Masters First Round Thoughts 2012

The first round of the Masters has thus far lived up to the billing, as 28 players are within four shots of the lead, and 45 are withing five shots.

Tiger and Rory didn’t have great days, but they didn’t have bad ones, either. I think the old dictum holds here: you can’t win a tournament on the first day, but you can lose it on the first day.

Tiger doesn’t look like he trusts his driver at this point. I’m halfway through Hank Haney’s Big Miss, and I was struck by his descriptions of just how troublesome a club the driver was for Tiger. It doesn’t seem as though anything has changed.

I’m not a particular Lee Westwood fan, but I find it hard not to root for the guy. He’s had a great career, and I’d hate for him to be the new Colin Montgomerie.

Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson were my “hope they win” list. They’re still in it.

How about Furyk for an eventual winner. He had the only bogey free round on Thursday.

Whatever that stuff is that Fred Couples is taking for his back, I want some. His swing looks years younger to me.

Amateur Patrick Cantlay was looking impressive.

Rory looked at the begininning as though he was going to suffer from last year’s bad karma, but he quickly shook it off.

I rather enjoyed watching Phil look for his ball in the woods. It was like one of my rounds—but without the spectators. Here’s a hit from the Daniel Boone of golfers to the pros: Just declare the thing lost. When its that deep, you’re likely to lose a couple of strokes trying to extricate yourself (Kevin Na, anyone?). Take your punishment and move on.

Disappointed in the performance of Luke Donald and Phil Mickelson, though to be honest, I didn’t think this was Phil’s year. He’s been too wild with the driver. For all his length and accuracy with the irons, why doesn’t Phil start hitting irons off the tee and longer irons into the greens. Surely he knows locations to run it low short and bounce it up onto the greens.

Stenson’s final hole was cringe inducing

The problem? for Westwood is fighting against history. First round leaders historically don’t win the Masters.