Watching golf on television is not normally at the top of Ian Woosnam’s must-do list. The exception was Sunday afternoon. Woosnam arrived in Duluth for the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, and he checked into his hotel just in time to watch the final round of the Masters from the opening shot to the green-jacket ceremony.
“I got to my room just as it started. It was perfect timing,” Woosnam said. “I don’t watch a lot of golf, but when it’s the Masters it’s special, so it was good.”
The most difficult decision for Woosnam, who won the Masters in 1991, was deciding whether to pull for fellow European Tour mates Sergio Garcia or Justin Rose.
“It was difficult because you want both of them to win, really,” Woosnam said. “Justin has won a major already, so it was important for Spanish golf for Sergio to win. It was quite emotional, really.”
Woosnam said Garcia’s win showed the emotional growth of the Spaniard, who ended an 0-for-73 streak without a major championship.
“Sergio is in a better place,” Woosnam said. “I think he would get frustrated with himself. I think he’s learned to accept his bad shots and be a bit more patient, and that’s why he’s won a major. Now there’s nothing to stop him from winning more.”
Woosnam’s advice for Garcia, who was a member of the 2006 Ryder Cup team that Woosnam captained, was to stay the course.
“When I won it, it takes the weight off your shoulders,” Woosnam said “You’ve done what you want to do. Not what (Sergio) needs to do is not change anything, just keep on doing what he’s been doing. What I did was try to change things to get even better, but I should have stuck with the things that got me to World No. 1.”
Woosnam will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in September. Until then he’ll compete on the PGA Tour Champions, where he ranks 59th on the money list. Woosnam, who missed the cut last week at the Masters, does not have a top-25 finish this season. He tied for 57th at the 2016 Mitsubishi Electric Classic.
Players straggle in: They don't give extra-credit Charles Schwab Cup points for early arrivals, otherwise Esteban Toledo would be in great shape. The popular native of Mexico was the first player to start hitting balls on the practice range at TPC Sugarloaf on Monday.
Before long Steve Pate and Ian Woosnam appeared and set up their bags at opposite ends of the practice ground. Shortly after lunch, Tim Petrovic rolled up the range to hit a couple of buckets.
Because of the Matt Ryan Pro-Am, the course was unavailable to the competitors Monday.
Most of the field will arrive Tuesday for a full day of preparation before the pro-ams are contested Wednesday and Thursday. The 54-hole tournament begins Friday.
Field changes: The final field is taking shape. Rocco Mediate, a cigar-smoking, poker-playing fan favorite, has withdrawn from the tournament. Sponsors exemptions went to Jay Don Blake, Roger Chapman, Gary Hallberg, Brian Henninger and Petrovic. Tom Purtzer and Blaine McCallister are the first two alternates.
In the 18-hole qualifier at Berkeley Hills Country Club on Monday, Steve Schneiter of Sandy, Utah, and Miguel Angel Martin of Spain shot 4-under 68s to nail down two of the spots. Schneiter won the 2016 Senior PGA Professional Championship. Martin is a three-time winner on the European Tour.
Veterans Kent Jones and Grant Waite outlasted Greg Bruckner in a playoff for the final two spots in the qualifier. The trio tied at 69.
Weather looks good: The happiest guy at TPC Sugarloaf on Monday was Stan Hall, the executive director of the Gwinnett Sports Commission. Hall had seen the long-range weather report, and it looks very good. The Weather Channel forecast calls for highs each day in the low 80s and little chance for rain.
In 2015 the event was shortened to 36 holes because of heavy rains, but last year’s event went out with major problems.
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