Goosen and Harrington: Ewen's tips
Putting is just about everything at Augusta and perhaps the only player that can match Tiger in this department is our Open Champion, Padraig Harrington.
Ewen Murray
THE MASTERS 2008
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So the first major of the year is upon us. For many of us, the Masters hails the start of our season and has done for a long while.
It's in this week the green keepers get the mowers out and shape our fairways for the coming months. Preferred lies are gone with the winter and the back tees are freshly prepared for the Spring medal.
Augusta will be as always, beautiful, for that is what they do. The Dogwoods and Azaleas will flower on day one, the greens will be 13 on the stimpmeter and the tournament will run like clockwork.
There will be hard luck stories and moments to treasure. Roars will echo around the property as will sighs, and Tiger will win again, probably.
For those who have only seen this magical green paradise on television, I can tell you that it is much hillier than you would think.
It's a fairly easy course from tee to green, but its defence is the slick putting surfaces than can reduce even the most talented golfer to tears. It is so well-presented, the first time I played it, I thinned every iron shot because I did not want to scar the fairways!
I stayed in the Butler Cabin which is situated by the 10th tee, and dined in the clubhouse. Myself and Bruce Critchley were guests of a member by the name of George Whisler. It was a memorable two days, and I felt hugely fortunate to have experienced it.
Dreary record
So will Tiger secure the first of what many believe will be a calendar Grand Slam? The odds say he will.
Here are my tips, and I would prefer that you just read them and not back them given my dreary record down the years.
At 22/1 Retief Goosen is good value. Having struggled over the past two seasons, I have seen the old Goosen in recent months.
His putting is where it was when he was taking care of the US Open and there is a growing confidence in the South African. Retief was joint runner-up last year despite two average opening rounds. Each way, I think he is worth it, so my 50p is on him.
Putting is just about everything at Augusta and perhaps the only player that can match Tiger in this department is our Open champion, Padraig Harrington.
The Irishman has prepared meticulously and has set out his schedule to peak in Georgia. His final round of 68 in Houston confirms his game is in pretty good shape.
I also believe the fact he is already a major winner will ease the pressure on him. He has nothing to prove, except to himself, and one thing Harrington will always give you is 100 per cent.
Outsider
At 18/1 I think that he is worth a bet to add the Green Jacket to the Claret Jug, so another 50p there.
My outsider to surprise everyone is priced at 66/1 and I think he has a strong chance of a top three finish. Again he is one of the game's top short game experts and he really should have taken care of Tiger in the Accenture Matchplay in Arizona.
Three times he had putts to defeat Woods, three times he burned the edge of the hole. He led the US Open at Oakmont last year only to blow up at the start of the third round.
This year, he is older, wiser, more experienced and I like the temperament he has. So a fiver will net you £264 if Aaron Baddeley wins the year's first major. If anyone of my three picks beats Tiger Woods, they will be dressed in green next Sunday night.
Comments
Dan Reed says...
Despite everyone and his dog backing Tiger, my money is on Jim Furyk. At odds of 45/1 he is a certainty to finish in the top 5.
Posted 12:42 11th April 2008
Tim B says...
"Putting is just about everything at Augusta and perhaps the only player that can match Tiger in this department is our Open Champion, Padraig Harrington" Ewan - you said last year the Andres Romero was in your opinion the best putter in the world so surely you must think he has a chance as well...
Posted 11:44 10th April 2008
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