Augusta Day 3: At Least We Know Who Won't Win

The answer to that one is "Ryan Moore"

Since Moore won the Par-3 tourney in Augusta with a 6-under 21, no winner of the short tourney on Wednesday has gone on to win the 72 hole event by Sunday night. Ray Floyd and Chip Beck each finished second after winning the Par-3, and that's as close as anyone has ever gotten.

One of the larger issues for independent business people around the tourney is the idea of parking. Patrons can get access to 8,500 free parking spaces near the course. But for those who are getting there a little late can find lots to park. But those who are paying is a lessening number...

Nicole Snyder caught up with some of the other folks trying to lure patrons to park in their lots instead...
((HT: WJBF-TV))
WJBF-TV ABC 6 Augusta-Aiken News, Weather, Sports

Augusta Day Two: So, How Much Would You Spend On Gear...???

((HT: WJBF-TV))

It's a mandatory act that anyone- patrons and media alike- do when they hit the golf course this week...

Head to the gear shop and spend an effing fortune- since it's the only place on the planet (short of eBay) where you can grab something with the logo that thousands wish to own on their person...

Julie Parise was very busy...
WJBF-TV ABC 6 Augusta-Aiken News, Weather, Sports

The HQ has been known to spend a few hundy on its own without as much as blinking an eye...
((HT: Universal Pictures))


See our point...??? Different sport, same philosophy...

Matt Jones Gets To Augusta With A Slam Dunk

((HT: PGA Tour/NBC))

The only way someone else was going to get to Augusta to play in the tournament next week was to beat Matt Kuchar and not already be going in the first place...

Kuchar had a four-shot lead going into the last day in Houston, but surrendered the lead and was in a playoff with Matt Jones...

Jones went all Larry Mize and now gets into the major...


Quoting Mel Allen: "How about that?"

A final round 66, his first tour win, and an invite to Augusta. Adams made a 46-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to reach the playoff and made a 42-yard chip for the win.

Kuchar bogeyed the final hole of regulation, then missed his bunker shot to give Jones the win and almost $1.2 million.

Eisenhower Pine Doesn't Survive Ice Storm

((HT: Scott Michaux/Augusta Chronicle))

For twenty golf-playing years, President Dwight Eisenhower lobbied to have a particular pine tree on the 17th hole removed...

This one...
((HT: Augusta National Golf Club/CBS))


In 1956, he wanted it down and told a meeting of the club so...
Even former US presidents don't get their way in Augusta...

But Augusta National chairman Billy Payne confirmed to Michaux that the tree did not survive the recent ice storm in east Georgia, so it looks like Ike got his wish anyway:

"The loss of the Eisenhower Tree is difficult news to accept," Payne said. "We obtained opinions from the best arborists available and, unfortunately, were advised that no recovery was possible."

So, now what...???

There's talk that there was already a substitute tree ready for implantation onto the 17th, but no one knows if the tree that may or may not exist has survived the ice storm or was or was not even be effected...

Got that...???

How's This For A First Win On The PGA Tour...??/

((HT: PGA/CBS))

Patrick Reed has had to Monday qualify for tournaments on six different occasions this year...

Six times trying to just get into the back end of a field just to get a chance at getting a paycheck... not to mention being one day's play away from piling into your own set of wheels and heading to the next stop...

All that with your wife, who has put her own dreams aside, ON THE BAG!!!

Patrick Reed hit what he called "the shot of his life" on the second hole of sudden death against Jordan Spieth to wipe away all of those Monday qualifiers for two years.

Reed shot a final-round 66 and knocked off Spieth to get the tour card, the entry into Kapalua, and best of all- the entry into Augusta. And, rest assured, Justine Reed has already said she will be on her husband's bag at Augusta.

As well she should...

Here's the recap... and the shot of the tournament is at the 2:10 mark...


And the postgame interview from PGA Tour Radio lets us all in on the deal...

The Guy Who Called on Tiger Woods at The Masters

David Eger

((ht: golf.com))

Well, isn't this a bit of a surprise. Contrary to pubic assumptions, it wasn't just some guy watching TV on home who called in the potential rules violation by Tiger Woods during this years Masters golf tourney.

Rather the "Mysterious" phone call came from former Tournament Director (other tourneys) and current Senior Tour golfer David Eger.

Eger, according to a story on Golf.com, called a rules official friend of his working at the Masters and brought it up after seeing Woods actions on the 15th hole during Friday's round.

According to Eger, the call took place before Woods finished his round and the chain of events that followed tried to occur before he did so there wouldn't be an "Incorrect" scorecard signed.

The chain of events that followed cost Woods 2 shots and may or may not have impacted his chance to win the tourney that was eventually won by Adam Scott.

Read the entire story from Golf.com RIGHT HERE

You can interpret the goings on here as you will. The hardcore golfer will say Woods should have withdrawn with honor, others say the ruling at the course, with the penalty was fine and still others say there should never have been a penalty.

We aren't going to take a stand on that.

The question in play to us is one that many asked. How did someone call the course to point out the violation.

Well, that isn't exactly what happened.

It would be one thing if you, me or any other schlub watching at home could just randomly call and set forth this kind of chain of events. We can't. But David Eger can.

Eger knows enough people with the circle of professional golfers that he can get ahold of someone to point things out. He can reach out to friends or others (although not while they are on the course). The rest of us can't.

So rest easy conspiracy theorists, it wasn't some random guy that called out the violation, it was someone deep inside the inner circle of golf.

The drop in question:

DEVELOPING: Adam Scott Wins In Augusta

((HT: CBS Sports/Augusta National Golf Club))

Becoming the first at something is pretty cool...

And it took a while, but Adam Scott will be the victim of more blatantly obvious puns for headlines than the next guy who wins a golf major in Augusta. It took a birdie on the 72nd hole by both Scott and Angel Cabrera to get to extra golf. And it took the putt below on the 74th hole to get a very cool piece of clothing...


Scott becomes the first Australasian to win the Augusta tournament...

And, no Stevie Williams hasn't won anything... ever...
But it will be interesting to hear how he takes his digs at his former employer...

More when we know more...

DEVELOPING: Tiger Penalized Two Strokes For Saturday...Updated

Well, there's the start for your Saturday in Augusta...

Here's what started the furor...
((HT: ESPN/Augusta National Golf Club))


After the round, Tiger admitted the following...
"I went back to where I played it from, but I went 2 yards further back and I took, tried to take 2 yards off the shot of what I felt I hit," Woods said.

Woods signed for a 1-under-par 71, which included the 6 on 15. With a two-stroke penalty now added, it's now an 8 on 15 and a 73 on Friday. He will be at 1 under par overall, and five shots out of the lead.

Now, he'll be just mad...the issue with his drop was whether or not he was dropping "as nearly as possible" to the spot where the shot was last played- violating Rule 26-1.

Reaction has been all over the board...

@danjenkinsgd In other news, everyone gets a mulligan off the first and 10th tees and one free throw from trouble on each nine

Jason Sobel ‏@JasonSobelGC
New TV rule is meant for situation such as when ball moves and player doesn't see it. Player ignorance toward rules does not apply here.

Sir Nick Faldo also disagrees. Tiger "breached the rules. Simple as that."

And... discuss...

**NoonUpdate from Tiger his ownself** (or whomever does his Twitter feed):

I didn’t know I had taken an incorrect drop prior to signing my scorecard. Subsequently, I met with the Masters Committee Saturday morning..

and was advised they had reviewed the incident prior to the completion of my round. Their initial determination...

was that there was no violation, but they had additional concerns based on my post-round interview. After discussing the situation...

...with them this morning, I was assessed a two-shot penalty. I understand and accept the penalty and respect the Committees’ decision.

Lady A Plus Golf= Lady Hazed...

((HT: Lady Antebellum/LoudMouth Apparel))

In honor of the tournament in east Georgia this week... the HQ decided to give you, our faithful reader, some music to pay attention to the tourney with... that has nothing to do with hearing a Loggins family member...

Jason Aldean's tune gets (um) remixed by Lady Antebellum...
Enjoy...

Augusta Golf Monday: Bubba Speaks

((HT: WJBF-TV))

This week is the really prestigious golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia...

The HQ has covered it a combined twenty times or so... and we've seen a lot...
Len Mattiace had his chance at glory... only to be denied in a playoff by Mike Weir...
Some guy names Tiger when he was the most dominant golfer on the planet...
Watson and Nicklaus rolling back the hands of time to contend late in the weekend...

And that's barely the beginning...

But we'll rely on Matt and Tom to get you the best stories of this week off Washington Road...
Monday was the press conference for the defending champ- and he didn't disappoint...
WJBF-TV ABC 6 Augusta-Aiken News, Weather, Sports

We've already had him hit a hole in one during a practice round, but only three guys have ever gone back-to-back. It'll be a tall order for this Watson to repeat...

But, when you do this...anything is possible, right...???
((HT: BBC/Augusta National Golf Club))

DEVELOPING: Augusta Admits First Two Women Members

The Augusta National Golf Club, home of The Masters golf tournament, has admitted its first 2 women members: Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore.

Moore is the vice president of Rainwater, Incorporated, a private investment company and is involved in non-profit work in the state of South Carolina as well...

Augusta national chair Billy Payne issued a statement that read in part:

"This is a joyous occasion as we enthusiastically welcome Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members of Augusta National Golf Club. We are fortunate to consider many qualified candidates for membership at Augusta National. Consideration with regard to any candidate is deliberate, held in strict confidence and always takes place over an extended period of time. The process for Condoleezza and Darla was no different.

"These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership. It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla their Green Jackets when the Club opens this fall.

"This is a significant and positive time in our Club's history and, on behalf of our membership, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome them and all of our new members into the Augusta National family."

Here's early returns from our friends at WRDW-TV in Augusta


More when we know more...

Bubba Golf Wins In Augusta

So, the HQ thinks there's only one real way to celebrate...
((HT: Bencranegolf))


Oooh-lee-lah-lee-lah-lee...

Here's his postgame when he received the wardrobe a second time...
The first always is for the network and the second is for the patrons...
((HT: CBSSports))


Louis Oosthuizen had the shot of he tourney with the double-eagle on the par-5 4th hole, but four birdies on the back gave the win to the pride of Bagdad, Florida... and the show of support that other tour pros gave Watson after his win was very cool...

Here's coverage from our friends at WJBF-TV in Augusta...
FOSG's John Hart and Big Daddy Kane are at the adult table...


And here's Tom Rinaldi sitting down with Bubba...
((HT: ESPN))


The HQ will allow the third-person reference for a while...

Thursday Augusta Update: And, They're Off...

((HT: WJBF-TV))

And the only way to do it, really, is to let the now-proclaimed "Big Three"- Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus teeing of from the first tee...

See if you can find a modern-day champ in the gallery at one...
FOSG Brad Means was there...


Henrik Stenson was having a great 36th birthday until he registered a smowman on 18. Lee Westwood, after a solid back nine, is the first round leader with a bunch of folks in tow at 5-under. Louis Oosthuizen and Peter Hanson are one stroke back. Rory McIlroy is one-under with another bunch of folks. Toger and Fred Couples are even (16 are at level par).

Mickelson finished with a birdie at 18 for a 2-over 74. Larry Mize and Ben Crenshaw are at four-over 76. Tom Watson is 5-over.

The HQ will have the stories as we move forward

Billy Payne's View Of The Future

((HT: WJBF-TV Augusta))

It is Wednesday in Augusta- which means that it's time for the Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, William Porter Payne, Junior to give his State of the State address...

FOSG Brad Means was around for the vision of the future- but not disclosing when change will happen...


The HQ thinks that the yearly jousting among Payne and the assembled press corps is amusing. We covered it through Hootie and Billy both and it is humorous to see the flailing...

It's the Club's presser, the Club's tournament, and it's up to a private club to determine their own path. Regardless of what those around think that private entities ought to do...

That's why they're private...

Martin Kaymer Gets Ready For The Augusta Tourney

((HT: TheGuardian))

By doing this...


Now, all he has to do is NOT win the Par-3 tourney since the winner has never won the clothing you receive on Sunday evening...

Augusta's Monday: What To Do...???

((HT: WJBF-TV Augusta))

The HQ has covered close to 40 versions of the golf tournament going on this week in eastern Georgia.

So, Jillian Benfield has decided to descend on patrons and ask them what the first-timers are to do when they hit the course...