masters divots
NUMBERS GAME
12
The number of strokes that Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters by – which is a record. Woods’ victory that year was his first major triumph, and came after a shaky start. Reaching the turn in 40 strokes (four-over-par) of his first round, Woods fired a six-under 30 on the back nine for a 70. He followed that up with rounds of 66, 65 and 69.
14
Is the number of times the Masters title has been decided in a play-off. The last play-off was in 2009 when Argentina’s Angel Cabrera beat Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell. Nick Faldo is the only player to have won more than one Masters after extra holes. The Englishman defeated Scott Hoch in 1989 and followed that up with another play-off win one year later against Ray Floyd.
1961
Was the first year that the Masters was won by a non-American. That title goes to Gary Player, who holds the record for the most number of starts made in the tournament. He made his debut in 1957 and played 52 straight years until 2009. Player won a total of three green jackets.
Schwartzel Wants Barbeque of Champions Reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel wants to bring a unique South African flavour to the annual Champions Dinner this year – by doing the cooking himself. Schwartzel has asked Augusta National Golf Club officials for permission to have a braai, hoping to handle the grilling of steaks, lamb and boerewors himself. “We’re going to try and do a barbecue - in South Africa we call it a ‘braai’,” said Schwartzel. “I don’t like formal dinners. I thought of keeping it very relaxed, sort of standing around a fire and cooking the meat. That’s what I do when I’m at home on my off time.” Augusta National officials have yet to agree to the idea, with concern that the sheer numbers for the select annual gathering could make the braai format impossible. “The only thing that could stop me probably is if there’s too many people - then it is very difficult to do the meat yourself,” Schwartzel continued. “But we’re still waiting for confirmation if it will be allowed [and to] see how it works. “Their initial response was obviously, ‘We’ll come back to you on that.’ I think it took them quite by surprise, maybe [they were] expecting something a little different or more the way they always do it.” A basic standard menu is typically offered, in addition to the selections of the reigning champion, for those past winners who are less adventurous with their culinary choices.
“If I knew what was going through Jack Nicklaus’s head, I would have won the Masters.”
AFP
- Tom Weiskopf (pictured), when asked what he thought Jack Nicklaus was thinking on his way to winning the 1986 Masters
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HK Golfer・APR 2012
HKGOLFER.COM