AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > April > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAussies have best shot at victory
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Augusta — Up to this time, there has been less talk about who wins the Masters this year than about (1) the change in command, (2) Billy Payne’s early moves, such as the return to automatic invitations to PGA Tour winners, (3) Arnold Palmer’s return to the first tee box, and a whole lot of matters, other than why we’re here: Who might win the thing. Not even Tiger Woods has taken over in the usual storm of prognostication. The sports staff of the local paper was polled and not one member picked Tiger to win.
So, there seemed to be a tempting invitation to speculate, and it behooves me to step into such a delicious breech, this hour of indecision. Therefore, I have your winner here: Australia.
That’s right, Australia. I’d say that’s a pretty good spread at Augusta National this week. Seven guys going for me. And remember, no Aussie has ever won the Masters. Some close calls. Poor old Greg Norman finished second three times, once in the most heart-smashing manner. You know it, you’ve seen it in reruns. Larry Mize chips in off the 11th green in 1987, and how more sudden can sudden death be than that? He had come into the 18th hole the year before with a chance to catch Jack Nicklaus — and ruin a helluva story — and missed. Norman again finished second to Nick Faldo in 1996, and that’s one he’d just as soon forget.
Before he lost an arm in a horrendous accident Jack Newton tied for second in 1980, four strokes behind Seve Ballesteros. And that’s about how it has been for the Aussies down through the years. Until now. Look, are you forgetting? Our national champion is an Aussie.
Remember Geoff Ogilvy? He waited around patiently. Tiger Woods had missed the cut. Then Phil Mickelson’s game blew a gasket at Winged Foot. Winner of the U.S. Open, Ogilvy from Adelaide.
How about Nick O’Hern of Perth? Twice he has beaten Woods in the World Match Play Championship, a tall left-hander who putts with the kind of weapon a chimney sweep might use. Nick was in early Thursday with a 76, 4 over par, and wasn’t feeling too badly about it when he saw some of the other scores.
“With no wind and wide fairways and no rough,” he said, “it’s the toughest course I ever played. You’ve just got to take it on the chin. I never saw the scores this high this early. That’s Augusta.”
It’s Augusta, but it’s not match play, so there’ll be no shot at Woods again, head to head.
Look at Stuart Appleby. He finished tied for second at last week’s Shell Houston Open. His game does taper off a little after the turn into springtime, but he did make a flourish at Houston again last week. Robert Allenby has always been a potent challenger, but he is a bit quirky. Up and down, and if the shot isn’t a draw, he may go into the tank. But he’s player enough to have won four times on the American tour.
Rod Pampling has more to be remembered for than being the only player who ever led the British Open after the first round, then missed the cut. That in 1999, the year the world cursed the return to the new (old) Carnoustie course. Pampling planted his game over here and has won twice, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Tournament last year on top of his dossier.
Aaron Baddeley actually was born in the United States, in Lebanon, which I thought was in Vermont — but the book says New Hampshire — while his father was an engineer for Mario Andretti’s racing team, but grew up in Australia, and there founded his golf game. He has won twice here, but established himself more famously as “Bads” in those girly television commercials.
That brings me around to my ace in the hole. Adam Scott knows how to win in this part of the world. He won the Players Championship at Sawgrass in 2004, then cleaned out in the field in the Tour Championship at East Lake last fall, the one Woods and Mickelson chose to pass up. Five times this bright and sparkling young man has won on this soil, with some emphasis on the Houston tournament, which he won last week. They always say that it’s encouraging to come into Augusta fresh from winning. Actually, it happened so long ago that Sandy Lyle was a blushing kid, which was 1988, a week after he’d won at Greensboro.
There you have it. Can you come up with a better seven-card hand?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher, Masters
Comments
By Matthew At The SLC
April 5, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher, you read my mind. I was thinking Adam Scott could be the next young guy to break through. He just needs to get through the back nine on a Sunday with steely resolve and he has the talent to make good things happen. He can be the guy everyone thought that Sergio was going to be.
But I want know… what was it like when Arnie hit off from the first tee? History in the making, I’m sure. But what was everyone feeling? How did you feel? Did you get any reactions from Tiger, Phil, or any other players? The crowd must have eaten it up. Man, I wish I could have been there.
By Malted Falcon
April 6, 2007 1:38 AM | Link to this
Just a reminder, sir, that Phil won the week before in Duluth just last year. Keep ‘em coming. Thanks
By scooter11
April 6, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Falcon: You beat me to it, but I was not awake at 1:38 a.m. Didn’t even know there WAS a 1:38 a.m.
By Matthew Anani
April 6, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
tiger will win
By mowreck
April 6, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
Maybe Justin Rose will finish high enough to buy some more pants … cause the one he has on today (Fri.) are ugly.