2020 Masters Tournament: Crowded leaderboard, unpredictable outcome

This Chinese coronavirus called Covid-19 is not leaving us any time soon, despite talk of vaccines being developed at a rate hitherto unknown. To date, these promises only push up the stock prices of the vaccine companies.   
                                                                        

Until then, the sapien denizens of this world will have to learn to co-exist with this “not alive” thing, which has caused mayhem in most countries. Wearing masks, frequent washing of hands and practicing social distancing will keep us safe.  

All sporting stadia lie empty of spectators (patrons) and games such as soccer, American football, cricket/others are played and relayed to avid viewers through TV coverage. Thus, spectator appetites are met and the vital funds flow through sponsor advertising sustains it all. Initially, all events were cancelled and those that had insured only for epidemics but not against pandemics would not generate their annual surplus. Wimbledon and the British Open had insured for pandemics and were, therefore, compensated with hundreds of millions of dollars for not being able to hold their events. Now that sporting events are allowed, albeit without spectators, it will not matter much that insurance will not be available against pandemics at least for the coming year.

All teams have to live in a bubble or cocoon, isolated from all external contacts and virtually limit their movements from hotel to venue to airport. But teams are a community and, therefore, there is some togetherness, whereas in golf all players are individuals and have to create their own bubble for themselves, living at home from where they travel out to venues. They have to keep themselves and all other players safe as it is mutually beneficial and at least enables the sport to be played. Several golfers have caught this virus. Past Champion Sergio Garcia recused himself from the Masters; World Number One Dustin Johnson was just given a clean chit after missing the Zozo tournament two weeks ago because of this virus. Were he to miss the Masters yet again because of medical reasons, especially when he is playing the best golf in the world, would be terrible. This Masters is only allowing competitors to bring their swing coach plus one as against several guests of the players. Tiger Woods has brought his coach and girlfriend. All those post-game parties, and friends and families getting together, and plenty of guests are a thing of the past. Washington street, at the top of which sits Augusta National and on either side of which are hundreds of motels and eateries, is a bit like a ghost town (the Hindi word for it would be “soona” – deserted, isolated).  

Woods figures that the Masters is unique because it is always only played at this venue. Thus experience and knowledge of the course incrementally accrue and become a huge factor. It enables some past greats such as Freddie Couples, Bernhard Langer, Fuzzy Zoeller, Jack Nicklaus (he won his sixth Masters at the age of 46) to compete, contend and even win when well past their prime. Woods could well be competing, contending, and even winning here, if he keeps in good health, for a number of years yet.      

With no patrons, there are no spectator observation stands, no access to the club house, no gatherings at the legendary Oak tree adjacent to the club house, no reserving or marking of territory at key viewing positions by patrons, no huge lines at concession stands, which serve endless quantities of sandwiches and beer at 1970 prices, no long lines to exit the effects of excess beer at strategically located toilet facilities, no endless lines at the fabulous main Masters Shop (which has gone online for the first time ever), no comforting blue cigar smoke ascending slowly heavenwards, no celebrations.  What a toll this coronavirus has taken!

With none of the above, players are amazed at how sight and sound carry over long distance. From the hill on the first tee one can see the tees, greens and fairways of almost every hole. Even from the course, sights that were blocked by patrons and huge observation stands become visible and players have to adjust to that unfamiliar condition. From the green on the tee distant 13th hole, Woods could hear the starter announcing the players about to tee off on the first, which has never happened before. The camera drones that float overhead to bring us wonderful pictures do make a whirring sound, which was not audible under normal circumstances but now it is. There are also no ropes as there are no patrons to control and the otherwise well-worn pathways at crossovers remain fairway green.

Friday morning, and the living is easy. In perfect weather and low winds, Johnson ratcheted up his club house joint lead of -7 to -10 before giving two shots back. While the fairways are still not offering much roll, the greens are beginning to regain their exquisitely dangerous speed. Chips have to be perfect as Justin Thomas found out when his great chip rolled 12 feet past the pin for an unusual double bogey. Johnson putt on the third horseshoed today, but yesterday, with much slower greens, it would have gone in.

Woods was not going anywhere with a very poor second shot or the first from a perfect fairway position. On the third, putting for a birdie from about 10 feet, he three putted and that miss stayed with him, uncharacteristically, for the next few holes. He is level after 10 when many others were scoring birdies and eagles. On the last three holes, he played purposely, perceptibly slowed down to regain rhythm and forget his errors of the day. He needs to get to at least -7 to be well-positioned for the weekend. On Saturday, he will be playing 26 holes as play was called owing to darkness at 5.30 pm.

Even though it may not seem like it, Bryson DeChambeau certainly proved his point about thundering drives and then shot irons in on the par 5s. He positioned himself for a few eagles, but his score suffered from severe bad luck when he lost his ball in slushy grass just 20 yards left of the third green he was trying to drive in one. He took a triple. It seemed that he might come unstuck for a while and perhaps looked a little lost but, when play was called, he was sitting for an eagle putt on 13, which would bring him into red figures. He needs to get into the red figures by the turn and then perform as per his promise, even if he does not win. When he sets up for one of his mammoths drives he sort of bounces his club and his knees setting into position before winding up and unleashing a truly violent blow. His finish is untidy, not pretty and he does not finish sweetly but he strikes it solid and long. He was 60 yards further up on the second than Woods and wedged into the par 5 for a birdie. He missed a 4-footer for eagle on the Par 5 eighth. If he is nett -16 on the par 5s, he could still win because the rest of his game is at par with the top 30 players.

Owing to shorter days in November than in April, the shadows start creeping across the greens and effecting alignment. Play has been called with several people still out on the course including Louis Oosthuizen, Jon Rahm, Paul Casey and others who could break through the -9 present club house lead held by Abraham Ancer from Mexico (holding both US and Mexican nationalities but playing under the Mexican flag), Johnson, Thomas and Cameron Smith from Australia. Should Ancer win, he will be first to win on his debut since Fuzzy Zoeller decades ago.

The stage is set. No clear leader of the course presently in a benevolent mood and 49 players are under par. It will all change, unpredictably, providing for the kind of denouement the Masters is known for.

LEADERBOARD

POS.

PLAYERS

R1

R2

R3

R4

TOTAL

T1

ANCER

68

67

135

T1

SMITH

67

68

135

T1

THOMAS

66

69

135

T1

JOHNSON D

65

70

135

T5

CANTLAY

70

66

136

T5

IM

66

70

136