The 2008 Masters Tournament in Augusta…What did I learn?

First, I learned this exciting year had DESTINY written all over it for Trevor Immelman and congratulations go out to him.

I learned that having a childhood hero like Gary Player coach you through what most agree is the #1 tournament in golf is special, and to win the tournament & be able to share it with your fellow compatriots from South Africa as well as your hero has to be the ultimate in golf.

The best picture of the day on CBS [for me] was when they showed a picture of [then] five-year old Trevor in the arms of Gary player.

Back at the tournament Sunday, Trevor managed to stave off the rest of the field, including Tiger Woods, Stuart Cink, and a very impressive relative newcomer Brandt Snedeker, who, if they handed out awards for grace under pressure, would have taken home more than a tie for third.

I learned that like almost all Masters Events, weather could play a big role in the outcome. In Augusta in April, the weather can change from calm, to rain, to beautiful sunshine, to extreme wind, from day to day.

It appeared to me that most all players were able to cope with these changing conditions well, with the exception putting. When they forecast that, the wind (on Sunday) could be a factor on puts longer than five feet, you know you are in for a tussle when you reach the green. Theses are greens that are easy to misread in good conditions, let alone having to plan on an extra tug in one direction or another. Perhaps adding high-power fans to the practice greens will become the next rage in golf.

I learned that past performance (seven past champions competed through Sunday) does not guarantee a victory.

One thing we all learned, Tiger Woods is every bit as much of threat to anyone leading a tournament as he has ever been. I will bet that Trevor Immelman is just glad they ran out of holes, because Tiger (although he admits he was putting poorly the entire week), was starting to come around Sunday, as he usually does. BTW…All who responded to our Gotta-Grip.com Blog Question picked Tiger Woods to win.

Congratulations to all 41 players who hung around over the weekend for 2008 in Augusta, as well as to those who earned the right to come back next year.

It’s Not too late to Rent a House in Augusta

Recently on the Internet, there has been a flurry of activity revolving around the Masters Tournament (one of the most prestigious stops on the Professional Golf Tour). I noticed there are companies on line that offer house rentals near Augusta National by the week starting April 7, 2008.

In fact, if you have an extra $4,000 to $6,000 you can stretch out a little bit more that you can at your average Holiday Inn. That may sound like a steep price, but for the convenience of being within twenty miles from Augusta National Golf Course in April, there is a price to pay.

If you, and four friends were lucky enough to all get tickets (albeit unlikely), for the tournament, $1,200 each for the week for lodging would seem like “a steal” in that town.

One house had a pool, workout area, housekeeping service, the works, all for a measly $4,300 for the week.

Don’t worry about your “significant other” sneaking off to Georgia on a lark to attend the tournament and blow five grand on a house for the week. You see, they would have had to plan this far in advance. This year is SOLD out for general admission; and don’t think you can just waltz in there for the practice rounds either; those folks probably ordered last year and were lucky enough to be picked at random for the pre-show show. They are accepting requests for 2009 now though.

So you may be relegated to watching the tournament on TV in that $5k per week abode if you head down uninvited. I do not even want to guess what tickets go for from scalpers near the event.

Therefore, I will be plunked down on my couch at my home, watching to see who gets the Green Jacket this year…The Green Jacket of Golf.

The Green Jacket of Golf will be put on the winner, with the help of Zach Johnson (The 2007 Winner), on April 13, 2008, barring a rain delay or other event that impedes the tournament.

Speaking of the Green Jacket, I wondered about that, why green. I did some research online, and read the players first wore the jacket…not AFTER the event, but DURING, so that reporters and fans could distinguish the players from the other (distinguished-looking) gallery.

There will no doubt be a battle this year by the strong field nearing 100 as I write this. Who doesn’t want to win this one?

It will have extra historic significance if Tiger Woods) wins because he is winding his way towards beating Jack Nicklaus (73 wins), and then on to becoming the all-time winning golfer once he reaches the magic number of 83 wins, which will be one better than Sam Snead achieved.

Historically, Augusta has presented many different golfers with a chance to compete, as it changes with wind, rain and the other curves that spring days in Eastern Central Georgia.

Just like a good horse race, the weather may play a role in who’s wearing green this year.

So if you are one of the lucky ones to have waited your turn to get tickets (and I mean waited), and get one of those creampuff rental homes as your bunkhouse, think of the rest of us while you are there.