Monday, March 31, 2014

Augusta National Golf Course Flyover Video


A flyover of Augusta National (Holes 1-18) with the classic Masters music.

Shell Houston Open Betting Odds 2014


Notable player betting odds for the Shell Houston Open:


Favorites:
Rory McILroy: 9-1
Dustin Johnson: 14-1
Henrik Stenson: 16-1
Jordan Spieth: 22-1
Phil Mickelson: 22-1
Sergio Garcia: 22-1
Matt Kuchar: 22-1

Mid-Range:
Charl Schwartzel: 33-1
Jimmy Walker: 33-1
Luke Donald: 40-1
Webb Simpson: 40-1
Louie Oosthuizen: 55-1

Long-Shots:
Ryo Ishikawa: 80-1
Paul Casey: 90-1
Ernie Els: 100-1
Martin Kaymer: 100-1
Angel Cabrera: 125-1
Two Gloves Gainey: 400-1
Mike Weir: 500-1

Sunday, March 30, 2014

What does the winner of the Masters get?


The winner of the Masters receives a lifetime invitation to future Masters, as well as five year exemptions to the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. The player also receives a five year membership to the PGA Tour as well as a five year exemption for the Players Championship. The champion also of course gets the green jacket.

Masters Tournament Records



Masters Tournament Records:

Most wins:
Jack Nicklaus (6)
Tiger Woods (4)
Arnold Palmer (4)

Most runner up finishes:
Jack Nicklaus (4)
Ben Hogan (4)
Tom Weiskopf (4)

Most top 5 finishes:
Jack Nicklaus (15)
Tiger Woods (11)

Most consecutive years played:
Arnold Palmer (50) 1955-2004

Lowest score front nine: (30)
Johnny Miller, Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, KJ Choi

Lowest score back nine:  (29)
David Toms, Mark Calcavecchia

Lowest score: (63)
Greg Norman, Nick Price

Lowest score 72 Holes: 270
Tiger Woods (1997)

Most career eagles: 24
Jack Nicklaus

Most career birdies: 506
Jack Nicklaus

Most birdies in a round: 11
Anthony Kim (2009)

Most consecutive birdies: 7
Tiger Woods, Steve Pate

Largest margin of victory: 12
Tiger Woods (1997)

Highest score on one hole: 13
Tom Weiskopf (hole 12), Tommy Nakijima (hole 13)


Thursday, March 27, 2014

The Course Design of Augusta National




Augusta National Golf Club was originally a 365-acre indigo plantation. By 1857 it had become a plant nursery. At the height of the Depression the property was purchased by Bobby Jones, the brilliant amateur, and a friend of his named Clifford Roberts. Together they hired a Scottish golf architect, Alister MacKenzie, to design a course. There were American architects they could have hired, but Bobby Jones didn't want an American course - he felt they were too prescriptive. He wanted MacKenzie to design a golf course where every hole presented a problem or a puzzle for players.

Bobby Jones also wanted a course like St. Andrews in Scotland, with wide fairways, undulating greens, and bunkers that came into play only if a shot was mishit. He wanted each hole to look wide-open from the tee, and playable for any high handicapper, a hole that was a hard par and a difficult birdie.

Jones also borrowed ideas from Sara Bay in Sarasota, Florida, a course built by the American golf architect, Donald Ross, with elevated greens that required pinpoint approach shots on the slopes and crowns.

Together, Jones and MacKenzie created what today is called the Doctrine of Deception. Rather than holes where it seems clear what a player needs to do, they built holes where golfers think they have two or three chances, and therefore try a shot that is above their ability. And that's why the Masters tournament is so thrilling. The winner is always the player who can pull off the impossible shot. And playing the impossible shot is the only way to win the green jacket at the Masters.

Excerpt from the book The Caddie who won the Masters by John Coyne:

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Augusta National Hole by Hole Names


Each hole at Augusta National is named after a flower or tree.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Masters Past Champions

Adam Scott wins the 2013 Masters in a playoff.
The past 20 Masters Champions:

2013: Adam Scott
2012: Bubba Watson
2011: Charl Schwartzel
2010: Phil Mickelson
2009: Angel Cabrera
2008: Trevor Immelman
2007: Zach Johnson
2006: Phil Mickelson
2005: Tiger Woods
2004: Phil Mickelson
2003: Mike Weir
2002: Tiger Woods
2001: Tiger Woods
2000: Vijay Singh
1999: Jose Maria Olazabal
1998: Mark O'Meara
1997: Tiger Woods
1996: Nick Faldo
1995: Ben Crenshaw
1994: Jose Maria Olazabal

Complete List of Champions

Masters Champions: By the Numbers

Yes sir!
Players with the most Masters victories:
Jack Nicklaus: 6
Tiger Woods: 4
Arnold Palmer: 4
Phil Mickelson: 3
Sam Snead: 3
Gary Player: 3
Nick Faldo: 3
Jimmy Demaret: 3

First champion: Horton Smith (1934)
Most recent champion: Adam Scott (2013)
Youngest champion: Tiger Woods (1997) age 21
Oldest champion: Jack Nicklaus (1986) age 46

Wins by Nationality:
United States: 57
South Africa: 5
Spain: 4
England: 3
Germany: 2
Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Canada, Argentina, Australia: 1

Number of playoffs in Masters history: 16

Masters History and Traditions

Adam Scott of Australia with the Green Jacket after winning the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
The Masters began in 1934 at Augusta National, designed by Bobby Jones and Alistair Mackenzie. The tournament is scheduled for the beginning of April and is the only major played at the same course every year.

A green jacket is awarded to the winner, a tradition which began in 1949. The champions dinner, held each Tuesday of tournament week, was started by Ben Hogan and is only open to former champions and certain board members.

On each Wednesday, there is a par-3 tournament at a par-3 course at Augusta with many of the player's kids caddying for them.

Each tournament begins with an honorary tee shot, performed in the past by golf legends Nicklaus, Palmer, Snead, and Sarazen, among others.

The winner of the Masters receives a lifetime exemption into the tournament, plus a five year exemption on the PGA Tour, as well as a five year exemption into the U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship, and the Player's Championship.

Jack Nicklaus has won the most green jackets with six while Arnold Palmer and Tiger Wood have four wins each. Phil Mickelson most recently won in 2010 and has three. The defending champion is Adam Scott, who won in a playoff over Angel Cabrera and became the first Australian to win the Masters. 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Masters Quotes


"The course is perfection and it asks perfection."  Nick Faldo

"If the Masters offered no money at all, I would be here trying just as hard." Ben Hogan

"I can't think of another course in the world that the more you play, the more you learn."Jim Furyk 

 "You definitely use a lot more imagination on the greens here than the majority of courses we play because of the lack of rough around the greens. You can lob it up, bump it up. Do whatever you want, just get it up there somewhere."Darren Clarke on what it's like to miss a green

"I don't think about winning the Masters as part of the slam. You want to win the Masters because of what it means to the game." Jack Nicklaus

 "I don't know if I'll ever do it again or not, but frankly, I don't care!" Jack Nicklaus after his amazing sixth victory in 1986

"While we may not have expected it originally, we have created a tournament of such importance that we are bound to see that it continues." Augusta co-founder Clifford Roberts in 1939


Golf Betting Odds: Valero Texas Open

 
Kevin Na made a 16 at the Valero Texas Open in 2011

Notable player betting odds to win the Valero Texas Open:

Phil Mickelson: 16-1
Matt Kuchar: 16-1
Zach Johnson: 16-1
Jimmy Walker: 20-1
Jordan Spieth: 20-1
Kevin Na: 40-1
KJ Choi: 50-1
Ernie Els: 66-1
Ryo Ishikawa: 66-1
Camillo Villegas: 100-1
Danny Lee: 125-1
Sean O'Hair: 125-1
Jhonatton Vegas: 125-1
Woody Austin: 500-1

Monday, March 17, 2014

Golf Betting Odds: Bay Hill Invitational


Notable player betting odds to win the Bay Hill Invitational:

Tiger Woods: 7-1
Bubba Watson: 16-1
Justin Rose: 16-1
Adam Scott: 18-1
Jason Day: 20-1
Graeme McDowell: 25-1
Hunter Mahan: 28-1
Kevin Na: 40-1
Patrick Reed: 40-1
Lee Westwood: 66-1
Martin Laird: 80-1
Ryo Ishikawa: 125-1
Angel Cabrera: 200-1
David Duval: 500-1

Bay Hill Golf Club Flyover


Sunday, March 16, 2014

Surf the Earth with Laird Hamilton and the new GolfBoard


Laird Hamilton, legendary big wave surfer, is a design consultant for a new product called the GolfBoard which just won best new product at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show.

According to their website: The GolfBoard will change the way you experience the game of golf. The easy to ride electric board makes getting from one shot to the next just as fun as hitting a great drive or approach shot. The GolfBoard speeds up the game, is easy and intuitive for everyone to ride, has less impact on a course than a golf cart, and allows golfers to surf the golf course in a way that feels similar to snowboarding, surfing or skateboarding.






Tom Watson hits backward chip to one foot


Tom Watson hits a one armed backwards chip to one foot to get up and down.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Putting Greens by Pro Putt Systems offer a wide selection of standard and custom packages




Pro Putt Systems putting greens offers a great selection of both standard and custom packages for indoor and outdoor use. Pro Putt uses Mirage synthetic turf, the most realistic on the market, which comes with a 10 year turf warranty. The turf is placed on a base system which is put together like a puzzle. The base system lifts the turf off the ground allowing the ball to roll into the cup.  No tools are required for the installation. The greens can be ordered online, delivered to your home, and you install it yourself. This is the perfect product for serious practice, game rooms, entertainment, or golf rooms. Prices are reasonable as well starting at $799.

Standard packages include:

THE CLUB CHAMPION: Measuring 10 feet x 4 feet, this green is specifically designed to make you a money putter within 10 feet. 

The Club Champion Model
THE PRO PUTT TRAINER: Measuring 12 feet x 4 feet, this green is designed to fit into any room.

THE ULTIMATE PUTTING TRAINER: Measuring 12 feet x 6 feet, this green is the best for a variety of putting drills.

THE TOUR PRO MODEL: Measuring 13 feet long, it can handle putts of up to 12 feet and chips from up to 20 feet with an optional chipping pad.

THE EXECUTIVE TOUR PRO MODEL: Measuring 17 feet long, and 6 feet wide, this green can also have the option of undulating putts for practicing breakers.

THE GOLF SHOP MODEL: A total square footage of 120, five cups included, perfect for a golf shop.

Lower your handicap by 5+ strokes with an indoor putting green


Monday, March 3, 2014

Betting Odds: WGC Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral


The WGC Cadillac Championship begins Thursday at the newly revamped Trump National Doral in Miami. Trump, along with golf course architect, Gil Hanse, have spent the past year updating the course in typical Trump fashion.

The Blue Monster, known as an icon in the industry and a host to the PGA TOUR for over 50 years, has undergone a total transformation and features completely new greens, traps, fairways, tees, and lakes that are bigger and better than ever before.

Hole by Hole Changes by Hanse

Hanse stated, "This is one of the most exciting projects that I have ever had the privilege to work on. The property itself, being all sand based, is very unusual and unique --- and a tremendous asset for a golf course. On top of it all, its location, in the middle of Miami, is unprecedented."  

Notable player betting odds:

Rory McILroy: 7-1
Adam Scott: 12-1
Tiger Woods: 12-1
Jason Day: 20-1
Jordan Spieth: 22-1
Phil Mickelson: 25-1
Keegan Bradley: 28-1
Hunter Mahan: 40-1
Victor Dubuisson: 50-1
Ernie Els: 66-1

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Masters Betting Odds 2014


Notable player betting odds to win the 2014 Masters:

Tiger Woods: 6-1
Rory McILroy: 6-1
Adam Scott: 14-1
Jason Day: 14-1
Phil Mickelson: 14-1
Henrick Stenson: 18-1
Justin Rose: 25-1
Bubba Watson: 28-1
Jordan Spieth: 28-1
Charl Schwartzel: 33-1
Jason Dufner: 40-1
Sergio Garcia: 40-1
Angel Cabrera: 66-1
Graeme McDowell: 66-1
Rickie Fowler: 66-1
Ernie Els: 100-1
Fred Couples: 125-1
Mike Weir: 500-1
Tom Watson: 1000-1