Thursday, April 05, 2007

Ahhh, The Masters

One of the rites of springtime for the average golfer is to sit down for a couple/few days to watch the Masters gold tourney on TV. Over the years I have seldom missed one. Also, over the years it is, by far, the most watched tournament of the year. It has the highest ratings by double over any other tournament and with some it'll be a month before as many people watch golf on TV combined.

Why is it that year after year Augusta National - The Masters - gets the highest ratings? Is it just because that it - as one of my golf buddies who use to work there for the tournament - use to say "is the most beautiful place on earth for that one week"? And who can argue? Indeed it is pretty to watch the azalias and the dogwoods against a backdrop of green and since the advent of HD - even more so. No. 12 has to be the most beautiful hole on the course and it's probably got the highest number of "others" year in and year out. No. 13 with the sand all around it and the green sitting up on a perch like it does with Ray's Creek circumferencing the green in front in a winding sort of style as it lurches to catch the shortfallen shot. Hit it long to circumvent Ray's Creek and guess what? You've got Ray's Creek staring you in the face on the shot back - don't hit it a smidgen too hard or the place that you thought was avoided just cost you another stroke (and you still have to contend with it if you drop from where you last played - better think about it!).

Of course, leading off "Amen Corner" is No. 11 - this year it's a 500 yard par 4 and it looks like it's going to be the hardest hole on the course. That, if you recall, is hole that Ben Hogan said if I'm anywhere on the left of the pin on Sunday I've pulled it by 30 feet. Indeed to the right is the prefered shot - it's called by some the "office spot".

I still find it surprising than many people do not know that this is not an official PGA event. The Masters is the only major (there's only 4 in a year) that's not affiliated with either tour. I say "Gooood" I get tired of all the control that the PGA has on everything! The Masters controls nearly everything and they do a superb job - still. One of the very best things that they do is control the amount of commercials there are in an hour of broadcast. This is one of the main reasons that I don't think watching the event is ever a waste of time.

Let's face it watch a regular tour event -

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