Written by The Masters 2011 on Saturday 9 April 2011
Rory McIlroy leads the Masters at the half-way stage, but there is a hungry pack behind him; and it is going to be fascinating viewing over the weekend, to see if the 21-year-old Northern Irishman can hold them off. Among the chasing pack is the 24-year-old Australian, Jason Day, who is two shots behind, and has played the last 36 holes...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Saturday 9 April 2011
By Kit Alexander, Features Writer Friday 8th April If there’s a better place to watch golf than in the stand next to the 18th green at Augusta National during Masters week, I sure as hell don’t know where it is. The crow’s nest-esque stand is exclusively for the press so it’s always possible to get a seat and watch the action from on...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Saturday 9 April 2011
Golf fans around the world will be talking about Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ back nine charge this evening, but spare a thought for those guys who failed to make the lowest cut in Masters history. Top of this list is world number one Martin Kaymer who shot disappointing rounds of 78 and 72 to miss the cut for a fourth time...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Friday 8 April 2011
There are still two Koreans who still have a very real chance of wearing a Green Jacket on Sunday evening. Y.E Yang and K.J.Choi lie at 5-under and 7-under respectively, and will be right in the mix over the weekend. “Even when I was 19-years-old and still dreaming of becoming a top professional,”said Y. E. Yang, “the Masters always seemed like...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Friday 8 April 2011
After a disappointing first round 74 (+2) Ian Poulter showed that he certainly doesn’t think he is out of this Tournament. He came out on Friday morning all guns blazing, and after birdies at the first three holes, it looked like anything was possible. At the 1st he sank a 30-foot putt. At the 2nd he chipped and putted from the front...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Friday 8 April 2011
By Kit Alexander, Features Writer Thursday 7th April After all the hype and build up, play finally got underway today and what a perfect day for golf it was. The players took advantage of the clear blue skies, warm temperatures, only slight breeze and accessible pin positions to post some impressive opening scores and this made it the perfect day to spectate. There’s no...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Friday 8 April 2011
The 21-year-old Rory McIlroy leads the Masters with long-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, after both players had a 7-under-par first round 65. A couple of shots further back are Y.E Yang and K.J. Choi. And Ricky Barnes and Matt Kuchar are on 4-under. Rory is the youngest first round leader in the 75-year history of the Tournament. And the extraordinary thing about the Northern...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Friday 8 April 2011
Neither of the top two players in the world could shoot under par in the first round of the Masters. World number two, Lee Westwood, had a 72, which included four birdies and four bogeys, with desperately annoying dropped shots at the 1st and last holes. “My game didn’t feel right today,” he said afterwards. “If you can’t hole it out from...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Thursday 7 April 2011
First round Masters leader Rory McIlroy is hoping that his experiences in the Open at St Andrews last year will stand him in good stead to challenge for the Green Jacket this week. The Northern Irishman shot an opening 63 before falling away with a second round 80 at St Andrews last year and will he believes he can use what he...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Thursday 7 April 2011
Ross Fisher should get some family planning advice. His wife Jo, always seems to be expecting a baby during a major championship. Two years ago, during the Open at Turnberry which Ross looked as though he might win for a while, he was on ‘call’ all week, ready to drop everything and fly back if she went into labour. And this...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Thursday 7 April 2011
Rory McIlroy holds the Masters lead on -5 through 13 holes at just after 1pm local time. The Northern Irishman started in enphatic style with birdies at 2, 3 and 4 and added to his tally on 9 and the par-3 12th. He has yet to drop a shot. Earlier in the day, Ross Fisher held the lead on -4 but a...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Thursday 7 April 2011
Arnold Palmer got the 75th Masters underway with a magnificent drive down the left half of the fairway. It’s always a heart-in-the-mouth moment when these old boys hit the honorary tee shots; and a decade ago Sam Snead hit his straight right, hitting a spectator, breaking his glasses and producing a lot of blood! A couple of years ago, when Arnie hit...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Wednesday 6 April 2011
Late on Wednesday afternoon, when most of the field had left the course, world number 7 Tiger Woods could be seen working on his swing on the practise ground. Most players hope that by the time Wednesday afternoon comes around, their games are in decent shape; so it must be a bit disturbing for Tiger-fans that he was seen endlessly poring...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Wednesday 6 April 2011
After weeks and months of build up, the first Major of the season is finally upon us. The 2011 Masters promises to be a fantastic tournament. It has never been so open and with so many questions to be answered and issues to be decided this week, there will be stories unfolding wherever you look. Phil Mickelson is the favourite and it’s...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Wednesday 6 April 2011
Luke Donald, world number 4, has given himself a real chance of becoming the first person in history to win both the Par 3 Tournament at the Masters, and the main event. Such is the superstition of most professional golfers, that if they think they have half a chance in the main tournament, they make sure they don’t win the Par...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Wednesday 6 April 2011
By Kit Alexander, Features Writer Wednesday 6 April Masters Wednesday is famous for the Par 3 Tournament and I’d been told by many people before I came over that it was a fantastic spectacle. They were right. The course is absolutely superb (and by no means easy) and you’re able to get so close to the players around the tight and insanely fast...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Wednesday 6 April 2011
American young gun Rickie Fowler got a bit of a shock when he made his first visit to the Media Centre on Monday. As he sat down in his chair and waited for the tardy members of the world’s press corps to arrive, the Green Jacket who was about to conduct the interview told him to turn his cap around.
Written by The Masters 2011 on Wednesday 6 April 2011
The Chairman of Address to the media was as entertaining as always. Billy Payne always gives a press conference on the eve of the Tournament, and this year the main news was that tickets will be available for the first time to the general public. Usually, practise day tickets are available to the public, but only ‘patrons’ get tickets for Tournament...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Wednesday 6 April 2011
Simon Whitley, Director of Food & Beverage at The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews flies out to Augusta National tomorrow (Thursday, April 7) to help deliver the Champion’s Cocktail Party at the US Masters after the world’s most famous green jacket has been donned on Sunday evening. Following an invitation from Augusta’s Director of Culinary Operations...
Written by The Masters 2011 on Tuesday 5 April 2011
By Kit Alexander, Features Writer Tuesday 5 April I arrived late last night (Monday) and it was hard to really get a feel for the place in the dark, but just knowing you’re in Augusta in Masters week is a very special feeling. However, I didn’t wake up to the clear blue skies and 30 degrees I was expecting. My first night in...