US Masters 2008 Blog - Your questions answered
Sunday 13th of April 2008 04:21:00 PM
By Neil Tappin
Thanks so much to all those who have got involved on the GM forum and posted some great questions. Here, I'll do my best to provide some answers.
Q. Brendy - I have seen officials dotted around the course available for rulings, are these folk assigned to each fourball or are they positioned at areas on the course which are liable to cause issues?
Each group has a rules official on hand to help out at any given moment. The rules state that as long as a player consults an official about any rules-related procedure, he can't be penalized for getting it wrong. That's why, if the players are I any doubt what so ever, the call for the official. It's quite ommon.
Q. Toad - Did you see anything of Justin Rose's second round, was it just me or did he look very tired when it all went wrong towards the end.
Do you think that taking 5 nearly 6 hours to complete their rounds may be the cause and can you shed any light on why it is taking so long to get round?
Unfortunately neither Luke or I saw anything of Justin on Friday. We were.. ahem… playing golf ourselves. I can however shed some light on why it takes so long. There are two reasons. Firstly, this is Augusta and the greens are almost impossible. You have to be so precise that each player studies the line that little bit harder than an average Tour event. Secondly, the noise here reverberates through the trees and can be quite off-putting. Players will often wait for the crowd to settle on a nearby hole before hitting their shots.
Q. Basher - After their round, what do most of the players do? Do they stay and watch? Head for the practise ground? Chill out with a beer (or mineral water in Tiger's case!)
Notwithstanding any media responsibilities, players will leave the course as soon as possible after completing their rounds. There are very few decent hotels close to the course so I suspect that most are staying in rented accommodation. As for drinking, I've seen a few players at regular tour events out and about in the evening. They seem happy enough to have a glass of wine with dinner.
Q. Backwoodsman - The telly doesn't give much impression of what the crowds are up to. There appear to be big stands at various locations, but is there any sizeable gallery that follow individual pairings - as one often sees at the Open. Or is that not practical or allowed at the Masters? The telly give the impression that most stay at a particular green or tee.
A significant number of people will follow a specific group (especially Tiger) but most will sit near to a green or tee. The patrons here are allowed to leave their chairs in certain places around the course – as long as your business card is in the back nobody will move or sit in it. Luke and I followed Lee Westwood yesterday for 9 holes and we were both surprised by how easy it was to follow. They keep numbers down to a very manageable level here which makes the whole spectator experience that little bit more enjoyable.
Q. Nomadpaul - I was wondering if the course layout is changed at all for The Masters itself ? Not just tee positions but if the members of Augusta play the identical 1 to 18 holes in the same order as the actual tournament . Don't some courses change hole order for the big tournaments ?
The course is exactly the same layout for the members. Only occasionally would a course change it's layout for a tournament. If they do, it's usually because they want the finishing hole to be as exciting as possible.
Q. Basher - Quite hard to tell on TV, the course appears to be very undulating. As you guys are actually there, how hilly and undulating is the course?
Oh yes, this place is extremely hilly. To offer a comparison of somewhere in the UK I'd say it's a bit like Gullane in that regard. Luke raced back to the media centre from the 12th green yesterday and almost passed out when he got here. Eating burgers and cheese all the time certainly doesn't help!
Q. Medwayjon - Is there a media hierarchy at the masters? In that do the American media get better facilities, better access to the players and a friendly welcome than their colleagues from around the world.
Thankfully, we're all equals in the media centre. Obviously, if there was a hierarchy Luke and I would be in our own office with our own personal waiter. The media centre is an interesting place… Everyone tries to be professional and impartial but when it gets down to the end of a big tournament everyone has players they want to win. The odd muted cheer breaks the silence – it's quite amusing
Q. Madandra - Have you guys managed to get your name in the ballot for a game tomorrow? I want to know if it is fair or do the guys from the American broadsheets get 'lucky' year after year?
Good question. As I write, Luke and I are eagerly awaiting the result of the ballot. As far as I know it's a fair system and usually there are a good few international journalists that get pulled out.
The nightmare scenario for me would be if Luke got in I didn't. Does that make me sound spiteful? Well, I don't care – if that happened think I might take the hire car and leave him here!
