Masters coverage
For some absurd reason the Masters bigwigs have always limited the tv coverage. It was not until 8.00pm ( 2.00pm Georgia time) that you could watch the coverage live. Thus we the viewer missed two impressive rounds by Englishmen Justin Rose and Paul Casey and tomorrow there may be no coverage live of Jordan Spieth, who should be in the clubhouse by 8.00pm. Fortunately there is a much improved PGA app so you can at least follow it.
On Radio 5 they preferred to cover woman’s football on the main station, the most popular tournament in golf relegated to the sports extra station. One can imagine the sporting powers that be in the BBC, who are so keen to promote women’s sport, making such a daft decision. I’ve got nothing against women, let alone their competing in sport, but not everyone has access to sports extra. Those that criticise the loss of the Open to SKY might take note that that they cover every form of competitive golf, including ladies’, and decisions like that reinforce my view that SKY have every right and resource to broadcast this competition.
Yesterday Jack Nicklaus was part of the SKY team ,his voice is rather high-pitched but the greatest golfer of them all gave an interesting insight on shot selection. Euan Murray did an excellent job as anchor commentator but they were hampered by having to be in studio until it went live. Butch Harmon knows his stuff but we all wanted to see the glorious azaleas and redwoods, not the inside of a studio.
After reading the Racing Post supplements I added Adam Scott, Ryan Palmer, Paul Casey and Gary Woodland to the stake plan. Palmer and Casey fared well alongside my picks Jordan Spieth and Jason Day. Of course we have 3 rounds to go but leader Jordan Spieth played superb golf, ,allied to some good fortune when a ball bound for the woods hit a tree and bounced back into the fairway.
Tiger Woods played some dreadful approach shots to the green but twice recovered well around the green to chip brilliantly. He always had looked so omnipotent and I nearly found myself feeling sorry for him when he waved his arm petulantly after a terrible shot and called himself a “dumb ass” on the next hole when he went wayward once again. Woods by name, Woods by direction – off you go Hansel, I said. Ho, ho, but it shows how little popular appeal he has as I’m sure I was not alone in enjoying his demise. Rory has a boyish smile but we did not see too much of it as 21 year old Spieth seems on target to win his first major. I wonder what odds I would get that he would be the youngest to win all the four majors. Worth the Pargiter tenner I should say.
