Michigan Thursday: Wolverine Lion Kim in 2011 Masters at Augusta National

Rarely do we get a chance to cheer for a Wolverine at the Masters. Even if you're not a golf fan, this week you can support Lion Kim, a U of M golfer that will be one of six amateurs in the field today at Augusta National.

Lion earned the invite by winning the 85th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last summer.

"Obviously, I'm extremely excited," said Kim, who ranks second all time at U-M with a career scoring average of 73.30 strokes per round. "I feel my game is at a good place right now and I'm getting to where I can compete at The Masters. It's exciting but it's also pretty nerve-wracking to know that you're playing on the biggest stage in golf."

Lion is playing with Davis Love and José María Olazábal today.

If you're a golf fan, you don't need another reason to watch the Masters. If you're not, please tune in and support Lion, and maybe you can see why so many of us love this sport. Augusta National is a special place, and I got a chance to be at the tournament three years ago. It's a perfect golf course, and that pretty much sums it up. 

On a side note: Maybe this is the guy Rich Rodriguez kept talking about when he kept referencing the Lion King movie? :) Good luck Lion, and Go Blue!

• From good news to sad news: The Michigan Men community lost a member yesterday with the passing of Vada Murray to his fight to cancer. Vada, as you know, was a Wolverine safety from 1988-1990 and then an Ann Arbor policeman after he graduated. RIP Michigan Man, RIP.

• The Michigan hockey team is in the Frozen Four tonight. Go Blue!

• Michigan football walk-on news: Michigan has added a new offensive line recruit for the 2011 class. Gary Yerden has accepted an invitation to be a preferred walk-on at Michigan. Gary is a 6'6", 330-pound offensive lineman with only one year of football under his belt at Portage Northern. Gary has a high upside with his lack of football experience, but guess what? The kid is strong! He is the three-time state champion in weightlifting by dead-lifting a state-record 630 pounds. Wow! Sounds like a great pickup.

• ESPN is saying Michigan's basketball preseason ranking should be No. 16. I would agree if Darius Morris stays in Ann Arbor.   

• TomVH has an interview up with 2012 TE prospect Evan Baylis.