04 10 bz golf section

2 – On the Links

LIFE ON THE LINKS CUSCOWILLA

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Thursday, April 10, 2013

THE PERFECT CLUB

Technology validates the perfect golf club choice

By KYLE COLLINS Lake Oconee Breeze

G

olf equipment and fitting technology offers sport enthusiasts a better chance to set themselves up for success.

With assistance from state-ofthe-art computing, optimal ball launch angle and spin rate aren’t a mystery for the everyday golfer.

Someone can just about guarantee a good swing ends in a good result these days.

Class A PGA professional and teacher Chuck Little knows the path to club fitting success.

Little, based out of the Golf Club at Cuscowilla’s Teaching Center, played what felt right years ago. A run in with a Henry-Griffitts club fitter changed his outlook in the late 1990s.

“He put me in some clubs, and it immediately opened my eyes to realize there was a lot to this that it was vastly important that golfers at any level had clubs that fit them,” Little said. “Ever since then, I’ve been big into club fitting.”

Poorly tailored clubs cause swing compensations. The worst scenario is to make a good motion and the ball not go where it’s supposed to, according to Little.

The custom fit trend exploded at the turn of the century.

“The use of the launch monitor has really beefed up and given instant credibility to club fitting,” Little said. “You don’t need to fall in love with a ball flight because what you think might be right may not be right for you at all. The monitor brings that out really fast.”

Cuscowilla fits on the Foresight Head Measurement Technology

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Top: Certified club fitter Chuck Little explains the adjustability of TaylorMade's popular SLDR driver to Cuscowilla member Stan Pantel.

Above: Class A PGA professional, teacher and club fitter Chuck Little watches Stan Pantel try out a new club at the Golf Club at Cuscowilla's Teaching Center. The facility utilizes high-tech launch monitor technology to ensure golfers of all skill sets play the proper equipment.

(HMT) that precisely captures club head data with ease and accuracy.

Players instantly see critical data such as club head speed, horizontal club path, smash factor, dynamic loft and lie and impact location.

Every club can be tracked.

Swing and other critical ball flight information displays on an LCD screen attached to the unit or on an HD screen that visually captures, sorts and saves club head performance in real-time.

“It’s made club fitting so much easier,” Little said.

Other portable monitors such as the TrackMan and FlightScope accomplish similar fitting goals also. These units pack a heavy cost punch, but finding a facility with one can change your perspective on what the right bag setup truly is.

This available technology enables experts to properly “gap” an individuals clubs through true carry distance numbers.

“Most people have no clue how far they carry the ball,” the Lake Oconee teacher said.

Club gapping supports distance control. Having the right loft

remains an underrated yet key notion.

Surprising to most, major golf manufactured custom clubs come to the buyer with up to a twodegree loft variance.

This means a five and six iron could basically play like “the same club,” according to Little.

Regular loft checks are a must for consistency.

The current golf equipment market features countless adjustable hybrids, fairway woods and drivers for proper turning.

Movable weights and hosel configurations turned the industry around.

Numerous loft, lie and weight adjustments make the modern clubs play several different ways.

In some cases as a golfer may improve or make swing changes, it erases the need to purchase another club.

“What’s interesting is that most people that buy the clubs don’t ever fool with them,” Little said.

“When they come, you realize they aren’t where they need to be, and we tinker with them.”

A common misconception starts

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Thursday, April 10, 2013

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On the Links – 3

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Numerous loft, lie and weight adjustments make the modern clubs play several different ways. In some cases as a golfer may improve or make swing changes, it erases the need to purchase another club.

CLUB, from page 2 with those opening or closing the clubface.

Opening the face actually decreases loft as closing does the opposite.

“It’s hard to explain. I usually say you just have to trust me on this and then show them,” he said.

Little recommends adjusting the weight instead of face angle for performance tuning.

Another recent trend is longer driver shafts. The average driver length nears 46 inches today.

Two decades ago, a 43-inch club

was considered standard.

A longer shaft may increase distance on one out of 10 drives, but Little warns the average player from falling into the trap.

Most players average hitting a shorter and higher lofted 3-wood farther than the driver.

“The proof is in the pudding. If you look at the stats on tour, there isn’t one guy out there hitting a 46inch driver,” Little said. “They all have a 44 and a half or 45-inch driver. Where is the logic in that?

You know they square the club better than an average golfer, yet they are swinging one that’s 46

10 THINGS

to know for the Masters 1. A MASTERS WITHOUT TIGER Tiger Woods, a four-time Masters champion, had back surgery to relieve a pinched nerve 10 days before the opening round.

He will not play the Masters for the first time since 1994, when he was a senior in high school.

2. ODE TO THE EISENHOWER TREE The most famous tree at Augusta National is no more. The Eisenhower Tree, a 65-foot loblolly pine that was about 210 yards off the tee on No. 17, could not be saved from extensive damage caused by an ice storm in February. It was named after former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, an Augusta member who hit into it so often that he proposed chopping it down during a club meeting in 1956.

Eisenhower, running for re-election, was overruled.

3. THE ROOKIES At 23, the number of first-timers at the Masters is the most since 1935, and this is believed to be the strongest rookie class ever. Ten of 17 professionals are in the top 50 in the world ranking, led by 20year-old Jordan Spieth at No. 13 in the world. The last player to win the Masters in his debut was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

4. UNPREDICTABLE PHIL Phil Mickelson had a runner-up finish in Abu Dhabi to start his season, and he hasn’t cracked the top 15 in any tournament since then. He has withdrawn twice because of soreness in his back,

both times after making the cut at Torrey Pines and the Texas Open.

He has 14 finishes in the top 10 at Augusta. A victory would tie him with Woods and Arnold Palmer with four green jackets.

5. DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Adam Scott will try to join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (200102) as the only players to successfully defend their titles at the Masters. A year ago, he became the first Australian in a green jacket.

6. HOUSE RULES The Masters will be under greater scrutiny than usual over the rules after what happened with Tiger Woods last year. Woods was penalized two shots for taking an improper drop on the 15th hole in the second round. Even though he had already signed his card‚ disqualification for an incorrect scorecard, he was allowed to stay in the tournament because of what Augusta National called a committee error. There has been talk about the Masters having an official with every group.

7. FATHER AND SON Kevin Stadler won the Phoenix Open to make history at the Masters. He will join his father, Craig Stadler, as the only father and son to play in the same Masters. Craig Stadler is exempt for life for winning the 1982 Masters. He has thought about no longer playing until his son won in Phoenix to qualify for his first

Please see THINGS page 5

inches.”

The launch monitor usually validates Little’s theory.

Overall, today’s certified club fitting experts and teachers generally envision eliminating the need for swing manipulation to attain the desired shot result as the end goal.

Modern equipment and technology comes closer to guaranteeing a nice swing is rewarded.

Little is excited for Masters Week 2014.

The annual professional major held at Augusta National Golf Club attracts thousands to the Lake Oconee golf communities.

Maybe, a few folks will come away with a few extra yards utilizing Cuscowilla’s fitting setup.

“Fitting someone in a driver doesn’t take too long. From my aspect, it’s getting a clue as to what shaft to put in [the club] and dialing the thing in. Most will sell their soul for 10 extra yards,” Little joked.

4 – On the Links

LIFE ON THE LINKS MIDDLE GA.

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Thursday, April 10, 2013

COLLEGIATE STARS

Top Bulldog, Bobcat and Bear golfers flock to central Ga. colleges

By MARK JAGORD Lake Oconee Breeze

Contributed photo

Mercer University coach Steve Bradley and Trey Rule.

M

iddle Georgia has some of the best academic schools in the state attracting some of the finest talent in the golf world. In about a 30mile radius from Milledgeville to Macon you can encompass a realm spanning three different divisions between the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA).

The heart of Georgia’s Antebellum Capital, Milledgeville, is home to Georgia Military College (GMC) and Georgia College (GC).

The former competes in the NJCAA with the latter vying at NCAA Division II. Just southwest of the two is Mercer University at the Division I level in Macon.

In recent years, there have been some promising golfers to come out these schools from surprising locations and with incredible results.

We asked each coach of the three schools to reflect on their most memorable players and each chose a player from overseas.

Current GMC head golf coach Dave Franklin wasn’t at the helm a decade ago when Brendan O’Connell was the top golfer who won GMC the NJCAA Division III National Championship in 2004, but he thinks he’s coaching the closest resemblance of O’Connell

now with 2013 First Team AllAmerican and GMC team captain Ethan Chamineak.

“The strongest part of his game is mental,” said Franklin. “He manages his game with a conservative attitude and for the most part stays away from trouble, which makes him a consistent scorer.”

“Ethan has a great practice work ethic and his free spirit is contagious to the other players and it keeps them on their toes. He knows what it takes to have a successful program and loves the challenge.”

The current sophomore was a medalist three times in 2013 including equaling O’Connell’s feat as the medalist at the NJCAA Division III National Championship held in Jamestown, N.Y. last year. Chamineak helped the team to a fifth overall finish in a field of 19 and took top honors by just one stroke in the national spotlight.

In addition, the eastern European who has ties to the Czech Republic and Poland, has also been the top medalist in the 2013 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) Classic Golf Tournament and the 2013 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) Invitational, winning the former by two strokes and the latter by three.

Current Georgia College golf coach Jimmy Wilson needed no time to relay the top golfer in his program.

“Without a doubt, Niclas Johansson,” said the coach of the Johansson No. 20-ranked Bobcats.

Just like C h a m i n e a k , Johansson is a transport from Europe.

The Swede is the only male four-time AllAmerican in any sport at Division II Chamineak Georgia College.

Interestingly enough while Chamineak attends a military college, Johansson did a two-year stint in the Swedish Navy before enrolling at Georgia College. The parallels don’t end there.

“Away from the golf course, he had a way of keeping his teammates loose,” said Wilson. “He could call a teammate out without the teammate being offended. The thing I liked about him most was that he hated to lose, possibly even more than myself. Niclas was as mentally-tough as any player to

come before or after at Georgia College.”

Johansson is currently preparing for the 2014 European Challenge Tour with 25 tournaments in 20 different countries. In addition to being a four-time All-American at Georgia College, Johansson was also awarded the Georgia College Senior Male Athlete of the Year in 2010 just before he turned pro. His ultimate goal is to be a member of the PGA Tour. The former business major at Georgia College even has his own website, www.johanssongolf.com.

Wilson loves to tell the story about how Johansson was overlooked in his native Sweden for the top golf academy there, but outperformed all those chosen in front of him.

“His determination to be the best and to let no one beat him sets him apart,” said Wilson. “Another example of his mental toughness and dedication can be found in looking at how he balanced his success on the course with additional success in the classroom by graduating in four years with nearly a 3.5 GPA.” Wilson is a three-time Region Coach of the Year, as well as a three-time Peach Belt Conference

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Thursday, April 10, 2013

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On the Links – 5

THINGS, from page 3 Masters.

8.

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING? This could be good news for Northern Ireland’s trio of Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy or even Darren Clarke. In the other four majors that Tiger Woods didn’t play because of injury, they were won by Padraig Harrington of Ireland (2008 British Open and 2008 PGA Championship), McIlroy (2011 U.S. Open) and Clarke (2011 British Open).

9. WHO’S NO. 1?

Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson can each go to No. 1 in the world for the first time in their careers depending on how they fare at the Masters. It will be the third tournament in which Scott has had a mathematical chance to replace Woods atop the world ranking.

10. DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT The action gets started a day early at Augusta National this year when the club stages its first “Drive, Chip and Putt” contest on Sunday. The driving and chipping will take place on the practice range. The putting contest will be on the 18th green, from the same spot where defending champion Adam Scott made his 20-foot birdie putt last year that got him into a playoff.

6 – On the Links

LIFE ON THE LINKS OCONEE CELLAR

Thursday, April 10, 2013

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BEYOND

THE

GREEN

Wines, beers, liqueurs, spirits, cigars and more at The Cellar

By ALEXANDER CARRERE Lake Oconee Breeze

Breeze file photo

The Oconee Cellar has garnered its reputation through its broad selection of beverages and loyal customer service, which has only grown throughout its 16 years of operation.

A

ny golfer might grunt a spirited whine about a shot in the bunker, but the cellar is where many spectators, who are thinking about spirits, wines and shots, end up.

The Oconee Cellar that is.

Whether it’s for golf, atmosphere

or nightlife, thousands flock annually to Lake Oconee for Masters Week. And whether the weather cooperates, many are looking for unique places to visit and shop when the golfing day ends.

While the games are in motion, the shopkeepers of Oconee are

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hard at work preparing for the evening crowd. After each day’s proceedings, the multitudes return to town to enjoy Oconee’s many venues of food, music and drink.

The Oconee Cellar is one such venue. Located on Lake Oconee Parkway, it offers premier alcoholic beverages to the Lake Oconee community. The Oconee Cellar has garnered its reputation through its broad selection of beverages and loyal customer service, which has only grown throughout its 16 years of operation.

Owner Matt Garafolo said the Oconee Cellar has a symbiotic relationship with the Oconee area. The numerous fans of Masters Week created a demand that the Oconee Cellar was quick to satisfy.

“When we set up 16 years ago, you could tell there was a demand for nicer wines out there,” remarked Garafolo. “It (Oconee Cellar) just kind of fit a niche.”

Garafolo also prides himself on the Oconee Cellar’s exemplary customer service. He said that he’s always happy to place a special order for a customer.

“We’re determined to provide wines from all countries at all prices,” said the longtime owner.

“We’re on the cutting edge of spirits. If something new comes out, we’re always bringing it in. I want the Cellar to be a one-stop shop.

And of course, we have beer as well.”

Because of this proactive mission, the Oconee Cellar boasts a wide variety of beverages, wines, spirits and more.

Beers and wines are not considered spirits because fermentation only occurs at below 20 percent alcohol-by-volume. Spirits are distilled drinks of 20 percent or more alcohol-by-volume that are not sweetened with added sugars or flavors and often referred to as liqueurs.

Garafolo said that Masters Week is unquestionably the biggest week of the year for him and Doug Paine, a friend and employee at the Oconee Cellar.

Garafolo and Paine note some trends in the Masters Week crowd.

“It’s mostly a guy’s event,” Paine said, also noting that inclement weather can boost sales. “Some weeks it’s rainy. We prefer one or two rainy days when people are stuck inside, it’s good for us.”

Although customers might be drawn to the store for its beers, wines and spirits, Garafolo is quick to point out the store’s other attractions.

“We’re always doing specials, especially around Masters Week.

We also offer good quality cigars at competitive prices,” said Garafolo.

The Oconee Cellar keeps up-todate on the goings-on in the world of wines, and passes on those updates to its customer base via a monthly newsletter. Customers have the opportunity to join the Cellar’s Wine Club, which selects a leading white and red wine each month offered at discounted prices to club members. The Oconee Cellar also offers a rewards program for its patrons.

The vast range of beverages draws crowds to the Cellar. The staff ’s dedication to quality drink selections and a passion for service keep the crowds coming back.

Garafolo’s enthusiasm for both golf and drink preserve the Oconee Cellar’s reputation as a principal provider in the Lake Oconee area.

The Lake Oconee Masters Week blends sporting tension with a cordial atmosphere at a beautiful location. The beautiful afternoons and luscious lake are inspiring and breathtaking backdrops that adds to the overall ambiance. The sights and sounds of Lake Oconee, Madison and Eatonton are a perfect follow-through to a day at the course.

Although he is not participating in this year’s tournament, Garafolo is also an avid golfer. He prefers to play at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, where he is a member.

The Oconee Cellar is located on 6350 Lake Oconee Parkway in Greensboro. Customers can view its products, events and more online at: www.theoconeecellar.com.

Whether you’re trying to create that perfect Georgia drink with some peach ingredients like a fuzzy navel, you never know whom you might bump into at the Oconee Cellar. Probably the most famous of fuzzy-related items to appear in the store is pro golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, who has passed through on many occasions.

Zoeller was champion of the 1979 Masters and 1984 U.S. Open, and more recently, the 2002 Senior PGA championship.

“We’ve had players come in on their way to the course,” Garafolo adds. “Fuzzy Zoeller has come in numerous times; he’s a vodka man.

We do have other professional players also stop by.”

The Oconee Cellar is located next to Publix on Highway 44.

Thursday, April 10, 2013

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On the Links – 7

2014 BREAKDOWN

Masters prepares for a mixed field, with no Tiger The ASSOCIATED PRESS

T

his Masters is all about a green jacket, not a red shirt.

Tiger Woods, who has slipped that coveted coat over his Sunday shirt four times, was finishing up his senior year of high school in southern California the last time he wasn’t at Augusta National the first full week of April. That was 20 years ago.

Jose Maria Olazabal won the Masters in 1994, making him the 14th player to win the last 14 majors. Greg Norman was No. 1 in the world, but golf didn’t have anyone truly dominating the game. Phil Mickelson was 23 and already had three PGA Tour victories, but he missed the Masters with a broken leg from a skiing accident.

The landscape is so much different without Woods and his red shirt, his power color that he has worn in ever y final round of his career.

He already was hobbling on his road to the Masters. Woods withdrew from the Honda Classic in the final round with lower back pain. He withdrew as two -time defending champion at Bay Hill before the tournament even started. And nine days before the opening round of the Masters, the world’s No. 1 player disclosed he had surger y for a pinched ner ve in his back that will keep out of golf until the summer.

“Tiger in any golf tournament creates an unbelievable atmosphere,” said Steven Bowditch of Australia, the last man to qualify for Augusta af ter winning the Texas Open. “To not

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Brandt Snedeker is handed a club by his daughter Lily as he and his wife Mandy walk the course during the par three competition at the Masters golf tournament Wednesday, April 9, 2014, in Augusta.

have him there at the Masters is not the greatest.”

Golf goes on.

The 78th Masters, which starts Thursday, typically

brings the most anticipation of any of the four majors and gets the highest television ratings.

It sets the tone for the year, and it was seen as particularly

important for Woods, who is going on six years without a major.

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8 – On the Links

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The Contenders A look at players expected to contend in the Masters

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Tennis player Caroline Wozniacki high fives with her fiancee Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, after Wozniacki putted on the ninth hole during the par three competition at the Masters golf tournament Wednesday, April 9, 2014, in Augusta.

FIELD, from page 7 The anticipation is different now. Maybe it’s more of a curiosity. The Masters has the smallest field of the four majors — 96 players this year — and for years had the shortest

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list of candidates to win the green jacket.

Now, the list keeps getting longer.

“I don’t think it’s just the Masters,” Ror y McIlroy said.

“Golf in general is just ver y

RORY MCILROY Age: 24.

Country: Northern Ireland.

World ranking: 7.

Worldwide wins: 10.

Majors: US Open (2011), PGA Championship (2012).

Masters moment: Losing a four-shot lead with an 80 in the final round of 2011.

Forecaddie: Plenty of signs point to him returning to the top of the game, it's just a matter of how soon. He's had a chance going into the final round at three of his four stroke-play events this year. That includes the Honda Classic, where he lost a two-shot lead and then lost in a four-man playoff. He showed in 2011 his game is suited for the Masters. This would be the ideal place to announce his return.

DUSTIN JOHNSON Age: 29.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 10.

Worldwide wins: 8.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Made eagle on consecutive holes (13-14) in the final round of 2009 and still couldn't break par.

Forecaddie: This is the one major he has not threatened to win, yet his talent is such that he can't be ignored. He's on the A-list of power players, his natural shot is a draw, his short game is vastly improved and he has five straight finishes in the top 10 in PGA Tour events. Even so, his best finish at Augusta is a tie for 13th. He will be a contender one of these years. Maybe this one.

ADAM SCOTT Age: 33.

Country: Australia.

World ranking: 2.

Worldwide wins: 23.

Majors: Masters (2013).

Masters moment: Screaming "C'mon Aussie" after making a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole in regulation last year that got him into a playoff that he won.

Forecaddie: He might be swinging the club as well and as consistently as anyone in the game. The only thing keeping the Australian from winning more is his putting, which he showed at Bay Hill when he couldn't hold a seven-shot lead on the weekend. His last three appearances at Augusta — tie for second, tie

Thursday, April 10, 2013 for eighth and win. Don't be surprised if he leaves Augusta with the same green jacket he brings with him.

PHIL MICKELSON Age: 43.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 5.

Worldwide wins: 45.

Majors: Masters (2004, 2006, 2010), British Open (2013), PGA Championship (2005).

Masters moment: "The leap" when he holed an 18-foot birdie putt in 2004 to win his first major.

Forecaddie: Except for the one year he missed the cut, Mickelson had his worst Masters ever last year. He still has three green jackets, and 14 top 10s in 21 appearances. He is playing both weeks in Texas leading to the Masters, and while Lefty has had only one good week this year (in Abu Dhabi), he showed last year at the British Open that he is capable of big surprises. Even if it's rarely a surprise at Augusta.

PATRICK REED Age: 23.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 22.

Worldwide wins: 3.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Winning two titles at Augusta that would be NCAA titles at Augusta State. This is his first Masters.

Forecaddie: It would be an injustice to have Reed listed anywhere outside the top 5. He said so himself after winning a World Golf Championship at Doral, his third PGA Tour win in seven months, leading to say he was among the top five players in the world. More amazing that his pronouncement on television is that Reed has never played a major championship. Lost in the hutzpah is that his game is capable of being top 5 in the world.

HENRIK STENSON Age: 38.

Country: Sweden.

World ranking: 3.

Worldwide wins: 12.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Attended the '99 Masters with his wife, who played college golf at South Carolina. Took one look at Jose Maria Olazabal and meant to place a bet on him, but he forgot. Olazabal went on to win.

Forecaddie: He was the best player in golf the second half of last season and got off to a slow start this year. His 69-68

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Contributed photo

GMC golf team members. Current GMC head golf coach Dave Franklin (far right) wasn’t at the helm a decade ago when Brendan O’Connell was the top golfer who won GMC the NJCAA Division III National Championship in 2004, but he thinks he’s coaching the closest resemblance of O’Connell now with 2013 First Team All-American and GMC team captain Ethan Chamineak (fourth frmo left).

TOP, from page 4

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(PBC) Coach of the Year for the current No. 20 Georgia College.

Wilson and the Bobcats are just coming off winning the Bearcat Classic Invitational Tournament hosted by Lander University a few weeks ago.

Like GMC Coach Franklin, Mercer University’s Steve Bradley is also in his third year at the helm. Bradley really likes three of his current players, a pair of seniors and a junior that have helped his team to a national ranking at No. 33.

“Trey Rule is a really good ballstriker with a lot of length and a lot of talent,” said Bradley about one of his first recruits who won the 2014 Gator Invitational.

Bradley is also high on the senior tandem of Hans Reimers and James Beale, with the latter hailing from New Zealand.

“Hans has been the hardest worker the last three years with a work ethic second to none,” said Bradley. The Oregon native was a

co-medalist at the 2013 Brickyard Collegiate hosted by Mercer.

“James has really dedicated himself this spring and the results are showing,” added Bradley. He is probably the most talented player on the team and he had an exceptional sophomore year.”

That year, Beale won the 2012 Irish Creek Collegiate hosted by UNC Charlotte.

Both the Bears and Bobcats are getting set for their conference championship play this month.

The No. 33 Bears compete in the Division I Atlantic Sun Conference, while the No. 20 Bobcats compete in the Division II PBC. Georgia Military College will have to wait until June to compete in the NJCAA Division III Championship in N.Y. Whether you’re in Oconee, Milledgeville or Macon, there is always good golf in the area and you can always look up where the teams are playing if Oconee doesn’t meet your golf obsession during Masters Week.

Thursday, April 10, 2013

On the Links – 9

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THE ROOKIES

Masters primed for a newcomer in a green jacket The ASSOCIATED PRESS

F

uzzy Zoeller has lost track of how many interviews he’s given before the Masters, surprising for a guy who plays a limited schedule on the Champions Tour and stopped competing at Augusta National five years ago.

He doesn’t need to follow golf to figure out what’s going on.

Jordan Spieth started his rookie season without a card, finished at No. 10 on the money list, became the youngest American to play in the Presidents Cup and ended his remarkable year at No. 22 in the world. This will be his first Masters. Patrick Reed won three times in seven months, including a World Golf Championship, and told a national television audience he felt he was among the top five in the world. This will be his first major.

They are joined by plenty of others, most of them in the top 50 in the world, who until now have only seen the Masters outside the ropes or in front of a television.

And that’s why Zoeller’s phone keeps ringing.

“I think I’ve done a hundred interviews now,” Zoeller said with a laugh. “Hell, I don’t have any answers.”

There’s really only one question: Why has it been 35 years since a Masters rookie left town with a green jacket?

That was Zoeller in 1979. He leapt in the air when his birdie putt dropped on the second playoff

hole at No. 11 to join Gene Sarazen (1935) and inaugural winner Horton Smith (1934) as the only players to win at Augusta on their first attempt.

“All the talent that has gone through that marvelous place, it’s kind of weird that it hasn’t happened,” Zoeller said.

Dan Pohl almost did it three years later. He made up a six-shot deficit on Craig Stadler, only to miss a 6-foot par putt on the first playoff hole in 1982. John Huston played in the final group in 1990 in his Masters debut, two shots behind Raymond Floyd. Nick Faldo beat Floyd in a playoff.

Huston shot 75 and tied for third.

Most recently, Jason Day had a share of the clubhouse lead with Adam Scott in 2011 until Charl Schwartzel birdied his last four holes to win by two.

Is this the year? The odds have never been so stacked.

Spieth and Reed are among 23 players in the Masters for the first time, which accounts for nearly 25 percent of the field. That includes six amateurs, as always. It also includes 20 percent of the world’s top 50 players.

“I don’t think it’s out of the question to win,” said Spieth, who doesn’t turn 21 until July. “If my game stacks up and I catch the right breaks, then sure. I don’t see why not. I’ve been playing against these guys for a year now, so I feel comfortable.”

Harris English is getting as much

attention as anyone, and knows the course, maybe not the way it is for the Masters, better than most rookies. He played college golf at Georgia, so the Bulldogs played Augusta National once a year.

English won a Web.com Tour event when he was still in college.

He has won twice since the Masters last year, at the St. Jude Classic and in Mexico at the end of last year. The highest praise comes from other players, so it was intriguing when Graeme McDowell walked to the back of the 17th green at Bay Hill, nodded toward English, raised his eyebrows and said, “This boy can play.”

The 24-year-old English drips with Southern manners, pays due respect to stars on tour and then sets a high standard for himself. It helped, no doubt, watching college teammates Russell Henley win in his rookie debut on the PGA Tour, and Reed take on the world in winning a World Golf Championship at Doral.

“I don’t know if this group knows how to win more,” English said of his fellow Masters rookies. “I don’t know what it is. It just seems like guys coming out of college are more prepared. All these guys know how to win and seem to not be scared of the veterans.”

Of the 17 professional rookies, 11 of them won on the PGA Tour last year. Among the exceptions were Victor Dubuisson of France and Stephen Gallacher of Scotland, who had two of the biggest wins on

the European Tour. Dubuisson won handily in the Turkish Airlines Open last year, where Tiger Woods finished third. Gallacher won the Dubai Desert Classic, a tournament that featured Woods and Rory McIlroy, by making seven birdies and an eagle on the back nine Saturday to take the lead.

Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson all played for the first time as U.S. Amateur champions.

Woods tied for 41st. Mickelson opened with a 69 and tied for 46th.

Nicklaus tied for 13th, and then two months later nearly won the U.S. Open as an amateur.

“I think the learning curve at Augusta is steep, always steep,” Justin Rose said. “I think the general rule is you make the cut the first time going to Augusta, that’s a successful performance. Certainly that’s how it was framed in my mind in 2003.”

Times have changed.

The most abrasive of the bunch is Reed, a portly 23-year-old with a great short game and no fear. He became the youngest winner of a World Golf Championship, wearing black pants and a red shirt while playing in the group behind Woods‚ and saw no reason why he couldn’t win whatever he played.

“Whoever shows up at an event nowadays has a chance to win,” Reed said. “Any week, it seems like, whether it’s a veteran or whether it’s a rookie, if they’re playing great golf they’re going to win the event.”

At Augusta, a familiar tree is gone The ASSOCIATED PRESS

M

ost players walking up the hill toward the 17th fairway at Au g u s t a N a t i o n a l c a n’ t h e l p but notice the famous E i s e n h o w e r Tr e e : a l o b l o l l y pine, far enough from the tee to be a nuisance, sprawling at 65 feet and getting taller by the year.

What got Stewart Cink’s attention was another tree behind it.

“Between 10 or 15 years ago, I noticed they planted a rather substantial new tree, about 20 yards further away from the Eisenhower Tree,” Cink said.

“I think they were planning on the Eisenhower tree being lost at some point, coming to the end of its life.”

This was the year it did.

A miserable winter in the South produced an ice storm so severe that the aging Eisenhower Tree was damaged beyond repair. As the Masters prepares to kick off in Au g u s t a , t h e b i g g e s t c h a n g e may be what’s no longer there.

In an announcement that r e a d l i k e a n o b i t u a r y, c l u b chairman Billy Payne said the tree could not be saved and was removed.

“The loss of the Eisenhower Tr e e i s d i f f i c u l t n e w s t o accept,” Payne said.

Wo r s e y e t , t u r n s o u t t h a t other tree Cink noticed years ago also fell victim to the ice storm and was taken down. The club has no immediate plans to replace it. Such decisions are not made hastily at Augusta National. The brother of former Masters champion Trevor Immelman posted a photo of the 17th without the tree, and the hole was not easily identified without the tree that gave it such definition.

The tree got its name from a certain Augusta National member‚ former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He hit the tree so of ten that during an

Au g u s t a N a t i o n a l g o v e r n o r s ’ meeting in 1956, Ike demanded that the tree be cut down immediately.

Clifford Roberts, the chairman and co -founder of the club, overruled the president and adjourned the meeting.

Nearly 60 years later, Ike got his wish.

To understand the loss of the tree, consider St. Andrews without the Road Hole bunker or the TPC Sawgrass without the island green. Fenway Park without the Green Monster.

The 17th hole already was perhaps the dullest hole on a back nine that is famous for producing great theater at ever y other turn. It has ranked as the 10th most difficult hole at Augusta over the years‚ middle of the pack ‚ as a 440-yard par 4 with an average score of 4.15.

Of all the holes on the back, the 17th probably has the fewest stories to tell.

The biggest moments came in 1986, when Jack Nicklaus hit pitching wedge into 12 feet, his final birdie in a closing round of 65 that brought him a sixth green jacket at age 46.

Not far behind him that day, Greg Norman hit a beautiful bump-and-run from under the trees and just lef t of a bunker to 12 feet for his fourth straight birdie to tie for the lead. Just his luck, the Shark hit his shot on the 18th into the galler y and made bogey.

Gar y Player stuffed a 9-iron into a foot on the 17th that secured his second Masters title in 1974. Charl Schwartzel made a 10-foot birdie that gave him the outright lead in 2011, the year he birdied the last four holes to win the Masters.

The Eisenhower Tree was a problem a generation ago, before equipment got better and golfers started to resemble actual athletes.

“It was like George Brett at

third base for me,” Curtis Strange said. “It caught more line drives from me than I’m allowed to admit.”

The tree was tall enough to make a player think about his tee shot, and it jutted far enough out from the lef t side that the best shots were shaped from right-to -lef t. In recent years, the big hitters just smashed a tee shot over the tree.

Phil Mickelson never had a problem with it. He was contacted in Februar y, af ter the sad news that the tree had come down, and was asked if he wanted to comment. He replied with a text message and a smiley-face emoticon, “Ask Jim Fur yk.”

Fur yk, whose ball flight tends to be low and moves from lef tto -right, handled the question with great diplomacy.

“It used to be not really a big

deal to pop it over when I first started playing,” Fur yk said.

“The tree was smaller, and the tee was a lot closer to it, so it was a lot harder to hit. Now I seem to hit that damn thing at least twice a year. It’s a ver y difficult tee shot for me. So from the histor y of the game, I’ll miss it. But my game sure won’t miss it, put it that way.”

The tree managed to play a role in Tiger Woods’ injuries.

It was a shot he had to play from under the Eisenhower in 2011 that aggravated injuries to his lef t Achilles’ tendon and caused him to miss two majors.

Woods won’t be back this year to see the change because of surger y for a pinched ner ve in his back, but he spoke for plenty of players this spring.

“I can’t say some of the guys are going to miss it,” he said.

“But we are going to see a difference.”

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10 – On the Links

Thursday, April 10, 2013

www.lakeoconeebreeze.net

ON

LIFE ON THE LINKS

THE

SCREEN

A look at some of the most memorable golf on the big screen

GOLF MOVIES

By STEVE SCHAEFER Lake Oconee Breeze

O

nce again, the green, green grass upon the fairway of Augusta National Golf Club beckons millions. Masters Week is upon us. Thoughts turn to such things as ace, birdie, slice, hook and eagle. Surprisingly, a bogie has nothing to do with Humphrey Bogart. To me that is blasphemy, but I try to see the world beyond books, films, and other performing arts.

There is a game called golf, I understand, and I know this because they make movies about the sport. I don’t play golf personally; it is more expensive than going to the movies, if anything like that is possible. I certainly don’t quite get the thrill of the game but I can try to understand it through the cinematic arts.

I shall refrain from ranking them. I will just commend them to my readers for consideration.

Since this column is written in honor of The Masters, I suppose I have to start off with: “Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius” (2003) Alas this is probably the worst movie on my list, but it is about Bobby Jones, founder of the Augusta National Golf Club. I had no choice, right? It starred Jim Caviezel (Jesus in Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”) as Bobby Jones. It is a dull biopic, which shows our golf hero goes through some tribulations and then triumphs. The plot falls in the proverbial biopic sand trap, too timid to make Jones look like anything but a god with human issues. Using “Jesus” to play Jones (it was practically back-to-back) was probably illadvised. But it is about Bobby Jones!

Perhaps the most famous “golf movie” of all time (as of today) is, for good or for ill, “Caddyshack.”

This may make more than a few putters snap, but sorry, that is where the ball falls and I have to play it.

“Caddyshack” (1980) is, of course, an unabashedly sophomoric and crude comedy that brings into play the stereotype image that golf is for the elite wealthy class and not for working stiffs. It ends with a snobs versus slobs tournament featuring Ted Knight (snob) and Michael O’Keefe (slob) with Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield and Chevy Chase. As you might expect, the snobs get their comeuppance … and we can conclude that

golf appeals to more than elderly men smoking Cubans who remain contemptuous of those with unimpressive portfolios.

And now for the rest in reverse chronological order.

“The Greatest Game Ever Played” (2005) is the same theme as Caddyshack but a period piece that would make Masterpiece Theater fans swoon with ecstasy. No potty jokes and no T&A, here, thank you very much. Based on a true story, the battle (the 1913 U.S. Open) is between a British golf champion (Shia LaBeouf) who had used golf to escape poverty and a humble American who three years before had been a lowly caddy. This game is credited in making golf popular in the United States.

“The Legend of Bagger Vance” (2000) takes golf into a mystical metaphor and may not appeal to the practical duffer. Robert Redford directed Will Smith and Matt Damon in this film about a Savannah golfer who during WWI was traumatized and became an alcoholic. Charlize Theron gets Damon to pull out his clubs again, and Will Smith becomes his caddy and Zen coach. Golf becomes a spiritual journey in this movie and it may be more of a sand trap than a hole-in-one, but it has some interesting moments. Jack Lemmon narrated the story, which makes it worth mentioning.

“Happy Gilmore” (1996) Like “Caddyshack” this is a goofy comedy that is liked by some and hated by others. It is somewhat an Adam Sandler cult film, which attracted a unique new audience to the game.

This film is famous for Bob Barker and Adam Sandler going at it. I tried to think of a way to use the term Mulligan in this description but I just can’t make it work. As a rule, Sandler doesn’t work for me and in this film, he failed to break the rule(s).

“Tin Cup” (1996) stars Kevin Costner who is a golf pro has-been and has ended up owning a doomed driving range, which is just an excuse to guzzle beer and swap testosterone claptrap with his buddies. Then he meets a psychologist (Renee Russo) who just happens to be his old rival’s ex-girlfriend.

Kevin pulls out his putter and starts swinging.

FIELD, from page 8

won only one time in the last 11 months as his body slowly has started to break down.

Winning has never appeared to be more difficult ‚— for ever yone.

Through 20 tournaments on the PGA Tour this season, the only multiple winners are Jimmy Walker (three times) and Patrick Reed (twice). Both will be playing in the Masters for the first time. The 23-year- old Reed, who wears a red shirt and black pants on Sunday as a

wide open at the moment.”

In some respects, the landscape is not much different from when Woods last missed the Masters.

Twenty- one players have won the last 24 majors, with only Mickelson, McIlroy and Padraig Harrington winning more than one since 2008. Woods remains No. 1 in the world on the strength of eight wins in the last two years, though he has

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“The Caddy” (1953) Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin and Donna Reed. Golf legends Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson make cameos. Jerry Lewis is the golf pro, who hates crowds so he trains Dean Martin to become a pro. Need I write more? However, it is Martin and Lewis in one of their best, or so I understand. Dean sings “That’s Amore” in this film.

“Pat and Mike” (1952) Katherine Hepburn is the golfer in this one and Spenser Tracy her coach (sorta-kinda), and it was directed by George Cukor. It is loaded with cameos by pro golfers, and it is classic Tracy and Hepburn.

The dialogue is the usual snappy stuff from the legendary pair.

“Follow the Sun” (1951) Glenn Ford plays this biopic of Ben

Hogan. Yes, it is sappy and hagiographic but it is the early ‘50s before sex and sordid reality was invented (or at least troubled heroes).

So there you have it, nine movies (wink, wink) about golf that a golfer might want to put on his or her Netfix list.

Anybody have spare tickets to The Masters? Anybody?

Note: There are a few golf movies I chose not to describe: “A Gentleman’s Game” (2001), “Par 6” (2002), “Miracle on the 17th Green” (1999), “Dead Solid Perfect” (1988), “Seven Days in Utopia” (2011), “Golf Punks” (1998), “29 and Holding” (2004), “Caddyshack II” (1988), “Mulligan” (2000), “Who’s Your Caddy” (2007) and “Fairway to Heaven” (2007).

tribute to Woods, has never played in any major.

In the last month alone, McIlroy and Masters champion Adam Scott have lost leads in the final round to players outside the top 100 in the world, McIlroy to Russell Henley in a playoff at the Honda Classic, Scott to Matt Ever y at Bay Hill.

As for Woods and Mickelson?

Golf ’s biggest stars for the last two decades, with seven Masters between them, are winless this year. Mickelson has a 2-1 advantage over Woods in a most peculiar categor y: withdrawing in the middle of a tournament. He had to quit at Torrey Pines and San Antonio, both times with a back injur y.

It’s almost as if golf is waiting for a new star to emerge.

“You look at the winners on tour the last few months,” McIlroy said. “It’s been a different guy each week. We’ve seen players in the past like Tiger and Vijay (Singh) winning nine, 10 times a year. Haven’t seen much of that since. You know, it’s harder to win out here. There’s so many more guys that have chances to win ever y time they tee it up.

“It would be nice to see someone sort of break away,” he said. “I hope it’s me.”

McIlroy has assumed the role as betting favorite now that Woods is out of the Masters.

Even at 24, he knows his way around Augusta National.

Three years ago, Boy Wonder took a four-shot lead into the final round only to close with

an 80. He bounced back to win the U.S. Open by eight shots that summer, and then added an eight-shot win at the PGA Championship a year later. And af ter a troublesome year with new equipment and off-course distractions, his game appears to be back on track.

Scott and FedEx Cup champion Henrik Stenson both have a chance at the Masters to replace Woods at the top of the world ranking. Neither has won a tournament this year. In fact, Jason Day is the only player from the top seven in the world to have won this year, and he hasn’t played in the six weeks since winning the Match Play Championship because of a thumb injur y.

It’s been a strange season heading into the first major.

When he was just starting out his pro career, Scott played a practice round with Woods before the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, which Woods won by a record 15 shots. Scott put the notion of being No. 1 out of his head. Now it’s different.

Equipment is better.

Players are better. What once seemed unfathomable is now within reach.

“There’s a different benchmark that may not seem as high,” Scott said. “I think the depth of talent, that talent pool is much bigger now. And I can see maybe because that benchmark doesn’t seem as high, a lot more guys are working harder to get there. Because more guys think they can.”

Thursday, April 10, 2013

CONTENDERS, from page 8 weekend at Bay Hill to tie for fifth might be enough to nudge him in the right direction.

But he has yet to finish in the top 10 at the Masters.

SERGIO GARCIA Age: 34.

Country: Spain.

World ranking: 8.

Worldwide wins: 22.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Telling Spanish reporters after the third round in 2012 that his game was not good enough to win a major.

Forecaddie: Opened with a 66 last year to share the first-round lead, so he is capable around Augusta National. Garcia won the Qatar Masters in Feburary, and he has not finished out of the top 20 since last August. He arguably is the most talented player to have not won a major. The question is whether he really believes he is.

JIMMY WALKER Age: 35.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 26.

Worldwide wins: 3.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Having an Augusta National pin flag tucked into the trophy when he won the Frys.com Open in October to qualify for the Masters for the first time.

Forecaddie: Along with Patrick Reed, a three-time PGA Tour winner making his debut at the Masters. Injuries kept Walker from arriving sooner than he did, though there is not a lot of weakness in his game.

He's long and a very good putter. Consider him one of the favorites from this strong rookie class to make a good first impression.

BUBBA WATSON Age: 35.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 12.

Worldwide wins: 5.

Majors: Masters (2012).

Masters moment: That gap wedge he hooked out of the trees on the 10th hole in a playoff to beat Louis Oosthuizen.

Forecaddie: Until he withdrew from Bay Hill with allergies — presumably he was allergic to shooting 83 — his game was starting to round into the form. And when he's in form, Watson can hit shots no one else can. He won at Riviera at the end of the West Coast Swing, part of four straight tournaments that he was a serious contender.

GRAEME MCDOWELL Age: 34.

Country: Northern Ireland.

World ranking: 14.

On the Links – 11

www.lakeoconeebreeze.net Worldwide wins: 12.

Majors: US Open (2010).

Masters moment: With Tiger Woods coping with the implosion in his personal life in 2009, McDowell took his spot in the Chevron World Challenge and finished runner-up to earn enough ranking points to get into the Masters the following year.

Forecaddie: A winner three times last year, has been consistently high on the leaderboard without being a serious threat to win.

Will try to take zero expectations to the Masters to see if that helps his cause. He has made only two cuts in six appearances.

His best hope is knowing that Zach Johnson, another player with only moderate length, has a green jacket.

JUSTIN ROSE Age: 33.

Country: England.

World ranking: 6.

Worldwide wins: 12.

Majors: US Open (2013).

Masters moment: Having a two-shot lead going into the weekend in 2004 and posting an 81 in the third round.

Forecaddie: What his victory at the U.S. Open proved is that Rose can perform under stifling pressure. He made par on the last two holes at Merion with a 3-iron and 4-iron, both nearly flawless. What he needs is a smidgen of confidence. His early year has been derailed by a shoulder injury. The shoulder is fine, but he hasn't had the kind of results he would like heading to Augusta.

JORDAN SPIETH Age: 20.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 13.

Worldwide wins: 1.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Playing Pine Valley and Augusta National during a two-day trip last fall. Making Masters debut.

Forecaddie: Spieth already has played in a Presidents Cup. He finished No. 7 in the FedEx Cup. He has won on the PGA Tour and lost in a playoff. He is among the top 15 players in the world ranking. And put all this in perspective, he was born a year after Fred Couples won the Masters. While he still only has one PGA Tour win and has barely made a peep in the two majors he has played, he has been in the mix just about every tournament he has played this year. His patience will be tested at Augusta National.

IAN POULTER Age: 38.

Country: England.

World ranking: 19.

Worldwide wins: 14.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Par or better all four days in 2012, his only top-10 finish at Augusta National.

Forecaddie: He isn't very long. He isn't always very straight. His iron play comes and goes. His short game is among the best. He would need conditions and his week to go just right to be there on Sunday.

Or just pretend this is the Ryder Cup. JASON DAY Age: 26.

Country: Australia.

World ranking: 4.

Worldwide wins: 3.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Making birdie on the 18th hole to tie for second in 2011.

Forecaddie: This had all the trappings of a big year, especially a big Masters, when he won the Match Play Championship with a crisp performance. But it was only the second win of his career. As much as Day shows up big in the majors, he doesn't have as many titles as his talent would suggest. Even more troublesome are the injuries, the latest being his thumb has kept him out of action for six weeks leading to the Masters.

JASON DUFNER Age: 37.

Country: Unites States.

World ranking: 16.

Worldwide wins: 3.

Majors: PGA Championship (2013).

Masters moment: This is the only major where he has never missed the cut. OK, he only played in three Masters.

Forecaddie: He hasn't come seriously close to winning since the PGA Championship last year. And perhaps the weakest part of his game is his putting, which wouldn't seem to be a good fit for Augusta National.

But he does a great job of making it look simple, and his unexcitable approach to golf and to life can go a long way.

ERNIE ELS Age: 44.

Country: South Africa.

World ranking: 34.

Worldwide wins: 65.

Majors: US Open (1994, 1997), British Open (2002, 2012).

Masters moment: Being on the putting green to prepare for a playoff when he heard the crowd react to Phil Mickelson making birdie on the 18th to win in 2004.

Forecaddie: This is the major that haunts the Big Easy. He showed up out of nowhere (and withheld from Adam Scott) to win the 2012 British Open, and stranger things have happened. He would need at least one more runner-up, or even a close call, to earn his place with Tom Weiskopf, Ken

Venturi, David Duval, Greg Norman and others who feel truly vexed by the Masters.

MATT KUCHAR Age: 35.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 11.

Worldwide wins: 6.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Tied for the lead with three holes to play in 2012, then making bogey on the 16th hole and tying for third.

Forecaddie: For years, his best performance at the Masters was as an amateur.

That began changing two years ago with his tie for third, and he went into the final round last year just three shots out of the lead. There's no part of Kuchar's game that is distinctly better than anyone else, he just does it all very well. And having been through the heat of the final round, he's more equipped than ever.

VICTOR DUBUISSON Age: 23.

Country: France.

World ranking: 21.

Worldwide wins: 1.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: Watching on television.

Forecaddie: Of all the Masters rookies among the top 50 in the world, this is the most mysterious. He won in Turkey last year against a strong field that included Tiger Woods. And he is famous for the two shots he hit out of the desert during the final of the Match Play Championship. He is plenty long. He makes clean contact. He putts well enough. This could be a big debut or a short week, and probably nothing in between.

HARRIS ENGLISH Age: 24.

Country: United States.

World ranking: 36.

Worldwide wins: 2.

Majors: None.

Masters moment: The birdie on 16 in the final round in 2004. He wasn't playing. He was a freshman in high school in the gallery watching Phil Mickelson win his first major.

Forecaddie: When compliments start coming from other players — Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell — it's worth nothing.

English has won twice since June, and he has a full arsenal of shots, starting with his power off the tee. This is his Masters debut, but he played it once a year while playing college golf at Georgia.

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