So The Masters is almost upon us. Reputed to be the greatest of the golfing Majors. Why so. Well it is not the oldest competition on the golf circuits, nor is it the most vehemented; that is reserved for the Ryder Cup. My guess is because of the nice green jacket for the winner. The Masters is the first Major of the year and many in the game consider this to be the start of the golf season. So here is a guide to what you can expect of the next four days.
The Venue
While most football grounds are referred to as the “hallowed turf” the golf equivalent is “revered golf course”. That title is reserved for Augusta National. A former indigo plantation [I didn’t colours were farmed either] was turned into the golf track in 1933. The first contested Masters competition was held the following year in 1934.
The usual cliches will be forever commentated on; the “manicured fairways”, “undulating greens” and “tree-lined”. The azaleas will be referred to some five thousand times this weekend, particularly by Peter Alliss.
Coverage
The BBC and Sky are slugging this one out between them. Both corporations will show exhausted clips and montages of past winners on route to glory. Almost definitely a discussion will be held on Rory McIlorys uncomfortable start to his affiliation with Nike. Ian Poulter will be mentioned endlessly about bringing his “Ryder Cup Passion” or “Medinah Magic” to Augusta National.
The big question this is, do you go for the BBC with Hazel Irvine; not seen on TV since the Olympics and Peter Alliss or Sky with the gorgeous Kirsty Gallagher, Colin Montgomery; literally a big name in golf and commentary from Ewen Murray. If I were to pick one, I would probably opt for the Beeb simply because of the rate at which they are losing the rights to show live sports, this could be a “watershed” moment.
The Jacket
As mentioned earlier. The victor over the four days will pick up the coveted green jacket. This is not a blazer that has been handed down through the years, it is not a one size fits all either. But a snooker table coloured sport coat that we are lead to believe has been sewn by the Virgin Mary and not in a sweatshop in China by a blind, orphaned child.
We will be told by the eventual winner that he has wanted this jacket all his life, although the jacket must be returned the following year and is actually allowed to leave the premises of the golf club. Multiple winners of the Masters will receive the same jacket, unless they have tubbed up over the years. The real prize, $1,300,000 will be most gratefully received discreetly.
So there is a round up of what to expect over the next four days. If you still decide to watch the golf than actually play a round yourself then remember to relax, sit back and enjoy.
golfburn 