This year, The Masters feels totally different.
It’s the primary iteration of the event the place the main narrative isn’t, “Will this be the year Rory McIlroy finally gets it done?” We’re within the first year of the post-McIlroy Career Grand Slam period, and it’s been a buildup that has mirrored that.
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For the primary time in latest reminiscence, there is no such thing as a clear favourite. There is not any man to beat. McIlroy is recovering from damage, and Scottie Scheffler has been out of kinds. So there are practically 20 golfers who stand a fantastic probability of claiming the Green Jacket this week.
You would suppose, due to this fact, that each one of those contenders can be grinding all week to place themselves in the very best place to win. But in line with two-time winner Bubba Watson, that wasn’t the case on Monday.
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Bubba Watson says it was weirdly quiet on Masters Monday
Watson took to the golf course on Monday to scout Augusta National in preparation for The Masters, however as an alternative of preventing for house along with his opponents, he discovered himself on the market on a quiet day.
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He mentioned it was unusual how few gamers have been on the market throughout a apply spherical. Watson was requested how his Monday on the course went, and he mentioned, “It was beautiful. It was weird because I was expecting more people. I know it’s Monday, but I was expecting more people.
“When I say people, golfers. I didn’t really see many people, which was weird. I thought maybe I was on the wrong day or something. I didn’t know what was going on. I went out early just so I could work on the greens and work on chipping a little bit.
“Saturday was a little slower than we were used to, and then today was more tournament speed.”
Bubba Watson says first-time gamers shall be ‘lucky’ to win The Masters
There are plenty of first timers that may fancy themselves to win this week, from Chris Gotterup to Marco Penge. But there hasn’t been a first-time winner of the occasion since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, and Watson doesn’t suppose that may change this year.
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When requested what recommendation he’d give to a Masters rookie, he mentioned, “Just enjoy it. If you get lucky, and I’m being honest, if you get lucky enough to win this place, more than likely it’s going to be later.
“It won’t be the first time. There’s very few that’s won it the first time. But talent can take over and anybody can win because they’re good enough to get here, they’re good enough to win. Just enjoy it.
“You want your first one to be, just enjoy it, take it all in, try to learn some things and get ready for the next time you come around here.”
It appears extra seemingly than ever that we’ll get a first-time winner this year, however Watson appears to suppose that’s a tall order. If expertise is vital, then maybe we shouldn’t rely the LIV golfer out.
