Sunday, March 29, 2009

Golf's Holy Grail

It's only two weeks until the first Major of the golf season, the US Masters at Augusta National, the second most famous golf course in the world. The Masters has the strictest entry criteria of the four majors, and features the smallest field. But the ultimate prize, the Green Jacket is golf's Holy Grail.

Peter Williams writes in the Herald on Sunday this morning of his recent playing experiences at Augusta. The opportunity to play there is a once-in-a-lifetime one - strictly by invitation - adding to the mystique of the place. We'll leave it up to Williams to tell the story, but these two paragraphs especially caught our attention:

What you don't realise until you're in them is the size and depth of the fairway bunkers. You are literally in over your head, usually with no view of the green.

Phil Mickelson hit a 9-iron out of one on the left hand side of the 5th last year to within a couple of metres of the hole and made a birdie. When you stand in that bunker and all you can see is a sand wall and blue sky, you just shake your head as to how any player could hit the ball close to the hole.


So we envy Peter Williams. Not only for his chance to play at Augusta, but also for the composure he showed during THAT Paul Henry moment this week!


5 comments:

Golf Clubs Consultant said...

The Masters is my favorite tournament of the year.

Thanks for posting this,
Bill

pdm said...

Those bunkers must be deep because Williams isn't exactly a dwarf - he must be around the 6ft mark in height by the look of him.

Inventory2 said...

You're welcome Bill - feel free to visit again closer to the Masters, as there will be plenty of coverage on Keeping Stock - we love the tournament too!

Inventory2 said...

Quite right pdm - and I've read that the course is much hillier than it appears on TV. I've also read that the committee puts blue dye in Rae's Creek just before the tournament to enhance the look on the TV coverage!

pdm said...

Yep I have heard or read thse stories too INV2.

Just a thought - assuming Raes Creek is not stagnant wouldn't they have to top up each day?