This is from the Masters.com site and it shows how deep that stats KEEKS go for articles...
Here are 10 historical facts, figures and other assorted truths to contemplate on the eve of the 2011 Masters Tournament.
1. Jose Maria Olazabal, the two-time Masters champion from Spain, is a long shot, but the fact that he's even here at Augusta National as a competitor is a major victory. Olazabal has been suffering from an arthritic condition that sidelined him for most of three years. He's making progress, feeling much better and optimistic about the future.
When Olazabal arrived at Augusta National in 1999, the state of his game was not promising. Basically, he was just trying to survive. That's what he did with an opening-round 70 before a 66 on Friday sent warning signals to the rest of the field. He went on to claim his second Green Jacket.
The scenario is similar this year. Olazabal's game is in the unknown zone again. His driving is erratic, and on a course that demands so much off the tee as Augusta National, that's a problem. But his short game is still magical.
2. The average age of Masters champions is 32 years, nine months. Matt Kuchar is 32 years, 9½ months.
A Florida native, the 1997 U.S. Amateur champion is coming off his finest professional season. Kuchar topped the PGA Tour's money list in 2010 and already has six top-10 finishes this season. His best finish in the Masters is a tie for 21st in 1998 as an amateur.
There's also this: The average number of appearances in the Masters for champions before they claimed a first Green Jacket? Six. Kuchar is playing in his fifth Masters.
3. Tiger Woods has opened three of his four Masters victories with first-round scores of 70. On the other occasion, in 2005, he shot 74 in the first round. But that's not the key to his winning.On the four occasions he has won, Woods has shot rounds in the 60s in both the second and third rounds. He has never won when he has scored in the 70s in either the second or third round, or both.
4. In each of his four victories, Woods has produced at least one round of 66 and twice has shot 65 -- both times while winning. Only once has he had a round lower than 68 (a third-round 66 in 2004) and not won.
5. Phil Mickelson is a front-runner at Augusta National. In his three victories, he has never been worse than tied for 15th after the first round. In 2004, his opening even-par 72 left him tied for 15th. He was tied for fourth after a second-round 69 and held the lead after a third-round 65.
In 2006, he opened with a 70 to place himself in a tie for fourth, was tied for fifth after the second round and led after 54 holes. Last year, Mickelson opened with a 67 and was tied for second. He started the final round one stroke behind the leader, Lee Westwood, and won by three shots.
6. Four subpar rounds don't guarantee victory. Last year, five golfers achieved the feat: Mickelson, Woods, K.J. Choi, Hunter Mahan and Lee Westwood. Four of them were looking up at the winner.
7. The three golfers with the best career scoring averages (50 rounds or more) at Augusta National are in this year's field.
Woods has averaged 70.81 in 62 rounds. Mickelson is next with a 70.99 average in 70 rounds. Fred Couples has played 100 rounds with an average of 71.94.Jack Nicklaus, the six-time winner of the Masters, is next with a 71.98 average in 163 rounds.
8. There have been 21 aces in Masters history. It's a bad omen. No one has made a hole-in-one and gone on to win. Another bad omen: No one who has won the Par 3 Contest has won the Green Jacket the same week.
First played in 1960, the Par 3 Contest is a Wednesday tradition. The jinx doesn't discourage Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, even though he failed to make the cut last year after winning the Par 3.
"I don't like to believe in things like (jinxes)," said Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion. "I'm definitely playing again. My little girl is going to walk, so I'll probably try and get her to kick the ball or something so that my score doesn't count."
9. In 2003, Mike Weir became the first left-hander to win the Masters. Mickelson has won it three times since and this year attempts to become the fourth back-to-back winner. The others: Nicklaus, 1965-66; Nick Faldo, 1989-90; and Woods, 2001-02.
Martin Kaymer, the German who is ranked No. 1 in the world, said he'd like to play Augusta National as a left-hander and suggested that Mickelson has the advantage because his cut drives are the equivalent of soft draws, the shape that is suited so well to the golf course.
"I would love Martin to play this tournament left-handed," Mickelson said.
10. If you're still looking for a hot fantasy pick, you could do much worse than Nick Watney. His record at the Masters is exceptional.In three appearances, he has tied for 11th, finished 19th and, last year, was seventh on the strength of a closing 65, his best ever at Augusta National and perhaps a clue that he's learned how to play the course.
"I would not be surprised if a young guy won it," Watney said.
And it wouldn't be a surprise if his name is Watney.
Bryan Angus
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