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Wednesday, April 8, 2009
This is another one of those GREAT emails I get from ESPN. Here is all you will need to know for the Masters this weekend.
2009 MASTERS TOURNAMENT
AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
APRIL 9-12, 2009
PREPARED BY JON KRAMER
DEFENDING CHAMPION
Trevor Immelman held at least a share of the lead each day as he finished with a score of -8, good for a 3-shot win over Tiger Woods. It was the first career major win for the South African.
TOP 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2009 MASTERS TOURNAMENT
1. Tiger Woods is seeking his 15th professional major and 5th Masters title. Woods hasn’t won the Masters since 2005 and has finished second in each of the last 2 years. No one has ever been a Masters runner-up 3 straight years. This is Woods’ first major since winning the 2008 U.S. Open.
2. Padraig Harrington seeks his third consecutive major win. If he gets it, he would become just the 6th player to do it and 3rd since the start of the 20th century.
3. Phil Mickelson is seeking to become just the 8th player to win 3 Masters titles. He’s finished in the top-10 in 9 of his last 10 Masters starts.
4. Trevor Immelman is the defending champion. He’s attempting to become the 4th player to win this event in back-to-back years, joining Tiger Woods (2001-02), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Jack Nicklaus (1965-66).
5. Greg Norman, after tying for 3rd at the 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, returns to Augusta for the first time since 2002. It’s also the first Masters for future stars Danny Lee (reigning U.S. Amateur Champion), Rory McIlroy and Ryo Ishikawa.
Thursday, April 9
4:00 – 7:30 PM Live coverage (ESPN/ESPN Deportes)
8:00 – 11:00 PM Replay first day (ESPN)
11:30 – 11:45 PM Highlights show (CBS)
Friday, April 10
4:00 – 7:30 PM Live coverage (ESPN/ESPN Deportes)
8:00 – 11:00 PM Replay second day (ESPN)
11:30 – 11:45 PM Highlights show (CBS)
Saturday, April 11
3:30 – 7:00 PM Live coverage (CBS)
Sunday, April 12
2:00 – 7:00 PM Live coverage (CBS)
FUTURE DATES
The final round of the Masters each year is scheduled the second Sunday in April. Tentative future dates for upcoming Tournaments are:
2010 April 5–11
2011 April 4–10
2012 April 2–8
2013 April 8-14
2014 April 7-13
The Masters is strictly an invitation Tournament that is sponsored by a private organization. The qualification regulations are the principal means of determining the player invitation list, but such eligibility under these regulations does not oblige the Tournament Committee to issue an invitation, nor does failure to invite imply unfitness of any kind.
The player field being small, many Tournament formalities and regulations are eliminated. The first consideration is to provide a first-class golf course in as beautiful and nearly perfect condition as effort can make it; and, secondly, to show our player guests every possible courtesy.
The chief objective of the Masters is to stage a golf show that is enjoyable to all – our members, patrons and player guests, and to interested golfers generally. We would also like if we can, to contribute something to the advancement of the game.
2009 GOLF COURSE CHANGES
The course is now 7,435 yards, 10 yards shorter than it played from 2006-08. Hole No. 1 is the only one that’s changed in length, going from 455 to 445 yards.
Hole No. 1: Back of tee reduced 7 yards to improve patron circulation between the tee and the practice putting green. Tee marker relocated and Masters scorecard changed from 455 yards to 445 yards. Green rebuilt for agronomic reasons and a heating and cooling system installed.
Hole Nos. 5 and 6: Greens rebuilt for agronomic reasons and heating and cooling systems installed.
Hole No. 7: Significant landscaping completed on the rear of the tee to reforest a large area which was left open due to the removal of a tournament storage building in 2005. An additional 10 yards added to the front of the tee without necessitating a change in length to the hole.
Hole No. 15: 8-9 yards added to the front of the tee, and a couple of trees removed on the right side of the fairway. Scorecard yardage remained 530 yards.
Trevor Immelman became the second South African to win at Augusta, joining his idol Gary Player who won in 1961, 1974 and 1978. Immelman shot 280 (-8), good for a 3-shot victory over Tiger Woods who was a runner-up for the second year in a row. Immelman’s closing round of 75 equaled the highest final-round score by a Masters champion.
Immelman set a Masters record by playing the par 4s at -10 for the week. He held at least a share of the lead after each round, becoming the first player to do so since Seve Ballesteros in 1980. And speaking of Player, he made history by making his 51st Masters start, breaking Arnold Palmer’s all-time record. Fred Couples missed the cut by one shot, snapping a streak of 23 consecutive Masters cuts made, tied with Player for the longest such streak in tournament history.
NEWS, NOTES & GRAPHICS
THE EVENT: The preferred title is the 2009 Masters Tournament (2009 Masters is also acceptable). This is the 73rd Masters.
FIRST-ROUND LEADER: Trevor Immelman shared the first-round lead in 2008 with Justin Rose. Immelman became the first player to win the Masters after holding at least a share of the first-round lead since Ben Crenshaw in 1984. Crenshaw held the outright lead after the first round that year.
36-HOLE LEADER: Trevor Immelman held a one-shot lead after the second round in 2008, making him just the second player in the last 9 Masters to win after holding the 36-hole lead. Mike Weir held a 4-shot lead after 36 holes in 2003 and went on to win in a playoff over Len Mattiace.
BEST BET ON SUNDAY: The winner of the Masters Tournament has come out of Sunday’s final pairing in 17 of the last 18 years. A run of 16 straight years was snapped in 2007 when Zach Johnson, playing in the third-to-last group, came from 2 shots behind after 54 holes to win.
USUALLY THE BEST WIN HERE: Since 1986, the Masters has been won 15 times by a player with an Official World Golf Ranking in the top 10. Seven of the last 9 winners have had a top-10 ranking. The 2008 Masters winner, Trevor Immelman, was ranked 29th.
World Ranking- Masters Champions Since 2000
2008 Trevor Immelman- 29th
2007 Zach Johnson- 56th
2006 Phil Mickelson- 4th
2005 Tiger Woods- 2nd
2004 Phil Mickelson- 8th
2003 Mike Weir- 10th
2002 Tiger Woods- 1st
2001 Tiger Woods- 1st
2000 Vijay Singh- 8th
Lowest World Ranking
Masters Champions Since 1990
2007 Zach Johnson- 56th
1999 Jose Maria Olazabal- 34th
1995 Ben Crenshaw- 33rd
2008 Trevor Immelman- 29th
1998 Mark O'Meara- 14th
1997 Tiger Woods- 13th
Largest 54-Hole Deficit- Overcome by Masters Champion
1956 Jack Burke Jr.- 8
1978 Gary Player- 7
1996 Nick Faldo- 6
1979 Fuzzy Zoeller- 6
1959 Art Wall Jr.- 6
Largest Win Margin- Masters History
1997 Tiger Woods- 12
1965 Jack Nicklaus- 9
1976 Raymond Floyd- 8
1955 Cary Middlecoff - 7
USA, USA: Unlike the U.S. Open, the Masters has been dominated by Americans this decade. A U.S.-born player has won 6 of the last 8 (Canadian Mike Weir won in 2003, South African Trevor Immelman won in 2008). The last player born in Europe to win at Augusta was Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999. No Australian has ever won at Augusta.
WEEKEND REGULAR: Tiger Woods has made the cut 12 consecutive years, the longest active streak at the Masters. It began in 1997, the year of his first Masters win.
RAINY GEORGIA: Weather has delayed the completion of at least one Masters round in 5 of the last 7 years and 8 of the last 11 years.
FIRST-TIME WINNERS: Only two players have ever claimed the Masters as their first PGA TOUR win. They are Bernhard Langer (1985) and Claude Harmon (1948).
EXPERIENCE COUNTS: No Masters rookie has won the tournament since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 and only 3 have ever won it on their first try.
Consecutive Starts in Majors
Active Streaks, Entering 2009 Masters
Phil Mickelson- 59
Vijay Singh- 58
Stuart Appleby- 48
Mike Weir- 39
Sergio Garcia- 38
Scott Verplank- 35
Highest Winning Scores
Masters History
2007 Zach Johnson- 289 (+1)
1956 Jack Burke Jr.- 289 (+1)
1954 Sam Snead- 289 (+1)
1966 Jack Nicklaus- 288 (E)
Lowest Winning Scores
Masters History
1997 Tiger Woods- 270 (-18)
1976 Raymond Floyd- 271 (-17)
1965 Jack Nicklaus- 271 (-17)
2001 Tiger Woods- 272 (-16)
THE BOSS: William Porter (Billy) Payne was elected the sixth Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament on May 5, 2006. He began his term on May 21, 2006. Payne (born October 13, 1947) has been a member of the Club since 1997 and served as Chairman of the Masters Media Committee since 2000. Payne is best known for his stint as President and CEO
2004 (5 years): Phil Mickelson finally wins first major
1999 (10 years): Jose Maria Olazabal claims second Masters title
1989 (20 years): Scott Hoch’s Choke; misses 2-foot putt that would have given him win (Nick Faldo wins first Masters)
1984 (25 years): Ben Crenshaw sinks 60-foot putt on No. 10; wins first Masters
1979 (30 years): Ed Sneed’s late collapse; Fuzzy Zoeller wins on first attempt (he's still last Masters rookie to win)
1969 (40 years): George Archer wins only major of career
1959 (50 years): Art Wall birdies 5 of last 6 holes for final round of 66; passes 12 players and wins by one
1949 (60 years): First time green jacket is awarded to champion (first of 3 Masters titles for Sam Snead)
MASTERS FACTS
Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts organized the first event, later named the Masters Tournament, at Augusta National in 1934. Horton Smith was the inaugural winner.
The club was conceived by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. Their vision was to establish a national membership for the club. They took a $70,000 option on a 365-acre property called Fruitland Nurseries in Augusta, Ga. Jones and Alistair Mackenzie of Scotland designed the course. Construction began in 1931. The course opened in 1932 with limited play. Formal opening was January 1933.
The Masters Tournament was called the "Augusta National Invitational" for the first five years (1934-1938).
The first tournament was held March 22, 1934. Since 1940 however, the Masters was scheduled for the first full week in April each year.
The tournament was not played during the years 1943, 1944 and 1945 because of World War II. To help with the war effort, turkey and cattle were raised on the Augusta National Grounds.
The club is open from mid-October to late May.
Each hole is named after a plant or shrub. For example, No. 3 is called "Flowering Crab Apple."
The tradition of members wearing green jackets began in 1937, when jackets were purchased from New York's Brooks Uniform Co. The idea was that Masters patrons easily could see members who would have accurate information.
In 1949, the first Green Jacket was awarded to that year's Masters champion, Sam Snead.
Jack Nicklaus has the most Masters Tournament wins, with six.
Jack Nicklaus became the oldest player to win a Masters Tournament, at 46 years, 2 months and 23 days - in 1986.
Tiger Woods was the youngest player to win a Masters Tournament, at 21 years, 3 months and 14 days - in 1997.
Amen Corner refers to holes No. 11, 12 and 13. In 1958, a Sports Illustrated writer, Herbert Warren Wind, named the second half of hole No. 11, hole No. 12 and the first half of hole No. 13 Amen Corner. This is where the critical action took place that year. He borrowed the name from an old jazz recording called "Shouting at Amen Corner."
The pine tree is the most abundant tree at Augusta. Several species grow along the course, including: Loblolly Pines, Shortleaf Pines, Slash Pines, Longleaf Pines, Eastern White Pines.
"The big oak tree" on the golf course side of the Clubhouse is about 145-150 years old. This live oak tree was planted in the 1850s.
Magnolia Lane extends from the entrance gate to the clubhouse. The 61 large magnolia trees that line both sides of the 330-yard road date to the late 1850s.
Founders Circle is at the base of the flagpole in front of the clubhouse. Two plaques there honor the Masters' founders: Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts.
There are three dedicated bridges at Augusta National: the Sarazen Bridge at hole No. 15 -- to honor Gene Sarazen's double eagle there during the 1935 Masters, the Hogan Bridge at the No. 12 green -- to honor Ben Hogan's then record score of 274 in 1953, and the Nelson Bridge at the No. 13 tee -- to honor Byron Nelson's performance on holes No. 12 and 13 when he won the 1937 Masters.
The Crow's Nest provides housing for amateurs during the Masters Tournament. It has room for up to five players.
The Champions Dinner is for members of the Masters Club, those who have won a Masters Tournament, and is hosted by the defending champion on Tuesday of Masters week.
Ike's Pond is named after General Eisenhower. The three-acre Pond is man-made, has a dam and is fed by a spring.
The Par 3 Fountain is next to the No. 1 tee on the Par 3 course. This Fountain has a list of Par 3 contest winners, starting with Sam Snead's win in 1960.
The Record Fountain was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Masters. It is located left of the No. 17 tee and displays course records and Masters Tournament winners.
The 10 Augusta National Golf Club Cabins are located on the grounds of Augusta National and provide lodging for members and their guests. One of the cabins is named the Eisenhower Cabin because the Club built it for President and Mrs. Eisenhower for their visits to Augusta National.
No amateur has ever won the Masters.
No one has ever won the Par 3 tournament and the Masters Tournament in the same year.
You cannot apply for membership. You can only be invited.
The first African-American member was admitted in 1990.
Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and former amateur standout and now Senior PGA Tour player John Harris are the only pro golfers who are members.
Avid golfer Dwight (Ike) Eisenhower is the only U.S. president to have been a club member. Ike's Pond occupies 3 acres near hole No. 9 on the par-3 course, a nine-hole layout that is the site of the traditional Par 3 Contest on Wednesday of Masters week.
A Jack Nicklaus plaque, honoring the six-time Masters champion, is affixed to a drinking fountain between holes 16 and 17. An Arnold Palmer plaque, commemorating the play and contributions of the four-time Masters winner, is affixed to a drinking fountain behind the No. 16 tee.
MASTERS TRADITION
Green Jacket
The Augusta National member's green coat began in 1937. Jackets were purchased from the Brooks Uniform Company, New York City. Members were urged to buy and wear a Jacket during the Masters Tournament so patrons would be able to identify a reliable source of information. Members were not initially enthusiastic about wearing the warm, green coat. Within several years, a lightweight, made-to-order Jacket was available from the Club's Golf Shop. In 1949, the first Green Jacket was awarded to that year's Masters champion, Sam Snead. The single breasted, single vent Jacket's color is "Masters Green" and is adorned with an Augusta National Golf Club logo on the left chest pocket. The logo also appears on the brass buttons.
Traditionally, the champion takes his Jacket home with him for one year, returning it to the Club when he returns for the Tournament. The Jacket is then stored at Augusta National Golf Club and is available whenever the champion visits. Near the conclusion of the Masters, several Jackets are selected which could fit the possible winner during the presentation ceremony. The winner will have his measurements taken at the Club's Golf Shop or may provide measurements so that a custom made Green Jacket can be tailored. Typically, a multiple winner will have only one Green Jacket unless his size drastically changes.
It is the custom at the Masters Tournament that the winner from the previous year presents the Green Jacket to the new winner and helps him into it. In 1966, Jack Nicklaus became the first champion to win consecutive Tournaments. Bobby Jones recommended that Nicklaus act in a dual capacity, and put on his own coat. Nicklaus proceeded to slip into his own Green Jacket, much to the enjoyment of the crowd.
In 1990, Nick Faldo became the second champion to win consecutive Tournaments. This time Chairman Hord W. Hardin assisted the winner into his Green Jacket. When Tiger Woods won in 2002, he became the third champion to win consecutive Tournaments. At the Presentation Ceremony, Chairman Hootie Johnson assisted Woods into his Green Jacket.
Amen Corner
The name Amen Corner refers to hole Nos. 11, 12 and 13. Amen Corner was first coined by Herbert Warren Wind in the April 21, 1958 edition of Sports Illustrated. He wrote that it was composed of the second half of hole No. 11, hole No. 12, and the first half of hole No. 13. Wind was searching for an appropriate name for the location where the critical action had taken place that year. He borrowed the name from an old jazz recording "Shouting at Amen Corner" by a band under the direction of Milton (Mezz) Mezzrow, a Chicago clarinetist.
Saturday evening in 1958, heavy rains soaked the course. For Sunday's round, a local rule was adopted allowing a player whose ball was embedded to lift and drop it without penalty. Sunday on No. 12, Arnold Palmer hit his ball over the green and the ball embedded in the steep bank behind it. Being uncertain about the applicability of the local rule, the official on the hole and Palmer agreed that the ball should be played as it lay and that Palmer could play a second ball which he dropped. Palmer holed out for a 5 with the original ball and a 3 with the second ball. The committee was asked to decide if the local rule was applicable and if so, which score would count.
At No. 13, still unsure of what his score was at 12, Palmer sank an 18-foot putt for eagle 3. When he was playing No. 15, Palmer was told his drop at 12 was proper and that his score on the hole was 3, leading to his first major victory.
Rae's Creek
Named after John Rae, who died in 1789, Rae's Creek flows at the back of No. 11 green and runs in front of No. 12 green and No. 13 tee. It was Rae's house that was the farthest fortress up the Savannah River from Fort Augusta. The house kept residents safe during Indian attacks when the fort was out of reach.
Eisenhower Tree
Located at hole No. 17, the Eisenhower Tree is approximately 195 yards from the Masters tee and left-center of the fairway. The loblolly pine is approximately 65 feet high and about 100 to 125 years old. The former President of the US and Club member hit into the tree so often he campaigned to have it removed. At a Club's governors meeting in 1956, Eisenhower proposed cutting the tree down. Clifford Roberts promptly ruled him out of order and adjourned the meeting. The pine has been linked to Eisenhower since then.
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