Far From MASTERful and Green With Envy

Its blessing is its curse.  What makes it so special also makes it ridiculous.  Every April in Augusta, someone slides on the Green jacket and pronounces how every day as a youngster he would dream of the very moment.  Everyone that is with the exception of Tiger, who most certainly did not dream, but rather prepared for and even counted down the days until it would happen! 

So for the men who make The Masters there first career Major Championship victory, it is without a doubt a life changer.  Almost instant stardom in Golf circles, millions of dollars and a perennial invitation to a place that keeps so many out, is what follows for a player slipping on his brand new 42 regular.  And this is exactly what makes the whole tournament and everything attached with it nauseating. 

Its what drives men, and what also sinks them.  The back nine at Augusta late Sunday afternoon is not just a test of elite golf.  It’s a test of not visualizing the result before it happens.  With so much riding on the result, the task becomes entirely too difficult for those not named Tiger.  Why do you think Brandt Snedeker sobbed in his post round news conference after the 08 tourney?  It wasn’t because his legs hurt from a weeks worth of hilly walking.  It was because he was so close to a career and life changing moment, that when he came to grips with the fact that he may never have the chance again, he couldn’t keep himself composed. 

The same can be said in regards to Kenny Perry and his inability to shut the door in this years edition. Although the Kentuckian has won since, it took him several weeks to recover after the emotional letdown of handing the title to Angel Cabrera.

And that’s where what makes The Masters so great, is what makes The Masters so silly.  Nothing is “THAT” important.  Especially for the world class golfer who thrives on tunnel vision and blocking out negative thoughts.  But you cannot do that at The Masters.  Its just not possible to block out what is in store for you if win. 

The US Open is understood as the toughest test of golf every year.  That’s exactly the most difficult aspect of the weeks work that a professional golfer should face.  Not what is going to happen to me “AFTER” I win.  At places like Shinnecock and Oakmont and Pebble Beach, the course is the winner...the golfer with the lowest score is the survivor. 

At the British Open each July...it's the weather and the course conditions that emerge as the headline. It's the only time during the year that the US PGA Tour plays links golf. Thank you Tom Watson for 71 and a half glorious holes! 

So how and why has The Masters leaped in front of the other three majors as the most prestigious? Ask almost any Tour Pro what tournament they would like to win most, and to a man they all answer Augusta. I guess it's a good thing that I'm not a Tour Pro then. Ask me which tournament I would like to win most...and hands down it would be the US Open. Toughest test of golf, on the most historic courses, for MY countries championship.

The Masters is the youngest of the 4 majors. And so it has the most to learn...and certainly the most to change. They can start by airing the front nine on Thursday and Friday! Someday...the second Sunday in April will mean as much as the last Sunday in June.