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Day One of the Masters.

As they say in conditions like these of blustery wind you cannot win ther Masters but you can lose them. The main thing was to stain your whih means anything better than -1. I have never been a great lover of statistics but having studied the chart of driving length, greens in regulation, putting, Dustin Johnson was way top of the list. Fortunately for the bookies, these stats do not include falling down the stairs. Exit DJ.

Charley Hoffman

Charley Hoffman

Two common journeymen Charley Hoffmann and William McGirt dominate the leading board. They were helped by the more benign late afternoon conditions. The day had the flavour of a links Open course: cold and windy. It’s hard enough to place the ball strategically at Augusta at the best of times but in such conditions nigh impossible. None of the favourites really mastered them and Jordan Spieth took a horrible 9 on the 12th.

Our well-informed readers noted my error in identifying 11 English contestants instead of 13, one Irishman informed me that Rory is not English. I apologise for omitting amateur champion Scott Gregory but to be fair Ross Fiaher only sneaked in. As with most sports these days its become increasingly hard to be precise on nationality. In golf’s case residency is an issue. Paul Casey, a likeable and excellent golfer has no interest in the European Tour and he like Luke Donald, at one stage Lee Westwood, live in the States. Nonetheless Lee Westwood is right, the excellence of English golf should be more trumpeted and an inspiration for the next generation to follow Matt Fitzpatrick (20), though a US collegiate graduate, and Tyrell Hatton ( 24).

My tv watching got off to bad start with “no signal, check sources”. Auntie Hilda who had been staying whilst the missus and I took a long weekend at Gran Canaria and dear Hillie who does enjoy a flutter on the nags must have fiddled with the controls. Giving our tv aerial man Tom a bottle of Prosecco on the birth of his baby was one of my best punts and, after a long telephone session, he asked me if the Sky box was switched on. It was not. As for the coverage, it was a bit odd. In the afternoon and up till 8.00pm you could not follow on the whole course and the best was to follow selected groups. I went with Sullivan, Oosthuizen, Scott but did Sky refuse a full package of rights on the basis that most viewers switch on at night? Their main golf channel showed programmes featuring previous events. I always find Butch Harman an interesting analyst, his father won the Masters in 1948 and his son Claude is a fine player. Apart from his detailed knowledge and genial personality Butch is coach to DJ and gave us an insider track on the injury situation.

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About John Pargiter

John Pargiter’s biggest claim to fame is his first-ever work experience job, as ‘legs’ (or runner) for Henry Longhurst. For many years he worked in insurance at Lloyds. After retiring he has returned to his favourite sport of golf and is a keen recreational sailor and grandparent. More Posts