My Favourite Sporting Event Of The Year Starts This Week...

[agchristie]

The Augusta Masters Golf.

Tiger Roll won the National but is this Tiger Woods last realistic chance of winning this again?

Who is your pick?

[Maydup]

We love watching Augusta too, and admiring the beautiful floral displays.

Tiger was a super hero in his day, but I dont think he'll win it this year. Some of the bookmakers are paying 10 places on each way bets, so I've picked four players and hope to see one or two of them in the top 10.

[agchristie]

Maydup,I agree.It's a stunning course and I love the flowers and birdsong!

Its a shame that it is no longer on the BBC as four days of live coverage as I don't have SKY.

Tiger's comeback has been quite exceptional and has better claims I think than the out of form champion of last year.

That said,I don't see Tiger winning it.

[choux]

Augusta is always colourful but it is too pretty a course, imo. I prefer to see the Americans struggle on the Scottish link courses - especially in a full gale with the rain coming down. It could not be further removed from Augusta. I would be delighted to see Justin Rose in the top 3.

[agchristie]

Choux, interesting!

There's been a few Masters in recent years where the final round has been a bit of a let down in that many players failed to make a decent move.Only Spieth made a great charge last year and just came up short.

I like Rose,very pleasant chap.He should go well.Fingers crossed...

[choux]

I will keep my fingers crossed over my eyes for Justin's game, ag ;)

Still, he did get rated as top golfer so who knows?

[agchristie]

He will hold one title for at least four years! Olympic champion!

[choux]

Did you see this report, ag?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/47845485
Terribly sad.

In answer to your OP, I would not bet on Woods winning. He still hasn't mastered the demon within.

[agchristie]

Choux,I didn't see that.How dreadful.

Woods played well last year and had every chance going into the final Sunday.Like you,I just can't see him prevailing but my word,in his heydey,he was astoundingly brilliant wasn't he?

[choux]

He did play some wonderful golf, yes, but I never took to him.

My all time favourite was Arnold Palmer. Happy days.

[agchristie]

Dear old Arnold! Always seemed such a fit man when he walked the hallowed turf for the last time.Not a dry eye in the house was there?

[choux]

I like the sports winners to be real sportsmen/women. Arnie fits that bill supremely.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//Dear old Arnold! Always seemed such a fit man when he walked the hallowed turf for the last time.Not a dry eye in the house was there?//

I remember seeing Nicklaus' last outing on British soil (though not where or when). Quite an emotional experience for the great man and the audience.

[agchristie]

Jack Nicklaus was a fantastic player and a tremendous sportsman.The story when he played against Tony Jacklin in the Ryder Cup match after the latter won his '69 Major was legendary.

Jacklin had a tricky put on the last and Nicklaus picked his marker up and the match was halved much to the American team's chagrin! He knew what it meant to the British when Jacklin won and he didn't want to see him miss.

Pure sportsmanship at its best.

[choux]

I don't believe that Tiger would do that ...

The Golden Bear was ok too.

[vetuste_ennemi]

A digression.

Keep meaning to start a thread on "Great or Exciting Sporting Moments". One of mine was watching Bernhard Langer climbing a tree to take his second(?) shot. I think it was the British Open.

[choux]

I remember that one :)

[agchristie]

V_E,yes! I remember that! Fabulous!

[Togo]

Yep AG, despite not playing golf(never had the time) I do like to watch, and after the Ryder Cup this is one that I look forward to. Staying with the "Brits" here, Woods is a buster flush. Rose, Fleetwood, or McIlroy for me.

[agchristie]

Togo,McIlroy in particular is a good shout providing he doesn't throw in one bad round as he is prone to doing.

[choux]

Not Bernard but don't you just love a man who doesn't give up?