An Unpredictable Tradition
After a memorable opening two days, the sports world is left anticipating what is next to come in the 2010 Masters, “the tradition unlike any other.” Although Tiger Woods has answered the questions about his off-the-course issues as well as his golf game, there are still questions at Augusta National. How will the scintillating leaderboard develop over the weekend.? What major story line will continue to unfold and end up in the annals of Masters lore? The one thing we do know is that if the next two days are anything like the first two, this could go down as one of the greatest Masters ever.
The biggest story of this Masters continues to be Woods. After a near five month layoff from competitive golf, he has surprised many with his sharp play. Undoubtedly feeding off the warm support of the crowds, he is two shots back and in position to claim his fifth green jacket and 15th major championship, which would move him within three of Jack Nicklaus’ hallowed record. Perhaps more than anything it would mean a shocking ascendance from the nation’s number one punchline to the winner of the most coveted title in golf.
Certain to be challenging Woods is golf’s other preeminent superstar, Phil Mickelson. Mickelson has had a difficult year thus far, with only one top-ten in seven starts. However, he has a penchant for budding at the Masters like a flower, finishing in the top ten in ten of the last eleven years. For several years now, the golf world has pined for him to step up and challenge Woods’ dominance. Mickelson prevailing in a Sunday showdown between the two would signify a developing rivalry that Woods has never really had. It would also signify a reemergence for Mickelson and would be his first major win since the 2006 Masters, which was followed by his final-hole meltdown at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. A win would undoubtedly have large personal significance for Mickelson as this is the first tournament being attended by his family since his wife’s diagnosis for breast cancer a little less than a year ago.
The strength of the leaderboard is evident when the co-leaders are ranked fourth and seventh in the world and aren’t even the headliners. Thus is the case for Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, both attempting to become the first Englishman to win a Green Jacket since Nick Faldo in 1996. Westwood is trying to complete his resurrection from golf’s abyss. Once the fourth-ranked player in the world and a presumed superstar, he subsequently plummeted out of the top-250 in the rankings in the early 2000s. However, he recommitted himself, lost 25 pounds, and has returned to his spot as the number four player in the world. After multiple close calls in recent years, he’s seeking his first major championship, as is Poulter, a player known just as much for his eclectic outfits as for his play. He’d undoubtedly like to add a green jacket to his wardrobe as well as erase some of the scrutiny he received after proclaiming he was good enough to be one of the two best players in the world and challenge Woods for his perch atop the golfing world.
A pair of attention-getting Americans are tied with Woods and Mickelson at six under, two shots back. 24-year old Anthony Kim is playing in only his second Masters and is attempting to win in back-to-back weeks. Last in the field in driving accuracy, he has put his scrambling ability to good use, somehow staying near the lead. A factor for Kim might be the durability of his thumb, which has a torn ligament and will need surgery. Ricky Barnes is just beginning to realize the potential so many saw in him as the 2002 U.S. Amatuer champion. He has proven to not be afraid of the spectacle of Woods, playing in the same group as him in the 2003 opening round and beating him by seven shots.
Two Masters legends are rediscovering the fountain of youth at Augusta National this week. 50 year old Fred Couples has gotten attention recently not for his PGA Tour accomplishments but for what he has done on the 50-and-over Champions Tour, winning three of his last four starts. Although the first-round leader shot 75 today to slip five shots back, he has the relaxed demeanor and length off the tee requisite to become the oldest winner in Masters history. At 60 years old, Tom Watson is trying to defy his self-assessment that he is a “ceremonial golfer” at the Masters. A two-time former champion who is likely the shortest hitter of anybody in the field, Watson is trying to atone for his heartbreaking playoff loss at last year’s British Open in another out-of-nowhere performance. Although he too is five shots back of the lead, his first-round 67 had the Masters patrons on their feet.
Although we don’t know what will unfold, there is a great chance that this weekend’s drama will bring many television viewers to their feet as well.
Johnie Freatman is a staff member and frequent contributor to ATVN Sports and ATVN.org.
