(A dream). Since that distant 1934 in which Bobby Jones y Clifford Roberts decided to create an event that would serve the sport they loved so much, the Augusta National Golf Club Social Chalet in Atlanta, Georgia, had hosted the so-called Masters dinner. Laughter and champagne used to circulate without restriction. This time, everything was a little different. Sheathed in their green jackets, a distinction chosen as a hallmark in the happy and prosperous 50’s, the “Honorable Members” shared next to the winners still alive from the Tournament – for the first time without their families, and with the strict security protocol – a much more solemn moment.
After the brief encounter, the last words were from Jack Niklaus, the so-called ‘Golden Bear’, the player who most times managed to dominate the event with his six victories; “Guys, I want to offer my prayer to honor those who left, and to thank those responsible for the Club for the possibility that we are here today.” With the champions on their feet, Jack ended his speech by addressing the surprising leaders after three days: “Oli, Tiger! Thank you very much for the gift that you are giving us to the old colleagues. It would be an honor if someone I could keep the guy in front of all those young jocks chasing you!”.
In the face of José María Olazábal, Oli, one of the most admired players in the world of golf, smiled. Perhaps, for a brief moment, he felt again the sound of the rocket with which the Hondarribia Fishermen’s Brotherhood had celebrated his two previous triumphs.
(Forecast). Why will Dustin Johnson or Rory Mcllroy win? It is the updated version of a headline that has been traveling with me since 2005 (Why Tiger will win…). I read the original years ago in Golf World magazine. Fifteen years later, things are obviously not like 2005. We are talking about a man of almost 45 years, facing opponents who are increasingly better prepared physically and mentally. Analysts, and bookmakers (the latter almost always more reliable), opt for very obvious names; Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Koepka and, of course Jon Rahm. Experts value Rahm’s learning in recent years, and something that has caught our attention; Jon, these days is the age that Seve Ballesteros achieved his second green jacket. His victory would be the best tribute when the ten years after the death of Seve.
Among all of them, Chip Patterson, a CBS expert, opts for Dustin versus Rory, and his argument seems very solid to me. Johnson has been almost a month and a half without competing, but he has returned at the Houston Open last weekend leaving very good statistics in his long game and his shots to the green. Two parts of the game where Rory also stands out a lot, by the way. Neither one, nor the other, have the putt as their most reliable club, but Patterson says that among all those considered favorites, they have been competing for victory at Augusta most consistently.
I will add here an opinion of a professional player with whom I have met several times while training; “It is true that putting marks a lot, Pablo,” he told me, “but for me the key is in our environment It is in being very precise with the shots to the green, which are the ones that give you peace of mind and truly give you opportunities to make a difference ”. The weather forecasts are bad, with rain, wind, serious options for interruptions in the game, and not a single shout of encouragement towards the players in four days. That will open the tournament a lot. Can you imagine …? Put the name you prefer here.
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