Tuesday morning at Augusta..

If you are just getting up most anywhere in the NE States certainly here in southern Ontario, we have received the rain overnight much like the system that swept through Georgia yesterday shutting down Augusta, but fear not, the gazillion dollars they spent on subterranean drainage and a forecast for the tournament that is near perfect with zero rain expected and temperatures that will gradually rise into the low 80s by Sunday with winds that will be occasionally moderate at worst, the 78th Masters will get underway for most starting this morning.

In fact the gates have just opened at 8am, it will be a wet walk for the patrons outside the ropes today

But what of all the poor "patrons" who got turfed off the course yesterday after flying. driving, sailing from around the world for their highly anticipated day on this hilly gorgeous former nursery. Surely Billy Bob and the other 'Green Jackets" could do better than " You will receive a refund in May and have a shot at buying Monday tickets for 2015"...

I like Craig Stadler, he comes up here (Toronto) every year to Woodensticks to support Dick Grimms charity tourney and he is as down to earth a guy as you could meet. He won the 1982 Masters when his son Kevin was 2, and on Thursday they will become the first father son combo to play in the Masters at the same time.

Tiger's surgery means he will lose his world #1 status soon, maybe this week. Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson or Jason Day could well be #1 come Sunday evening. Scott has to T3 or better, Stenson T2 and Day has to win, with a few wrinkles thrown into that equation.

There are seven Aussie's at Augusta, John Senden, Steven Bowditch,and Matt Jones all just won recently.  Jason Day just back from a wrist/thumb injury won the Match Play in February. Marc Leishman T4 here last year, Adam Scott won it. 2013 U.S. Amateur runner-up Oliver Goss makes it a "magnificent seven"

Patrick Reed, is just one of 24 first-timers in this year's field. He made it with his Wyndham Championship last August, then backed it up with another pair of victories in 2013-14, the last at Doral in the Cadillac Championship. The only player to win it in his first appearance was Frank Urban Zoeller when he beat Greg Norman in 1979. You know him better as Fuzzy..

Wonder what Graham DeLaet playing his first Masters did during the rainout ?  Well just like you and I do ( I assume without the beers) on a rainy day at the cottage.  He organized a cribbage tournament !!

More to follow as the day goes on...



Bryan Angus