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Like a Fine Wine....
 March 30, 2010
Written By: Chris Hill
Like a fine wine, professional golf can be grand after the age of 40. Statistics state that most professional golfers achieve their greatest success between the ages of 30 to 39. Apparently there are a select group of guys who did not get the memo. The OWGR current boasts six 40 something’s in the Top 35 with several more players knocking on the door of 40. Players such as Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, and Robert Allenby will all turn 40 in the next 15 months but show no deterioration in their game. As a matter of fact, all three may be playing their best golf over the next 5 to 7 years. Could 40 be the new 30? Here is my group of “over the hill” thoroughbreds that will make an impact at Augusta:
Steve Stricker- Stricker is currently 2nd in the OWGR and 2nd in the FedEx Cup points. Steve has eight career wins with five coming in the last four years. His early season win at The Northern Trust will not be his only trip to the winner’s circle in 2010. “Steady” Steve has the temperament and well rounded game to win at any venue. Could his next win be his first major? Augusta waits Mr. Stricker.
Ernie Els- I get it. He just turned 40 but many of you had written him off. Many of us (including myself) believed The Big Easy’s better days had passed. Well……we were dead wrong. He’s Baaaack. Els has two early season wins at The CA Championship and The Arnold Palmer Invitational. Both venues included “major like” fields and test every element of your game. Needless to say, Ernie passed with flying colors. Ernie has the hot hand as The Masters approaches. This may just be the year Els “Erns” his allusive green jacket.
Retief Goosen- Goose has been a little bit of a forgotten man with only one PGA Tour win over the past four years. With that being said, Goosen is still #15 in the OWGR. In seven events on tour this season, he has earned an impressive five Top 10s. Let’s not forget Retief is a two time US Open winner. Goose has the savy game and experience to get it done over the weekend at Augusta. Look for an impressive outing from the laid back South African.
Angel Cabrera- Angel has only two wins in 130 starts on The PGA Tour. The good news is both wins happen to be Majors including last year’s Masters. He just seems to have a propensity to play well when it matters. Angel enjoys good food, great wine, and a cigarette. Maybe we should all embrace his festive lifestyle. He is not your traditional athlete but will once again be the hunt for his 2nd Green Jacket.
Fred Couples- Just in case you have not watched any golf over the past six weeks, we are changing the name of The Champions Tour to “Freddie & Friends”. Based on his recent play, Freddie may never lose another golf tournament. If his back can hold up at Augusta then lookout. Freddie has not shot over 68 in his three tournament win streak. Twelve straight rounds in the 60s….ridiculous. That is impressive regardless of the venue. The SHO this weekend should prove to be a stern scrimmage for Freddie in preparation for The Masters. Couples is currently a 125/1 favorite for The Masters. I will take that bet all day.
Kenny Perry- Don’t forget KP. KP is not playing his best golf but can easily right the ship with his experience. Perry will manage to put last year’s Masters disappointment behind him and embrace the moment in 2010. If Perry has a two shot lead going into 17 this year then go ahead and pick his green jacket up from the dry cleaners. The 49 year old will own his first major. FYI…….KP has five wins after the age of 45.
May of these guys are not only elder statesmen of The PGA Tour but perennial fan favorites. How does an all 40 something Top 5 at Augusta sound? Guys like Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler are certainly the future however Stricker and company are not quite prepared to be part of golf’s past.
My Dad, Easter & The Masters!
Written By: Rob Pritts
April 3rd, 2010
The first full week in April is always circled on my book as the official start of the golf season. Here in the south that means one thing, The Masters!
The weather starts to give us blooming dogwoods, azaleas and beautiful flowers surrounding the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club. I have spent countless days on the hallowed grounds during the tournament and as a caddie one year back in 1996. The place never gets old and it just makes me smile and feel like a kid again.
My Dad and I spent many days strolling around Augusta National and it routinely fell on on his birthday April 6th. I lost my dad to Melonoma Cancer in 2004 and one of the things that keep his smile and endless joy in my mind are the times we spent together out there.
During the time I lived in Augusta my dad and I played a lot of golf together. He was one of those guys that always had one foot on the gas and one foot on the break and felt like we were behind right from the first shot. He was a busy business owner who had a full plate but always had time for a round golf. The fact was that during Masters he was never in a hurry or worried about his pager of cellphone, it was pure freedom for him inside those gates.
He always had a skip in his step and was thrilled to see his hero’s and watch the players on the range then perch himself over at Redbud #16. He was like a little kid when he would get a call from a friend who has a badge and offered it up to him. Sometimes he would get badge for an afternoonor for the whole day and would shoot out to do what he loved and it made him so happy.
I had the luck in 2001 to receive my own badges and to share them with him was just great. The best part was not even out on the grounds, it was the visits with him talking golf and watching the Sunday drama unfold with him as we watched on TV. He and I would sit and eat breakfast every morning reading the Augusta Chronicle’s Master Section everyday and talking about where we were the day before.
As we come upon another Masters each of us, in our own way have vivid memories of each year but for me the greatest memories of all, are not the Bears Charge in 1986, Tigers first win in 1997 or Faldo’s win over Greg Norman, its the times out in line early on brisk spring day beside my Dad acting like two kids at the top of the steps before our parents called us down for Christmas morning.
This week represents three things I love, Easter and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Dad’s birthday and the Masters Tournament. What else can be better? Bob Pritts you are forever loved and missed but never forgotten. It is only fitting that Easter, your birthday and the Masters all fall on the same week again this year. Happy Birthday Dad I know you will be watching!!
March 15, 2010
Writtnen By: Rob Pritts
 With only a few weeks until the Masters and March Madness underway, I can’t help getting excited for the first major of 2010. Majors are what these guys play for to solidify their careers but for us recliner jockeys it is the holy grail.
Bill Murray’s scene from Caddy Shack whacking tulips with a sickle quipping about his play at the Masters is all you need to harken back to as you yourself prepare for your Masters traditions.
I am one of the lucky guys that lived in Augusta for just about 10 years and can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked the hallowed grounds. It never gets old. One of my favorite things to do is to watch people step on the grounds for the first time. Just about every newbie takes a knee to rub the turf and comments “This is the rough, my greens at home aren’t this nice.” Then there’s always someone who corrects him saying “It the first cut not rough!”
 I have my own traditions each year scoping out my perch at 16 tee box with my brother. Enjoying my annual egg salad sandwiches for breakfast then moving up the culinary ladder with several, my record is 8 Masters Clubs. In case you think that’s a little over the top you must not have had one. They are a masterpiece of meat, cheese and mayo on the best buns ever. I think I just drooled on my keyboard.
Back in 1996 I caddied for the members from October to March and got to walk every inch of the place and to me its like going to see an old friend. It’s grown up after several face lifts but it is still a true piece of art.
Augusta National takes attention to detail to a new level. When a change is made they don’t just plant a tree…they plant a TREE. A big ole monster of a tree that looks like it been there for 25 years. Speaking of trees, if you’re out there do me a favor, look up into those old pines a let me know if you see a broken branch….yep that’s right there aren’t any. They take care of everything down to the smallest broken branch.
I knew a guy that had a job out there as a painter. I asked him what he does and he simply said green paint…yep he was a green paint crew member and there’s another crew too. The white paint crew. Simple enough.
I can go on and on but there are several weeks to go until Jack & Arnie hit the first shots Thursday morning so I will be giving you a few nuggets between now and then.
Stay tuned as I share between now and the start of the tournament!
He’s BACCCCK. Tiger & The Masters Like Peanut Butter & Jelly
 In Tiger fashion he will walk back onto the golf scene on its biggest stage, Augusta National. Fitting for a high profile guy in a high profile pickle.
The Masters Tournament is Jack. The Masters Tournament is Arnold. That was then and this is now…As they waddle over to #1 Thursday morning to hit their cerimonial tee shots, Tiger will be getting ready to step onto center stage. Nothing new really but this time it will be a world shaker for the most famous athlete since Mohamed Ali.
The Masters and Tiger Woods fit like peanut butter with jelly, pizza with beer and a Yankee fans disgust with a Red Sox fan. Tiger could not have come back into a better situation. Its a major week like most when the other players are looking over their shoulders waiting to get run down by Tiger.
2010 will be different. Players will think they have an edge on him since he’s been derailed with personal turmoil and might be able to capitalize on it. Well, here’s a new flash…Tiger is going to be so deep into your heads 24/7 from today on because they are going to be peppering you with questions about him non stop. “Hey, Ernie nice win last week, so what do you think about Tiger coming back?”. “Hey, Phil are you going to play with two drivers and do you think that enough to put a stop to Tiger?”. “Angel, it must be nice to defend your Master’s vicotry last year, did Tiger like your Champions dinner?” Like Chinese water toture it will slowly drive them crazy over the next few weeks.
You heard it here first…One guy will snap. One guy will bark up and say “for crying out load guys, doesn’t anyone want to ask me about me and my game because last time I checked my underwear has my name in it not Tiger’s”.
Should be interesting to watch and I for one just want to watch it all play out. The guy won a US Open on one leg over 90 holes, I think he’s got this one covered. When he steps inside the ropes he’ll forget about everything else and get some real peace, strolling the fairways at his favorite place.
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