On an otherwise dark, damp Wednesday at Augusta National Golf Club, there was a bright side for Masters officials: the forecast offers wind on Thursday and Friday, but little in the way of wet weather for the remainder of the week.
With a soaking rain on Monday and Wednesday, Augusta National Golf Club won’t be playing quite as firm and fast as officials might have hoped when the tournament begins tonight. The change in conditions may prove particularly fateful for one player.
The field for the 81st Masters contains 94 players. But only one ponytail. So picking out Curtis Luck shouldn’t be a problem for anyone inclined to follow the 20-year-old West Australian.
The mystique, the undulations, Rae’s Creek, the azaleas – all the subtle nuances of Augusta National provide something no other course can. And it takes remarkable vision to ‘see’ certain shots; shots you truly only witness at the Masters. Shots like this.
The carnage of Jordan Spieth’s collapse and the fortitude Danny Willett showed on the back nine of the Masters last April made for scintillating viewing, although for a moment of sheer golf madness – in a good, although freakish way – nothing topped Louis Oosthuizen’s ace at the 16th hole.
Tiger Woods will be in New York on Monday to sign copies of his new book recounting his victory at the 1997 Masters. Playing two weeks later in this year’s Masters, however, seems unlikely.
It’s official: Curtis Luck is Masters-bound. The West Australian amateur star is among the recipients of 2017 Masters Tournament invitations, which were sent from Augusta National Golf Club last week.