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1. RIP Doug Sanders
AP’s Doug Ferguson on the passing of a singular professional golfer…”Doug Sanders brought a flamboyance to golf fashion ahead of his time, a colorful character known as much for the 20 times he won on the PGA Tour as the majors that got away.”
- “Sanders died Sunday morning in Houston, the PGA Tour confirmed through a text from Sanders’ ex-wife, Scotty. He was 86.”
- “Sanders was still an amateur when he won his first PGA Tour event in 1956 at the Canadian Open in a playoff against Dow Finsterwald, and his best year was in 1961 when he won five times and finished third on the PGA Tour money list.”
- “But he is best known for four runner-up finishes in the majors, the most memorable at St. Andrews in the 1970 British Open.”
2. Rory keen on November Masters chances
Tom Schmitt for Golfweek…”The world’s current No. 1 player spent some quality Easter time with Michelle Wie on a Nike Golf Instagram Live, and said he’s excited about the fact that the dynamics might be very different this year.”
“I feel like there’s anticipation going to Augusta the first big event of the year. There’s all this hype,” McIlory said. “I don’t think it’ll feel like that this year, I think it’ll feel a little bit different, which I’m looking forward to. It’s going to be a different Masters and personally, selfishly, maybe that’s what I need to get the jacket.”
- …”November is going to be different. It’s going to be cold. The course can play very long. I mean, it plays long already, but it could play very long. The greens might not be as fast as they usually are in April, depending on the moisture,” McIlroy said. “Obviously, they can do whatever they want with the course with SubAir and everything, but I think it’ll be a different feel as well. It’s the back end of the year as two of the majors have already been played – hopefully, the Ryder Cup’s already been played. People might be in their routines and in their flow a little bit.”
3. Tiger on where his game was heading into what would have been Masters week: “I was peaking”
Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Despite the suspension of the PGA Tour schedule, which forced the Masters to new Nov. 12-15 dates, Woods said he continued to practice and play at his home club, Medalist, which has remained open. His mind and body were coming together, too, as Woods said he was transforming into his “normal pre-major-championship self.”
- “I was out practicing and subconsciously getting ready – I didn’t realize I was getting ready, I just wanted to go out there and have some fun, hit some balls and get out the house,” Woods said. “It’s amazing. I’ve been doing it for so long, that things were starting to come together, I was starting to peak. Trying to peak four times a year – and I know that the tournament’s been postponed, not [to be played] until November, but for some reason I was still peaking anyways. It was kind of funny.
- “Just goes to show you, muscle memory.”
4. $5 million in grants
Tod Leonard for Golf Digest…”The work is enormously valuable, the USGA recognizes that, and its making a considerable investment to give the associations a boost in the troubled times of COVID-19. On Saturday, the USGA announced that it has established an emergency relief fund for its 59 Allied Golf Associations (AGA) and will give out up to $5 million in grants.”
- “In a release, the USGA said the grants are intended to maintain business continuity and staffing levels. Individual AGAs can apply for up to $100,000 in relief, and additional financial assistance will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The application process begins on Monday, April, 13, and will continue through the summer as needed. Should additional funding be needed if the disruption is prolonged, the USGA said it will consider further contributions.”
- “These golf associations are the backbone of the recreational and competitive golf communities at the local, state and regional level,” USGA CEO Mike Davis said in the statement. “They play a vital role not only in delivering the USGA’s core services, but also in engaging millions of golfers across the country at the local level. This support will help enable the game to make a strong return once it’s safe to do so.”
5. Most memorable moments of Tiger’s 2019 win
From an ESPN roundtable…”When was the first time during the week you thought, ‘Wait, Tiger Woods could actually win this thing’?…Michael Collins: After the round on Saturday night, there were a couple of us in the parking lot talking with Tiger and his girlfriend, Erica Herman. Just before they jumped in the car, someone said, “You’re gonna win this thing tomorrow aren’t you?” And Tiger looked back calmly, “Yeah, I know.” I gave him a bro hug and repeated, “You ARE gonna win tomorrow, aren’t you?!” Seeing the look in his eyes (still gives me goose bumps) when he said yes again, there was no doubt in my mind.”
- “Memory that stands out the most?…”Bob Harig: The scene behind the 18th green on Sunday after Tiger won. Not just the hugs with his son and daughter and later his team, but the noise and the chanting as he walked toward the scoring area. And it was there where he was greeted by some of the players who were in the tournament, waiting to congratulate him, including past champions such as Bernhard Langer and Trevor Immelman, who wore their green jackets.”
6. Lavner’s take
The Golf Channel scribe, who covered Tiger’s 2019 Masters win from Augusta National, finally sat down to watch the telecast and offer perspective…
- “Some background: Viewers at home, of course, are keenly aware of the leaderboard jockeying and key shots. Even us scribes, in our state-of-the-art Augusta National media center, can stay locked into the action, each of our work areas equipped with a stats tablet and a TV monitor that pulls in feeds from all of the broadcast partners. Still, the Masters is unlike any other tournament we cover. Without cellphones or social media or inside-the-ropes access, we’re all in the same position – mingling among the patrons, listening to the roars, waiting for the hand-operated leaderboards to update.”
- “Keeping track of the constant fluctuations in the scoring area? Forget about it…Communicating with co-workers about what they’re writing? Not once you leave the media center.”
- “In a way, it’s actually a risk venturing out onto the course, knowing I’ll be incommunicado and the at-home viewer will be more knowledgeable about what transpires. But our press credential also grants us unique access, and, in my opinion, it’s our responsibility to utilize it. So that’s what I chose, walking with – but, while battling teeming crowds, not necessarily watching – the last group for much of the final round.”
7. Tiger reflects
Via the transcription efforts of one Bob Harig…On what he remembers about holing the final putt and the aftermath:
- “Well, the funny part about the whole thing is — I don’t remember screaming. I don’t remember putting my arms up, and I don’t remember yelling. That’s one of those kind of blackout moments. There’s certain celebrations throughout my career that I’ve made putts or celebrated, I just don’t recall it. I guess I’m so locked into the moment.
- “What I do remember is my eyes coming back down and seeing people in front of me. I do remember that. I remember all the arms up. But as far as me celebrating, I don’t remember that part. I remember — ‘OK, let’s get to Fran and his caddie and Tony [Finau] and his caddy,’ and then shook their hands and — ‘Where the hell’s Joey? I need Joey.’ And I finally found Joey and said, ‘We did it.’ ‘Cause we did, we did it together. Joey was there helping me go to soccer games when I couldn’t drive a car. He came down here as a friend and helped try and nurse me back to health. He was there in those low times.”
8. Jim Nantz
Golfweek’s Adam Schupak…”Jim Nantz didn’t have a rehearsed phrase at the ready for Tiger Woods winning his fifth green jacket and 15th major title at last year’s Masters.”
- “As Tiger tried to figure out how to play his second shot at 18, Steve Milton, our director, cut to a shot of the family gathered behind the green and it triggered the thought that if he makes five and wins this thing, ‘What is that scene going to look like?’ ” Nantz recalled in a phone interview from Pebble Beach, California, where he’s been sheltered-in-home since March 19. “I drew a comparison to 2006 when he won (the British Open) at Hoylake for the first time after his father, Earl, had passed away. I thought there might be some parallels. I remembered how emotional that was for Tiger.”
- “Just seeing the family on the monitor, I knew that this was going to be a moment that transcended a golf achievement; this was an achievement that was bigger than that. This was a story about a man that made it all the way back. He was on top of the world and had many things in his life go sideways, including injuries that would have marked the end of virtually anyone else’s career. Doubters by the millions. And there’s his family about to embrace him and welcome him back to a place he’d once been. The word glory surfaced in my head.”
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19th Hole2 weeks ago
19th Hole2 weeks ago
