Golfing News

The first major of the 2009 PGA TOUR season on Thursday, and Augusta National Golf Club will be in full bloom for The Masters.

Plenty of the players have given folks something to talk about going into the event, such as :

Trevor Immelmann: Can the South African defend?

Phil Mickelson: 2 wins on the young 2009 season, and although he missed the cut at last week’s Shell Houston Open, he claims to be playing very well right now. Whatever he does will probably be entertaining.

Geoff Ogilvy: Also won 2 events thus far this year, considered a strong favorite, although in 3 Masters, his best finish is 16th, in his first go-around in 2006.

Greg Norman: Now we’re getting sentimental. His remarkable 3rd place finish at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale last year earned The Shark his first trip back to Augusta since 2002. Sadly, all anyone wants to talk about are Norman’s near misses in 1986 and 1987 and his epic 1996 collapse. Will he contend, or will be simply be satisfied showing wife Chris Evert around the hallowed grounds?

Rory McIlroy: We go from a 54-year old to a 17-year old who is already up to 17th in the World Golf Rankings. Everyone who’s bequeathed the title of Te Golf World’s Next Big Thing upon the Irishman is interested in how he does in his first Masters. McIlroy is one of 3 teenagers in the field (Danny Lee, Ryo Ishikawa).

Fred Couples: And back to the nostalgia. ”Boom Boom” finished third in 2006, and third last week in Houston, so he has some momentum going now, unless last year when he missed the cut.

Tiger Woods: Oh yeah, him too. With all the above going on, could it be that World Number One is actually overshadowed a bit this week? Woods won two weeks ago at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in his residence of Orlando, Florida, coming from 5 down at the start of the final day to win with a 20-foot birdie putt on 18. His game is now rounded back into shape. Despite what you read about everyone else, Woods is still THE prohibitive favorite.

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