The Golf Watch

"A lot of the character has been taken out of the golf course"

There has been a tremendous amount of commentary from players and writers alike about the changes that have been made to Augusta National in recent years, and about how these have detracted from the excitement fans experienced for the first 60 years of the tournament.  John Hawkins wonders in Golf World where the roars have gone. In Golfweek, Bradley Klein looks at what used to be one of the more dramatic holes before it was lengthened, the 15th hole.

During the Shell Houston Open telecast, Jimmy Roberts asked Greg Norman if he thought that he could win this year's Masters.  Norman replied no, but elaborated on his response with this reasoning:

The golf course is playing too long for me.  A lot of the character has been taken out of the golf course.  There were times I used to come into the back-9 in the old days 6 or 7 back, and you felt like you could win the golf tournament…it’s just a totally different golf course. 

The members of Augusta National have to be concerned about all of this bad press.  The course has been changed so much in the last 10 years that some of the holes are no longer played the way Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie originally envisioned them. 

"He just might be worn out and blistered by the time he gets to Amen Corner"

In this week's Hate to be Rude, Jeff Rude wonders if playing two consecutive tournaments leading up to The Masters is too much golf for 54-year-old Greg Norman.  Rude writes:

To say he’s not used to such a hectic golf schedule is an understatement. This is the same guy who plays more tennis these days than golf. The same guy who has gone months at a time during recent years without playing golf at all.

Norman will play at Masters

Tim Rosaforte confirmed on Monday's edition of Golf Central that Greg Norman will play in next year's Masters.  Rosaforte added that Norman will compete in several events leading up to Augusta National.

This will be a much longer course than what Norman is used to.  The last time he played at the Masters was 2002.

I think Zinger didn’t like Norman’s decision making

I counted at least five times that analyst Paul Azinger questioned Greg Norman's decision making on the course--most specifically choosing driver off of the tee.  Judy Rankin defended the decision, mainly because he was hitting the ball so well with the big stick the first three days--so why let up?

In any case, Art Spander of CBSSports.com offers this perspective:

It was painful, but it wasn't unexpected. For three days, Greg Norman had defied logic, defeated nature, beaten back the years. We kept hoping he might go on, while deep down we knew he could not.

Norman trying to make history

Greg Norman has the opportunity to become the oldest player, at age 53, to win a major championship.  His performance this week at Birkdale has come out of nowhere. 

There's nothing more I can write here that hasn't been mentioned already.  Sit back, and relax, as tomorrow's final round is shaping up to be a memorable one.

Norman/Evert pay big bucks for Bahamas wedding

Just read the latest report from Reuters on the Greg Norman-Chris Evert wedding in the Bahamas.  This is what stuck out at me...

Media reports have said the couple, who arrived in the Bahamas on Norman's private jet on Thursday, shelled out up to $2 million for their lavish weekend nuptials.