It’s been 25 years since Tiger Woods famously gained the primary of his 5 Masters titles, so it could appear solely pure that different gamers search his recommendation on the right way to play Augusta National.
Listen to Jon Rahm, although, and it looks like Woods is not at all times forthcoming along with his data of the course — or the sport of golf typically.
“I think there’s only one man in this field that hears advice from Tiger because I’ve asked before and I get nothing,” Rahm stated. “So you might need to ask Justin Thomas.”
Thomas, after all, is Woods’ buddy, and the 2 usually play collectively at dwelling in Florida. Last week, they took a visit on Woods’ personal jet to play a follow spherical at Augusta National, the place Thomas may need requested a query or two about successful a inexperienced jacket.
Rahm, a former world No. 1, did not precisely get that stage of data from Woods. Not that he did not strive.
Fred Couples, left, Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods stroll down the sixth fairway throughout a follow spherical for the Masters golf event. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
“I remember asking him at (the Tour Championship) the year he won, before on the putting green in the practice round,” Rahm stated. “Hey, man, any ideas for Bermuda (greens)? He rotated and stated, ‘it is all concerning the really feel,’ and simply stored going. I used to be like, ‘cool, thanks.'”
Rahm, who laughed as he informed the tales, stated he requested Woods at one other event about the right way to chip into the grain, and Woods merely stated he needed to be shallow.
“Meanwhile, I turn around and JT’s there with him and he’s getting a whole dissertation on what to do.”
Thomas additionally had a chuckle when informed he should be particular to get recommendation from the best participant of his time.
“I want to learn, so I’m going to ask a question,” Thomas stated. “I really feel like Tiger’s been individual for me to try this. But, yeah, I assume I’m very lucky in that regard.”
AN INVITE LIKE NO OTHER
The official invitation got here as Sam Burns was out of city taking part in in a PGA Tour occasion. After three wins because the final Masters he knew it could be coming, however till the event truly requested his presence it did not appear actual.
He was going to his first Masters, and he wished to savor the second.
“My wife sent me a picture and I said, ‘please don’t open that until I get home,'” Burns stated. “So that was a really neat moment for us to open it together and read it and just get to celebrate.”
A professional since 2017, Burns had a breakthrough yr because the final Masters, successful the Valspar Championship for his first title, following it with a win at Sanderson Farms this yr after which repeating because the champion at Valspar.
The 25-year-old shot as much as No. 11 on this planet along with his trio of wins. More importantly, they certified him for his first Masters on a golf course he noticed solely as soon as earlier than, when he attended a follow spherical about 10 years in the past along with his father.
Father and son returned final month for a follow spherical that made it much more particular.
“I think we were both blown away by just the property in general,” Burns stated. “You stand up there on the first tee and you can just see all the way down 18 and kind of through the trees. It feels so big. It was definitely a moment for me that I’ll never forget getting to walk around with my dad for the first time and getting to play.”
SHORT GAME WOES
The knock on Viktor Hovland, if there’s one, is that the Norwegian’s quick recreation is not as much as the chic stage of his ball placing.
But he is achieved effectively in two Masters on an Augusta National course the place correct chipping and placing could be extra essential than anyplace else.
Hovland was low newbie in 2019, then returned final yr to shoot even par and tie for twenty first. Along the way in which he is discovered by watching his fellow execs that determining the spin on quick pictures is the important thing on a course the place quite a lot of pictures come into play.
“I think it’s more about spin, controlling spin,” he stated. “If you can do that, you can hit some of these short game shots really close when they don’t really look too easy.”
Hovland, the fourth-ranked participant on this planet, stated he discovered lots about slopes and angles — a minimum of on the again 9 — by watching the Masters on tv through the years. Now in his third Masters, he is extra snug with the course and an environment that’s totally different from anyplace else golf is performed.
“It’s a place like none other,” he stated. “The course is difficult. It’s form of made to make you are feeling uncomfortable, however I really feel like I’m, simply by different experiences, I believe taking part in the Ryder Cup was very useful for me to simply form of deal with new experiences higher. So even when I’m uncomfortable, it isn’t the top of the world. I understand how to deal with that.”
COLD WEATHER GOLF
Minnesota is not referred to as a breeding floor for prime golfers, for apparent causes. Tom Hoge honed his recreation there anyway, largely as a result of in his native North Dakota, golf alternatives — and heat climate — had been much more scarce.
Now Hoge is among the prime gamers on this planet, and he believes his Minnesota experiences whereas rising up are an enormous motive why.
“For me living in North Dakota, we didn’t have a real strong junior program like Minnesota did, so just the opportunity to go play in real golf tournaments, and I think that’s the best way to practice and prepare yourself,” Hoge stated . “Get into competition and see how you handle yourself and see what you need to work on. For me it was great to go test my game against better players in Minnesota and very fortunate to have that.”
Hoge, who grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, traveled to the neighboring state for tournaments like the celebrated Pine to Palm, which he gained in 2009 whereas discovering out he might compete towards the most effective within the space.
The 32-year-old is considerably of a late bloomer, successful at Pebble Beach this yr for his first PGA Tour win. Now ranked No. 38 on this planet, he bought an invite to the Masters for the primary time.
“It’s been my eighth year on tour and first Masters, so pretty cool to be here,” he stated.
DJ’S JACKET
Dustin Johnson gained a inexperienced jacket in the one Masters ever held in November. The truth he did not get to maintain it so long as different champions wasn’t a difficulty.
The Masters fingers out a inexperienced jacket to the winner yearly — with the caveat that they return it after they return to defend the title.
“I was fine with only having it five months,” Johnson stated. “To be sincere, I’d have taken it for only a week. You’re nonetheless a Masters champion.”
Johnson’s win in 2020 took a number of the strain off since he was lengthy favored to win a Masters. But he would not thoughts successful once more — and this time protecting the jacket for a complete yr.
“There’s not as much pressure that I put on myself coming back here as a past champion,” the previous world No. 1 stated. “But I still want to do well. Next goal is to get another one.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
