If he goes on to win, hopefully this incident will not overshadow his victory.

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Steve

Apr 13, 2013 at 5:15 pm

I wish I could call the NBA and tell them that LeBron didn’t actually get fouled, it was a flop, so he shouldn’t get free throws.

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- Marc
  
  Apr 13, 2013 at 9:23 pm
  
  I think this is getting ridiculous about having people call, tweet, or whatever to the officials and then have them change their decision. The official needs to make the call, then you live with the result. I agree that Tiger should have been DQ’d, but all sports have officials that make bad decisions. We complain, and say “what if” – but the fact is, it’s getting to the point where the rules are being enforced differently based upon input from the TV audience. This is pretty ridiculous IMHO. What’s next? Are they going to start posting a phone number or email address at the bottom of the TV screen for us to send in our rules alerts and just make it part of the game?
  
  Reply Report comment
Ty Woodruff

Apr 13, 2013 at 4:06 pm

I’ve never attended a Rules seminar, but even I know dropping 6 ft from the original position isn’t “as near as possible”. Wondering if the original ruling isn’t the one that should come into question as favoritism. Committee should have assessed a penalty to begin with…before Tigger signed his card.

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nick baker

Apr 13, 2013 at 4:04 pm

Agree up to a point, and that point is the news conference, when TW stated that he dropped at a different location for benefit. This statement undermines the logic of the Rules Cte. Unless TW or the Rules Cte has good reason to believe that TW mis-spoke in his news conference, it is DQ in my opinion. Without the news conference the Rules Cte is entitled to make their own determination, but not when TW is on tape saying this.

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Kenneth Atkin

Apr 13, 2013 at 4:00 pm

I want to add that I feel it is sad that the new rule is being used to justify a player violating the rules (admittedly) and then signing an incorrect scorecard (admittedly) and being allowed to play for the green jacket. This is not what the new rule was aimed at. This is much different than a ball moving an 1/8th of an inch without the player knowing. Tiger SHOULD have known he violated a rule. Plain and simple.

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- Andrew Sellitti
  
  Apr 13, 2013 at 9:23 pm
  
  That is my point as well. The spirit of this rule change was to protect players where they couldn’t protect themselves. Ignorance of the most basic rules is not a situation of a player not being able to protect themselves. The application of the rule sets a dangerous precedent going forward. The game of golf on the pro level will move further away from a self policing game of integrity and now into a sport where officials manage all the rules.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Bern
  
  Apr 13, 2013 at 10:22 pm
  
  The scorecard was in fact not incorrect when Tiger signed it. It was not incorrect until the committee decided that drop was improper. Nobody on the course seemed to think the drop was improper when Tiger made it. The commentators said nothing. The rules folks said nothing. The other players said nothing and Tiger thought he had taken a proper drop. This is nothing but that same old mess from the same tired voices that have found fault with Tiger from day one. The same kind of folks who called in threats on his life in 1997. Same folks. Same agenda. The committee made its ruling and that should be it. Move on.
  
  Reply Report comment
Brent Ashcroft

Apr 13, 2013 at 3:37 pm

I do blame the rules committee as well as Tiger Woods. If any other player would have been caught trying to give them selves an advantage they would have been dq’d. Everything in golf is not about tiger and you people need to realize he’s not God.

Reply Report comment
- Blanco
  
  Apr 13, 2013 at 6:57 pm
  
  Nobody thinks he’s God dude. Just a mortal human being on the path to total knowledge of self– he’s also a phenomenal golfer– probably the best there ever was. This social media thing is getting more and more manic depressive every day. Journalism and enlightened discussion is long dead.
  
  Reply Report comment
Kenneth Atkin

Apr 13, 2013 at 3:33 pm

So is the Committee now going to keep score? Why even have players sign their cards in this day and age? Just one more reason that professional golf and recreational golf have nothing in common.

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Mikko U

Apr 13, 2013 at 3:29 pm

So why is it ok not to know even the most basic rules of golf and break them?

Tiger made a mistake (or cheated), then the committee makes an uninformed decision, Tiger reveals his mistake to the media, the committee doesn’t hand out the required penalty of disqualification.

Or how does a basic water hazard rule become something professional players shouldn’t or needn’t be aware of?

Reply Report comment
- Woodie
  
  Apr 13, 2013 at 6:58 pm
  
  Right, Mikko!
  Sorry Grant, but as a Professional you should know better!
  “He proceeded under the rules to the best of his knowledge,…”
  Tiger did not know one of the easiest rules in golf, come on! He signed a wrong scorecard. It doesn’t matter what the guys from the rules comittee recognized or did not recognize. Any player is responsible for playing under the same rules as any other player in the tournament.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Grant Shafranski
    
    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:14 pm
    
    Thank you for the comment Woodie. I absolutely agree that Tiger should know the rule, and I’m sure that he does. Keep in mind that knowing the rules and proceeding under them are two completely different things, however. The most difficult thing about the Rules of Golf is interpreting their meaning.
    
    I believe that Tiger was flustered at the time he took the drop, and did not think about the point at which his ball LAST crossed the margin (opposite side). I think he was only thinking about when his ball first crossed, and went back on a line with THAT point between himself and the hole. Therefore, in his mind he was proceeding correctly, and not intentionally breaking any rules.
    
    At the club level, the golf professional often times is the “committee” and we cannot expect every participant in the field to know every rule. The same goes at the professional level, you would be surprised how many tour pros struggle with the rules, even though they are playing the game for a living.
    
    Had Tiger said in his interview that he was knowling breaking Rule 26-1 when he dropped his ball, it would be a completely different story. It would then become a possible serious breach, for which the committee could decide to DQ him for. But as the committee, all we can do it trust that the player is telling the truth, just as the Masters committee has to believe Tiger when he says that he thought he was proceeding correctly.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - MLamar
      
      Apr 14, 2013 at 10:53 pm
      
      Great Post … People need to take their emotions out of the situation and review the facts … As I’ve played in my Club Chmps – we have a committee – if there’s a question about a ruling – we play on – right the score and the committee will discuss/review with us when we get into the club house – Penalty will be assessed or not … The rules AGNC committee initially deemed no foul and later reviewed & assessed a 2stroke penalty – PLAY ON !!!
      
      Betcha dimes/donuts – I don’t think everyone (even tour players) know all the rules. ie They’re open for interpretation.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Metrybill
      
      Apr 20, 2013 at 7:41 pm
      
      I like the article, but …
      
      Ignorance of the law (rules) is no excuse. I do not care that he was “flustered.” So what? That is at best an explanation; but it is no excuse. There is no “fluster” exception to the rules. He violated a very, very basic rule. He had a caddie, too; which most of us cannot afford or claim. 4 eyes and 2 brains; not just 2 and 1. All the worse, he in fact admitted that he intentionally played from farther back than the rule permits. He did something that the rules committee did not know about! He had 4 options and he took none of them. Intent has no place in the rules for a proper drop. You either dropped the ball correctly or you did not. He didn’t get an official ruling during the round, only afterwards and even then not one generated by him or by a committee with full knowledge of the facts.
      
      btw, and importantly, there was a rules official available and TW did not take advantage of that. All he had to to was to ask, “Can I do this? (or) Is this OK?” In a club tournament he gets d’q’d.
      
      Another option: in case of doubt under the rules he could have played a 2nd ball.
      
      Golf is not a regular ball-sport. Golfers are self-regulating. Officials do not throw flags during the round. Golf officials are not active, flag-throwing officials. {Still I do not get that the rules official did not “check out” the drop to protect the field. If he/she had this affirmative duty, this might not have come up. Now, if rules officials had that “duty,” I would have a different opinion.}
      
      Full disclosure: Clearly, Tiger is one of the very best ever. I am not a Tiger fan but I don’t hate him or wish him failure. Tiger has benefited from the lack of a full field of future Hall-of-Famers in his era, except for Mickeleson and Els. If I could get a bet on Tiger v. Tom Watson, 1-shot a side, I would take Watson. (I know; ridiculous but that is how I feel about it.) Tiger has never come from even 1-shot behind to win a major. IMO, that is a serious hole in his resume’ when compared to others.
      
      Tiger is about Tiger and no one else. He is known to be smart and analytical. I am sympathetic but not to the point that the rules are compromised. I do think this was favoritism; maybe not intentionally so, but as applied.
      
      Tiger is without a doubt the best round 1 -3 player ever. As a 4th round player, who absolutely WILL be and deserves to be a hall-of-famer, as a 4th round player he will probably go down as one of the most mediocre of them all. That will be the hole in his resume’.
      
      btw, again. Most of us play without “drop-zones.” Pros are privileged with the best of everything when they play.
      
      Looking forward to the comments and prove me wrong. Is there some context that I am missing?
      
      Metrybill
      
      Reply Report comment
  - Greg DeLaney
    
    Apr 13, 2013 at 10:53 pm
    
    You keep talking about playing by the rules but Tiger followed the rules set forth by the governing body of golf. Stop being a hypocrite. The game of golf changed this rule. Grant is a professional and does know better you stupid idiot
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Woodie
      
      Apr 14, 2013 at 6:03 am
      
      Oh Greg, are we getting personal? I won’t jump on your verbal abuse…
      I am a PGA Professional too and I know what I talk about! Signing a wrong scorecard is a DQ, period.
      Tiger should have amditted that he made a mistake and pull out of the Masters. And I am no Tiger hater…
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Mikko U
      
      Apr 14, 2013 at 9:13 am
      
      I’m sorry but he did not follow the rules set forth by the governing body of golf. He himself said he went back a couple of yards to drop the ball (thus he knew where he shot his original shot) and that is not dropping as near as possible.
      
      Reply Report comment
Ronald Montesano

Apr 13, 2013 at 3:23 pm

Nicely put, Grant. While I believe that my take is the correct one, and that the Competition Committee enabled Tiger in a way that they would no other player, I applaud your research and your formulation of your argument.

Reply Report comment
- TWShoot67
  
  Apr 14, 2013 at 6:14 pm
  
  There is no argument. they are the facts Ronald. Tiger followed the rules of golf plain and simple. he didn’t need to withdraw because haters want him to, if in fact he did he would do the rules an injustice. When Tiger dropped he didn’t think he was gaining any advantage. if he wanted to cheat he would cheat but since he has 77 wins and 14 majors Tiger doesn’t need to cheat. He’s the greatest golfer of our time and maybe of all time.
  
  Reply Report comment
- John
  
  Apr 14, 2013 at 11:16 pm
  
  Well he didn’t end up winning. Well Done Adam Scott
  
  Reply Report comment

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle

Published

14 hours ago

Apr 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.

Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.

The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.

Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.

Past Winners at Harbour Town

2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
2019: CT Pan (-12)
2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
2016: Branden Grace (-9)
2015: Jim Furyk (-18)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For Harbour Town

Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
Tom Hoge (+1.27)
Corey Conners (+1.16)
Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
Cameron Young (+0.93)

Good Drive %

The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

Brice Garnett (88.8%)
Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
Sepp Straka (+85.1%)

Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs

Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.

SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:

Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
Brian Harman (+1.89)
Sungjae Im (+1.58)

4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)

Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.

SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds

Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
Taylor Moore (+1.02)
Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
Andrew Putnam (+0.83)

5. Greens in Regulation %

The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.

Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:

Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
Corey Conners (+69.0%)
Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)

6. Course History

Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.

Course History over past 24 rounds:

Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
Cam Davis (+2.05)
J.T. Poston (+1.69)
Justin Rose (+1.68)
Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)

The RBC Heritage Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)

Shane Lowry
Russell Henley
Scottie Scheffler
Xander Schauffele
Corey Conners
Wyndham Clark
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Matt Fitzpatrick
Cameron Young
Ludvig Aberg

2024 RBC Heritage Picks

Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)

With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.

Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).

Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.

Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)

I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.

The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.

Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)

Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.

Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.

Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)

Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.

In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.

Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.

Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)

When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.

Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.

Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.

Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)

This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.

Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.

Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi: The 6 biggest takeaways from the 2024 Masters

Published

17 hours ago

Apr 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The 2024 Masters offered up plenty of excitement throughout the week with Scottie Scheffler delivering when it mattered to live up to his pre-tournament favorite tag. With the year’s opening major now in the books, here are my six biggest takeaways from the 2024 Masters.

Scheffler In a League of His Own

In the most impressive way possible, Scottie Scheffler won the Masters without having his absolute best stuff. For the week, Scottie ranked 19th in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is a category the number player in the world typically dusts the rest of the field in. After a strong approach day on Thursday, the 27-year-old lost strokes to the field on approach on Friday and Saturday, before gaining on Sunday. The iron performance was more than solid, but it was an all-around game that helped Scheffler get it done around Augusta National.

For a year or more, the narrative around Scheffler has been, “With his ball striking, if he can just putt to field average, he’ll be unbeatable.” At Augusta, his ball striking came back down to earth, but his touch around the greens and ability to manage the golf course demonstrated why he is the best player on the planet right now. For the week, Scheffler ranked 1st in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 24th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

For the time being, there is a major gap between Scottie Scheffler and the second-best player in the world, whoever that may be.

The Future is Now

Ludvig Aberg went into his first back-nine at the Masters with a legitimate shot to win the tournament. When he teed it up on the treacherous 11th hole, he was one behind Scottie Scheffler, who had just stuck one to a few feet on the 9th. By the time he approached his tee shot, which was perfectly striped down the left side of the fairway, he was two behind. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old got too aggressive with his approach at the 11th and found the water, making double bogey. Ludvig rebounded nicely and finished the event in solo second place.

With the Masters now in the rearview, it’s never been more evident that Ludvig Aberg is no longer an “up-and-comer” — he has arrived. The Swede has been an integral part of a winning European Ryder Cup team and has now contended at Augusta National. With a calm demeanor, a picture-perfect swing, and a build and stature that appears as if it was built in a lab, Ludvig Aberg is already amongst the world’s best. I’d be extremely surprised if he wasn’t in the mix at next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Nostalgia Wins

I try to avoid as many cliches as possible, but there’s something about the Masters that brings out the sentimentality in me. Tiger Woods strategically making his way around Augusta National without all of the physical tools that made him arguably the most dominant athlete in the history of sports will always be riveting, regardless of what score he shoots. Woods made it interesting until a tough stretch of holes on Saturday, but he ultimately wore down, shooting 16 over for the week in difficult conditions. It’s remarkable that the 15-time major champion was able to put together a few solid rounds of golf despite barely playing any competitive golf in 2024. As long as Woods tees it up at Augusta, we will all continue to be mesmerized by it.

Verne Lundquist’s 40th and final Masters Tournament was also a must-watch aspect of the event. The iconic voice of Lundquist and his calls throughout the years still give me chills each time I hear them. Verne is an icon of the game and will be missed in future renditions of the Masters.

The Masters also brings another element that is unique to the tournament. Former champions turn back the clock to battle with the golf course again which creates some amazing stories. There are a few that stick out this year and were an absolute pleasure to witness. 61-year-old Vijay Singh made the cut for the first time since 2018 and shot a pretty incredible even-par, 72 on Sunday. 58-year-old José María Olazábal made the cut as well, reminding us why fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm sought his valuable advice prior to his Masters victory in 2022.

Regardless of who wins, the Masters always delivers.

Bryson Moves the Needle

Plenty will disagree with me on this point, but outside of Tiger Woods, and potentially Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, no one moves the needle in golf as much as Bryson DeChambeau. The uniqueness in which Bryson approaches the game has always been fascinating, and if he gets near the top of the leaderboard at any major championship, whether it’s to root for him or against him, people are interested.

It began on Monday with a pretty bizarre story of DeChambeau using 3D-printed irons that got just got cleared for use by the USGA when the week began. It once again felt like a storyline that would only be possible with a character as eccentric as Bryson. He then raced off to a first-round lead in tough conditions, reminding the world of what made him such a great golfer to begin with. He made some mistakes on the weekend, but still finished a career best T6 at The Masters.

Bryson is more than just quirky; he is a former U.S. Amateur Champion and U.S. Open who I believe will contend for more majors in the future. I will continue to root for DeChambeau, but I’m perfectly content with the fact that plenty will root against him, and I encourage those people to do so. That’s what makes it fun.

LIV Walks Away Empty-Handed

Last year, there were a multitude of questions about LIV players coming into the year’s first major. They had played very limited tournament golf, and critics of LIV questioned whether the 54-hole events were enough to sharpen the players enough to compete against the best in the world on the biggest stage.

The results were fascinating, with LIV players all over the leaderboard. Brooks Koepka held the 36- and 54-hole lead, with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed finishing T2 and T4, giving LIV three golfers in the top-4 of the leaderboard.

This season, with even more time removed and with some more massive additions to the roster, the intrigue surrounding LIV players at Augusta was once again palpable. While some players, including Bryson DeChambeau, exceeded expectations, I can’t help but walk away from the Masters feeling underwhelmed by the performance of the LIV players.

Brooks Koepka finished runner-up last season and is a certified major championship killer. The 5-time major champ was never involved and simply didn’t have it at Augusta. Dustin Johnson put together a putrid performance, shooting 13 over for his two rounds, making it fair to wonder if his days of contending at major championships are over as he rapidly approaches his 40th birthday.

Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann were both players who were amongst the favorites this week, but Rahm was faced with the daunting duties of defending champion and Niemann proved he was still not quite ready to master the quirks of Augusta National, bleeding strokes both around and on the greens.

To be fair, when all was said and done, LIV had four players in the top twelve at The Masters. Tyrrell Hatton stormed the leaderboard early on Sunday, finishing T9 and earning himself an invite back to Augusta next season. Cam Smith and Patrick Reed put together gritty performances, which isn’t too surprising considering the fact that they both absolutely love Augusta National, but neither ever felt a real threat to win. There’s no doubt the players on LIV are good, and that’s why some encouraging leaderboard positions aren’t enough. They needed to contend.

With no players part of the storyline on Sunday, I view the first major of the year as a disappointment for LIV. The players will head into next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla with a lot to prove.

Rory’s Struggles Continues

Rory struggling at Augusta National is no surprise at this point. The four-time major champion has now had 10 attempts to complete the career grand slam and has never had a chance to win. His T2 in 2022 was deceiving, the Northern Irishman stormed the leaderboard on Sunday, but was never in contention, and never got within three shots of the winner, Scottie Scheffler.

I didn’t expect Rory to win, but I have to admit that this year felt a bit different. McIlroy played the week prior to the Masters, which he typically doesn’t do, and finished third at the Valero Texas Open. He gained 7.56 strokes on approach and 2.0 strokes off the tee, which told me that his visit with world-renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, after the Players Championship paid dividends.

McIlroy also approached the media quite differently. He cut his pre-tournament press conference short after only 10 minutes and seemed to be laser-focused on just playing golf.

Despite the different approach to the Masters, the results were the same. McIlroy struggled over the course of the week, finishing T22 (+4) and never sniffed a decent weekend position on the leaderboard. It’s back to the drawing board for McIlroy, and I have doubts that he will ever figure it out at Augusta.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi: The 8 best prop bets for the 2024 Masters

Published

7 days ago

Apr 9, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

We’ve finally reached The Masters and excitement is at an all-time high. The world of golf has been fractured for the better part of two years, but for a week at Augusta National, all of the outside noise will disappear. All of the best players in the world will be together seeking to make history.

RELATED: Vincenzi’s 2024 Masters betting preview: Niemann to play star role at Augusta National

In addition to betting on The Masters champion. This is one of the few weeks of the year where there are so many more markets to explore, with value to be had in plenty of different categories.

Throughout this article, I’ll discuss all of my favorite props and players for the 2024 Masters.

Placement Bets:

Tony Finau Top 5 +750 (DraftKings):

I badly wanted to include Tony Finau in my outright betting selections, but I simply ran out of room on my card. Additionally, it’s slightly difficult to see him hitting the putts necessary to win the Masters on back nine on Sunday. However, I do strongly believe he will play great golf this week at Augusta National.

In his past 24 rounds, Finau ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Approach is always amongst the best drivers of the golf ball in the game. Back in 2019, Finau had a great chance to win The Masters. I expect him to be hanging around over the weekend once again in 2024.

Gary Woodland Top 20 +550 (DraftKings), Gary Woodland to make the cut -110 (DraftKings):

Last season, Gary Woodland had his best ever finish at The Masters in his eleven tries. The 39-year-old finished T14 and played incredibly steady across all four rounds.

In Woodland’s most recent start at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, he struck the ball incredibly well. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach (+8.8) and Strokes Gained: Ball Striking (+10.0).

Gary has been working with Butch Harmon and absolutely flushing the ball both in tournaments and during practice.

Woodland appears to be healthy once again and in a great place physically and mentally. If he can build off his impressive performance at Augusta last year, he can place inside the top ten in 2024.

Additionally, the make the cut number on Woodland seems generous considering the number of players who miss the cut will be relatively small this week. Woodland is striking it well enough to make the cut even if he’s hindered by a balky putter once again.

Thorbjorn Olesen Top 20 +400 (FanDuel):

The Thunder Bear, Thorbjorn Olesen, made his Masters debut in 2013 and finished an incredibly impressive T6 for the week. In the two additional starts he’s made at Augusta National since then, the Dane has continued to be incredibly solid, finishing T44 and T21.

This week, Olesen heads into the week playing some good golf. He gained 3.8 strokes on approach and 5.52 strokes around the green at last week’s Valero Texas Open on his way to a strong T14 finish. Back in January, he won the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour.

Olesen has the skill set to be successful at Augusta and seems primed for a good performance this week.

Top Nationalities:

Sergio Garcia Top Spanish Player +280 (DraftKings):

I believe Sergio Garcia can get into contention this week with the way he’s striking the ball in addition to his good vibes with a refurbished version of the Scotty Cameron that he used at the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah.

I am slightly concerned about the emotional letdown he may face after losing in a playoff at LIV Miami, but I believe a veteran and former Masters champion should be able to regroup and focus on an event far more meaningful.

This is essentially a tournament head-to-head with Jon Rahm at +280. While Rahm deserves to be respected this week, the history of the lack of success of defending champions at The Masters is difficult to ignore.

Joaquin Niemann Top South American Player -230 (FanDuel):

While I hate paying this much juice, I don’t see a world in which Joaquin Niemann isn’t the top South American this week at The Masters. Joaco comes in playing better golf than anyone in the world not named Scottie Scheffler and has a serious chance to win the green jacket.

He only needs to beat two players: Emiliano Grillo and Camilo Villegas.

Tournament Head-to-Heads:

Justin Thomas -110 over Collin Morikawa

JT isn’t having his best season but is playing a lot better than he is getting credit for at the moment. In the past three months, there are only six players on the PGA Tour who have averaged 1.7 Strokes Gained: Tee to Green or better. Justin Thomas (+1.7) is one of the six and is currently tied with Rory McIlroy (+1.7).

Morikawa, on the other hand, has been extremely poor with his irons, which is incredibly uncharacteristic for him. I can’t help but feel like something is completely off with the two-time major champion.

Tony Finau -110 over Wyndham Clark

I explained in the placement section why I’m so high on Tony Finau this week. With how well he’s striking the ball, it seems as if his floor is extremely high. I’m not sure if he can make the putts to win a green jacket but I believe he will be in the mix similarly to 2019 when Tiger Woods emerged from a crowded pack of contenders.

Clark is a debutant, and while some debutants have had success at The Masters, it certainly poses a challenge. I also don’t believe Augusta National suits Clark as well as some of the other major championship venues.

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