This weekend is a very exciting time if you are a Canadian sports fan. The Blue Jays and the Leafs are both in Boston facing their rivals and the Masters is back from Augusta, Georgia.
Although the PGA season officially began back in October, the Masters truly means the beginning of the golf season for most Canadian golfers. It is the first major tournament of the year and it will feature 83 of the best players in the world. Patrick Reed will be back to defend his title against other previous green jacket winners such as Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson , Adam Scott, and Tiger Woods. There will only be four Canadians in the field for this year’s Masters. Mike Weir, who won in Augusta in 2003, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, and Cory Connor, who just won his first time in Texas last week, will all be representing Canada.
The top ten ranked players in the world have yet to win in Augusta. They include number one ranked Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Rory McIIroy, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Francesco Molinari, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm, and Xander Schauffele.
The weather is always a factor at Augusta. The greens are usually hard and fast, and if the weather is hot and dry, many of the pin placements will be difficult to go after. However, if there is some rain in the forecast, then the scores will tend to be much lower. The swirling winds can also make the very challenging layout even tougher. Many a shot has been lost around Amen Corner after players misjudged distances over water on a windy day.
They say that the Masters does not start until the back nine on Sunday. So, let’s all find a comfortable chair, sit back and fasten our ‘seat-belts’, and enjoy the excitement this weekend at Augusta.
Tournament coverage begins on CBS on Wednesday afternoon with the par 3 contest and continues until the last putt falls on Sunday.
Next Week: Modernizing the Game of Golf
Cameron Burechails (Teaching Professional), The Georgian Bay Golf Academy at Meaford Golf Club, 705-441-0865, baygolfacademy@bell.net, or www.baygolfacademy.com.
