Let's Get This Started
 

Do we really have a new BIG 3, not Palmer, Player and Nicklaus, but Singh, Els and Woods. Who will win the Masters? Is Tiger a memory? Is VJ the dominant player he appears to be? Is Ernie a sleeping GIANT?

But what about....?
 

.....Mr. Phil?

I love the competition. Everyone raised their games since Woods came on the scene...now he has to claw his way back (even if it's not that far)!

Big 5
 

Add Retief and Phil, now we have the BIG 5. Who's hot, Who's not.

I will BE THERE....

...who else is going??

On Hallowed Ground
 

Welcome aboard, Brian Manzella, TGM G.S.E.D., PGA Pro Extraordinaire and Proprietor of www.brianmanzella.com!

I'll be 'on hallowed ground' at least one of the four days, probably Saturday or Sunday. Meanwhile, I know of at least four other LBG troops who will be in attendance on Thursday and Friday, but I'll let them speak for themselves!

I will be there one of the days!!


Todd

I'm there! Munching on many chicken samiches!

Pimento Cheese Sandwiches and Green Wrappers
 

Naah, Rich. Ya gotta go for the Pimento Cheese. And save the green wrappers. They're worth cash to the TV-couch potatoes back home! They need'em for the True Masters Experience.

Or maybe it's just me.

You know...

A green thing! :?

Re: On Hallowed Ground
 

Trigolt and I are looking at Friday. Would be a nice "full field" day. If we turn up missing after that, look for us somewhere among the Azaleas.

Bagger

Have you guys checked out the little short game area beside the big range? It's a pretty cool spot. Those guys can do some amazing things in the short game.

Oh and another thing . . . If you go and stay on the SC side, there's a little course called Persimmon Hills. It's a pretty decent little track and it's way way cheap relative to the courses closer to Augusta. After about 3 or 4 hours of watching other people play, I've got the jones really bad.

It's a little out of the way, but it won't break the bank. My Dad used to get tix in the old steak and wine days in the insurance racket. He said that Palmer would fly his plane in there and practice. I don't know if you can trust Pop's though. I'm sure he was drunker than a hoot owl for the most part.

Re: Pimento Cheese Sandwiches and Green Wrappers
 

Because of an April Fools Day snow storm in 1997 (Tiger's first major victory), which delayed the opening of the course where I am the head PGA Professional, I was able to attend my first Masters Tournament. It was an experience I will never forget. The course was much more hilly than one can imagine. The clubhouse is at the top of the hill and everthing else slopes down to #12 and Rae's Creek. Everything is so meticulous and well manicured, not a hair out of place. Although being there all week, I did find one weed (the place is a dump :lol: ) and one rock sticking out of the ground (now part of my collectibles).
I stayed late after one of the practice rounds and followed around former US Open and PGA Champion David Graham, who was with the pin placement committee. They would place a ball at the top of a mound on a green and just touch the ball to get it rolling. When the ball finally came to rest they would mark the position. The cup would never be set below that mark. Augusta won't tell you what the greens are stimped at, but I would guess during practice rounds 10-11, and during the tournament proper about 13. The greeen undulation is mind boggling. How Crenshaw in 96' and Tiger in 97' didn't three putt once is beyond me.
As I looked out at the empty golf course (99% of the spectators had left), a procession of fairway mowers (about a dozen) in formation (similar to THe Blue Angels) cut most of the fairways in a few passes.
I wandered back toward the clubhouse and out on the second floor back veranda the Champions Dinner was about to begin. Crenshaw, Zoeller and Sam Snead were telling jokes while eight to ten others (all with drink in hand) were listening and laughing. I could here it all, like I was part of the dinner (of course I wasn't.....yet anyway).
Tiger went on to break the 72 hole scoring record, but the thing I will always treasure is the Pimento Cheese Sandwiches in the green wrapper and a beer in a collectible plastic mug cost about $3.00 (they don't make their money on food).
Even though I don't get to Augusta in April anymore, to this day when I get home from the course during Master's week, my wife has Pimento Cheese Sandwiches, beer in my Master's Mug and my Master's Journals waiting for me to bring back some of the best memories I have ever had on a golf course. BTW, She (my wife) will even dress in green, LOL. :D
(I am sure I will have to reciprocate somewhere down the line).

The mowers in formation is so cool! And how about the guys with the hose thingies that get the sand of the greens? I tried to swindle one of those "Litter" hats off of one of the trash-stabbing guys. He wasn't having it.

If Jay Haas finally plays as well on on Sunday as he does on Thurs and Fri, he will become the oldest ever green jacket winner. If not, with his length, high fade, and experience, VJ wins it.

I think its Ernies time.He is overdue.

There's a small green just to the right of the range. There are tees there max about 50 to 60 yards. Those guys it these little head high spinners that either drop and stop or spin back. There are also some bunkers. The precision with which they hit the short shots is amazing. All different types of shots and you could throw a blanket over their "pattern." I'm sure when there is pressure it's different. But just practicing, these guys hit every shot to 3 feet . . . at least.

I get more out of that than the range. Plus you can get closer to them and see what's going on.

I'll be there on Saturday- how can I refuse an invitation to the Masters?

Thanks :D

Masters 2005
 

I'll be there for the opening round.

This is a first time invitation.

I am counting the days :D :D :D :D

check out the 100 yards and in section and my punch thread. Read up on my technique and i promise you'll hit those head high spinners (trevino burning wedge) too, i promise.

ps if you need help with your technique, pm me