Conference 7.286::golf

    Go Greg Norman!
    
    How were the greens?  Does the television really NOT do them justice?
    
    BTW, what kind of job do you have with DEC, where you are at Pebble
    Beach one week, and Augusta National the next?  Do you need an
    assistant?
    
    Bob
    

    I heard Tom Kite was removed on a stretcher due to back spasms
    during practice yesterday...
    Anybody know more?
    			Jim

    
    according to today's Globe, he was brought into the physical fitness
    center and put into traction. It happened when he was hitting an 
    8-iron on the practice tee.
    

    According to the paper today Kite will make the decision today if he
    will withdraw.  My guess is if he is marginal he will to just before
    his tee time to determine whether he can go or not.  There a lot of
    incentives to win at Augusta so he'll give it a try.
    
    Unless you have a TV set that does 3D there is no way you can
    appreciate the greens at Augusta.  The greens make the course.  You
    need to plan your tactics on every hole by the pin position on the
    green.  Watch the players on number 9 this weekend anything above the
    pin can be death.  I've seen players with a 4 foot downhill putt miss
    the hole and go off the green.  Augusta switched from Bermuda to Bent
    grass greens about 4 years ago which makes them even faster.
    
    About being at Pebble and Augusta within a week, that was done with
    something called vacation and planning.  Ain't life great.
    
    Arnold Palmer and Jack Nickulas played together in the practice round
    on Tuesday.  Jack usually plays alone as to not subject anyone to the
    crowds that follow him.  It was great seeing these two play together
    in a friendly game.  I guess age does tend to mellow one.
    
    Also I was surprised to see so many pros starting to play graphite
    shafts.  Graphite must be making improvements in the ability to get the
    feedback the pros desire or hitting hundreds of balls a day takes its
    toll.  Players might be trying to extend their careers. 

    Re:                      <<< Note 1669.0 by SAHQ::TROTTER >>>

>   Seve Ballestros then put his first in the water at which Langer said "he
>   did that to make me feel good."

    It's good  to  see  Seve made it since he has had back problems also.
    Besides this shot, can you tell me how was he playing?
    
    Tavo
    

    Seve didn't look like a happy golfer but he never does so its hard to
    tell that way.  His swing looked good to me but someone said he was
    struggling on the practice tee and cut his time there short.  I didn't
    see him on the leader board yesterday so I don't know how he shot in
    the first round.

    All I have to say about the final round of the Masters, is that Chip
    Beck is not of champion caliber, nor does he have the winning attitude.
    
    The Masters is not a PGA event, it is The Masters.  You don't try and
    "protect" second place, you go for the green jacket.
    Chip blew it by laying up on 15.  He should have gone for the green, 
    instead of playing it safe.  I cheered for him up until that point.
    
    
    Bernhard Langer played 4 solid rounds of golf to deserve the jacket.
    
    Bob
    

    I agree that Beck should have gone for the green at 15 especially with
    Langer laying up.   He didn't show that he had what is needed to win.
    Beck claims that it was too risky to try for a 236 yard downhill shot
    into a 10 mile wind being 3 strokes back with 3 to play.  Perhaps he
    should have read the plaque on number 15 commerating the double eagle 2
    scored by Gene Sarazen to force the Masters into a playoff.  
    
    Langer played conservatively and deliberately (slowly) and the others
    didn't make any charge at him.  It was a good win for Bernie.

  re: last 2

    I think Beck made the realistic, smart play.  When Langer eagled, the
    tournament was over unless Langer screwed up.  He was playing like a
    machine and no one could see that better than Chip Beck.

    Now, if he puts one in the water on 15, Beck is at serious risk of
    a tie for second place.  By laying up, he guaranteed himself sole
    possession of second place...and $100,000 more than the group that tied
    for third.

    Know yourself....play your own game,
	PL

    	Sure he's laughing all the way to the bank, but he's got no
    guts. Say he puts one in the drink, he'd drop and probably still make
    par. If he's on in two and with an eagle putt, he puts a bit more
    pressure on Langer to hit a good shot. Maybe memories of Kiawah
    pressure return and he chunks one in the water. We'll never know.
    	There certainly was big difference in the prize money 2nd to 3rd,
    but this is the Masters and all the prestige, not one of the regular
    lucrative PGA tour stops..
    	For him not going for the green in two and a possible chance to
    get a green jacket, I say give him a PINK jacket!

    re: Last one - you don't play the Masters for $100,000, you play for
    the Green Jacket.  Chip can tell his grandchildren he finished second
    in the Masters, but I bet he won't tell them how he did it.
    
    Big Mac

    Instead of a pink jacket, maybe we could get him some pink Levi's, they
    are like a cheap hotel - no Ball Room.
    
    Big Mac
    

    Arnie, Jack, Fuzzy, Seve nor Fred would have laid up,  wow!!! of course
    they have all won the masters before!!  No chance for a double eagle by
    laying up!!
    
    MCT

    Mac, tell us how you really feel.
    
    :-) :-)
    Ken

    �Arnie, Jack, Fuzzy, Seve nor Fred would have laid up,  wow!!! of course
    
    In fact, if memory serves, Seve tried to hit 15 in 2 on Sunday and
    wound up in the drink.  Whether or not he laid up or went for it all I
    know is Seve did not win.  Now, had he hit 15 in 2 and made an eagle... 
    well it could have been different.
    
    I agree with the last few sentiments - it's the Master's.  They down
    play the purse.  In fact, they don't even give the purse breakdown
    during the telecast.  Why?  An article I read in Golf Digest says they
    try to stress tradition and prestige.  Personally, I am glad they don't
    focus on the money.
    
    Mike

    re: 15
    
    Seve laid up and dumped a wedge in the drink on Sunday on 15.!!!!

    I always liked Beck, and I'm not gonna stop liking him just because he
    didn't do what I wanted him to do. After all, that's why he's got the
    BIG bag with his name on it and is on the tube on Sundays, while I
    collect bag tags. Having said that, perhaps when they film "The Chip
    Beck Story," they oughtta cast Bert Lahr as Beck, and use a Judy
    Garland song for a theme... Wonder what HE wants from the wizard ?
    
    __Jack

    A new caddy?
    

    I certainly think Beck should have went for the green instead of laying
    up, but I'm sure he was feeling the "chokes" at that point.  I'm
    surprised the caddy wasn't a little more emphatic about going for the
    green.  I'm afraid Beck's going to carry this image of himself for
    quite awhile...something we don't need in Ryder Cup play.

    My hat's off to Langer though for playing mostly flawless golf.  This
    win makes up for his last Ryder Cup debacle as well.  (How many of us
    were chanting "choke, choke" when he blew that putt two years ago?)
    Maybe Beck will get a chance to redeem himself.

    Dale

    In truth, that putt Langer missed on #18 at the Ryder Cup was a TOUGH
    putt! If some of our guys (that's YOU, Mark Calcavecchia) hadn't
    choked, the putt would have been meaningless.
    
    __Jack
    

 In the Ryder Cup, Langer holed a couple of testing putts on 16 and 17 to
 keep the match alive. He hit a good putt on 18 but just missed. To suggest
 he blew it is somewhat ludicrous (sp). The guys who blew it for Europe were
 Faldo and Woosnam who only won a couple of points between them. 

 Congrats to Langer on his win on Sunday. He played steady golf and never got
 rattled when his 4 shot lead became just 1. The challenging Americans didn't
 have the ability or the nerve to sustain a challenge and Langer walked off
 with the green jacket.


    Danny.

>    In truth, that putt Langer missed on #18 at the Ryder Cup was a TOUGH
>    putt! If some of our guys (that's YOU, Mark Calcavecchia) hadn't
>    choked, the putt would have been meaningless.

     You're right, but on the last hole of a major tournament, with a WIN
     on the line, ALL the putts are tough.  Some guys have what it takes to
     make those putts *most* of the time (Nicklaus, Hogan); some guys learn
     how to win (Watson, and Langer); some guys are never gonna have what
     it takes to suck it up and make that golf shot (putt, drive, approach
     shot, et al).  I admire Langer for absolutely dominating the field on
     Sunday.  I was hoping someone (anyone) would make a run at him.

     Look for Jose Maria Olazabel (sp?) to suck it up this year and take
     home a major.  It's taken him somewhat longer than Ballesteros to fine
     tune his game for the American tour, but his time's a comin'.

     Dale

    regarding the last few replies:
    
    FWIW, I remember reading this in one of the golf magazines.  A day or
    two after Langer missed that putt, the editor of the magazine went to
    the exact spot on the green and tried to hole it just to see if the
    putt was makable or not.  He missed 9 out of 10.
    
    Gary

    The great thing about golf, is that it transcends nationalities and all
    other lines of demarcation. The only thing it doesn't transcend is
    jerks, and happily so. If a player is a moron, he's booed no matter who
    he is and where he's from. Langer is a class act, and desrves the
    respect accorded him.
    
     In the Ryder Cup, I always root for Americans to kick some foreign
    butt, but if they don't, it's because the other guys played better.
    They're not villains - congratulate 'em. We've probably got more jerks
    per capita on our tour than any other one, primarily because our guys
    have it easier than overseas. This is not aimed at Beck, by the way
    (can you hear me, Ken Green ?)...
    
    __Jack

    
    Reply .21
    	
    	Hi Danny,
    
    	On the subject of Langar choking in the Ryder Cup... I also
    agree that he putt a good roll on the final putt. But I remember
    he was just off the green in two on the 18th.. after Hale's
    poor chip and run, I felt Langar had it won. That's when I felt he
    DID choke. His putt from off the fringe rolled well past the cup,
    leaving him the task of holing an 8 or so footer to win.
    
    	I'd bet he felt he should have gotten up and down from his
    location. Bernie is the European tours rival to Ray Floyd for his
    short game prowess.
    
    	Walta

    Re .24 
    Well said, Jack.
    Rich 

    re .25

     Walta, Langer did make a poor first putt from the edge of the green, 
    leaving him with that difficult putt to save the match. However, I don't
    think he choked, it was simply a bad shot. But, as you rightly said,
    given his short game prowess, most people would expect him to get up and
    down as he did many times during the masters.


         Cheers,

                Danny.

     whats the difference between a bad shot at the most crucial
    time in a match and choking?
    
    				Dan

    Choking in my mind is mental and is best illustrated, when a player
    would ground his club in the trap or make some other mental mistake. It
    may also take the form of a physical movement that is so bad it shows
    loss of concentration, such as not following through.  To me a bad shot
    at a crucial time is any other than that, i.e. too short, wide left,
    wide right, too long, not in the hole...  Obviously, it can become a
    very fine line.
    
    Big Mac
    

    re: 9/10/and others on BECK
    
    	From outside the ropes it's always easy to second guess, but 
    	till you've been there.....
    
    	Remember these guys ARE good and they almost always play within
    	THEIR game, for BECK, BECK made the right decision, for people
    	outside the ropes it was THE wrong decision.....
    
    	He went to the bank they went home, it's his JOB...
    

    I thought that winning a major was all important to these players,
not laying up to guarantee second place. Ie. Beck wimped  !!!!!!!!!
The guy is already rich so saying he was playing it safe to make sure
he got a good check because it is his job is ludicrous. IMHO

Mad Hacker    

From: [email protected] (AP)
Newsgroups: clari.local.georgia,clari.sports.golf,clari.sports.misc
Subject: Masters Tickets Going On Sale
Date: Mon, 2 May 94 19:10:17 PDT

        AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Tickets to practice rounds for the 1995
Masters go on sale June 1 and, for the first time, will be limited.
        The Augusta National Golf Club said Monday the decision to limit
the sale of practice-day tickets was made to avoid the overcrowding
that occurred this year. As in the past, an unlimited number of
tickets was sold at the gate.
        An estimated 80,000 people attended the practice round April 5,
creating a major traffic jam around the club and long lines for
bathrooms and concessions.
        Tickets for each of the three practice days for next year's
tournament -- scheduled for April 3-9 -- will be sold in advance by
application. The applications will be accepted only by mail and
cannot be postmarked before June 1. Tickets will be sold on a
first-come, first-served basis.
        Applications, which can be made for up to eight tickets per day,
will be available at Augusta-area banks, golf courses and the
Augusta Chamber of Commerce. Prices are $16 for the first two days
and $21 for the third day.
        Successful applicants will be notified in August.

    	I have just received my confirmation of 4 tickets to Wednesday's
    practice round in 1995. Any tips from people who have gone before would
    be welcomed. Lodging? Courses in the area? Are camera's allowed during
    the practice rounds? Family entertainment in the area? 
    
    	I may make this a week long vacation, since I am traveling from
    Mass. 
    
    thanks
    
    Roland
    

    Hi,
    
    Lucky you...fortunately, I usually get Th-Sun tickets, so I should get
    some action in.
    
    Places to stay:  I don't have any real recommondations for that, I'd
    just pick a price range, call the chamber of commerce, and make some
    calls.  
    
    Cameras:  In the past, they were allowed during practice rounds.  Don't
    know the new rules.  I'd take one and see what happens.  If they aren't
    allowed, you can check them at the gate or just go back to the car.
    
    Area Courses:  Ah yes, you'll find none better than Jones Creek.  What
    a killer public golf course.  Get's lot's of play but is one great
    track.  Especially from the tips.   If you can drive, you might want to
    head over to Lake Oconee (approx. 1hr west on I-20) and play either
    Harbor Club, Great waters, or Port Armour.  All are Great courses and
    worth the trip over.  Make sure you play Jones Creek though...it's
    right there in Augusta (actually Evans) and lots of fun.
    
    On the way down, you can always hit Myrtle Beach (Tidewater, LongBay,
    Wild Wing, Oyster Bay, etc), Kiawah (sp?) and the Ocean Course, Hilton
    Head, etc.
    
    Donald

    
    	I have two tickets to Wednesday's (4-5-95) available, at $21.00
    each. Two people have backed out on going down to Georgia for the
    round. If any one is interested notify me via off line.
    
    Roland
    MKOTS4::LORTIE
    DTN 264-1281
    

    
    Hello,
    
    	I thought I saw a note somewhere in the GOLF notesfile, about
    someone selling tickets for the 1996 Masters. Anyways if anbody
    is selling tickets to the practice rounds or actual tournament, please
    send me mail or call me at DTN 225-5772. I am interested in tickets
    for the Masters.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Ron