News - Latest Masters Questions Answered
Saturday 12th April 2008
By Luke Norman
As always keep your questions coming and get involved in the non-stop golf chat on the GM Forum.
Also just to let you know Neil and I have just been to the pro shop to purchase a few very small souvenirs for the top eight Masters posters. We'll send them out when we get back. Thanks again.
Q. backwoodsman asks who it is that plays Augusta National for the rest of the year and how many and who the members are?
A. It's a great question and I've certainly asked if I can join
but no joy so far unfortunately! Augusta National is though a member's club just like those in the UK although it probably has more in common with the R&A than your club or mine. To become a member you have to be recommended and then seconded etc by a number of existing members and as you can imagine the process is both exclusive and lengthy. However, it is not a case of much cash you have but is instead who you know!
In terms of numbers it has a similar membership to many UK clubs but many of these do not live in the vicinity so it's said to be very quiet most of the year. In fact two sadly deceased members of my club, RWNGC, were members at Augusta and used to go once or twice a year.
The other thing to bear in mind is that because of the intense heat the course is closed from June to September and in actual fact they let the greens go and don't try and water them etc, which I thought was fascinating.
Q. ACP and Pjaz wanted to know if Dr Alistair MacKenzie gets much mention out here, if Stoke Park was indeed an inspiration and if the course still bears much resemblance to the original layout.
A. First of all Dr Alistair MacKenzie is certainly highly revered here in Augusta and across the USA as a whole. They are extremely proud of the long heritage of the club and the unique layout that MacKenzie created. So no worries there he definitely gets his due reward.
Secondly, MacKenzie, strange as it might seem, is actually said to have got most of his inspiration from St Andrews! Which perhaps explains the sheer magnificence of this place.
Finally, the course itself probably currently bears more resemblance to MacKenzie's original test than it had done for many, many years. The greens run-off areas etc have hardly been touched since the great man laid out his magnus opus and thanks to the extension of the course through moving tees back all of the original hazards, which had become obsolete in many places thanks to new club technology, are now back in play.
Q. Madandra asked if the greens have fans beneath them to control their speed.
A. We suspect not but we have to say that we don't know for sure and the Masters Committee are notoriously tight-lipped about anything to do with the course so we can't get a confirmation or a denial.
However, we do know that they are certainly not like the greens at Sawgrass with have a giant vacuum cleaner under each and every one!
Q. theeaglehunter wanted to know if spectators could get course planners with the different pin positions for each day on them.
A. No is the simple answer to be honest. It's a really nice touch that there are discreet green postal boxes dotted around the course which have sheets of tee-times and pairings in them that fans are encouraged to take for free sand they do have a course map on the back but not pin positions. I suppose people are encouraged to go and look for themselves.
Q. HomerJSimpson asked (a few days ago sorry!) who our player of the day was.
A. Well starting at Day One I think it's got to be Sandy Lyle. To spend the majority of the round sharing or just one off the lead is simply fantastic. Especially given his preparation! And as a postscript, to follow that up by making the cut really makes his effort all the more impressive.
Day Two for me it has to be Ian Poulter. I really expected Poults to fall away yesterday, as he has done before in Majors, but not only did he remain in the hunt but he also shot 3-under-par on a very difficult day. Now he is bound to be paired with Tiger for the final round.
Q. Basher wanted to know how Srixon is faring in its bid to rival Titleist in the ball market for tour players.
A. The simple answer is that Titleist is still way out in front. Of those players who want it known (there is a chance that some players use them but are contracted to a rival) Jim Furyk, Tim Clark, Robert Allenby, John Rollins, Brian Davis, Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jimenez all play Srixon balls.
