TG Blog: View from the 18th green

By Kit Alexander, Features Writer

Friday 8th April

If there’s a better place to watch golf than in the stand next to the 18th green at Augusta National during Masters week, I sure as hell don’t know where it is.

The crow’s nest-esque stand is exclusively for the press so it’s always possible to get a seat and watch the action from on high. Add from what I’ve seen of the TV coverage it features prominently in the background as players hole out – so keep an eye out for me!

I spent much of today watching groups finish and turning round to observe the 9th green behind the stand.

The pin on 9 was in its toughest position – on a tiny ledge right at the back of the green – and it was the players who hit their approach from the rough who were able to get the ball closest most consistently. Their reduced spin allowed them to release the ball up the ledge rather than the majority who hit from the fairway and spun back down the green.

I took a break from this superb viewing point to have lunch in the clubhouse. It seems remarkable that we journos are allowed in there at all times, and at just $16 for a burger it’s hard to resist eating all your meals in there. But the canteen in the media centre is free and offers very good food!

I made it back out to the 18th green to see the final few groups come in. The young guns grouping of Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Jason Day have ripped it up for the first two days and thoroughly deserved the standing ovation they received.

If I was ever in any doubt as to whether golf fans still love Tiger Woods, I got an emphatic answer as the gallery errupted as he hit his approach to 10 feet and rose to their feet as he sank the putt to get within three of Rory.

I’ve seen so much great golf already that it’s hard to believe it’s only Friday. I’m reluctant to let myself believe it can get even better over the weekend, but I think it just might!

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