Notes and quotes from the Masters Poulter: A green jacket to match that hair – The Masters Tournament
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Ian Poulter, the Englishman with a sense of fashion that sometimes escapes some people - slacks with a sunburst of color and ideas - turned in the kind of round that could win this Masters for him.Poulter will be known as the guy who aced the tough par-3 16th, but lost in the glare of that accomplishment is one a lot more impressive. He hit 16 of the 18 greens in regulation. The ace was a stroke of luck. Hitting the greens was an act of great skill. And the way to Augusta's heart is through its greens.
Poulter birdied No. 2, parred his way to the all-water, par-3 16th, where he hit an 8-iron from 169 yards that touched down about 25 feet from the flag and rolled quietly into the hole.
“Any hole-in-one is a nice one, but to do it on 16, with all those spectators on the left-hand side --” Poulter said. “It's a great amphitheater to have a hole-in-one. It gave me a great boost and a great adrenaline rush.”
The ace put him into the lead at 3-under, but only briefly. He bogeyed the 17th, and joined the group at 70.
“I'm confident in the work I've done in the last couple of weeks,” Poulter said. “Tuesday morning, I was itching to play. And I got out there today and I executed pretty much every single shot I wanted. It's probably one of the best ball-striking rounds of golf I've ever played.
“Well, 2-under-par - I don't know if that's a true reflection of how well I played today, but it's probably one of the best rounds of golf I've ever played. You know, you don't have to shoot 61 for it to be the best round you've ever played.”
A tie for 13th last year is the best Poulter has done in his previous three Masters. If he can start putting the greens anywhere near the way he's hitting them, he might have a green jacket to match his frosted hair.
AMEN, ALSO HALLELUJAH - Mark O'Meara, an ambitious 51, played the Amen Corner the way he would 10 years ago, when he won the Masters in 1998. He took the celebrated 11-12-13 turn in three birdies, smoothing out a so-so front nine for a 1-under 71. “That's always nice when you get around those holes,” said O'Meara. “And I'm just pleased to shoot under par anytime I play Augusta National.”
ARNIE AND TIME - Arnold Palmer, who won the first of his four Masters 50 years ago, in 1958, chuckled at the difference after again being the honorary starter, hitting the first tee ball at 7:50 Thursday morning. “Fifty years ago, it went a lot farther,” Palmer said. “But the tee was a lot farther up, too.”
PLAYER AND THE RECORD -- Gary Player, now 72, set the record for most Masters by playing in his 51st when he teed off Thursday. The 83 he shot was a matter of pride more than anything else.
“Well, par for me is 80, so I was 3-over for me today,” Player said. “I thought I was going for a lot more, though.”
He got that idea when he opened bogey-double bogey, then shot 44 on the front. On the back, he held the damage to four bogeys and one birdie, for a 39.
Any thoughts of not playing next year?
“No, if I can shoot around 80, if I have a good day,” Player said. “I still putt very well, and my short game is still very good.
“And it's a thrill to know now that I hold the record,” Player added. “Of course, all records are made to be broken, aren't they? Someone will come along and break 51 one day, I guess.”
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