It's Friday the 10th of April, and to say I'm excited would be the understatement of the century. As you'll know I am a huge sports fan and I love a big occasion like a Soccer world cup final, a Hurling All Ireland final or Grand Slam rugby decider, but up there with all of them is the Masters at Augusta. This year I've been so busy with work and life that it's snook up on me rather quickly, but alas it is here now and day 1 was majestic.
Today is the second day of a glorious week, the week of the first golfing major of the year and my favorite of the four golfing majors. There is just something special about Augusta National that sets it apart from all other golf courses and tournaments. Ask any golfer what course they would love to play most and the vast majority will opt for the lush green fairways of Augusta National Golf Club. I often ponder how much I would pay for a chance to play the course and I reckon I would give €1,000 to €2,000 to play it just once, but the funny thing is even €1,000,000 would not guarantee a tee time, as it is not about money, but rather status and who you know, so my best chance to ever either play it or even attend the event is to hope one of my sons becomes a professional golfer, yes an extremely long shot, better get them to start chipping balls into the washing machine!
When Thursday finally comes and the wait is over for another year, the excitement is palpable. All of the preparation, the hours on the range, thousands of putts and chips, then hopefully a good night's sleep and then it's show time!
Somebody unexpected usually gets off to a rocket start with three quick birdies in six holes, but they never keep it going. What Augusta gives, Augusta doth take away just as quickly. It just takes one wayward swing and a birdie hole can suddenly become a double bogey. That was poor old Freddie Couples yesterday. He turned back the years for 14 holes and sat at -2 and twenty minutes later he was +6 after a quadruple bogey at 15, double at 16 and double at 17. Cruel.
It is not a golf course that you can take for granted by any means and the greenkeepers will have it playing nicely for practice on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only for the real course and real greens to show their teeth on Thursday when the pros tee it up.
Questions abound. Who will we see slipping the green jacket on come Sunday evening? Will anyone melt down on the back 9? Will we see a late surge through Amen corner? Will a form player prevail or is a shock on the cards?
Questions galore as we all lap up the kaleidoscope of colours we've grown accustomed to around Augusta National. The pink and white of the azaleas are a feast for the eyes, as the lush green manicured fairways wait anxiously for the worlds best players to toil tirelessly for the biggest prize in golf - The Masters title. A Title win will bring with it a lifelong invitation to play the Masters, which players like Fred Couples (Winner in 1992) and Vijay Singh (Winner in 2000) are utilising this year and it is always nice to see one or two of these veterans having a good tournament and although it is a lovely tradition, I do think that they should maybe hang the boots up once they stop being competitive and make some space for a younger player to tee it up, as after 30 or 40 times competing and living that dream, maybe move over and let somene else's dream come true?
Even those who know nothing about golf or sport in general will be familiar with the scene that is Augusta National Golf course in in the US state of Georgia. This pristine golf course is what Wimbledon is to tennis players; what Wembley is to footballers. It is arguably golf's biggest stage and a stage upon which all of the world's greatest want to bring their A-game. I really believe that both Scottie and Rory will bring their A games this week and we are in for one heck of a masters. Those two will battle it out come Sunday evening I believe.
There are some really bug names up there like Rory, Rose, Schauffele and Scheffler.
Equally some massive names will struggle ti make the cut like Rahm, MacIntyre, Cantlay, DeChambeau.
So who is going to win? Once again my money is on McIlroy. I think he will go back to back and even winning three in a row is not beyond the bounds for me. His driver was terrible yesterday and he still scrambled magnificently for a 67. It's difficult to see anyone besting him this week for me.
